The appeal and reviews of "Stranger: Mukou Hadan": A fusion of profound story and visuals

Stranger Mukouhadan - Comprehensive review and recommendation of Stranger Mukouhadan

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

September 25, 2007 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■Frequencies

103 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

BONES

■ Director

Masahiro Ando

■ Production

Animation production: Bones Production: "Stranger" Production Committee (Bandai Visual, Bones, Shochiku, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Sony Music Entertainment)

■Works

© BONES / Stranger Production Committee 2007

■ Story

In an age of war and strife, where the ruler of the world has been lost, and the powerful have fallen to banditry and lawlessness runs rampant, after repeated battles. A boy from far away China, who had lost all his relatives, crosses the sea with the Zen monk "Shoan" and arrives in Japan. His name is "Kotaro". However, a mysterious armed group from the Ming Dynasty has landed in pursuit of Kotaro, seeking the shocking "secret" hidden in his body. Having lost the protection of Shoan, Kotaro is alone in the world and heads for Mangakuji Temple in Shirato, Akaike Province, with his beloved dog Tobimaru. At a certain abandoned temple, he meets a strange swordsman, "Nameless", who has given up his name and sealed away his sword. Kotaro is attacked by an assassin from the mainland and is saved by Nameless just when he is in danger. At first, the ronin with an awkward smile and the boy who rejects strangers are hostile towards each other, but they soon end up traveling together. Meanwhile, Byakuran, an old man who serves as the leader of the pursuing continental forces, is coordinating the pursuit with the lord of Akaike Castle, while also preparing a mysterious ritual to be performed after capturing Kotaro. Among the group, only the blond, blue-eyed swordsman "Rarō", who stands out, is unconcerned about the group's ultimate goal, and while following orders, he continues to wield his blade in search of a strong opponent. Soon, Kotaro's "secret" begins to inspire many ambitions, and a torrent of thoughts engulfs everyone. During the journey, Namanashi and Kotaro recognize each other and deepen their bond. Rarou and Namanashi are drawn to each other's abilities. The time for the two men, bound by fate, to cross swords is approaching...

■Explanation

A ronin named "Anonymous" who abandoned his name in times of chaos and withdrew his sword, and a blonde-haired, blue-eyed swordsman named "Rarou" who serves the Ming Dynasty as an assassin but has an unfulfilled yearning. Two strangers, isolated from the world, head towards a fateful clash over the mysterious boy "Kotaro"! All they can rely on is their sword skills. A series of breathtaking Japanese sword action scenes, slashing, slashing, slashing. The brilliance of lonely souls who are suddenly united in a desolate world. A dynamism and delicate drama that cannot be expressed in live action unfolds before your eyes in superb high-quality images. Nagase Tomoya, who is trying his hand at voice acting for the first time, passionately plays the main character, the swordsman "Anonymous". The role of Kotaro is played by Johnny's Jr.'s Chinen Yuri, and the monk Shoan who helps Kotaro is played by Takenaka Naoto. Furthermore, many talented voice actors including Yamadera Kouichi, Otsuka Akio, Ishizuka Unsho, and Sakamoto Maaya will participate, solidifying the worldview with their profound acting. The music is by Sato Naoki, who has worked on numerous films including Umizaru and Always: Sunset on Third Street. Following on from Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie, Conqueror of Shamballa, animation studio Bones is putting all its energy into bringing to the world a "manly feature film." The biggest and most powerful story of all time is about to emerge from the world of animation!

■Cast

・Anonymous / Tomoya Nagase and Kotaro / Yuuri Chinen and Shoan / Naoto Takenaka and Rarou / Koichi Yamadera and Hakuran / Atsushi Ii, Okokukei and Fugu / Hirofumi Nojima, Zhang Mo and Shuichen / Kohei Fukuhara and Tsukimi / Lik Tao and Mokuyou / Junko Minagawa, Xiangping Song and Mokuto / Fumie Mizusawa and Tsukishin / Masaki Aizawa, Hiroshi Suku and Kaotoshi / Katsutoshi Houki and Masao Itadori / Akio Otsuka and Lord of the domain, Kinhai / Un Ishizuka Noboru, Inujurota / Miyano Mamoru, Hagihime / Sakamoto Maaya, Zekkai / Hasumi Jun, Isogai / Shimura Tomoyuki, Fuchinobe / Kitagawa Takuro, Ahira / Cho, Shogen's wife / Orikasa Ai, Yori / Tsukamoto Keiko, Interpreter / Yasumura Makoto, Takeshi / Kawazu Yasuhiko, Masuda Hiroo, Yamaguchi Noboru, Shirakuma Hiroshi, Mochizuki Kenichi, Fukumatsu Susumu, Okubo Toshihiro, Kobayashi Katsunori, younger sister / Matsuki Miyu

■ Main staff

・Original work: Bones・Director, storyboard, direction: Ando Masahiro・Script: Takayama Fumihiko・Character design: Saito Tsunenori・Animation director: Ito Yoshiyuki, Saito Tsunenori・Art design: Takeuchi Shiho・Art director: Morikawa Atsushi・Color design: Nakayama Shihoko・Director of photography: Miyahara Yohei・Editor: Itabe Hiroaki・Music: Sato Naoki・Sound director: Wakabayashi Kazuhiro・Sound effects: Kurahashi Shizuo・Producers: Minami Masahiko, Takanashi Minoru, Nishikawa Asako, Iizuka Toshio, Minegishi Takuo・Animation production: Bones・Production: "Stranger" Production Committee (Bandai Visual, Bones, Shochiku, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Sony Music Entertainment)

■ Main Characters

・Anonymous <a warrior of nothingness who sealed his sword away>. His origins, age, and other details are all unknown. He is a ronin with the appearance of a samurai and battle scars all over his body. He is an excellent swordsman, but for some reason he has tampered with his sword so that it cannot be easily drawn. He meets Kotaro and is hired as his bodyguard, traveling with him.
・Kotaro: An orphan with a mysterious heart. A lonely boy chased by an armed group from the Ming Dynasty, he meets Anonymous. Relying on the words of Shoan, a monk at the temple where he was staying, he continues his journey with his dog Tobimaru, heading for Mankakuji Temple. What is the mystery hidden in his body?
・Rarou
<A solitary swordsman seeking stronger techniques>. The strongest swordsman in the armed group led by Hakuran. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man who seems to be from the west. He wields a Japanese sword modeled after a Japanese sword and is skilled in swordsmanship. While he serves Hakuran, he believes this expedition to Japan is futile and is looking for someone to cross swords with.
・Tobimaru
Kotaro's dog, and the only one he can trust. A mixed breed of Shiba Inu, he is extremely loyal to his master.
・Shoan
A Zen Buddhist monk who traveled to China to train, but took pity on the orphaned boy Kotaro and brought him back to Japan. He was a disciple of the influential monk Zekkai.
・Itadori Shogen
A senior vassal of Akaike Province and the most skilled swordsman in the territory. He sees the sword as a means to rise to power, and is an ambitious man who hopes to one day become the lord of a castle and a province. He once served the province of Owatari, and seems to have had a connection with Anonymous...

■ Evaluation

"Stranger: Mukou Hadan" is an anime film released in 2007, an original work produced by Bones. The film is set in an era of war and tells an epic tale of a mysterious boy named Kotaro. Below, we will review the film in detail from various perspectives, including the story, characters, visuals, music, and voice actors.

story

The story of "Stranger: Mukou Hadan" revolves around the journey of Kotaro, an orphan who has nowhere to go in a time of war. Kotaro is being pursued by the Ming Dynasty, and his pursuers are closing in on him in search of the mystery hidden within his body. To escape from his pursuers, Kotaro meets a ronin named Anonymous and they begin traveling together. The story revolves around the relationship between Kotaro, Anonymous, and his pursuer, Rarou.

The story of this work is not just an action movie, but also has depth as a human drama. The backgrounds and feelings of Kotaro, Namanashi, and Rarou are carefully depicted, and the viewer can feel their growth and change throughout their journey. In addition, the mystery hidden in Kotaro's body is revealed in the latter half of the story, which is an element that draws the viewer in.

character

The characters in "Stranger: Mukou Hadan" are all unique and charming. In particular, the three characters, Anonymous, Kotaro, and Rarou, are at the center of the story, and their characters enrich the story.

Nameless is a warrior of nothingness who has sealed away his sword, and his origins and age are completely unknown. He has the appearance of a samurai and has battle scars all over his body. Although he is an excellent swordsman, for some reason he has crafted his sword so that it cannot be easily drawn. After meeting Kotaro and being hired as his bodyguard, the journey together gradually reveals his inner thoughts. Nagase Tomoya's performance, in his first foray into voice acting, adds even more depth to the character of Nameless.

Kotaro is an orphan who carries a mystery and keeps his heart closed. He is chased by an armed group from the Ming Dynasty, and after meeting Anonymous, he continues his journey. His journey to Mangakuji Temple with his dog Tobimaru and relying on Shoan's words evokes sympathy from viewers. Chinen Yuri's acting expresses Kotaro's loneliness and strength.

Rarou is a solitary swordsman who seeks to improve his technique. He is the strongest swordsman in the armed group led by Hakuran, and is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man. He wields a Japanese sword modeled after a Japanese sword and is skilled in swordsmanship. Although he serves Hakuran, he considers this expedition to Japan to be futile and seeks someone to cross swords with. Koichi Yamadera's performance brings out Rarou's solitary nature and strength.

picture

The visuals of "Stranger: Mukou Hadan" are a work that highlights Bones' high level of technical skill. The realistically recreated backdrops of an era of war and the innovative action scenes are visually very appealing. In particular, the action scenes using Japanese swords are breathtakingly powerful. The dynamism and delicate drama that cannot be expressed in live action unfold before your eyes in superb high-quality images.

The characters' movements and expressions are also depicted in detail, allowing the viewer to feel their emotions and feelings. The beauty of the visuals is particularly striking in important scenes, such as when Naname draws his sword and when Lou fights.

music

The music for "Stranger: Mukou Hadan" is composed by Naoki Sato. Naoki Sato is a composer with experience working on numerous films, including "Umizaru" and "Always: Sunset on Third Street," and his music plays a role in further deepening the worldview of this work. In particular, the music that heightens the tension in battle scenes and the music that expresses the characters' feelings have the effect of drawing out the emotions of the viewer.

In addition, the music used in the play is a fusion of Japanese melodies evocative of the war-torn era with modern elements, further enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The music changes as the story progresses, and is an important element in drawing the viewer into the world of the story.

voice actor

The voice actors in "Stranger: Mukou Hadan" are all extremely talented and impressive. Nagase Tomoya, who plays the main character, Anonymous, is trying his hand at voice acting for the first time, but he brings depth to the character. Chinen Yuri, who plays Kotaro, also expresses a sense of loneliness and strength, evoking sympathy from viewers. Yamadera Kouichi, who plays Raraou, delivers a performance that brings out his solitude and strength.

In addition, other characters such as Naoto Takenaka as Shoan, Akio Otsuka as Itadori Shogen, and Maaya Sakamoto as Hagihime are also played by talented voice actors, who play a role in solidifying the worldview of the work. Maaya Sakamoto's performance in particular portrays the character of Hagihime in an appealing way.

■Recommendation

"Stranger: Mukou Hadan" is a work that combines action and human drama, and you can enjoy a magnificent story set in an era of war. In particular, the action scenes using Japanese swords and the human drama depicting the growth and change of the characters are elements that attract viewers. In addition, the visuals produced by Bones' high technical skills, the music by Naoki Sato, and the splendid voice actors further enhance the appeal of this work.

This work is recommended not only for those who like action movies and animation, but also for those who like human dramas and historical stories. In particular, viewers will be deeply moved by empathizing with the three characters, Naname, Kotaro, and Rarou, and following their journey. In addition, the realistic reproduction of the war-torn era background and the innovative action scenes are visually very appealing and have the effect of drawing the viewer into the world of the story.

Furthermore, this work allows viewers to enjoy the performances of talented voice actors such as Nagase Tomoya, who is trying his hand at voice acting for the first time, Chinen Yuri, and Yamadera Koichi. In particular, Nagase Tomoya's role as Nameless and Chinen Yuri's role as Kotaro evoke sympathy from the audience and add depth to the story. Sato Naoki's music also plays a role in further deepening the worldview of the work, and has the effect of enhancing the emotions of the viewer.

"Stranger: Mukou Hadan" is a work that combines an epic story set in an age of war with unique and attractive characters, visuals created by Bones' high technical skills, music by Naoki Sato, and a stellar cast of voice actors, and is sure to leave viewers deeply moved and satisfied. Please watch this work and experience its charm.