Sword of the Stranger
Encyclopedia
is a 2007 Japan
ese anime
feature film
directed by Masahiro Andō and produced by Bones
. The film follows Kotaro, a young boy who is hunted by the Ming
from China
for mysterious reasons. Among the Ming is a fearsome Western
fighter named Luo-Lang, whose only desire is to find a worthy opponent. Due to circumstances, Kotaro and his dog meet Nanashi, a nameless ronin
who is haunted by memories of his past which have led him to avoid drawing his sword ever again. When the Ming clash with a Sengoku-era
feudal lord, a proud general, and monks torn between faith and survival, the reason behind the Ming's pursuit tests the bond between Kotaro and Nanashi.
Kotaro
Luo-Lang
Shogen Itadori
Master Bai-Luan
Tobimaru
Shoan
Lord Akaike
s across the world. The list of film festivals that the film has appeared at includes:
The film won the award for Best Animated Feature at FANTASPOA (International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre) in Brazil
and was a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The film was also submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
for consideration as a nominee for Best Animated Feature
at the 81st Academy Awards
.
There were fourteen films vying for the three nomination spots, including Sword of the Stranger.
Anime News Network
reviewer Justin Sevakis gave the film an overall A- and labeled it as: "Breath-taking action scenes wrapped around a compelling story that actually makes sense." In praise of the action sequences, Sevakis called them "some of the most intricately staged, gorgeously animated fight sequences in anime history." Finally, he concluded that "there are few places that the film goes that you haven't been before. But just the same, it's an absurdly fun, highly enjoyable sort of film that just about anybody could enjoy, provided one likes action... Sword of the Stranger could just be the cross-over hit the genre has needed for a very long time."
In her Anime News Network column entitled Shelf Life, reviewer Bamboo Dong profiled the Blu-Ray release as "a gorgeously animated, blood-soaked samurai romp that entertains for its full 102 minute run." Regarding the story and characters, Dong wrote "There are a lot of complexities for such a seemingly simple storyline, and it keeps things interesting—a good thing, because the main boy character is a little hard to like." She also found "the interplay between the Chinese and the Japanese in the film" to be "particularly interesting," especially in having "the Chinese characters switch between speaking Japanese and Mandarin" and "seeing the villainy so balanced between both countries." Lastly, she highlighted the technical aspects, saying "artistically, this film is something to be admired. The visuals are really breathtaking, especially in high-definition... Even better were the fight scenes, which were beautifully drawn, and even better 'choreographed,'" and "music-wise, the soundtrack was pretty grandiose, filling the more poignant moments with a very Lord of the Rings-esque theme that matched the gravitas of the film." Finally, she summarized the film up by writing "If one could define anime movies as summer blockbusters, then Sword of the Stranger would fall under that category. It's fast-paced and packed with action, and it looks good, too. It's not a masterpiece, per se, but as far as entertainment for the masses go, this one's a winner."
Meanwhile other media that have been to screenings so far such as Firefox News summarized their view on the dubbed and subbed versions of the film by saying:
The film's festival run in the European Union has resulted in positive feedback so far including a rating of 4.07 out of 5 from viewers on average from Camera Japan and its praises being sung after the screening of it at Sci-Fi London's anime all-nighter - Oktoberfest.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed by Masahiro Andō and produced by Bones
Bones (studio)
is a Japanese anime studio. It has produced numerous series, including RahXephon, Wolf's Rain, Scrapped Princess, Eureka Seven, Angelic Layer, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club and two adaptions of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga along with Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto and...
. The film follows Kotaro, a young boy who is hunted by the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for mysterious reasons. Among the Ming is a fearsome Western
Western Regions
The Western Regions or Xiyu was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of Jade Gate, most often Central Asia or sometimes more specifically the easternmost portion of it The Western Regions or Xiyu was a...
fighter named Luo-Lang, whose only desire is to find a worthy opponent. Due to circumstances, Kotaro and his dog meet Nanashi, a nameless ronin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
who is haunted by memories of his past which have led him to avoid drawing his sword ever again. When the Ming clash with a Sengoku-era
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
feudal lord, a proud general, and monks torn between faith and survival, the reason behind the Ming's pursuit tests the bond between Kotaro and Nanashi.
Characters
Nanashi (means No name or Nameless)- A roninRoninA or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
haunted by his terrible past, he has sworn to keep his sword sheathed. However, upon meeting Kotaro, he finds himself re-evaluating his life. While traveling with the young Kotaro, No Name finds himself acting as a bodyguard for the boy. This in turn leads to his prolonged struggle against the Ming soldiers, particularly Luo-Lang.
Kotaro
- Kotaro is a young orphan, seen in the opening scene being told by the priest Shoan to run far away from the monastery. He is pursued by assassins sent by the Ming dynasty as well as the soldiers of Akaike. With no idea why he is being chased. He seeks protection from No Name, after encountering him. His sole traveling companion until meeting No Name is his dog, Tobimaru.
Luo-Lang
- The second-in-command of the Ming group and an extremely skilled swordsman. Luo-Lang is driven by a thirst for great power, and craves finding an equally strong opponent to fight so that he may improve his skills. Being blue-eyed and blond-haired, he is a foreigner in the eyes of the Japanese and Chinese characters, although his actual origin is not stated. Official material labels him as 'Western', although whether this refers to EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
or to peoples residing to the West of China - for example the TochariansTochariansThe Tocharians were the Tocharian-speaking inhabitants of the Tarim Basin, making them the easternmost speakers of Indo-European languages in antiquity. They were known as, or at least closely related to, the Yuezhi of Chinese sources...
or the Uyghurs - is not clear.
Shogen Itadori
- One of the chief vassals of Akaike. He is a warrior whose swordsmanship skills have helped him rise above the rank-and-file soldiers and into power. He is driven by the ambition of one day becoming the ruler of an independent territory.
Master Bai-Luan
- The leader of the Ming group. He is responsible for chasing Kotaro on the Emperor’s order. He is completely dedicated to the Emperor and is just using Luo-Lang for his strength.
Tobimaru
- Kotaro's dog, and a principal character in the movie. Tobimaru is poisoned by a Ming warrior early in the film. Curing him provides the catalyst for Nanashi and Kotaro to work together. Nanashi helps Tobimaru by taking him, along with Kotaro, to an apothecary. After he is cured, Tobimaru worries about Kotaro, and after his master is captured, he helps No Name find the Sacrificial Altar before Kotaro is sacrificed.
Shoan
Lord Akaike
Festivals and awards
Sword of the Stranger has appeared at international film festivalFilm festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s across the world. The list of film festivals that the film has appeared at includes:
- 24th Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
- AnimagiCAnimagiCThe AnimagiC is a German annual anime convention and one of the largest of its kind in the German-speaking world with currently about 12,000 visitors.-History:...
- Asia Filmfest
- Asia Pacific Screen AwardsAsia Pacific Screen AwardsThe Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to...
http://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/the_region - Camera Japan
- FANTASPOAFantasportoFantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
http://www.fantaspoa.com/index.php?lang=english (International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto AlegrePorto AlegrePorto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
) - Leeds International Film FestivalLeeds International Film FestivalThe Leeds International Film Festival is the largest film festival in England outside London. Held in November at various venues throughout Leeds, West Yorkshire it shows over 200 films from around the world, commercial and independent....
http://www.leedsfilm.com/films.aspx?id=163 - LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Barbican's Japanimation - Sci-Fi LondonSci-Fi-LondonSCI-FI-LONDON , is a UK based film festival, dedicated to the science fiction and fantasy genres, which began in 2002.-About the Festival:...
's Oktoberfest
The film won the award for Best Animated Feature at FANTASPOA (International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre) in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and was a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to...
The film was also submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
for consideration as a nominee for Best Animated Feature
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is one of the annual awards given by the Los Angeles-based professional organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 81st Academy Awards
81st Academy Awards
The 81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2008 and took place February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST...
.
There were fourteen films vying for the three nomination spots, including Sword of the Stranger.
Reception
Sword of the Stranger has so far appeared on a select number of cinema screens in the United States and reception so far has been mostly positive.Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
reviewer Justin Sevakis gave the film an overall A- and labeled it as: "Breath-taking action scenes wrapped around a compelling story that actually makes sense." In praise of the action sequences, Sevakis called them "some of the most intricately staged, gorgeously animated fight sequences in anime history." Finally, he concluded that "there are few places that the film goes that you haven't been before. But just the same, it's an absurdly fun, highly enjoyable sort of film that just about anybody could enjoy, provided one likes action... Sword of the Stranger could just be the cross-over hit the genre has needed for a very long time."
In her Anime News Network column entitled Shelf Life, reviewer Bamboo Dong profiled the Blu-Ray release as "a gorgeously animated, blood-soaked samurai romp that entertains for its full 102 minute run." Regarding the story and characters, Dong wrote "There are a lot of complexities for such a seemingly simple storyline, and it keeps things interesting—a good thing, because the main boy character is a little hard to like." She also found "the interplay between the Chinese and the Japanese in the film" to be "particularly interesting," especially in having "the Chinese characters switch between speaking Japanese and Mandarin" and "seeing the villainy so balanced between both countries." Lastly, she highlighted the technical aspects, saying "artistically, this film is something to be admired. The visuals are really breathtaking, especially in high-definition... Even better were the fight scenes, which were beautifully drawn, and even better 'choreographed,'" and "music-wise, the soundtrack was pretty grandiose, filling the more poignant moments with a very Lord of the Rings-esque theme that matched the gravitas of the film." Finally, she summarized the film up by writing "If one could define anime movies as summer blockbusters, then Sword of the Stranger would fall under that category. It's fast-paced and packed with action, and it looks good, too. It's not a masterpiece, per se, but as far as entertainment for the masses go, this one's a winner."
Meanwhile other media that have been to screenings so far such as Firefox News summarized their view on the dubbed and subbed versions of the film by saying:
With either version, though, you’re not apt to go wrong if you’re an animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
or jidaigekiJidaigekiis a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
fan, let alone both.
The film's festival run in the European Union has resulted in positive feedback so far including a rating of 4.07 out of 5 from viewers on average from Camera Japan and its praises being sung after the screening of it at Sci-Fi London's anime all-nighter - Oktoberfest.