Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal, known in Japan as Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen (追憶編 Recollection or Reminiscence), is an OVA series that serves as a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin anime television series. It was released in Japan in 1999, and was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and written by Masashi Sogo.The OVA series is based on chapters 165 to 179 of the Rurouni Kenshin manga written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It chronicles the story of Himura Kenshin as the Hitokiri Battōsai during the years of the Meiji Restoration while also revealing the origins of his famous cross-shaped scar as well as his role as a legendary assassin of the Imperialist cause, and explaining his relationship with a woman named Yukishiro Tomoe, who would become his first wife. Kenshin's fated first encounters with his master, Hiko Seijūrō, and his future rival, Saitō Hajime are also depicted.Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal is currently being licensed by Aniplex of America for releases in the English language. Due to the OVA series initially being licensed by the now-defunct ADV Films, it was originally released under the title of Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal in North America. Trust & Betrayal was later collected into a two hour feature-length motion picture with new animated sequences and released theatrically in Japan. In 2003, this feature-length motion picture was eventually released in North America on DVD as a Director's Cut by ADV Films. Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal was released on Blu-ray Disc by Aniplex of America on August 24, 2011.Since its release, the OVA series has received near-universal critical acclaim from various critics and publications for manga, anime and other media. It remains highly popular among anime fans and it is considered as one of the greatest OVA series of all time. It has been said that the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal OVA series is one of the only few series that even the most dedicated Rurouni Kenshin fans will admit is better than the anime television series.
|
