Rurouni Kenshin Season 2 (2024–25), subtitled Kyoto Disturbance, continues the rebooted anime’s commitment to faithfully adapting Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga. This season delves into the intense Kyoto arc, introducing formidable adversaries like Makoto Shishio and exploring deeper character dynamics.
With Yuki Komada taking over as director, the series maintains a serious tone, minimizing slapstick elements to focus on realism. The direction emphasizes character-driven storytelling, aligning with the manga’s intent. However, some viewers noted that the focus on character interactions sometimes led to less dynamic background visuals.
The returning cast delivers strong performances, with Souma Saitou’s portrayal of Kenshin Himura capturing the character’s duality effectively. New additions like Makoto Furukawa as Makoto Shishio and Daiki Yamashita as Soujirou Seta bring depth to their roles, enhancing the narrative’s intensity.
The writing stays true to the source material, avoiding filler content and closely following the manga’s storyline. This approach has been praised for its faithfulness, though some critics feel it lacks the creative liberties that made the original anime adaptation stand out.
The cinematography focuses on character interactions, often using straightforward shot compositions. While this approach ensures clarity, it sometimes results in less visually dynamic scenes. However, certain episodes, like the confrontation between Kenshin and Senkaku, showcase more intricate choreography and visual storytelling.
Studio LIDENFILMS delivers fluid animation, particularly during action sequences. The use of 3DCG for elements like horse carriages adds a modern touch, though some viewers have noted inconsistencies in background details and character models.
Overall, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance offers a faithful and serious adaptation of the beloved manga arc. While it may lack some of the original anime’s creative flair, it compensates with strong performances and a commitment to the source material.