Sword of the Stranger (2006)

Sword of the Stranger (2006)

8/10

Starring the voices

Tomoya Nagase

Yuri Chinen

Naoto Takenaka

Kōichi Yamadera

Directed by Masahiko Minami

Sword of the Stranger is one of those classy viewing experiences that leave you wondering why such an incredible anime hasn’t had a live-action remake. This is a bloodthirsty, sword-wielding samurai action film that not only satisfies with its action sequences but also with its story.

This is a straightforward story that doesn’t waste time on unnecessary mysteries. I like how the animation hints at various threads that feel like they could be explored but chooses not to. It’s as if Bones, the production studio, or the director decided, "Leave it—who cares where all this leads?"

There’s no attempt to delve deeply into where Nanashi comes from or why Kotaro’s fate led him to be chosen as a sacrificial vessel. Instead, the focus is on a concise story with plenty of engaging action scenes.

The story takes place in Japan, probably during the Sengoku period, a time of warring factions vying for control. But that backdrop doesn’t really matter, as our story begins with a young boy named Kotaro and his dog, who are on the run. A man helps them escape, instructing Kotaro to flee to a temple, giving him a jewel to sell if he needs money.

We catch up with Kotaro later, stealing food to survive as he makes his way to the temple. Meanwhile, a group of Chinese warriors, accompanied by some Japanese men, is searching for Kotaro. Among the Chinese crew is a foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes, a total badass who single-handedly slaughters a group of men that attacked them.

We soon learn the Chinese group has paid for land in Japan and is constructing something significant. Kotaro is somehow crucial to their plans and is being hunted for this purpose.

While Kotaro tries to cook some stolen fish, he encounters a man named Nanashi resting in his hideout. Kotaro tells him he doesn’t plan to share his food, but his dog takes a liking to Nanashi, and they end up eating together. When the two are attacked, Nanashi saves Kotaro from his pursuers. Grateful, Kotaro promises to give Nanashi his jewel if he helps him reach the temple.

Nanashi agrees, and their journey is filled with mishaps, intense fights, and moments of insight into everything happening around them.

This animation was rated as one of the best at the time of its release, and I wholeheartedly agree. No matter when you watch it, Sword of the Stranger is one of the best things you can experience.