Reviewed by: James Zhang
Ratings:
Genre(s): Action, Historical Settings
Year: 2002
Series Length: 26 episodes

"There are three reasons why you can't defeat me. One: Your sword is too light. Two: There's nothing I can't cut. Three: I'm more handsome than you."
-- Kyo

So we have a perceptive, confident, and self-conscious main character. I'm not sure what the title means - perhaps a samurai named Kyo who is deeper than he appears?

Demon-Eyed Kyo reputedly killed a thousand men at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600s). When he faces Mibu Kyoshiro, the last man standing, a comet hits the battlefield and seals Kyo's soul in Kyoshiro's body.

Four years has passed and Kyoshiro is now a medicine-seller who tours the country, hoping the bloodthirsty Kyo will remain dormant inside him forever. Unfortunately, Kyo awakens one day, and while trapped inside his rival's body, embarks to find and reclaim his own body, so he can resume the unfinished fight with Kyoshiro and be the world's strongest man in truth as well as reputation.

Others are looking for Kyo's body too however, and their intentions are more sinister than Kyo's desire to fulfil his egotism. We follow Kyo as he fights his way to his body and finally, to the confrontation with Kyoshiro. Who will win, what does it matter, and what's the purpose of Kyo's existence? What of the women: one who loves Kyoshiro, one who loves Kyo, and one who loves both?

The character designs are excellent and the action scenes are beautifully animated. Samurai Deeper Kyo (SDK) sports quite a large cast, and it feels like a role-playing game at times in that certain characters appear in separate incidents to flaunt their particular skills, with a few compulsory characters always present. All accompanied with the excitement and epic-ness of any good RPG, of course.

SDK's characters can be quite complicated, and they interact to weave a web of intrigue, betrayal, friendship and romance – all receive adequate doses without the over-emphasis that tends to dampen the effect.

The opening and ending themes struck me with their rugged elegance. The music within the anime itself consists of melodies that are well aligned to the natural environments we encounter on Kyo's travels.

Overall, SDK makes for excellent viewing, with a fine blend of action, mythology, and intriguing characters. paragon of anime comedy.

Back to Reviews