Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal Is Majestic

[@Aleczandxr]

It's difficult to find this one legally streaming anywhere, but the Blu-Ray is available off of Amazon Prime here: amzn.to/2nNDKvh

[@pratyushraj2441]

Didn't ever think someone will have the same tastes as me- Witcher 3, Nier: Automata, Gurren Lagann, Hunter X Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin etc..... Subscribed for the videos related to this stuff and more. BTW since you like character focused conspiracies that intertwine a personal story with a larger than life plot spanning multiple social themes and problems, I would suggest you to Deus Ex: Human Revolution and hopefully Deus EX (The original).

[@recjr7685]

It's just too expensive for a four episod OVA. Trust & Betrayal is one of my personal favorites, but at over $90 it's just too big of a commitment.

[@thestormypoet]

Excellent critique. Truly one of the greatest animes I've ever had the privilege of viewing. Actually made me tear up at the end. Long live good anime.

[@stroodlepup]

wath refletions as well. but you gotta watch the series :D

[@CaccavelliTheDon]

it is now available on Netflix ! ( along with its 2001 " sequel " by the same director ) Thanks for introducing me to it, even though I am a big fan of the kenshin manga, i didn't know much about the adaptations. Keep up the great work !

[@brandonprows]

Holy crap. Someone is actually talking about Trust & Betrayal? Thank you for making a video about this masterpiece. One of the greatest films ever made, animated or not.

[@Aleczandxr]

Agreed completely, it's a true work of art. I don't see many people talk about it when it comes to classic anime stories and I think that's a huge shame.

[@brandonprows]

It really is. Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite manga of all-time (Otherthan Berserk) and it's truly a shame that the only proper adaptation we have received is Trust & Betrayal. The original anime series is... bad. It's poorly written and makes unholy changes to the plot and characters. It's also riddled with obscene filler episodes that make me shake my head in disbelief. But Trust & Betrayal is a shining example of what an adaptation that respects the source material can be. And I really appreciate your in-depth analysis and praise on the film. I originally watched it about 10 years ago, and it took my breath away and I sobbed like a child as it ended. It is my favorite animated film, and I'm glad that you have finally seen this gem. Hopefully your video will inspire others to watch it.

[@Aleczandxr]

brandonprows That's great to hear! It's a shame that the anime series wasn't great for you but I'll give it a go regardless, and maybe skip the filler. But thank you for the kind words. It had such a big effect on me. Hopefully this video gains traction so others can be exposed to such a great tale.

[@joebilly3719]

from what I know, the anime really did not change much of the content of the manga prior to the end of the Shishio arc. The changes are overall sutle and don't affect much what is going on. The art style and writing is the same one of the manga. The huge difference comes after Shishio's arc and that is because, at this point, the rest of the manga was not done yet so the anime developers did their on thing until the end of the anime. Finally, some time latter, Rurouni Kenshin's manga author returned to finish the story from where he left in the manga, creating the Enishi arc. With that done, part of that arc story could be used to make the Trust and Betrayal OVA. So basically, if the whole story on the manga was complete in time, the anime would be very very close to the manga. It is somewhat similar to what happened with fullmetal alchemist, with the exception that latter, after the manga was properly finished, they did the anime brotherhood.

[@brandonprows]

You're welcome, sir! If you skip the filler episodes, I find the show is significantly better. When it aired on Toonami they cut all the filler episodes out, so most people I think haven't even seen them. The first season is alright, they make a lot of changes to the manga but it's definitely watchable. The second season follows the manga much closer and there's a huge jump in quality. The third season is pure fanfiction. None of it is from the manga, and it's a complete joke. If you want to see the incredible ending to the series and one of my favorite villains, Enishi, I'd recommend the manga. I'm extremely picky with Rurouni Kenshin since it means so much to me, but you should definitely check out the anime despite its abundance of flaws. Many hold it in high regard as one of the best animes of the 90's. And even though it makes me upset, it's still one of my favorites for the nostalgia. (Just be sure to take some of the stupid parts with a grain of salt, and know that everything is done better in the manga) Interestingly enough, I think Trust & Betrayal surpasses the manga. Anyway, I'm talking too much. (It's rare to find someone to talk about RK with) You should make a video about your thoughts on the anime or something of that nature when you finish it so I can know what you think of it!

[@Sigart]

Ugh, that flute. I will never not be in awe of how much emotion it conveys.

[@ZayOsirisGaming]

Sometimes when a story becomes this deep, your common everyday anime goer isn’t gonna watch this. Which is why I believe it’s not on the top charts. Though that doesn’t take any bit of the beauty away from the masterpiece. I absolutely loved this & the main series.

[@daraxiong19]

I cried a river watching when my then boyfriend, now husband, showed it to me like 10 years ago and I still can't get over it.

[@qizeaqfile]

Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal still my greatest samurai anime or film of all time.

[@Aleczandxr]

Mine too! Though it really doesn't mean much coming from a guy who doesn't watch much samurai stuff.

[@qashmonie]

This was so well done thank you so much for making a video about Kenshin this anime definitely changed me forever..

[@Aleczandxr]

My pleasure!

[@pscriv8136]

Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal gave me goosebumps the first time I saw it. It is wildly unique and realistic compared to any other anime I have ever seen. It is very different than the series

[@JIX9ISLER1986]

Trust and betrayal was a masterpiece

[@28diefee]

It IS a masterpiece forever.

[@Nayef1985]

IS

[@JIX9ISLER1986]

@@Nayef1985 FACTS :)

[@JIX9ISLER1986]

@CRUSHER CORPS Did you see the NEW 4th Movie ''Rurouni Kenshin The Final'' ? its on Netflix The next and last movie is called Rurouni Kenshin ''The Beginning'' It will be a full live adaptation of Trust and Betrayal I was very happy watching that trailer !!!!

[@telkian7890]

Fun fact: The new assassin that replaced Kenshin and killed the traitor was actually Makoto Shishio.

[@PedroLupe1991]

Yes.

[@milandutta1995skid]

Ues

[@andrewpatricksembung1944]

Yup

[@aikawamontano9441]

and shishio was killed in boshin war

[@raybugz9275]

Damn. Thats a creepy revelation

[@milagold2569]

I watched Trust and Betrayal some years ago after finishing the orignal anime for the first time. It takes the anime's most serious and heavy moments and uses that atmosphere for the entire OVA. And that works great, because through out the anime we understood time and again how terrible a time period that was for Japan, but especially for Kenshin himself. He starts the orignal anime a hurt, guilty man, seeking solace from his past sins by helping whoever asks for help, and anyone who corsses his path. And although there is a certain goofiness to the way the general story develops, you can't go too far into it withou being reminded of the fact that Kenshin was once a terrifying force of the revolution, and currently looks back to his every action during that time with sorrow and guilt. Mind you, he doesn't regret what he did, although he hated every single minute of it. But because of his kind and gentle personality, he can't help but hate himself a little bit every time he remembers that time. It is many times during the anime that he encounters his old mates from his time back in Kyoto, now high-standing officials, who offer him a high rank and a lot of compensation for all the work he did back in the day. They show nothing but gratefulness towards him. And yet he never accepts even the simplest act of gratitude from them because he thinks that killing is nothing to be rewarded for. There is one particular scene in the lead-up to the Kyoto arc in which he encounters an old rival from the Shinsengumi and engages in a fight with him, and boy that is amazing. It's true that Rurouni Kenshin can be a very goofy tipycal shonen anime at times, but rest assured if you're planning on watching it after these OVAs, it does not lack in the depth in character you've observed from him there. Especially in the Kyoto Arc and all that led up to it.

[@jaakarimiquel8473]

It was in the early 2000's when I first watched this OVA with my cousin, I couldn't remember the name or any events other than the brutal violence. A few years ago, long after her suicide I happened to see a picture of Kenshin somewhere and recognized the scar on his cheek. I found the OVA and proceeded watch it. Being much older I finally understood what it was about and it had a huge impact on me. The story itself is powerful and a true masterpiece, but in addition to that, it will always remind me of her and the time we spent together all those years ago.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks very much for sharing this. I'm very sorry about your cousin and I'm glad that this story resonates with you so much.

[@jaakarimiquel8473]

Thank you for making a great video on the story

[@killtyrant]

@@jaakarimiquel8473 I know its years past but you and your family have my condolences.

[@gokuson4238]

@Mahin Ashad isn't that kind of personal?

[@CloudyWolf713]

My sincere condolences for your cousin.

[@rexorcallskyline1039]

Modern anime has lose this kind of charm. it is a bitter sweet feeling because while we might never seen this level of care in modern anime again it make this kind of anime that much special.

[@blueblur-om8vi]

One of my friends friends thinks that modern anime is better

[@AVSINGH-fk6vy]

One of the greatest movies ever made

[@Crooklyn7]

Finally some acknowledgment for these masterpieces

[@micaholson7293]

Trust and betrayal, this for me is my most favorite anime movie of all time. I can't think of any anime that comes close.

[@mimianastasia2699]

Micah Olson me too..and I love Kenshin and tomoe lovestory progressing than with kauru in anime after watching this..hehe..it's just tragic but I like it more..

[@nanananananananananananana9430]

I would say Perfect Blue is on pair with Trust & Betrayal.

[@sak.e]

The Demon Slayer With A Dragon Slayer Not true. Perfect blue is more psychological and dense.

[@jasondetilly5647]

I completely agree

[@TrevRockOne]

The Kyoto arc in Rurouni Kenshin is god-like. It's good before that too, save the filler, but around episode 28 or so (when Saito shows up), it takes off like a rocket. I strongly recommend Rurouni Kenshin. It starts off rather more lighthearted, but once it gets going, it's some of the most compelling and stirring stuff I've ever seen. Really the main series has just as much pathos, but there is humor mixed in, unlike Trust and Betrayal.

[@Aleczandxr]

I keep hearing about this Kyoto arc. I'm excited to give it a go after I'm done with Yu Yu Hakusho.

[@TrevRockOne]

Aleczandxr Nice, I grew up watching both of these shows on Toonami. Judging by what you said about being interested in all the political philosophy stuff, I think you'll really enjoy the Kyoto Arc, and I look forward to a video on it.

[@Aleczandxr]

TrevRockOne There's no guarantees at all that I'll do a video on it, just so you know!

[@TrevRockOne]

Aleczandxr Yes, yes, just staying positive here

[@TrevRockOne]

Oh, and one thing to keep in mind, there are two separate dubs for Rurouni Kenshin. One of them is godawful, and the other is fantastic, so be sure to watch the right one.

[@stefanoannarumma4804]

Watched and read the whole Kenshin series, which is quite good. Personally I believe that Trust and Betrayal is a masterpiece.

[@noblepolygon8694]

Confession: I'm 40 and have seen this brilliant film over and over. I told my teenage son who loves anime that we have to watch this together very soon.

[@alexm7627]

That's great :)

[@mooppymcd]

Kenshin loved Tomoe and even when he lost her and many years later met karou and started a family, he will always know that he cant replace tomoe yet that doesnt make his current family any less. Truly beautiful

[@narogsilva2156]

forgot about this ova amazing music, why is this not as popular as Ghost in the Shell and Akira?

[@Aleczandxr]

I dunno. It's criminally overlooked though.

[@nobilusmikami2889]

because it was released as a OVA with 4 episodes, and not as an independent film from the series, so lot of people think it's for the series fan only...what's a pity :/ anyway i think it's the greatest Anime movie ever made, it did everything perfectly: Drama, History, War Philosophy, Depth, Symbolisme, Photography, Scenery, Soundtrack, Story/Screenplay/Dialogue, Action...Love, trust Betrayal...

[@Soulblight]

It was also released a decade later, both Akira and Ghost in The Shell are early 90s classics and were some of the films that served anime as an introduction to western audiences. When Trust and Betrayal was released, that era of hand drawn anime was on it's last days. I had to watch this on 2 different VHS cause episode 1-2 and 3-4 were sold seperately and till date its probably my favorite anime movie ever.

[@pscriv8136]

The music is what helps you inside Kenshins feelings and what the plot is trying to convey. The music is a masterpiece in and of itself

[@toxi87]

The music is the best part.

[@Captainflowers1011]

In my opinion, part of what makes Kenshin such a relatable character despite being an assassin is how much he doesn't really want to do it. This especially comes out in the manga where he essentially says he doesn't want to fight, but the power he weilds with Hiten Mitsurugi pretty much demands that he acts because otherwise more people will die meaninglessly if he just sits on the sidelines.

[@xxpsilocybinxx8878]

I cannot understand why this Movie is overlooked by so many People. I don't watch Anime in general but this Film feels so realistic and atmospheric that it can easily be compared to other Cinema Classics. As it was already pointed out, Trust & Betrayal is an absolute Masterpiece. The Story Progression and Pacing is Spot on, the 3rd Episode does an amazing Job of slowing down the Pacing and showing Kenshin slowly regain his Humanity. All this makes the 4th Episode even more dramatic and devastating. The Plot is also a loop which interconnects many important Aspects from the Beginning and in the Ending: Tomoe sacrificing herself after realizing that she will only cause more Pain & Suffering with Kenshin's Death and becoming a Sheath for the Rest of his Life, as intended by Katsuo in the Beginning. The Symbolism supports those Ideas with Tomoe cutting the other Scar into Kenshin's Face as a permanent Reminder to never cause Bloodshed again and also to cancel the Hatred that was used by Tomoe's late Husband to inflict the first Scar. The Story revolves around the big Themes of Trust, Betrayal (obviously), Honor and Fatalism (Kenshin finds himself in a Situation where he has to fight a big, allmighty Shogunate). Those Themes were present during the Japanese Revolution so Trust & Betrayal can be considered an historical Drama. The Visuals and Soundtrack are godly as well, adding to the Atmosphere and Narrative. The first 2 Episodes which show the brutal Killings and the dark Side of Kenshin usually are shown in dark, gritty Environments whereas the 3rd Episode depicts Kenshin regaining his Humanity with beautiful bright Landscapes. All in all, this is a fantastic yet severely underrated Anime Movie that is easily among the Greats like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke and can be compared to "real-Life" Hollywood Classics in Terms of Cinematography.

[@mimianastasia2699]

xXPsilocybinXx I wish they do a movie adaptation of this...I just want to watch again the lovestory of tomoe and kenshin.for me I think,tomoe is one of a big part on Kenshin change and everything.now i know why kenshin did not kill no more and why its called samurai x in the anime..after watching this trust and betrayal,now I know why Kenshin in the anime new era know how to cook..haha..and I ship this lovestory than Kenshin kauru ..after watching this..😁😀

[@Christopher._M]

When this came out the anime community was much smaller so there were less people to watch it. With the years this has become older and the older it is the less people go back to it. The biggest batch of anime watchers are from recent years but most are still young. There is so much for them to watch that it makes it unlikely that they decide to watch this.

[@xxpsilocybinxx8878]

@@Christopher._M True. Many younger people just watch films that are available on streaming

[@bredwright]

My friends will never understand how deep these shows and movies are no matter how well I articulate or give examples thanks for the vids man it makes me feel less crazy

[@Aleczandxr]

Hahaha, no problem man.

[@jonathanthong7367]

Thanks for giving Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal the credit it deserves; it truly is the best samurai drama to date. Sadly not many are willing to give it a shot simply because it is retro and some who did called it boring. Still, it is nice hearing someone explaining the areas this ova succeeded in.

[@Aleczandxr]

No worries, this OVA deserves all this credit and much more. I seriously loved it.

[@carlosvallejomusic]

It's a masterpiece. A work I can never erase from my mind. I am a big fan of the manga and this OVA is the best of Kenshin's products. Besides, I love the music of Taku Iwasaki: "Sound of snow falling" is one of the most beautiful themes that I've ever heard, and I love the intelligent change to mayor tone in that beautiful scene of the third chapter. The best mayor tone change that I've heard (and watched) in cinema. By the way, there is a live action about this OVA story. It is not bad, in my opinion is the best Rurouni Kenshin live action movie because it tries to be more realistic like the OVA, similar in his mood.

[@qashmonie]

Yes Taku Iwasaki is great, my favorite from the ost was ‘alone again’

[@saeeddeanable]

I like how they added the bit of history to it . The realism helps in immersion . I grew up on this it's beautiful

[@bobbyzamora6389]

This OVA is the perfect one for your tastes, man. Not surprised you loved it.

[@Aleczandxr]

It was gorgeous.

[@turbozed]

You might like Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust as well. It's a feature length movie, but hits the same notes

[@lea2666]

I still think you would have enjoyed it more if you had watched the main anime first. Gives it a really big "twist".

[@mooppymcd]

Watching Rurouni Kenshin before T&B will break you. To watch how someone was so corrupted to find peace within

[@jollygooduser]

Yeah I cried for days

[@dirtypure2023]

I loved both the series and OVAs. Can't think of any other anime series which left me feeling so satisfied at the end, yet moving on to something else was intensely bittersweet. Despite its appearance, the series digs into some gritty philosophical stuff and goes to some dark places, but it always felt so organic, like it was a true labor of love on the part of the creators. It also had some of the most intense and exhilarating showdowns I've seen in anime. Such goodness in the main character. Inspired me to try and be a better person.

[@Aleczandxr]

Agree completely, it's obvious from the outset that this was a labor of love. There's passion in ever frame and spoken lines of dialogue, with some really profound theming as well.

[@dirtypure2023]

Aleczandxr I watched the OVAs after I finished the TV series, but if you still haven't seen the series (and based on your reception of the OVAs) I think you'd appreciate it on many levels.

[@Aleczandxr]

***** I haven't seen the series, but I will eventually!

[@troymindwrite7850]

I remember back in 2012 me and my cousin binged the Trust & Betrayal episodes after getting faded! Straight classic and took us by surprise!

[@Ostsol]

Kinda funny to talk about immersion with The Witcher and show footage with NPCs popping in. 😅 Seriously, though, this is my favourite OVA of all time. It's simply amazing.

[@perrydunetz882]

It's too bad the arc this set up never got animated it was all about tomoe's brother enishi returning to Japan to break kenshin psychologically, so happy the manga is getting a sequel

[@Agret]

They do have that in one of the OVA but yeah would've preferred that arc to the absolutely stupid final arc of rurounki kenshin with all the crazy magic powers and foreign fighters

[@littlen8279]

@@Agret Tbf a LOT of villains from Kenshin has crazy magic powers. Though they explain how they works it still feels like bs.

[@tobznoobs]

well at least the live action did it justice following this arc.

[@perrydunetz882]

@@tobznoobs yup, though it kinda did it’s own thing with it, it was really good but completely different

[@azizsaidy1135]

Just finished this masterpiece today, been completely left speechless.

[@zzasserzz]

As a writer, I really loved your script. Great descriptives, good flow, explicitly detailing the nuances of the anime without giving away spoilers. Keep up the good work, you've earned yourself a sub. On a side note: Please check out and do a video on the main Anime. Looking at your comments section, It has obviously come highly recommended. Best wishes.

[@Aleczandxr]

Much appreciated. Keep in mind that most of my content does indeed have spoilers, but I purposely kept them out of this video (and a couple of others). I do plan on checking out the anime, and if I enjoy it enough or find something worth talking about then you can definitely expect a video on it.

[@kagegenius]

If you want to watch rurouni kenshin I suggest you watch until the end of the kyoto arc and then read the manga coz everything after that is just filler or just read the manga. The manga and this ova have minor differences with regards to Tomoes character which is better in the manga in my opinion so I recommend you not skip that part. I won't call the series lighthearted coz there are a lot of mature themes involved in it. Rurouni kenshin was the first anime I watched when it aired on animax in my country so I absolutely love it. Also kenshin vs saito battle in the anime is one of the best fights ever.

[@Aleczandxr]

Interesting that you like the manga for T&B better, because most have told me that the OVA did it better. I won't be reading manga for a long time, so I'll probably just watch the anime until where the filler starts and just continue the story in the manga whenever I'm able in the far off future as you said.

[@almiraruaya6656]

Wow, I never imagined to find an opinion stating that the manga version was better than the ova. I really thought only my friend and I were the ones preferred the manga version. Made me even think if I'm weird since I usually agree with the general public opinion on stuff like these. XD I know I'm 3 yrs late in replying, but yes! I totally agree with you on this 😊

[@breakah915]

aaaaaa this video had me melting with nostalgia-i haven't seen rurouni kenshin in /years/ and this made me want to watch it again. thanks for another great vid! c:

[@Aleczandxr]

Go for a rewatch then ;)

[@GaganXT]

The story is great but the thing i liked the most about this anime is history blend of Meiji restoration i liked it cuz I'm a history nerd and soundtrack is absolutely amazing

[@The_Doctor_K]

Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite series ever. The manga is what got me into manga/anime back in the early 2000s.

[@m.e.6919]

The manga so good fr, my 2nd favorite

[@JVision1]

@@m.e.6919What’s your most favourite?

[@m.e.6919]

@@JVision1 damn this was some time ago😂 Back then my top 1 manga was kingdom and kenshin number 2 but right now its kinda like this : 1 Kingdom 2 Blade of The Immortal 3 Rurouni Kenshin 4 Uosgui

[@Greyshadow_17]

One movie that’s very similar is the movie Equilibrium. On a deeper level there’s a philosophical tone to it about expressing emotions and suppressing emotions. Like Kenshin, the main character is the strongest enforcer on the side they’re fighting on. However, one major difference is Preston (the MC) switches sides when he realizes how wrong he was. So yeah I def recommend Equilibrium

[@Xaforn]

I remember this OVA, it was amazing yet heartbreaking

[@jorgesissoco2226]

I might be a dreamer but I'm still waiting for an animated series of the jinchuu arc. We need enishi group vs Kenshin group

[@devildavin]

i enjoyed the OVA and the anime but i fell in love with the look of the OVA, the artstyle and that grounded setting. i kind of want a show that tells the same stories as the anime but with the look and feel of the OVA's

[@cmbaz1140]

love this ,thanks. animes such as this made me fall in love with animation.

[@Aleczandxr]

No problem, and I can see why. It was quite beautiful.

[@ApexGale]

The live action movies are also very well adapted. I'd recommend watching them if you already haven't, if you enjoy Kenshin

[@rumblefish9]

We're finally getting a live action adaptation of Trust and Betrayal and the Jinchuu arc from the manga this year!

[@SunnySideUp360]

One of the greatest animated works ever made. #1 for me without question.

[@gurpreetsingh-rv6uy]

Thanx to you, I stumbled upon this masterpiece. I finished the anime and the OVA yesterday. Now I will start the manga. I loved the OVA, I watched it after the main series and I like it more than the seires. This is a masterpiece.

[@evil_cupcake2386]

Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best stories ever. And this OVA is one of the best anime ever. It's making especially strong impact, if you saw TV-show first, but not that strong as in original manga. That is where the most brutal stuff going on, especially in the last ark, when you're just like Kenshin, just ready to sit and die.

[@MrFox-kh4lv]

It was a very deep and dramatic and also a slightly depressing Film but also beautiful and Entertaining

[@666melodeath666]

You should totally watch the series to see Kenshin's growth after all these events

[@Aleczandxr]

I will eventually, like I said. Just need to get through a couple of the series I'm watching now.

[@micaholson1052]

To me, this is the best anime movie of all time.

[@elmo4672]

The best anime movie that is not a movie.

[@RothurThePaladin]

This anime is my favorite of all time for a good reason.

[@dessfred]

Rurouni Kenshin is one of the first anime serie I watched. I'd say it's called starting strong. It's not perfect, but it got some deep characters story, all in a funny, easy to follow plot. You didn't made a mistake watching T&B first. At worst, you'll know why people are so afraid of Hitokiri Batousai

[@Aleczandxr]

Yeah, a bunch of experts told me that it'd be fine watching this beforehand. Glad to have another person confirm it.

[@estogaza1]

I watched this movie 20 years ago. This is the best anime ever in my entire life. All you have described is spot on. Thanks for making this review

[@marcusmartin5758]

You should try to watch ninja scroll

[@naheemquattlebaum2267]

A gem from the golden days of ovas

[@masterz7201]

I dont think anyone should start Rurouni Kenshin with this OVA. It is nothing like the Rurouni Kenshin series. It is pretty much a flashback very late in the manga and it really does not feel the original series at all. It was by far the darkest and most somber part of the manga. I love this OVA for the same reasons discussed in this video it is truly great. But Kenshin is so different 15 years later in the main series. I think this OVA is best watched after reading the manga and at least catching up to where it was in the manga which is like chapter 200. Because seeing how Kenshin lives without truly seeing how ruthless he was in his past is valuable to our understanding of him. But watching this OVA is better than no Rurouni Kenshin. I just personally enjoyed the original show and manga so much more and I believe Kenshin's journey and characterization is best viewed in the order of the manga.

[@Aleczandxr]

I did and I’m very glad I did personally.

[@masterz7201]

@@Aleczandxr yo I love your videos

[@deanwinchester5111]

i'm watching khensin for 20+ years, and the story still fascinates me

[@nikicupcakes]

Beautiful video. Kenshin is my life anime wise besides sailor Moon n this definitely did this justice! It’s totally a work of art

[@MadcapMurdoc]

Highly appreciate this! Im so glad someone out there actually made an effort to praise such a masterpiece that is Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal OVA. 👍I remember watching this ova again & again ten years ago. And Im currently rewatching all of my RK dvds.

[@spiritualcoconut4478]

Woah I never knew there was a prequel for RK. I need to watch this asap. Great video as always dude! 👌

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks! And yes, give it a watch!

[@samisabbir8365]

I still can feel the chills when i watched trust and betrayal.. for me the pace was shifting so out of blue that i couldn't be more excited and amazed!! the last episode left a deep scar on my heart i literally cried a bit for kenshin ...maybe i was so into this!!although i watched it after main series .because of that i know how Kenshin got that scar,how can he become so cheerful having this kind of trauma!!!it was exceptional experience for me!!

[@hidarimak]

I agree with what was said in this video, but also want to give a heads-up for those who come across the AD Vision release, which I got here in North America. It was an easy purchase for me after seeing the fansubs, before they were available outside of Japan. But from the opening scene, AD Vision started taking liberties. The ones who Kenshin were traveling with at the start were not guardians or caretakers, but slave traders. Kenshin was "adopted" by three young women who were also slaves traveling to be marketed, and the compassion they felt for Kenshin quickly becomes evident. But that was where the circle ended. A much older woman, who might have been the wife of the slave trader, gets killed, and you see her lips quietly moving during the last 10 seconds of her life, highlighting the brutality of the scene. But for the English dub, AD Vision has her saying "please, don't hurt the boy", for whatever reason. And while the original voice of the young Kenshin comes across as sober and weary, as a child still processing what he had recently gone through, the dub has him sounding loud and somewhat whiny. And that's only in the first 5 minutes or so. Another regrettable detail of the AD Vision release is the fact that the four 30 minute OVAs are divided among two DVDs, with heavy advertising before each pair of OVAs. And while it was pretty standard to make some ads before the main feature unskippable, AD Vision took the extra step of allowing you to jump to the end of each trailer, but looping back to the start of the very first (of half a dozen trailers) if you dared to try to skip past the final one. That ruins the flow of the story when jumping from the 2nd to the third OVA, and adds an element of frustration to watching a good story. Out of all the DVDs I own, this is the only one where I felt compelled to copy the OVAs to a separate blank DVD, with all trailers stripped out. That being said, the original OVAs are excellent (and should still be very good with a better English dub than what I got), and I'd recommend watching them before the anime if possible. While the anime TV series is great (at least up until the Kyoto arc ends, at around episode 65), and has a lighter overall tone, having a deeper understanding of the main character might make an easier transition of the other characters from the anime. Other than Kenshin himself and Shinsengumi member Haijime Saito, who is also based on a real person, all of the other characters from the TV series are brand new to it.

[@martynsoogen7464]

i still have a playlist with this ost

[@CloudBuilderMetba]

Did you ever end up watching the full series? It has some of the greatest villains, and as the series slowly reveals Kenshin’s past is brilliant.

[@Aleczandxr]

Yep.

[@koutroubasathanasios7322]

By far the best animated series i have ever watched,basically the one which set the bar for my expectations of everything similar i have seen ever since.I watched Rurouni Kenshin and the OVA really back in the day,i was following it live (im kind of an old fart) and then was invested in the manga aswell. I have to confess i have not found any other series remotely up to par.The standards it set for me were simply just too high.Considering the tools available when it aired it captivated me and still buffles me as to how they managed to narrate a story so heavy at times and combine it with amazing history references and extraordinary combact scenes. The best part about the whole series is that,unlike other animated series i have seen,lists as both a documentary about the certain era it describes and an exciting,prefectly animated sword-fighting saga.I have been suggesting it to everyone who asks me about must-watch anime and i will keep doing it. There are so many nuances which make you fall in love with it i cant even begin to describe them.Ontop of everything else the dialogue is always captivating and deep.Conveying messages about life which are actually connected to the characters though shown previous endeavours and incidents in their lives.Its an all around unique anime.

[@IshikawaGoemon]

I was just watching this today. It really is a work of art. I highly recommend the Rurouni Kenshin anime as well. Yes, the Kyoto arc is amazing, but the Oniwaban arc is good too. The filler isn't all that bad either.

[@TobioEdolvesMark]

Mate, you stole the words right off of my mouth as soon as you contrasted Kenshin to Kiritsugu. All this time I was wondering why I adored Kiritsugu's characterisation so much. All this time I was making so many points about why Kiritsugu as a character is so well-written and fairly deep. I guess my subconscious was reminding me of Kenshin a lot when observing Kiritsugu in Fate/Zero. P.S. Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal was actually one of my first anime when I was growing up in the early 2000s. It's the sole reason why I even became a weeab.

[@crzyboy190]

I would also recommend you read the flashback in the manga. The ova did change a few things and in the manga kenshin and tomoe actually have more conversations. In portray they're both different because in the manga kenshin is actually telling the us the flashback with an interception in the middle. Also stay away from samurai x reflection because is filler garbage that they tried making canon but author said no. It was that bad lol.

[@crzyboy190]

Don't worry when you get to the kyoto arc kenshin won't be feeling like a typical shonen. It's honestly what I considered the best shonen the 90s had to offer.

[@pelucheCR7]

So what is the best arc in shounen in the 2000s in your opinion? Also I agree. Most people tend to say chapter black but I prefer Kyoto.

[@crzyboy190]

pelucheCR7 Let's be honest here but chapter black is a prototype for the chimera ant arc. I love sensui but that arc it's very overrated and chimera ant arc did it so much better.

[@Aleczandxr]

I won't be reading any manga for a long while but I'll keep this in mind. And don't worry, I won't touch Reflection.

[@Aleczandxr]

I'm guessing the Kyoto arc is season/part 2?

[@TheCristian1409]

Once again, your videos are perfect, I really appreciate your work man! Trust and betrayal was a masterpiece without a doubt, I don't think I've ever become so engaged in only 4 episodes till now

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks so much! And I agree, it was an amazing and poetic piece of work, so effortless in it's strengths.

[@shygirl2927]

I'm glad you enjoyed this series. I do warn you though if you ever watch rurouni kenshin, it's going to be very jarring. They're nothing alike. The series is much more upbeat while the ova trust and betrayal is very dark and gritty. They're very different from each other though I've always loved that about them considering kenshin was very dark back then and he was trying to find peace and redemption in the tv series. If you liked trust and betrayal you will probably dislike the tv show though I loved both so that's also possible.

[@Aleczandxr]

I won't be watching the series immediately, but yeah, I'm prepared for a tone shift like I said in the video. I'm aware of it and have a completely open mind, I'm not expecting anything remotely similar to the OVA.

[@xdepredatex]

Its great to see someone talking about this! Great job too. I got this OVA randomly at a Best Buy in the early 00’s. It’s always been such a mesmerizing piece of work. I always come back to it.

[@DJSedSo]

At 2:00-2:03: That slice 'n dice is one of my most favorite segments in this Kenshin OVA series. Extreme, brutal execution of the bandit that killed then-Shinta's (renamed Kenshin later on) guardians.

[@SolarDragon007]

As a fan of both Fate/Zero and Rurouni Kenshin, I'm delighted that someone else picked up on the parallels between their leads.

[@mariusssssss]

some of the more mundane scenes looked like they were filmed irl then drawn/edited over and i thought it was really pretty (eg top spinning, fire crackling, etc)

[@BIGNAMESIS]

you have 1 thing right aleczandxr... ther is no other anime that have me sustaining my breath for the intire movie for the emotional content that is shown in this anime. i absulutly love it. i also want to thank the creators that have the idea and make it hapend to create sutch a masterpiece like this. one word... wonderfull.

[@tcc5750]

I loved this OVA when I saw it back in 2012 or 2013. It's fucking great.

[@contemptman3646]

I've watched this OVA back to front and you still brought up things in this video that I didn't even think about. The points about contrasts, different types of scenes, etc. Great job yet again dood.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks pal.

[@S3aCa1mRa1n]

The music and animations were gorgeous and the character exploration and development was amazing!!! I’m an anime normie casual btw so I’m not a real fan. I only watched dbz and naruto and later death note and steins gate. But this OVA is a 10/10

[@angelapalmer6852]

I saw the anime series Rurouni Kenshin before I saw Trust and Betrayal.. I was already a huge fan of Kenshin and the characters but Trust and Betrayal blew me away. It really drove home the agony he went though and how his past and the deeds he's done weighed on him. The tone and beautiful art were captivating and the drama and detail in which his inner struggle were shown were better than in any other anime I have seen. I love this ova and the series, but you should also read the manga.. the anime does a good job but you'll get more of the story reading the manga.

[@AspieMediaBobby]

Another thing of note is the primary voice actor in the dub J. Shannon Weaver.Whilst lacking the distinctive speaking style of Richard Cansino`s Kenshin from the series,he really brought out The Character`s duality between the romantic and gentle Kenshin and the sadistic and almost satanic Battousai without his eyecolor needing to change the way it does in The Show.

[@Aleczandxr]

Interestingly enough, I found the dub to be terrible. I can only watch this subbed.

[@SuperPlaytendo]

I prefer Richard as Kenshin but J Shannon Weaver wasn’t that far off from Richard’s performance.

[@nanohiso]

How come I have never heard of this anime?!! so much for an anime Otaku.. it reminds me however of Sword Of The Stranger anime movie which's one of my favorite anime movies ever! I'll definitely check this anime out! keep up the great work!

[@Zilivat]

This upload is so timely lol I've loved Rurouni Kenshin since 2009, but I JUST watched Trust&Betrayal and Reflections for the first time like 3 weeks ago haha Anyway, this was a great video! T&B was better than I expected for all of the reasons you mentioned :) *Sidenote* I loved your HxH character analysis videos, it would be so cool if you analyzed the RK characters like the Oniwabanshu or the Juppongatana one day :)

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks! This OVA really was wonderful, I'm surprised that there isn't more content on it on KZbin. And I'm happy that you like the character analysis stuff. I don't only do character analysis on HxH (I've done Monster, FMA, Final Fantasy, etc as well) so anything is possible. But at the moment I have no idea who the characters that you named there are, hahaha.

[@CSManiac33]

Tavi Liz What was your opinion on Reflection because it is very divisive with most people hating it

[@sasquatchycowboy5585]

Absolutely loved Rurouni Kenshin the series. But that's because I love her Roni Kenshin the character. I liked the more realistic portrayal and trust and betrayal, and kind of wish the series proper had stuck with it, or better yet began with it. But I love the story of Kenshin trying to deal with this past, while still trying to build a better world, although be it on a much smaller scale. Overall Kenshin is probably one of my top three favorite Heroes. Because he's mortal, and he's damaged, but he's still willing to lose everything to do what's right.

[@seijin4426]

Kenshin Himura, the man that lost everything.

[@VoltismProductions]

This is the only film I really rewatch. I must've seen it 10 times by now.

[@ajtemp2000]

YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE MUSIC!!!! The score is amazing. Watch the sequel Reflections. It's pure genius! My favorite movie of all time. Also the movie Reflections, has an even more impressive musical score. I listen to it almost daily for the past 4 years. It's called reflections for a reason. Don't give into the naysayers. Trust me, you won't be, betrayed.

[@AntiNihilist]

Can't wait for you to watch the actual series sometime. The comparison to Emiya was spot on for sure, but I'd say Kenshin is even more similar to Vash the Stampede, at least in the anime series, not so much for the events prior.

[@Aleczandxr]

Yeah, many commenters have been getting me hyped for the Kyoto arc, haha.

[@theirongiants]

The classical beautiful storytelling absolutely sells me.

[@MrFinalMugetsu47]

You probably didn't know this but Tomoe design and personality are actually based off Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

[@kpetalis]

No, just no. If this is true then it's wrong on so many levels! Rei is an automaton! A lifeless character that I can't relate on any level and in truth I find her akin to a doll! She works as a character to her story, but only to her story! Tomoe is an amazing character with a defined personality, a tragic backstory, human flaws and good traits also, that finds it in her heart to forgive and even fall in love with a man she should hate! In sort, she is human! How is she in any why or form based to Rei Ayanami?

[@stefdiazdiaz7067]

​@@kpetalisonly her white pale skin

[@amandaz.lebron]

I loved Rurouni Kenshin TV series, but Trust and Betrayal is an underrate master piece, it broke my heart deeply.

[@antjluc]

hopefully you will cover Sword of the Stranger

[@ananthuashokan8219]

I just watched this anime after watching this video . Every second of it was worth it. Thank you

[@isaacneterosmiddlefinger186]

Watching this OVA before the main series is big mistake. Just a PSA.

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Is it? I was actually going to ask that.

[@isaacneterosmiddlefinger186]

I strongly advise to watch the original anime series before Trust and Betrayal. If you watch T&B before the anime or read the manga, it will spoil the mystery behind Kenshin's character... unless you want that to happen lol

[@georgeanton575]

Tomoe Yukishiro I second that. The OVA is a lot more Graphic and powerful too, so watching the anime afterwards will give it a more "watered-down" feel

[@theanimaker7084]

I completely agree!

[@gabrielhormazabal4772]

yeah, in the manga his past is told after the Kyoto arc is over, when the next arc is beinning. It is meant to be a mystery up until that point. And yeah, the difference in animation quality is another problem. The OVA is consistent with high quality, while the anime goes up and down, as most long running anime do.

[@user-nc5wc7dh7l]

Yes! Finally someone gives a proper in depth video analysis on one of the greatest OVAs ever made, thank you so much!

[@Aleczandxr]

No problem at all, it's a story that deserves it for sure!

[@X_Gon_Give_It_To_Ya]

The live action adaptation paled in comparison to this masterpiece.

[@bestfan6574]

+Aleczandxr I know that others have already more or less mentioned what would be my own thoughts on both this video and the subject matter, yet can't help but comment when it's RuroKen that's being talked about. For me, this story carries with it a heightened sense of _saudade_. Not only because the main series something associated with my childhood, but it gave my plenty to consider and eventually take up. I'll always have a sense of gratitude to both the story and its creators, particularly the mangaka, Nobuhiro Watsuki. That said, this was a lovely video, just as the rest of your's. I liked how kept emphasising on the little and subtle aspects of the story and how those added the necessary weight to the tale. The imagery used in this anime is not merely stunning but appropriate, not to mention the music that can invoke just the correct feeling and just the right amount of it as well. This OVA is possibly the best and most complete anime adaptation I've seen and could very easily rival most of classic the non-anime on-screen adaptations as well. I'm so glad you gave this a try, and then made a video for it too. This show and the series as a whole deserves a lot more attention. I will add in that the manga is as superb as you might expect having seen this, and as for the main TV series, it's pretty good in the first season (upto Episode 27), magnificent in the second season (27-60s) and fillers in the third. The second season, aka Kyoto Arc, will definitely be to your liking. Not only is it a compelling drama filled with lots of good action but it also has an excellent antagonist, one of my all time favourites. The reason why he is so admired is because neither is his nature crazy nor conflicted, just a straight-out man of ambition. Usually characters of this style hardly comes off as memorable let alone compelling, but Makoto Shishio literally owns that characterisation now, in my eyes. Also, the music for the TV series overall is fantastic, but the Kyoto Arc in particular has some of my all time favourite tracks, both as tunes and in terms of use as backing tracks for setting the mood and tone perfectly for the story. It's a real shame that the last major arc in the manga, of which this OVA"s content was only a small segment of, was never properly adapted into anime. Like many fans of the series, I too hope that one day there will be a full reboot of this great manga series. One final note, Himura Kenshin is right up there in my all time favourite characters, and his story will forever be something I cherish, and take inspiration from. Thank you, Aleczandxr, for providing me such a lovely gift to to start the day off with. Have a pleasant day!

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks for putting so much thought into commenting here! I'm glad you enjoyed the video - for me, the little and subtle things in the OVA add up and have nearly as much impact as the broad strokes. Every element just adds together and fits so well, forming a really beautiful piece of work. Hopefully some who watch this video take the time to give the 4 episodes a go - quite a few have already said I convinced them, so that's good! And that's good to hear about the anime. I might be skipping the fillers (not completely sure yet) but I really am psyched for the Kyoto arc. People have been praising it like mad today. On Kenshin, I wholeheartedly agree again. He's one of my favourite anime protagonists, and I've only seen a small portion of his story! A reboot would be amazing, but I'll content myself with this OVA, the anime, and maybe the manga if I eventually find some time for manga. No problem at all my friend, thanks for the support! And by the way, cool account name. Best is one of my favourite players of all time.

[@bestfan6574]

+Aleczandxr It's a pleasure to watch your videos and I must confess that I don't leave as many comments as I should. Barring Re:Zero and Psycho Pass, both of which i haven't watched it, and all the games, as I haven't played any, I loved all those other series and your videos on them too. Without exception, all of your remainder productions are on series I hold in great regard. Yes, the Kyoto Arc was adapted very faithfully into the anime and provided with great music and good animated action scenes, so it is the part which most fans adore. The first segment is good, and has a couple of excellent mini-arcs as well. You can afford to skip the filler season at the end, though objectively it's not all that bad, but the dip in quality is way too obvious. Even when I first watched this a kid, I could feel that something was off. That said, i'll leave it to you on how to tackle that. Back to more broader things, I liked how you present the lesser heralded characters from the shows as well, like Judeau or Knov. Not that the analyses of the popular ones are not good, they were excellent as well, still this is something I appreciate in your productions. I had a look around in the comments and noticed that you plan to watch LoGH next. If I'm not being too forward, let me suggest what i feel is the best viewing order, some other fans attest to this as well; 1) Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars 2) Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Overture to a New War 3) Start from Episode 3 of the Main LoGH OVA and till the end. There are other movies and related OVAs to this, and chronologically some of them would be prequels to the main series or some happen in the middle. Still, I would suggest that you follow this watching pattern before picking up any of the other parts of it. It'll make most sense, overall, this way. That's another outstanding series, can't wait to see your analyses of the very many great characters in it. I'll end this reply with one more thing, Seirei no Moribito is a series which in case you haven't watched I'll highly recommend that you add in for future watching. After this Trust and Betrayal OVA, it is the the closest to perfection an anime adaptation has reached, amongst the many anime I've come across. Oh yes, watching George Best in action often reminds one of the phrase, poetry in motion. He is as my id suggests my favourite player, perhaps tied favourite with Garrincha, still favourite regardless. Well, thanks again :)

[@bestfan6574]

Don't know why I cannot edit this but, I had meant to type, "Barring Re:Zero and Psycho Pass, both of which i haven't watched _yet_", not *it, excuse me.

[@Aleczandxr]

Best Fan It's good to see that you value the fact that I look at some understated characters! I actually want to turn to another pretty secondary individual or two in an upcoming video down the line, so there's more to come with regards to that! And unfortunately I've already gone again your viewing order because I've already started LotGH! I'm 18 episodes in. I dunno if you'd want me to go back and watch those anyway, but I'm already well into the series. It's damn intriguing, some fascinating characters in there and I feel like it'll only get better. And Moribito has been in my PTW for a while as well. Not sure when exactly I'll watch it, but I definitely will check it out!

[@bestfan6574]

+Aleczandxr That's good news and I'll look forward to those videos. As for LotGH, the first one I listed out is a movie that's just under an hour in length and showcases a set of events that prelude the beginning of the OVA. It's an anime only portion which isn't found in the original novels. On that front the entire OVA has some minor variations to the novels, not that it's an issue, mind. The second one in my list is another movie which is a rehashed and a much better presentation of the first 2 episodes of the OVA. It makes the events so much easier to follow, though for you now that isn't a concern. That said, it is still worth a watch just because it is simply beautiful. It has betters the visuals in the OVA by a long shot. So just consider these if you do find the opportunity for it. Also, it's great to know that Moribito is something you've already aware of. Balsa, the MC of the tale, can legitimately lay claim to being the top female character in anime. There's always debates on those, yes, but any discussion that excludes Balsa in it, is vacuous. So, someday I do hope to hear your thoughts on it as well.

[@nichtrick3308]

Did you already watched Serial Experiment Lain? I'm really interested about your opinion on it.

[@Aleczandxr]

Nah, I haven't. I plan to watch it eventually but not immediately.

[@sadv0m]

Aleczandxr lain is everything. If you enjoy character dramas, as well as emotionally atmospheric/dense shows, it's really powerful.

[@Aleczandxr]

Mallory Lewis I've heard! One of these nights in the near future I might try to marathon it. People have been telling me to watch it for a while but other things have always had priority.

[@nichtrick3308]

Well, Lain is a very unique one , so many people want to hear your thoughts on it, but you should take your time. I'll just keep annoy you with it. Oh and I think it should be all watched in one go, it just feels better that way. Keep up the awesome content!

[@viggipedia]

Lain is well different, It changed my life however made me psyched about the internet growing up.

[@victorb5608]

Dude your channel is literal fucking gold man. Don't ever let somebody get you down or say that spending this much time talking about anime is useless because the way you analyze anime and their stories and concepts is a gift. 👍👍👍

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks so much man, it's very nice of you to say so. Very few people have ever told me something similar to that and even if they were to, I'd ignore them :)

[@lisquidsnake]

whoa cool. is this the story when he was the manslayer? before he got his reverse blade sword or just a random ova?

[@Aleczandxr]

Yeah, it's a prequel. Check it out.

[@TrevRockOne]

lisquidsnake Yeah, Trust and Betrayal are straight out of the manga, with some alterations, of course.

[@shygirl2927]

lisquidsnake yes. When he was a manslayer.

[@pavelshank]

Best amime OVA of all time. Watching this over and over again and you all who didn't see ova about Kenshin you have to find a time for watching that OVa. Truly masterpiece of anime!