“Three siblings survive village destruction, now fight Imperial Church to rescue kidnapped sister wielding demonic sword Murasame.”
Hakkenden -Eight Dogs of the East-
八犬伝 -東方八犬異聞-
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Three siblings survive village destruction, now fight Imperial Church to rescue kidnapped sister wielding demonic sword Murasame.
The village of Ootsuka—home to Shino Inuzuka, Sousuke Inukawa, and Hamaji—was lit on fire under the preconception that a virus had seen all of its life eradicated. Now surrounded by flames and on the verge of death, the three were approached by a strange man holding a sword. He tells them that they must reach a decision if they want to live. That night changed everything for these children. Five years later, the family of three now lives under the watchful eye of the small Imperial Church in a nearby village. All is fine and dandy until the Church attempts to reclaim the demonic sword of Murasame. To accomplish this, they kidnap Hamaji to lure Shino, now a bearer of Murasame's soul, and Sousuke, who possesses the ability to transform into a dog. The brothers must put their differences aside to rescue their beloved sister from the Church in the Imperial Capital, signalling the beginning of a very difficult journey.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 15 sampled reviews
What 15 viewers settled on.
Mostly aligned
σ 1.20 · some divergence
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↑ 2.13
Running avg · Apr 2013 → Jun 2021
- 8 “Vibrant, detailed art and an engaging mystery-fantasy story with well-fleshed-out characters make this adventure easy to watch. A handful of slow patches and the lead’s occasional bratty spurts...”
- 9 “Hakkenden dazzles with vivid, beautifully animated characters whose rich backstories intertwine in charming ways, while balancing magic, emotion, romance and comedy at a lively clip. Although the...”
- 10 “A flawless 10/10: the 13-episode plot is amazingly tight, balancing action, drama, and comedy while showcasing a heartfelt bromance between two male leads. Modern, appealing art and the total...”
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- Format 13 × 24′ eps × min
- Total runtime 5h 12m all episodes
- Aired Jan 2013 – Mar 2013 Winter 2013
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-7268 catalog
Produced by
- Bandai Visual Producer
- Frontier Works Producer
- Lantis Producer
- Movic Producer
- DAX Production Producer
- Sony PCL Producer
Licensed by
- Sentai Filmworks Licensor