Blade of the Immortal (無限の住人 Mugen no Jūnin, lit. The Inhabitant of Infinity) is an anime series based on the manga series created by Hiroaki Samura. Blade of the Immortal was directed by Koichi Mashimo and produced by Bee Train, with production support by Production I.G, and Pony Canyon.[1] Bee Train was responsible for the animation production, Pony Canyon produced the music for the series, and Yoshimitsu Yamashita designed the characters. The story follows the adventures of Manji, a samurai cursed with immortality due to killing one hundred men. Weary of his immortal life, Manji seeks to repent for sins and lift the curse of immortality by killing 1,000 evil men.
The first announcement of the Blade of the Immortal anime was in Kodansha's Afternoon magazine. The episodes began airing on July 13, 2008 on AT-X.
Two pieces of theme music are used for the episodes: one opening theme and one closing theme. The opening theme is "Red Rabbit" (赤いウサギ Akai Usagi) by The Pillow Book, and the closing theme is "wants" by GRAPEVINE. A single for "Red Rabbit" was released on July 16, 2008, and a single for "wants" was released on May 21, 2009.[2]
Seven DVD compilations were announced for release by Pony Canyon. The first compilation was released on August 29, 2008, and contains the first two episodes of the series.[3] The other six compilations were between September 17, 2008 and February 27, 2009.[4]
| # | Episode title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Criminal" "Zainin" (罪人) |
July 13, 2008 |
| Manji visits a priest in order to confess his sins, namely killing his lord and 100 of his retainers, an act that earned him the moniker "Killer of 100." The priest, who is actually a con artist, attempts to kill Manji by shooting him in the forehead, but Manji kills him and regenerates the wound. Manji returns to his home to find Yaobikuni, a nun who placed "sacred bloodworms" into Manji that make him immortal, and his sister Machi. That evening, Machi dreams of the time when Manji was forced to kill her husband, a police officer pursuing Manji, causing her to lose her mind. After the dream, she wanders into the night and is captured by a group of ronin led by the brother of the priest Manji had killed. Manji pursues Machi but is unable to prevent her from being killed. In response, he kills every member of the ronin group, and upon returning to Yaobikuni, declares that he will seek redemption for the 100 men he killed by killing 1000 evil men. A few times during this episode we see Rin praying at her father's grave, as she swears to take revenge on Anotsu. | ||
| 02 | "Conquest" "Seifuku" (征服) |
July 27, 2008 |
| More details about the tragic demise of Rin's family and their dojo are shown during her encounter with Manji. Members of the Ittō-ryū and the Mugai-ryū are introduced, too. | ||
| 03 | "Love Song" "Koi uta" (恋詠) |
August 10, 2008 |
| Manji's and Rin's fateful encounter with Sabato Kuroi. His relationship to Anotsu is further explored as well as the role of the members of the Mugai-ryū. | ||
| 04 | "Genius" "Tensai" (天才) |
August 24, 2008 |
| Rin tries in vain to hire Sori, an artist. His house is attacked by minions of the Ittō-ryū, which makes him reveal his true colors. | ||
| 05 | "Fanatic" "Shūjin" (執人) |
September 07, 2008 |
| The tragic past of Taito Magatsu, another member of the Ittō-ryū, who is a target of Rin's vengeance, is revealed. He attempts to lead a normal life by leaving the Ittō-ryū, but encounters Rin and Manji. | ||
| 06 | "Cry of the Worm" "Mushi no Uta" (蟲の唄) |
September 21, 2008 |
| Members of the Mugai-ryū are assassinated by members of the Ittō-ryū. Manji an Rin encounter Eiku Shizuma, who reveals Manji's weakness. | ||
| 07 | "Three Ways" "Sanzu" (三途) |
October 05, 2008 |
| Manji settles the score with Shizuma and receives information about Anotsu's whereabouts. | ||
| 08 | "Nail Bomb" "Tsumabiki" (爪弾) |
October 19, 2008 |
| Rin and Manji encounter Makie Otono-Tachibana, whose life Manji spares, since she appears to be too weak to pose a threat. Furthermore her relationsship to Anotsu is explored. | ||
| 09 | "Dream Bomb" "Yumebiki" (夢弾) |
November 02, 2008 |
| More details from Anotsu's and Makie's past are revealed. A fierce battle between Manji and Makie unfolds. Afterwards the latter leaves Anotsu and the Ittō-ryū. | ||
| 10 | "Changing Face" "Hen men" (變面) |
November 16, 2008 |
| Rin and Manji encounter Araya Kawakami, one of the men who raped Rin's mother. His past is revealed and after Rin bravely saves his son, she goes unarmed to his house. | ||
| 11 | "Feathers" "Hane" (羽根) |
November 30, 2008 |
| Rin confronts Kawakami emotionally, but is assaulted by him. Manji comes to her rescue and exacts her vengeance. Rin succeeds in foiling his son's plan to continue living for revenge only. | ||
| 12 | "Nemesis of Rin" "Sha Rin" (斜凜) |
December 14, 2008 |
| Manji and Rin travel to the house where he lived with his sister and he continues to train Rin. During a break she encounter Anotsu in a nearby forest. After her futile assassination attempt he discloses to Rin the reasons for the animosity between her father and him. | ||
| 13 | "Wind" "Kaze" (風) |
December 28, 2008 |
| The paths taken by all the surviving characters are shown. Rin abolishes her hesitations and trains with utter devotion. Meanwhile the tactics of the Mugai-ryū seem to have sealed Anotsu's fate. | ||