Review of The Elusive Samurai

I wouldn’t call *The Elusive Samurai* the greatest anime ever—not even close to the top—but I still recommend watching it, and here’s why. First and foremost: the art. The visuals are truly exceptional, and worthy of a showcase in the Louvre (well, maybe not the Louvre, probably more in one of the biggest contemporary galleries). Every emotion is captured through the imagery alone, with no words needed. Just by observing the colors, settings, and characters’ expressions, you can feel fear, loneliness, despair, happiness, loyalty, and total madness. And when I say madness, I’m not referring to the craziness of the bandits but rather the thrill ouryoung lord experiences from being chased.

The plot presents some challenges. There are moments when it feels weak, yet this is countered by a series of intense, almost surreal scenes. It can feel a bit unrealistic, especially as we watch young characters outsmarting fully developed adults during wartime. As someone currently living through the struggles of war, this element didn’t resonate as much for me. However, at the same time, we can see the parallels, we can sense hidden problems (as in humans abandoning nature and beliefs) and we can follow the story, still being glued to the screens.

The characters also feel somewhat flat to me, though this could be because there’s more to come in future seasons. This anime is not designed to wrap up in one season, so I’d advise some patience. However, I must highlight Yorishige Suwa and Tadayoshi Ashikaga (even if he only appears briefly). These two are so complex and layered that they invite you to examine them deeply. While the younger characters are fun and cute, Yorishige and Tadayoshi feel almost too real, adding gravitas to the story.

In summary, *The Elusive Samurai* is a great choice for a one- or two-night watch. If you appreciate art, it’s especially worth it for the visual inspiration alone.