Sword of the Stranger

ChatterboxZombie | 5 Feb 2012 | tl;dr

Just like chocolate and bacon, anime and samurai stories make for a winning combination that’s been proven to a point. With a glint to it’s blade 2007′s Sword of the Stranger is an action animated film that has an interesting prospect all it’s own. Chinese invaders and mystical prophets are bound, but does this katana clutching tale leave it’s mark, or come off blunter than a skinhead in a soap opera?

Fleeing in fear from his only home young orphan Kotaro is being hunted by a mysterious group of cloaked foreigners. These Chinese “Ming” warriors are after the boy as part of an elaborate prophecy, where blood must be shed as sacrifice. One day Kotaro stumbles upon a strange man with his sword strung to it’s sheath. Though hardly interested in each other, Kotaro is suddenly in need of the strangers aide when he is attacked by his ruthless followers. After accepting the position, Nanashi the stranger accompanies the young boy to his desired destination, unaware of the dangerous forces at work.

Bar the interesting xenophobic twist, sword of the stranger holds a reasonably typical story at heart. Immortality seems to be a desirable thing, and the historical actions of the Ming fighting the Japanese natives is inspired, though just barely. However SotS makes many great steps to form an intriguing immediate plot. With a comical but honest relationship between Kotaro and his body guard, and a compelling rivalry that strikes up, the movie proves to have some great tangible essence to it’s short duration. Summed up by a climactic but human conclusion, the films unoriginal motif is saved greatly by it’s rock-solid pace and enjoyable, corporeal themes.

Despite not having much time to work with, SotS cast covers a number of varied roles, figure headed by 2 stand alone soldiers. Kotaru’s juvenile taunting serves for an irritating but understandable role, making it all the more potent when his tough-kid facade is broken to reveal the emotional child within. Nanashi himself comes off as the calm and collected type, but upon meeting his mortal rival he changes dramatically, to eye-opening effect. Though the blade wielding enemies aren’t entirely faceless, they are forgettable bar the striking Blond Luo-Lang. As the primary antagonist, he’s quick to draw his sword, and offers the Yin to Nanashi’s immovable Yang.

Every time the two clash swords, there’s a gritty tension that really sticks.

Divided into brick-building conversations and harrowing, gory fight scenes, the actual content of Stranger comes off as both intelligent and totally badass. Chinese martial artists plotting their next move one minute and blood-soaked battles the next, it’s an interesting duality that sorta multitasks in making sense of the story while moving the characters closer to their thin mortality. The fight scenes themselves are great, featuring some amazing choreography.

One of the most effective yet simple ways to get hearts beating during fight scenes is pacing, and stranger nails this on all ends. Clashes are frantic with people crowds colliding shortly followed by a stern, tense face off, and then maybe a dangerous, weighty dodge of an arrow. These fight scenes feel fluid and are great to watch, pounding in an impact that few animated battles can truly clasp for their own.

Striking a difference between crisply drawn characters and mottled water-painted backgrounds, the films visuals are definitely interesting in their own. The animation quality isn’t great, occasionally letting down the otherwise smooth movements, but the sense of atmosphere and place more than makes up for it. Filled with earthy colors, the environments look great from the windy gray-skied coast to the crimson-stained snow of the mountain top.

With films like this, it’s not hard to see why many still love authentic water-color styled animation.

Audio is decent too, with some decent sound effects kicking in whenever a blade clangs or a limb comes flopping to the ground. Voice work is good but forgettable, and one can only assume that the momentary lines of Mandarin-Chinese are delivered with a weird Japanese Tongue. Music is great, with an orchestral theme during the last battle that really pushes the emotion out of the climactic finale.

Sleek, soulful and deadly, Sword of the Stranger is a very enjoyable anime movie that doesn’t bore with niggley details. The plot isn’t that pressing on it’s own, but the unique flame of rivalries, emotive developments and exasperating sword fights leave the film with enough oomph to get you through to the end. It’s got everything Samurai fans enjoy, and some great visuals to boot. If you want a quick watch that’ll leave you satisfied, consider slicing through this.

Forget stranger danger, take a chance and hire him.

Written by ChatterboxZombie