"Kizuoibito", also known in English as "Wounded Man", is truly a rollercoaster of emotions. I will keep this review spoiler-free, but keep in mind that very basic info, such as the one available in the synopsis on this anime's page on MyAnimeList by the time of writing this review, will be featured a little without treating it as a spoiler. Going back to the reviewed show, it tells the story of Keisuke Ibaraki, whose life turned upside down one day, got ruined, and turned this young man from a talented athlete into a revenger - a man seeking revenge for the awful things that not onlyaffected him, but also people who were dear to him. Who did it? Why? What kind of people suffered alongside Keisuke? Viewers will find all the answers in this anime.

This anime likes to play with contrasts. When we meet Keisuke, he is already long past his "mental transformation". He seems mysterious, emotionally drained, almost wild, but it's only a facade meant to allow his vengeance to proceed according to his plan. We learn his true story only a bit later, which is why the "bad first impression" (let's call it that to avoid spoilers) may change, perhaps not so much into sympathy or an attempt to fully understand him, but into compassion. A human approach toward, as the title suggests, a wounded man. This applies only to the viewers, as the characters within the anime not only may sympathize with Keisuke, but also become his friends and help him carry the burden of revenge. Depending on a character, that is.

A wide range of different characters, each with their own pasts or dreams, standing shoulder to shoulder with Keisuke, is a very well executed element. It blends perfectly with the individual parts of the story, regardless of whether they are more action-centered story arcs, or slower ones. This OVA consists of only five episodes, so I wouldn't expect too much complexity that can be seen in, say, much longer anime.

As for the visual layer, "Wounded Man" is executed properly. Good still shots, pleasant animation, and very solid direction appropriate for the weight of specific moments. Musically, it is also without major flaws. Despite the fact that this anime is not particularly "full of sakuga" like some OVAs from that era, I believe it is simply made in a solid and competent way.

When it comes to the music itself, it is also of good quality. It includes tracks and motifs that even a larger live-action action movie production from the same decade (1980s) would not be ashamed of.

Since both the script and the audiovisual layer are good, it is worth considering the final score. While I do recommend this anime, after reading the manga it is hard for me to give it a higher rating for the sake of this review (even though it is still slightly higher than the one I gave "Wounded Man" on my list). Some scenes may feel a bit confusing or overly simple, while in the manga they are not only more fleshed out, but also given proper context. This OVA captures the spirit of the manga, but one needs to be aware that story-wise it is simply inferior.

Oh, and of course, this anime features scenes that might be considered too disturbing for some viewers, so be warned. It is dedicated to adults who do not mind seeing certain types of content that modern viewers may find too offensive to watch ("trigger inducing", I believe it's called like this). So if you don't like that kind of thing, I recommend either passing on this show, or just watching the first episode and seeing if you're fine with that kind of content.