Aniplex unveiled an English dub trailer this past Tuesday for the new television anime project based on Nobuhiro Watsuki’s beloved manga, Rurouni Kenshin.
Crunchyroll has now commenced streaming the English dub of this anime. Neither Aniplex of America nor Crunchyroll have yet disclosed the English cast, indicating a divergence from the original anime’s dub.
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The anime made its debut on Fuji TV’s Noitamina programming block on July 6 and is scheduled for two consecutive cours. The second cours began on October 5, with Crunchyroll streaming the series as it airs.
This anime marks a re-adaptation of the core manga series, with Sōma Saitō taking the lead as Kenshin Himura and Rie Takahashi co-starring as Kaoru Kamiya. Sanosuke Sagara is played by Taku Yashiro, and Yahiko Myojin’s voice is lent by Makoto Koichi. Yūma Uchida voices Shinomori Aoshi, and Saori Ōnishi takes on the role of Megumi Takani. Hajime Saitō, on the other hand, is brought to life by Satoshi Hino.
Hideyo Yamamoto, known for works such as “Strike the Blood,” “Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka,” and “Cells at Work! Code Black,” directs the anime at LIDEN FILMS. Character design is entrusted to Terumi Nishii, and series scripts are penned by Hideyuki Kurata. Yū Takami takes charge of the music composition.
The opening theme “Hiten” is performed by artists Ayase and R-Shitei, while the first ending theme “Kissaki” is brought to you by singer-songwriter Reol. Masaki Suda and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra join forces for the new opening theme “Rurou no Katashiro,” and KID PHENOMENON presents the new ending theme “Sonzai Shōmei” (“Existence”).
Notably, Watsuki and his novelist wife/story collaborator Kaoru Kurosaki initiated the Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc (Rurouni Kenshin, Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Hokkaido-hen) manga in Shueisha’s Jump SQ. magazine back in September 2017. It hit a hiatus in December 2017 due to Watsuki facing charges related to child pornography possession but later resumed publication in June 2018.
Viz Media had been simultaneously publishing the manga in English, although this came to a halt when the manga went on hiatus in 2017.
Watsuki originally launched his 28-volume Rurouni Kenshin manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1994, which has amassed a circulation of over 72 million copies worldwide. The story revolves around Kenshin Himura, a former deadly assassin seeking redemption and a peaceful life during the Meiji Restoration.
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Furthermore, the manga’s legacy extends into a 95-episode TV anime series, an anime film, three original video anime projects, five live-action films, and a stage musical by the all-female musical theater troupe, Takarazuka Revue.
Source | Aniplex’s YouTube channel
