Sword of the Stranger (ストレンヂア 無皇刃譚)

Sword of the Stranger (ストレンヂア 無皇刃譚) (Stranger Mukou Hadan) is a Japanese animated feature film directed by Masahiro Andō and produced by BONES studios.

Hunted by the Chinese Mings, young Kotaro and his dog meet a nameless samurai (”Nanashi”) who is haunted by his past and leads him to avoid drawing his sword. Among the Mings is a brash and blonde Western fighter named Rarou, whose quest is to find a worthy opponent. When both groups clash with a Sengoku-era feudal lord, a proud general, and monks torn between faith and survival, the reason behind the Mings’ pursuit tests the bond between Kotaro and Nanashi.

I can see why this could’ve been part of the last Oscar season, but don’t expect a bed of posies. The colors used were so vivid, good and bad -- we could almost smell the blood. Never mind how the antagonist of a Japanese-samurai story happened to be from neighboring China. My grandparents would be very upset if they find out I was watching “cartoons” like this. Thank God they didn’t live to see the day!

So the “Mings” – what could’ve been derived from the Ming Dynasty (how original) had a blond warrior and it didn’t explain where he came from. OK, so he speaks Mandarin and has superior sword skills what was his relation to the Mings? How random. But it succeeded in keeping it interesting because the Japanese warriors ALL LOOK ALIKE! Na-confused ako!

And I understand that in certain parts of Japan’s history there were a lot of samurais who fly solo. But again, it didn’t explain where Nanashi came from and where he learned his exquisite fighting skills. At least Kotaro narrated how he was an orphan and raised at the monastery. It also did not explain why the Mings were after his blood. Random. Sigh.

I question some parts of the story, but overall it was very intense and entertaining. Not for kids though. I mean, for mature audiences ONLY!!!