Shigurui

[Munsu]

I started reading this manga last October, and it really impressed me. The art style needed some getting used to, but in the end it's a really beautifully drawn series. I just read that they are planning an animated series on it, so that's why I'm starting this thread. I usually wouldn't start a thread without the series being released, but animating this series might be a little tricky. The level of graphic violence and gore in the series is overwhelming, so I'm interested in what you guys may think of it, and if you think the anime will do it justice.

Here's the article with the announcement of the anime:
http://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-22/taf-2007-shigurui


1630, in the province of Suruga, Japan. The cruel prince Tadanaga Tokugawa, third brother of the Shogun Iemitsu, decides to gather the most valiant fighters to make them face eachothers in a tournament. The first duel opposes two man that seems to know eachothers, Gennosuke Fujiki and Seigen Irako. But what is their real connection?

Warning! Extremely violent, gory including sex. For a mature audience only.
http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/shigurui/

Here are some samples from the first chapter of the manga so that you can see what I mean. Go read the first 3 chapters that have been released too so that you get a better idea. Not interested in discussing the manga, but mainly on the type of content and the level of violence and how it will be potrayed when animated.

Warning, these samples are very graphic and gory, so don't click the link if you think it's not suited for you.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5852/shiguruiv01005cz0.th.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shiguruiv01005cz0.jpg) http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1454/shiguruiv01006007uh8.th.jpg (http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shiguruiv01006007uh8.jpg) http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1109/shiguruiv01013vs1.th.png (http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shiguruiv01013vs1.png) http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3235/shiguruiv01014rj4.th.png (http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shiguruiv01014rj4.png)

[Darknodin]

it will be a kid's show haha...


seriously though, it'll probably be like Berserk, which was, while toned done, pretty good.

edit: just checked the pics... although i doubt the whole manga is only that, its quite hardcore.

[animus]

I read some of it, and I was totally weirded out by the art and the content. It had a part with a weird bishie holding a blade and dancing around with it between his toes. I was totally weirded out. Among the weird amounts of gore and intestinal grabbing.

[Kraco]

Looks like another of those everybody dies series. Even in those sample manga pics that one dude gouges out his own intestines, as if he especially wanted to die. Weird series.

I'm not the greatest fan of tournament series in general, although there have been some good ones, but of course this won't actually be a shounen tournament series. I just hope it'll have a decent plot. It depends on that whether I'll have a look or not.

[Munsu]

I really think there'll be more to it, even though I agree that this will be a everybody dies series. I think we'll see a little bit of romance, and the fact that the prince seems sketchy makes me think that there'll be some sort of struggle that opposes him. The manga seems to be of historical nature, so some historical event or issues may very well be integrated in the story.


I read some of it, and I was totally weirded out by the art and the content. It had a part with a weird bishie holding a blade and dancing around with it between his toes. I was totally weirded out. Among the weird amounts of gore and intestinal grabbing.

It took me a while to get used to the art, but right now I think it's very well drawn

[Zati]

Episode 1 - Flomp (http://tracker.anirena.com/download.php?id=1357)

Flomp just released. I'm looking forward to it.

[YaGaMi]

I've just checked on Manga Updates where it tells you the manga is currently on Volume 8. There are 12 episodes in the anime series according to AniDB, which has put me off from watching it because I hate all these anime that are released even though the Manga is still running. I prefer it when a manga is made into an anime when a series has finished like Death Note & Monster.

[oyabun]

Most of the anime currently on the air are not yet done in manga. so you hate them too?

[YaGaMi]

I've worded it wrong, I don't hate the anime itself. I don't like it when anime are released before the storyline is finished hence all the fillers we get in Naruto and Bleach etc. I'm not saying fillers will be the caes with Shigurui but there is a chance that if Shigurui is not popular enough we may never see the rest of it animated.

I myself prefer to watch anime than read manga (outside Berserk :p ), that is the reason for the above rant.

[oyabun]

I never said you hated anime itself. Just the types that you mentioned.:D Well I get your point and it really is annoying to watch those fillers and all. And if the manga of an anime is finish, you have the choice to finish the story in the manga.

[masamuneehs]

I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet... I'll surely watch for another episode (and another group to pick it up...). The pacing wasn't for me, and some absurdly strange focus shots on things like walls, flies, I didn't quite get... The premise seems straight forward and intriguing enough.

I did enjoy the first episode, but... well, it's hard for me to say what I think was lacking in it...

[shinta|hikari]

I absolutely agree. I generally like this kind of series, since it is quite unique, but I think they overdid the unique on this one. Reminds me of how .Hack and Tsubasa chronicle stretches out their scenes, only without the beautiful soundtrack.

Still, the gore will definitely keep me DLing. Nothing like blood and guts to get me going.

[masamuneehs]

Shigurui - Flomp Fansubs - Episode 2 (http://tracker.anirena.com/download.php?id=1571)

still only Flomp... I shouldn't complain though, at least someone is doing it... I just find it weird that a samurai gore fest anime doesn't have more groups into it...

[Bread-sama]

I'll just wait for Saizen's

[Munsu]

Oh great, I didn't realize AE-Saizen were going to do a joint for it. Going to wait for them too, Flomp is horrible from what I've seen.

[Kraco]

Yeah, these subs aren't exactly stellar. Good to hear better are on their way. This kind of artistic show would benefit from more careful and thought-out subbing work.

[vladimier]

The anime is pretty amazing tho..

later
Vladimier

[Kraco]

Like a sudden swing of a katana from the darkness, the subs are here:

Episode 1 - A-E - Saizen (http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_01_%5B270652D1%5D.mkv.tor rent)
Episode 2 - A-E - Saizen (http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_02_%5BE1385E49%5D.mkv.tor rent)
Episode 3 - A-E - Saizen (http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_03_%5B26B3A811%5D.mkv.tor rent)

[gonzo]

Wow... Those pictures made me really sick. Putting this on the Do Not Read List.

[Munsu]

You're just weak.


Anyways, those last 2 episodes were fucked up. So has Irako been fucking Mie? It's hard to tell at times, but I think he is... or maybe simply fantasizing.

[Munsu]

4, 5, and 6:
http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_04_%5B771D85AF%5D.mkv.tor rent
http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_05_%5B262EA9ED%5D.mkv.tor rent
http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_06_%5B16314311%5D.mkv.tor rent

[Dark_Sage]

The show's terrible. I'm amazed it has a fanbase.

The characters, style, and plot are all among the worst I've ever seen.

Kudos to you all for managing to watch up to 6 episodes.

[NeoBear]

...jesus wtf man this show is well its messed up, if you like this at all go ahead and watch to episode 6. i have not seen a beatdown like that in a long time....crist

....holy shit yall i stoped after the beating to post and about 10 seconds later the beatdown was like a warm sunny day compared to what happen next...this show is fucked up =/

[Everon]

The show's terrible. I'm amazed it has a fanbase.

The characters, style, and plot are all among the worst I've ever seen.

Kudos to you all for managing to watch up to 6 episodes.

Well, it seem like you've watched 6 episodes and ignored everything. I can see why it isn't for everyone due to the gore and pacing, but I really don't understand why you call it terrible. Maybe you just aren't a fan of storytales based in ye' olde Edo?

Well, whatever, if you don't like it, you don't like it. Thats fine and I'm not going to change your mind. Just don't insult others for enjoying it.

[Munchie]

The show's terrible. I'm amazed it has a fanbase.

The characters, style, and plot are all among the worst I've ever seen.

Kudos to you all for managing to watch up to 6 episodes.

This is one of the very few shows during the summer and fall season I've been watching. It's intense and has nice animation. How is the plot worse than other shows? It shows how the rivalry between these two was developed. It will be sweet when they fight.

[Yukimura]

This show is great, even with the slow pacing more than enough happens in the story to keep in interesting throughout. I suspect it will be a lot easier to understand once we can watch it all at once though, since there are so many skips. The sensei is quite an interesting puzzle, I can't figure out if he can still sense what's going on when he's in crazy mode or not, but I'm guessing he can since he never gets caught off guard.

Something I find very interesting is that I've come to see Irako as a huge dick but I can't really figure out why. Besides his lack of respect and (seemingly) honor to the dojo and the Sensei he's not really that bad of a guy. He wants to be the best and he'll do anything to get there which is understandable but yet he seems like an asshole doing it. On the other hand Fujiki demonstrates all the qualities of a tool, yet I really like his character. The sensei is pretty much insane but everyone, including Fujiki, follows his whims without hesitation, which would normally make me dislike them. I guess honor goes a long way in this type of show.

[shinta|hikari]

A lot of the bias probably comes from their character design. Irako just looks despicable, while Fujiki looks like the main character. Their actual qualities do not necessarily fit into those types though.

[Everon]

Irako has done a lot more terrible things than Fujiki. He killed his mother, covetted his Sensei's mistress, and obviously power hungry. Its easy to picture him as the antagonist.

I really like how still sympathize Irako's situation. He was born as a peasant. Not just any low rung person, but considered the son of a demon. Being shunned like that, told you could never amount to anything must have been incredibly difficult. Its no wonder that he struggles for the top.

Does he really deserve such a cruel punishment? Blind and mutilated.

[Munchie]

Ep 7 (http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_07_%5B8F59EBAD%5D.mkv.tor rent)
Ep 8 (http://a.scarywater.net/saizen/%5BA-E_%26_Saizen%5D_Shigurui_08_%5B358935B0%5D.mkv.tor rent)

[NeoBear]

..... er um is this show over cause i still have it and was gonna burn and dump it if its not gonna continue ... um honestly it cant end like that right ?

[Yukimura]

I'm pretty sure it's over and there have been no announcements about a second season to my knowledge. If you want more of the story you're going to have to read the manga.

[Buffalobiian]

I happened to dig this out of my backlog and watched it this weekend (followed by reading from Chapter 32 to the final chapter 84). This shit was good.

I've read that the biggest complaint about the anime part is that the pacing was slow, but that's only as true as speaking slowly enough to make your point heard. It wasn't unnecessarily slow.

The manga's pretty much a must read if you liked the anime since the latter gives no closure whatsoever.