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Summary
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The Elusive Samurai breaks the mold with a protagonist focused on survival, avoiding danger instead of facing it head-on.
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The new anime of Shonen Jump shows unprecedented abilities in the genre, with a protagonist who becomes a hero just by living.
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Cloverworks' stellar animation adaptation of the elusive samurai adds to the anime's success, despite some criticism of the use of CGI.
Shawn JumpThe latest anime, The elusive samuraiis garnering significant attention as the latest anime based on a manga published in the famous magazine, and has already proven itself to be different from other anime in the genre. The hallmark of the Shounen genre has always been its protagonist's self-sacrificing heroic spirit, which ultimately made characters such as Deku of My hero academia Popular and inspiring. However, the protagonist of The elusive samurai is already diverged from this characteristic.
The elusive samurais protagonist Tokiyuki Hojo has a unique trait compared to other Shounen protagonists: A strong will to live. Unlike the typical shōnen hero who often throws himself into dangerous situations, Tokiyuki's primal drive for survival sets the stage for a fresh and compelling story. The intriguing divergence has captivated many fans of the genre, eager to witness the journey of Tokiyuki Hojo as he prepares for revenge in hiding against Takauji Ashikaga for massacring his entire clan.
As the first episode depicts, Tokiyuki's specialty lies in his ability to be elusive, as the title suggests, which is atypical of a shōnen protagonist. Thus, the prospect of this new anime deviating from the usual genre protocols with a unique protagonist may be the biggest reason for success.
The elusive samuraiIts protagonist shows unprecedented abilities in the genre
Tokiyuki Hojo's biggest power is running away
The elusive samurai Stands out from a lot of great anime, which typically features protagonists risking their lives to save others. A recently released anime of the same genre, Kaiju number 8Showcase the heroism of his protagonist right from the start, as he jumps into action to save others. Izuku Midoriya's first step on the journey to becoming the greatest hero was to risk saving his friend, despite having no powers. however, The elusive samurai See your protagonist doing the exact opposite. When faced with danger, Tokiyuki demonstrates his extraordinary evasion skills, deftly escaping rather than confronting the threat head-on.
Yorishige Suwa, the enigmatic character who predicts Tokiyuki's future reclamation of his land, declares that Tokiyuki will become a hero just by living. Suwa's words carry significant weight, especially in the context of the world of feudal Japan, where the titular warriors live by the code of fighting and die with honor. While the elusive protagonist is tempted to follow the samurai's code and perish alongside his men in honor, there is a different motivation that keeps him alive. It will be fascinating to uncover what the driving force is and why Yorishige is so devoted to supporting Tokiyuki. In any case, if the story of the new Shonen Jump anime does not ensure its success, the stunning animation and visuals of Cloverworks certainly will.
Cloverworks' stellar adaptation of the elusive samurai is another key to the anime's success
Despite criticism for its use of CGI, The Elusive Samurai has some of the season's best visuals.
Cloverworks Studio has already done an amazing job of adapting Tatsuya Endo Syp X FamilyHowever, one of the studio's notable works is their anime original, Wonder egg priority. From the first impression of The elusive samuraiIt's clear that CloverWorks' choice of style for animating the series is similar to their best work. Wonder egg priority was full of enigmatic and beautifully crafted scenes, often with a touch of gore, which was echoed in the epic transition seen in the first episode of The elusive samurai.
The playful scene between Tokiyuki and his half-brother suddenly shifts to a severed head bouncing like a ball, showcasing Cloverworks' ability to seamlessly blend beauty and brutality. So, with a different protagonist and an amazing anime adaptation, Shawn Jumps newest anime, The elusive samuraiHas more than one good reason for its success.
The Elusive Samurai is set during the Kenmu Restoration between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It follows Hojo Tokiyuki, a young boy whose family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. Accompanied by a priest and his followers, he seeks revenge using his extraordinary abilities to evade capture.
- Release date
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July 6, 2024
- Seasons
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1