mamuzzy | [Touken Ranbu Kai]: Episode 1

The first episode was basically a quick summs-up what is this story is about: Swords manifested in human form by the mysterious Sage (you in the game), who send these heroes back the past to protect history and prevent the enemy Historical Revinionists to alter it. Also it was a big cameo-parade for lots of the characters. I have my ELEG4NT radar on, so I spotted my babys at instant. xD But ultimately it served to introduce the four Nobunaga-swords: Souza Samonji, Heshikiri Hasebe, Yagen Toushirou and Fudo Yukimitsu, as well as the current attendant, Mikazuki Munechika and the previous attendant, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.

This won't be a full-scale review, my english is not that articulate lmao, but I just want to scream into the void with a very lengthy posts full with screenshots of my swordbois.

The Intro did a lazy approach in animation (okay okay Katsugeki spoiled me!!!) and the music is also forgettable.

After Souza's dream about the Honnoji incident, the Samonji brothers are already introduced. Little Sayo sleeping between them just adorable.

Kousetsu Samonji, my beautiful depressed man worrying for his little brother!!!!

After the Intro we are already into a mission with the six chosen sword: Hotarumaru, Nakigitsune, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Horikawa Kunihiro and Yamabushi Kunihiro. YEEEYYYYY KUNIHIRO BROTHERS IN ONE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAAAAAAA YAAAAAAAAAA KORENARU WA- *clocks shotgun and shoots the bastard*

Nakigitsune also got a gorgeous design!!!

Have I mentioned that I love unpopular characters? I would die for Yamabushi and would protect his smile at all cost. I love that they already introduced him despite only having a bigger role later on! I really enjoyed him in the stage play, being a wise but carefree big brother to Yamanbagiri, someone he can look up to.

I loved him in Hanamaru too, being very unhinged with his excessive training methods (one of the best episodes honestly from season 2 where I laughed my ass off), but the stage play gave him true depth and a very important role in Yamanbagiri's life.

Though I know that most of the frustration mostly comes from the game where he constantly dropped on a Map where people went to get Mikazuki.

Also they did a little easter egg, they are saying the lines from the game recollections.

WHY EVERYONE LOOKS GORGEOUS THIS IS ILLEGAL!!!! Loved that instead of pairing up with Izuminokami, he had a moment with his brothers.

After the battle scenes, the Citadel is waking up.

HACHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Combing his beautiful hair. But also I see there is a little inconsistency in the animation quality.

NIKKARIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NIKKARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love how Taroutachi and Nikkari shared a little glance. Probably just seeing into it, but I love this little detail, given they are like distant cousins.

Also Izuminokami being pretty princess as ever.

EVERYONE!!! (save for Mikazuki, he is sitting in front of them)

Love the detail of the starter swords being on the front!!! Kasen, my love, you look beautiful and elegant.

Will I be normal about Kasen appearing on screen? Probably not. Also ATSUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

Fudou Yukimitsu manifesting in the Citadel. He is gorgeous too. Everyone is gorgeous.

Yagen and Souza's conversation is just AAAAAHHHH!!!! I already love Yagen's depiction in the stage play and I think they kept it! Not the icy-megane-guy trope they forced onto him in Katsugeki. He is serious and responsible for everyone else's health in the citadel, but not without compassion and kindness.

But I already hate that they just refuse to show the characters in ONE FUCKING FRAME. My YagenSouza needs :((((

Yagen's giving Souza a sleeping medicine to prevent anymore nightmares. :<

FINALLY. IN ONE FRAME. Pretty depressed flamingo guy is pretty.

Pretty depressed flamingo guy still pretty. Pretty depressed. I love this shot of him.

Souza internally: Yeah, no shit bitch.

Other's want to invite him to spar, but he refuses due to being sleep-deprived.

Fudo's entrance was pretty tame compared to the stageplay. :DDDDD But he already found his way to the kitchen stealing alchohol. :D It's okay my teenage alcholic child, happens with the best.

Souza: Fuck off.

Oda Nobunaga's self-proclaimed favorite sword vs. the swords who was actually worshipped like a war-trophy.

Mikazuki arrives and appoints Souza as Fudo's guide.

Souza: Do I have to?

Yamanbagiri comes to save the day for Souza and accompany them too, but Fudo just have the talent to step on landmines. MANBA-CHAN!!!!!

Despite my internal-comments for Souza, Souza is just too polite. I mean, in the game he uses keigo which is the overly-polite way of speaking Japanese, and yet still so snarky you lose your will to live or you drop yourself before his feet, depending on what's your kink. But as I mentioned in my previous post, most media depiction (including the stage play) of Souza managed to kill off his hurtful sarcasm.

NIKKARI AND KASEN DOING CHORES TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Souza can't give a single shit about showing the place to Fudo, but this detail of him looking back when he sees Kousetsu and Sayo <33333

HE SMILES DSSFHSIODHGSOIDGHOSG!!!!!!!!! He loves his brothers dearly.

Hachisuka is so majestic. Cutting firewood with his Nagasone-hater-bestie.

Heshi: Fuck off.

Fudo stepping on landmines, Heshikiri edition.

Them!!!!

Am I going to take a shot everytime Kasen shows up? Yes. What a wonderful shot of Kasen's booty in hakama. This pleases Zee.

And them!!!! Yagen being concerned about Souza because of Fudo's arrival. Yagen - being also Nobunaga's sword - isn't bothered but he cares about Souza. Souza shares his past with Yagen, being a sword of Imagawa Yoshimoto before Nobunaga and mentions how the branding of Nobunaga sealed his fate as a trophy-sword, never to be used again.

He is so relatable omg.

You know... I'm kind of starting to see the patterns. While Souza didn't said it outright, but the next shot of Yamanbagiri pondering about Fudo calling himself useless sword (damegatana), I think there is a pattern among the Nobunaga-swords. The feeling of uselessness.

Heshikiri Hasebe was given away very early.

Souza Samonji was only kept as a trophy, never to be used as a warsword.

Fudo Yukimitsu carrying the grief of Mori Ranmaru, being unable to save Oda Nobunaga from dying.

And there is Yagen Toushirou who's legend is about being such a faithful sword you cannot commit seppuku with it, but can easily cut a mortar (yagen) in half. If remember correctly, the live action movie talked about his feelings about this legend, but not here so far.

Loved this shot of Manba meditating.

And then we see Yamanbagiri's issues too. He can relate to Fudo very much. Finding himself a just a copy of the original Yamanbagiri and he channels his doubts into the conversation with Mikazuki and Saniwa.

Yamanbagiri was the first swords and with is, the first attendant even before Mikazuki's (the current attendant) arrival and ended up with Yamabushi's injury. I love how they forshadow the story of Joden: Mitsuraboshi Katanagatari.

BUT YAMABUSHI IS ALIVE AND WELL AND SLEEPING WITH SO LITTLE CARE TO THE WORLD LOOK AT HIM LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!!!!!

I think the only disappointment I have is with Mikazuki, which is interesting because he is exactly like in the games, mysterious and a bit arrogant, and I would say he is also resembling to the personality they created in Katsugeki Touken Ranbu.

While in the stage play he really was made into the role of I'm just a silly and lazy old man pretending I'm not competent at all. All this to hide his lingering sadness. And he was so good at it, constant source of laughs, but also being there for the residents of the citadel, sharing crumbs of wisdom and comfort when needed, and actually very deadly and hypercompetent. He was truly part of the Citadel. This Mikazuki is already forshadowing that he is very much aware what will happen, even anticipating it, like a scheming devil. Probably there is a reason he is also Kaeya Alberich's seiyuu in Genshin Impact.

Also because everyone is equally gorgeous, his beauty is just not that eye-catching.

~~Or maybe I'm just too attached to him. XDD~~