For some reason, Sword of the Stranger never crossed my radar during it's Japanese theatrical run back in 2007. In fact, up until the announcement of this Blu-ray release, I hadn't even heard of the title. I know that won't mean much to most readers, but the reason I'm mentioning this is because Sword of the Stranger is a film that should not be overlooked. Considering the lack of anime on Blu-ray thus far (which I'm hoping will change in the near future), this is the type of film that can win new fans to the world of anime and wet the appetite of anime enthusiasts that are begging for more of their beloved productions to make their way onto the high-definition format.
The glare of a nameless swordsman...
On the run from the greatest warriors in China, a young boy named Kotaro scavenges from town to town with the aide of his loyal dog Tobimaru. Kotaro's ultimate goal is to reach the Mangaku Temple in the land of Akaike, where he hopes to meet up with Shoan, a monk that helped him escape from China and make his way to Japan. While shacking up at an abandoned temple, Kotaro meets a wandering swordsman with no name, who reluctantly rescues Kotaro from a group of Chinese assassins. The odd threesome soon strike up a bond as the nameless samurai agrees to protect Kotaro and Tobimaru on their journey to the Japanese temple, in exchange for a semi-valuable jewel. Along this journey, we learn Kotaro's protector hides a tragic secret from his past that compelled him to reject his name, and vow never to draw his sword again. This becomes increasingly difficult as the threesome realize Kotaro is being pursued not only by the Chinese emperor's deadly assassins, but also by a group of warriors employed by the feudal lord of Akaike (who hopes to receive a large reward from the Ming Emperor as trade for the boy). Will Kotaro and the nameless samurai arrive safely at the Mangaku Temple, or will the Emperor's greatest assassins be too much for the mysterious protector to handle?
There's far too much going on in the plot to summarize in just one paragraph, but that synopsis should give you a general idea of what you're in for. To say I thoroughly enjoyed Sword of the Stranger would still be somewhat of an understatement. If this was solely an action-oriented film, it would be entertaining, but wouldn't rise above the anime ranks as a standout production—and standing out is exactly what it does. Within the first 20 minutes, I knew the plot would be dense with political backstabbing, but I became a little nervous as I started to feel the story was introducing too many players to keep straight. Thankfully, those worries never materialized as the film unfolded, and the pacing held my interest without much effort.
One of the key strengths in the plot of the film, is the withholding of vital information until the time is right. I appreciate stories that leave you guessing at times and this film succeeds in revealing just enough to pique your interest early on, but doesn't delve into the reasoning behind Kotaro's importance until halfway through the film. Likewise, the plot withholds information on the nameless warrior's past until the final scene, so we know there's more to him, but anxiously await an answer to our questions about his tragic history.
The interactions between the characters in the film are a primary reason the entire production works so well. Whether it's the friendship between Kotaro and his dog, or his growing relationship with the nameless warrior, you begin to genuinely feel the connection between the main characters as the two broken souls are made whole through friendship. Likewise, I was enamored by the mutual respect between the blond-haired, blue-eyed western samurai and our hero. At the point when they first meet, we've already witnessed their level of skill in dispatching bandits or assassins, and their initial encounter sets the groundwork for the inevitable showdown between the two master swordsmen.
In case you were wondering why I haven't touched on the action sequences, it's because I was saving the best for last. The flawless execution of the fight choreography is a sight to behold, and the animation never shows any trouble in keeping up with the fantastic displays of fighting prowess. Each of the Chinese warriors utilize a different bladed weapon during the film's many fight scenes, and each is given their own unique fighting style. Director Masahiro Ando has a long history coordinating and animating the action sequences for other anime releases, and his attention to detail really shows through in this production. A lot of credit should go to the BONES anime studio for their pristine animation of Sword of the Stranger, since I believe they've set a new standard for other hand-drawn productions to meet.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate that hovers around 30Mbps), Sword of the Stranger looks absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. Some anime productions only demonstrate a marginal improvement in making the move to 1080p, but I'd consider it a huge disservice to the animation if your watching the film on any other format besides Blu-ray. Detail is immaculate throughout 99% of the film, with only a small number of scenes exhibiting slight softness (which likely has more to do with an intended look than a deficiency in the transfer). Watching the extended fight sequence on the tower at the end of the film had me in awe as the finest of details became apparent. Whether it was the splintering of wood, or a glimmer on the mirror surface of a swordblade, everything dreamed up in the original animation is readily apparent here.
Considering the historical setting of feudal Japan, the art director went an interesting route in choosing a timeline that begins with late autumn and ends with early winter. As a result, the color scheme throughout the first two-thirds of the film is rich with reds, browns and yellows as the leaves on the trees follow their natural process of decay. Once the snow begins falling toward the end of the film, we're given a beautiful backdrop for the bloodsoaked finale, which contrasts nicely with the overall mood of the closing scene. Continuing the trend of strengths, black levels are appropriately deep, and contrast is handled with precision. I never noticed any instances of artifacting, edge-enhancement, or banding, and can safely say any fan of animation will be pleased with the work done on this transfer.
There are two audio tracks presented on the disc. One is a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix in the native language of Japanese and the other is a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English dubbed mix. Whenever possible, I prefer the native language, so I chose the Japanese track for my primary listening experience. Similar to the quality of the video transfer, the audio experience presents difficulty in finding anything to complain about. Surround use is wonderfully dynamic with excellent spatial separation during the fight sequences. In one scene early in the film, an assassin fights with a whip that whooshes and cracks across the screen. The effects in that scene exhibit excellent clarity as they fly from speaker to speaker, giving the listener an immersive experience. Another fantastic sequence occurs in the closing minutes of the film, as a sword showdown occurs amidst the backdrop of a burning stronghold. During that scene, buildings fall with a boom that reminds us why we have a subwoofer, and the fine crackling of the burning cedar can be heard between the clanking of steel on steel. If I had one minor complaint about the mix, it would be several instances where the dialogue seemed a little too quiet. It's not a big concern (especially if you're listening to the native language track and watching subtitles), but it's worth pointing out. Overall, this is a superb audio mix that elevates the intensity of the on-screen action and matches the proficiency of the entire production.
Cast Interview (1080i, Dolby Digital 2.0, 17:26 min): Tomoya Nagase (No Name) and Yuri Chinen (Kotaro) are interviewed in different settings regarding the voicework they completed for the film. They also delve into a discussion of the characters they portrayed and the themes in the film.
Production Report (1080i, Dolby Digital 2.0, 49:15 min): Masahiro Ando (director) and Masahiko Minami (producer) provide extensive background on the production of the film from concept to completion. Along the way, we are introduced to other key players in the process, who discuss their contributions to the film. If you love the final product as much as I do, give this supplement a shot.
Pilot Film (1080i, Dolby Digital 2.0, 3:53 min): This brief film was created by Masahiro Ando as a demonstration of the type of film he hoped to make. According to the production report supplement, it was difficult to generate studio interest in a feudal sword-fighting anime film unless they could offer an example. The pilot was animated by Ando over a 3 month period (in his free time).
Lastly, there are five TV spots and three theatrical trailers (presented in high-definition), as well as three trailers for upcoming releases from Bandai Entertainment.
Here's the bottom line. If you have a Blu-ray player (which is why you're reading this), and you consider yourself even a modest fan of anime, add this to your collection without hesitation. The film itself is an engaging story of one man's struggle for redemption set against the backdrop of fuedal Japan and the writing is virtually flawless. The animation is meticulously crafted and the transfer is an immaculate recreation of the artistry on display. As a long-time lover of anime with a serious tone, I'd consider this release to be the new crown jewel of my Blu-ray collection and it will be awfully hard for something to come along and dethrone it. If you've been waiting to jump into anime, the time has come.
