Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride - A thorough review of the fascinating characters and depth of the story

Samurai Bride - Charming Sword Princesses and Battle Days

The 2013 TV anime series "Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride" is based on Akira Suzuki's light novel. It aired on AT-X from April 5th to June 21st, 2013, with a total of 12 episodes. The 30-minute anime was animated by ARMS and directed by KOBUN. The original work was published by HJ Bunko, and the character designs were by Niθ.

story

"Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride" is set in a special school called Mutaka Gakuen Juku. At this school, students are required to make a contract with someone who has the power of a "sho" and fight as a "master samurai." The protagonist, Yagyu Muneo, is the next head of the Yagyu Dojo and has first-class skills as a swordsmanship instructor. He has set out on a journey of training to fully awaken his power as a "sho" and further enhance it. However, various battles and encounters await him along with Yagyu Jubei, a mysterious beautiful girl who suddenly appears before him.

Jubei is a cheerful girl who falls naked from the sky above Mutsuoka Academy, and by sharing a kiss with Muneo, she can become a master samurai. With her arrival, Muneo meets a host of unique characters, including Sanada Yukimura, Goto Matabei, Tokugawa Sen, and Hattori Hanzo, and they fight alongside each other. Although each has their own motives and goals, they join forces as allies to overcome difficulties.

character

The appeal of this work lies in its unique characters. Below are the main characters.

Muneo Yagyu

He is the next head of the Yagyu family and the assistant instructor at the Yagyu Dojo swordsmanship dojo. He is a first-class swordsman and has the ability to give precise instructions in battle as a commander. He is kind to everyone and treats them equally, but he also has a strong will that does not give in to injustice. His powers as a "general" have been fully awakened, and he has set out on a journey of training to further increase his powers. He is voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa.

Yagyu Jubei

A mysterious beautiful girl who suddenly fell naked from the sky above Mutsuoka Academy. She has a bright and innocent personality and tries to give nicknames to everyone. She was thought to have disappeared in the battle with Gisen, but she returns to Muneo. By sharing a kiss with Muneo, you can become a Master Samurai. She is voiced by Aoi Yuki.

Sanada Yukimura

The Toyotomi's most intelligent general. By chance, he made a pact with Muneo and became a master samurai. He works hard to raise military funds for the Yagyu Dojo. He is a confident man who is known for his arrogant behavior, but he has the intelligence and courage to match. He has a complex about his childlike appearance and wide forehead. He is voiced by Kugimiya Rie.

Goto Matabei

He is Yukimura's servant and always accompanies him. He is large and taciturn, but in fact he is a man of great character who is very considerate of small details. He behaves sincerely towards his master, Yukimura. He is also in charge of all the household chores at the Yagyu Dojo. He has a keen sense of smell like a dog. Although he is confused by the nickname "Beta-san" given to him by Jubei, he seems to like it quite a bit. He is voiced by Kobayashi Yuu.

Tokugawa Sen

She is the younger sister of Tokugawa Yoshihiko, the student council president who rules over Buo Gakuen, and the vice president of the student council. She is the princess of the Tokugawa family, commonly known as Senhime. She has an extremely ladylike personality, and is selfish. She is a bit sadistic. She made a pact with Muneo of her own volition, and became a master samurai. Her voice actress is Minako Kotobuki.

Hattori Hanzo

Chairperson of the Student Council Executive Committee's Disciplinary Committee. A female kunoichi with glasses and wearing a maid-style combat uniform, she leads the female Disciplinary Committee. She is a germaphobe and has no immunity to obscene words and actions, and hates them. She has a lesbian personality and is a masochist. She tries to make a pact with Muneo, but ends up failing when she pushes him away right in front of her. She is voiced by Goto Saori.

Charles de D'Artagnan

A foreign exchange student from far away France. He gives off an unsociable impression, but in reality he is a kind and righteous person. He was forced into a master-servant relationship with Tokugawa Yoshihiko, the student council president, and was used as a test subject for an artificial Master Samurai, but when Yoshihiko awakened to the power of the "sho", he made a pact with him and became a true Master Samurai. His voice actor is Koshimizu Ami.

Kanetsugu Naoe

He is a self-proclaimed warrior of love who believes in "love" and fights for "love". He was targeted as an assassin by Yoshihiko and targeted Muneo and his friends, but now he lives in the doghouse (which Kanetsugu calls a cottage) at the Yagyu Dojo. In reality, he is very serious, but his actions always go awry and he always makes mistakes. He is always causing a fuss and is treated poorly by Yukimura and his friends. His voice actor is Aki Toyosaki.

Yagyu Yoshisen

Like Jubei, she is a girl wearing an eyepatch who fell from the sky above Buo Gakuen. Her extreme words and actions torment the members of the Yagyu Dojo. When she realizes that she cannot recruit Jubei, she takes action to revive Amakusa Shiro, but they are both destroyed by Jubei's death-defying attack. Her voice actor is Mizuhara Kaoru.

Tokugawa Yoshihiko

He is the student council president of Buo Gakuen, and one day he will succeed the Tokugawa family as Shogun of Japan. Although he pretends to be an easygoing, elusive person, he is actually a shrewd individual. During the battle with Gisen, he awakened to the power of a "shogun." The Shogunate believes that it was Yoshihiko who sealed away Amakusa Shiro, and he is treated as a hero who saved the country. His voice actor is Sakurai Takahiro.

Keiji Maeda

She is a beautiful samurai with a quirky personality who drives a giant motorcycle called "Matsukaze." She has a bold personality and likes girls, but hates men. She fights using a giant Karakuri Japanese umbrella as her weapon. Her voice actress is Mamiko Noto.

Miyamoto Musashi

He is the leader of the four Sword Demons (Dark Samurai) who have been resurrected in this world. Seeking a fight with a strong opponent, he challenges Yagyu Jubei, who defeated Amakusa Shiro, to a fight, viewing him as a rival. He likes Jubei's maid cafe, True Shadow, and becomes a regular there. He is voiced by Yoko Hikasa.

Kojiro Sasaki

He is one of the Four Sword Demons (Dark Samurai) and uses the long sword "Monohoshi-zano". Although he appears calm at first glance, he has an attachment to Miyamoto Musashi that goes beyond that of a partner, and is always concerned about Musashi. His voice actor is Naomi Shindo.

Araki Mataemon

She has tanned skin and blonde hair, and looks and talks like a gal, but she is a proper member of the Four Sword Demons (Dark Samurai). She wields a long sword, but what is her most powerful weapon...? Her voice actress is Haruka Tomatsu.

Hozoin Inshun

She is one of the Four Sword Demons (Dark Samurai) who wields the Cross Spear, and is a quiet girl who covers her mouth with a mask and scarf. She can talk to animals, and is unusually gentle among the Four Sword Demons. Her voice actor is Satomi Satomi.

Sarutobi Sasuke

She is a pet monkey that Yukimura loved when he was in Yonezawa. When Yukimura left for Buo Gakuen, he was told not to follow him, but he ran away from home because he loved her so much. Her voice actor is Chinatsu Akasaki.

staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of this film. The main staff members are listed below.

original work

Akira Suzuki "Hyakuhana Ryoran" (HJ Bunko/Hobby Japan)

Character Design

Niθ "Hyakuka Ryoran" (HJ Bunko/Hobby Japan)

director

KOBUN

Series Composition

Satoru Nishizono

Character design, chief animation director

Tsutomu Miyazawa

Art Director

Junichi Azuma

Sound Director

Aketagawa Jin

music

Tatsuya Kato

Music Production

Lantis

Produced

Genco

Production

Arms

Production

Hyakkaryouran SB Partners

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1/“True Shadow, Opening”
• Episode 2: "Tada, Again"
• Episode 3: "Love and Loyalty"
• Episode 4: "The General's Bride"
• Episode 5: "The Battle for Hell"
• Episode 6: "The Rumored Eccentric"
• Episode 7/“Cannot be released!”
• Episode 8: "The Mysterious Shadow"
• Episode 9: "The New Sword Princess"
• Episode 10: "The Secret of the Guardian Stone"
• Episode 11: "The Hour of Confrontation"
• Episode 12/"Kenhi, Birth"

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for this work are as follows.

Opening Theme

"AI DO."

• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: nyanyannya (Team. Nekokan [Cat])
• Arrangement: nyanyannya (Team. Nekokan [Cat])
• Vocals: Hashimoto Miyuki

Ending Theme

"In the end, it was a coincidence."

• Lyricist: ZAQ
• Composer: ZAQ
• Arrangement: ZAQ
• Sung by: Yagyu Jubei (voiced by Aoi Yuki), Sanada Yukimura (voiced by Rie Kugimiya), Tokugawa Sen (voiced by Minako Kotobuki)

Related Titles

"Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride" is related to "Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Girls". These works share the same worldview, and there are similarities in the character settings and storylines.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride" has won many fans with its unique worldview and attractive characters. In particular, the individuality of each character stands out, such as Yagyu Jubei's innocent personality, Sanada Yukimura's confident behavior, and Tokugawa Sen's selfish attitude. The depiction of the battle scenes is also impressive, which draws viewers in.

The story is well-developed, and new characters appear in each episode, adding depth to the tale. In particular, the episodes depicting the relationship between Muneo and Jubei, and the growth of each character, are moving and leave a strong impression on viewers. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "AI DO." and the ending theme "Yamatsu, Getsu de Soro" are particularly popular among fans.

However, on the other hand, the series may feel unnatural to some viewers due to the excessive character service scenes and somewhat forceful story development. It has also been pointed out that it was difficult to fully depict the backgrounds and stories of all the characters in the short broadcast period of 12 episodes.

Recommendation

"Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Bride" is recommended for those who want to enjoy an anime full of fantasy elements set in the Sengoku period. In particular, it is a perfect work for those who want to enjoy the exploits of unique characters and beautiful girls' battle scenes. In addition, we would also like those who have read the original light novel or have watched "Hyakka Ryoran Samurai Girls" to check out this work.

Furthermore, if you pay attention to the music and the voice actors' performances, you will be able to enjoy the work even more. If you are interested in not only the anime but also related goods and events, check out the official information. You are sure to find something new.

Finally, "Samurai Bride" is a wonderful work that provides viewers with laughter, emotion, and the excitement of battle. Please watch it once and experience its charm for yourself.