Hakuouki Reimeiroku

Written by RenjiWu09 on September 22, 2012 at 7:47 PM

For many otome game-anime adaptations, they had done a splendid job for the series of Hakuouki. Reimeiroku is less romantic because they removed the female protagonist and shifted attention to Ryuunosuke and how his presence would affect the events. In this installation, the story focuses more on how the members of Roshigumi would eventually be shaped into the familiar characters of the Shinsengumi. I personally preferred this prequel than previous stories. Despite the fact that there's still not a lot of physical action heavy scenes compared to Shinsengumi Kitan and Hekketsuroku, Reimeiroku is still entertaining as we watch Ryuunosuke's growth into a stronger individual. The story's antagonist, Serizawa, is also an interesting individual. Though appearing to be a target of hatred among Roshigumi members and townspeople, Serizawa does in fact carry more resolve and reason than any other character though his morals and ethics can be challenged.

Dialogue may be a little slow and obvious at times. Originally intended for a female audience as a datings sims game, the themes are romanticized and glorified. They talk a lot about the samurai's honor and the importance of the blade but, this is not a bushido-heavy anime. I find it light compared to many other samurai genres.

This light historical drama-like series is suitable for many audiences of varied demographics.