Talking about Rurouni Kenshin 2023
I'm going to write a lot and I might have a bit of spoiler!!!
As a fan of Rurouni Kenshin from 1996, and now that a new adaptation came out this year I wanted to give a little opinion of my own, focusing on the comparisons I've seen of the current animated version with the 96 version.
However, I think that in order to see and enjoy both adaptations it is necessary to clarify several points, and the first of them is the intention behind each adaptation and which points can be compared and which others cannot.
Clearly, both adaptations have been made under different directions, by different companies and different times, aimed at different target audiences. And this can be clearly reflected from the first chapters aired to date (at the time of writing this review). Actually, I don't want to talk in depth about Jin-e Udo's arc yet, since in anime 2023 the battle between them and several of the arcs that are still to be broadcasted have not been released yet, but I think episode 6- Kurogasa, serves to illustrate how the current adaptation seeks to move away from its 96 counterpart despite being the chapters with less changes from each other.
To begin with, the contextualization and presentation of characters...
While in both the manga and the anime 2023, we are given a little contextualization of the situation. We are not introduced to Mr. Tani, the person Kenshin must protect at the request of one of the policemen, he is a rather arrogant man who currently holds a political office so he has enough money at his disposal to hire many men to protect them against the threat of an assassin. Although, at the beginning he refuses with arrogance, when Kenshin reminds him how he protected him during the Bakumatsu, Mr. Tani's expression changes radically, adding that all his bodyguards are useless since Sanosuke himself has crushed them in previous times.
Much of this context is omitted in the 1996 version, and it is only pointed out that Kenshin has to go to protect Lord Tani, in the face of Kurogasa's threat.
Also the presentation of Jin-e are very different proposals. In the original version, it is done from the viewer's point of view. We can see Jin-e ruthlessly murdering the guards until he appears in the room. In that way, we are introduced how this is a ruthless killer who makes his way.
While in the 2023 version (and in the manga) it is left to the expectation. Neither Sano nor Kenshin see Jin-e killing directly, they only see the bodies he has left in his path until he makes a surprising presence in the room just when he attacks one of the bodyguards and that is when we see him kill the bodyguards.
Here we see how the approach of both anime is very different. While the original version, seeks to focus more on the killer Kenshin will face and the combat, to convey to the viewer the intimidating feeling of a new enemy. The current version, focuses more on setting the context and showing us the relationship Kenshin has had in the past during the battles. Each chapter shows us key pieces of what Kenshin was like during his Hitokiri era, as well as how those who participated in the war relate to the current government and Meji era.
In Rurouni Kenshin the social and political context is one of the bases of its story, as it is directly inspired by real events. While the character of Lord Tani is irrelevant in many ways. It serves to expose once again that many of those who participated in the war took positions of importance in politics and economics, becoming arrogant people who use power to their convenience. Something Kenshin is against.
Now, really my point is not to talk about which version is better or worse....or if the current version is better for being faithful to the manga or if it is a bad adaptation for not being the same as the 90's version.
But to understand that the original version was never intended to be 100% faithful to the manga, but rather an interpretation using the manga as a guide. The fundamental elements of the manga are respected and maintained, at the same time subtle and continuous changes are made that change the story. I understand that many of these changes are not really important but substantially give a very different interpretation at the narrative level. While this adaptation seeks to be faithful to the manga, following almost in its entirety the events that the original format raised.
The remake is not a remastering of the '96 anime, but rather an adaptation completely detached from its predecessor to stick only to the manga. And this can be reflected in all the number of decisions that the direction has had, from not using the original voice cast, the change in the drawing style, not using the (iconic) soundtrack of the original, not remastering the ending and opening version. Evidently, the current version aims to capture a more current audience, proposing a version that is more attached to modernity. The goal in itself is not to appeal to nostalgia to please the established fandom, but to capture a new one that may or may not have seen the original. And that's why I think many people don't like the differences between the two adaptations.
In my opinion, I don't see anything wrong with the adaptations being different. In fact, I think to a certain extent it's good that they don't play it safe by copying what the '96 anime achieved.
However, despite how faithful the Remake is to the manga, I consider that it has several points to be solved that makes it subtract points.
For starters, several of the comedy scenes that ARE in the manga are omitted. (There are scenes that are adapted while others are omitted) Which, well… I understand the desire to stick to a serious tone and rhythm, I don't pretend that they add comic scenes that are not necessary. But the comedy in the manga was not randomly placed, but emphasized the dynamic between the characters and gave more contrast to Kenshin's personality which is sweet, relaxed and somewhat silly, contrary to his Battousai personality. Subtle details like Kenshin ready to unsheathe the sword, but seeing Kaoru they end up cutting their finger, I think details that make the difference.
Not to mention that really the OST is unremarkable. It's not bad, but it doesn't usually stand out with the scene. I can understand not recycling the previous one, but a new one could be proposed to go with a better scene.
Most importantly, do not raise new technical resources:
Just like the OST, I really don't think that making a carbon copy of the '96 work is the best thing to do. But it would be great if, while not using the same techniques, they at least come up with some new ones.
In '96, the change of color, the use of negative, slow motion, worked to make the dramatic scenes stand out. The drama was intended to be more impactful and contrasting with the comedy and serenity of the rest of the scene. While in the current version (2023), we can see Kenshin's face very well drawn, his anger as Battousai is clearly seen, but there is a lack of ambience that envelops us in the tragic atmosphere as Kaoru's kidnapping. Although these are just details, I hope that for future fights they will focus on giving more emphasis to the combats and manage to transmit the epicness of this work.
Finally, I think that the 1996 adaptation is an incredible work that unfortunately was not completed, and really as a fan of the original anime and manga I think it is worth giving a chance to the remake that shows a lot of potential. The voice cast seems very good (I personally like the new voice of Kenshin) and the animation is quite fluid, and I like the drawing style, however, it has some considerable details to be polished. Although at the moment there are very few chapters broadcasted, there is still a long way to go to see the best fights. The point of comparing is in a constructive way to see those details that can or could have been better in both adaptations, without detracting from the achievements that each one has. Since both stand out in very different ways.
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