Reviewed on May 31st, 2006

Visually

The visual quality of Peacemaker is amazing. In the first scene you see samurai running down a hallway. The camera angles and the views of perspectives make the scene look like nothing else I've ever seen in anime.

Audio

The music in Peacemaker is a rock style. There is a lot of rock guitar background music. But they also incorporate traditional Japanese music that makes everything come together. There is a lot of notable English voice actors in this series as well. Greg Ayres, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, and Monica Rial all make appearances. One thing I didn't like was the southern accents on some of the characters. It doesn't seem right to have an American accent in a Meiji Japan setting.

Storyline

15-year-old Tetsunosuke Ichimura wants to join the elite swordsman group, the Shinsengumi. After the slaying of his parents all Tetsunosuke can think about is revenge on the despicable Choshu. But it didn�t take long for Tetsunosuke to find out that the Shinsengumi are just as savage as the Choshu. He witnesses a fight that proved this fact to him and he was told that if he joined the Shinsengumi his humanity would be destroyed. Tetsunosuke�s father told him he should take the path of the peacemaker, but this was before his parents were savagely murdered. So will Tetsunosuke lose his humanity and join the Shinsengumi or take the path his father wanted him to?

The characters are very diverse in Peacemaker. Characterization plays a big role in this series. For example Soji acts very good-natured and light hearted, yet he is one of the most ruthless fighters of the Shinsengumi. Also there is a lot of comic relief supplied by a few of the characters. One thing I found that is a little odd is the character Soji. He acts very girlish and it seems very odd, but it doesn't take away from the story. Many girls will like this anime because of the characters like Soji. The fighting scenes are very pleasing to the eye and add another appeal to this show. Compassion for the characters helps connect the fans with the anime and keeps them watching.

DVD

The DVD for Peacemaker Kurogane comes with a load of cool features that make it worthwhile to buy the DVD for anytime viewing pleasure of the series episodes.

Overall

Peacemaker will appeal to fans left in the wake of Rurouni Kenshin. It is also set in Meiji Japan, a time of change in the late 1800s. Peacemaker is not for every fan, and its not the best anime out there but it brings change to the samurai genre. Instead of a man, it is a boy who is the main character. There is not a lot of change in the Japanese and English dialogue so you can watch it either way and still completely understand the story. I give Peacemaker Kurogane, a 4.5 out of 5.

by Aidan