Tekken Bloodlines review: A fighting game experience brought to life through anime

Tekken Bloodline: A story of a warrior burning with the flames of vengeance

■Overview of the work

Tekken Bloodline is an anime series that began streaming on Netflix on August 18, 2022, and consists of six episodes. It is based on Bandai Namco Entertainment's popular fighting game series Tekken, directed by Yoshikazu Miyao, and animated by Studio Hibari and LARX ENTERTAINMENT. The story follows a young man named Jin Kazama as he fights to avenge the murder of his family.

■ Story

Jin Kazama was taught the ancient Kazama style of martial arts by his mother in his childhood. However, he lost his family and everything to a powerful enemy that suddenly appeared. With a desire for revenge in his heart, Jin trains harshly under his grandfather and seeks absolute strength. That path leads to the ultimate battle that involves the whole world, "The King of Iron Fist Tournament".

■ Characters

The central character of the work is Kazama Jin, played by Chiba Kazunobu. Jin's mother, Kazama Jun, is voiced by Noto Mamiko, and Mishima Heihachi, the object of Jin's revenge, is played by Kusunoki Daisuke. Other familiar characters from the game series also make an appearance to add excitement to the story. These include Mishima Kazuya (Shinohara Masanori), Hwa-Lan (Morikawa Toshiyuki), Ling Xiaoyu (Sakamoto Maaya), Paul Phoenix (Otsuka Yoshitada), Julia Chang (Yoshida Seiko), Nina Williams (Touma Yumi), Ganryu (Ugaki Hidenari), Leroy Smith (Kikuchi Yasuhiro), King (Hirai Masayuki), and Miura Akiko (Ise Mariya).

■ Production staff

The production of Tekken Bloodline brings together many talented people, including the original creator Bandai Namco Entertainment, director Yoshikazu Miyao, Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada, screenwriter Gavin Hignight, character designer Haato, character designer Satoshi Yuri, art setting Hiroyuki Oyama, and music by Rei Kondo. Studio Hibari and LARX ENTERTAINMENT are in charge of animation production, supporting the quality of the work.

■ Episode

All six episodes were released on August 18, 2022. Each episode is about 25 minutes long, and the story unfolds smoothly. Below are the titles of each episode.

• Episode 1 (2022/08/18)
• Episode 2 (2022/08/18)
• Episode 3 (2022/08/18)
• Episode 4 (2022/08/18)
• Episode 5 (2022/08/18)
• Episode 6 (2022/08/18)

■ Related works

Tekken Bloodlines is part of the Tekken series and is linked to the following related titles:

• Iron Fist
• Tekken Blood Vengeance

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Tekken Bloodline" is a long-awaited work for fans of the original game, and has been praised for faithfully recreating the world of the game while developing a new story. In particular, Kazama Jin's tale of revenge leaves a strong impression on viewers, making it easy to empathize with them. In addition, the personalities of each character are well-drawn, making it enjoyable not only for game fans, but also for anime fans.

The animation quality is also high, with impressive battle scenes and detailed character designs. The powerful music by Kondo Rei also adds excitement to the story, enriching the viewing experience.

However, because it is a short series of only six episodes, the story development may feel a little rushed at times. Also, for fans of the original game, some of the plot may be predictable since they already know the story. However, it is still an enjoyable work, as it offers new perspectives and character development.

■ Recommendation points

"Tekken Bloodline" is a work that can be recommended for the following reasons.

• Fans of the original game : You can enjoy a new story while faithfully recreating the game's worldview and characters.
• For fans of fighting action : Packed with powerful fighting scenes and action that highlights the individuality of each character.
• People who like revenge stories : Kazama Jin's story of revenge encourages strong emotional empathy in the viewer.
• For those who value animation quality : The high quality animation and character designs are appealing.
• Music lovers : Kondo Rei's powerful music adds excitement to the story.

■ Summary

"Tekken Bloodline" is an anime series set in the world of the original game "Tekken" and tells the story of Jin Kazama's revenge. Although it is a short series of only six episodes, it is a work with impressive battle scenes and distinctive characters, and is enjoyable not only for fans of the original game but also for anime fans. It is a work that can be highly recommended to those who like revenge stories and fighting action.