Anime Movie Review: Hakuōuki Dai-isshō Kyoto Ranbu

Hakuōki Dai-isshō Kyoto Ranbu (Hakuouki: Chapter 1 Kyoto Boisterous Dance)

This is the first installment of the two-part movie. I think this was made to entice people who haven't seen the TV series and also to provide a cinematic experience for the loyal fans. It feels the same and different all at the same time. Just imagine a different person narrating the same story. The scenarios are different from what I remembered but the gist is there. And to quote my previous co-worker, it's basically the same bananas.

I could say it's still painfully beautiful. The animation. The scoring. The doomed bishonens. There's still a part of me hoping that in this version, they will all live happily ever after. Of course we all know that it won't happen. I can't hardly wait to watch this movie but now that I've seen it, I'm now dreading the second part. We will have to relive all the sad parts all over again. I've read somewhere before that the movie will have a slightly different ending. Hmmm how about a happy ending?

But to my surprise I'm now rooting for Hijikata. I was shipping Chizuri before with either Saito or Okita. I was also taken off guard with Okita's voice. I don't seem to recall him having that kind of voice but don't mind me since seiyuus are not my forte. I don't have the ears for it. And in a totally unrelated trivia, while watching the second season of Saiunkoku Monogatari (six years ago), my young son walks in and without looking he casually tells me that it's the same voice actor of Viral of Tenggen Toppa Gurren Lagan. He was referring to Ri Kouyuu. I googled and my jaw literally dropped! He was right! Just imagine the possibilities if I have that kind of talent and I could critique the seiyuus and cross reference their previous works.