Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X) Watch Order

Looking for an anime that blends epic swordfights, romance, and a dash of slapstick comedy? Well, look no further than Rurouni Kenshin!

Set during Japan’s Meiji era, this gem follows Kenshin Himura, a former assassin turned wandering pacifist, who still wields his reverse-blade katana to protect the innocent without spilling blood.

But don’t be fooled by his gentle smile—when push comes to shove, Kenshin’s got some serious moves!

If you love samurai action but also enjoy characters who are as quirky as they are deadly, this anime is a must-watch. Plus, who can resist the allure of a good redemption story, right?

Table of Contents

Samurai X

Did you know there are two versions of Rurouni Kenshin to sink your teeth into?

That’s right! You can either go retro with the 1990s original or enjoy the sleek, polished remake. The classic 90s version brings all the nostalgic vibes with its old-school animation and iconic soundtrack, giving you that authentic experience.

Samurai X is the international title for Rurouni Kenshin, so it is better known by this title.

1. Samurai X (1996-1998)

Title	Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
Episodes	94
Aired	Winter 1996-Summer 1998

Himura Kenshin is a vagabond with a dark past and sunny disposition.

Not a ronin but a rurouni, he was never a samurai, but an assassin of utmost skill in the Meiji restoration, who in the turning point of the war simply walked away.

His travels lead him to Tokyo in the 11th year of the Meiji era, where he befriends a female Kendo master, a former thief, a brawler and a doctor all with their own secrets.

Together they fight off the enemies surfacing from the dark past that Kenshin cannot escape.

2. Samurai X: The Motion Picture (1997)

Samurai X: The Motion Picture film anime samurai x

Title	Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Ishinshishi e no Requiem
Episodes	1
Aired	Fall 1997

The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome.

Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desperate rebels have sworn to settle one final score.

Only one man stands in their way: Kenshin Himura. But when Shigure discovers Kenshin’s true identity as the Hitokiri Battousai, his fight becomes a personal vendetta.

3. Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal (1999)

Title	Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Tsuioku-hen
Episodes	4
Aired	Winter 1999

In the days before the Japanese Revolution, Hiko Seiijuro, a wandering master swordsman and hermit, encounters a bandit raid on a slave wagon.

Hiko kills the raiding bandits in hopes of saving as many lives as possible, but only manages to spare one life from the massacre. Hiko leaves the child, advising him to go to the nearby village and have them take care of him.

A few days later, as Hiko comes back to check upon the child he saved, he is shocked to see the child had created graves, both for the slaves he befriended and the bandits who killed them.

Seeing potential in the young one, Hiko takes the child under his wing, names him Kenshin, meaning “heart of sword,” and teaches him about the art of swordsmanship under the Hiten Mitsuruugi Ryu.

Struggling in a constant challenge with his ideal beliefs reflecting against the harshness of reality, Tsuiokuhen tells the melancholic and dark story of Himura Kenshin as one of the most feared assassins of the Japanese Revolution: the Hitokiri Battousai.

4. Samurai X: Reflection (2001)

Title	Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Seisou-hen
Episodes	2
Aired	Fall 2001

Known throughout all Japan as the Hitokiri Battousai, Rurouni Kenshin is now a lost soul cursed to seek atonement for his bloody past.

Even the peace that now exists as a result of Kenshin’s sword brings him no solace, driving him to wander far from those he loves.

His wife, Kaoru, steadfastly awaits his return as she mourns his absence. Will Kenshin come home before she dies of grief?

Rurouni Kenshin Remake

The recent remake sharpens the visuals, delivering crisp action scenes that make every katana slash feel even more intense, all while staying true to the Meiji-era goodness we love.

1. Rurouni Kenshin (2023)

Title	Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023)
Episodes	24
Aired	Summer 2023

Re-adaptation of the main manga series.

One hundred and forty years ago in Kyoto, with the coming of the American “Black Ships,” there arose a warrior who, felling men with his bloodstained blade, gained the name Hitokiri, manslayer!

His killer blade helped close the turbulent Bakumatsu era and slashed open the progressive age known as Meiji. Then he vanished, and with the flow of years, became legend.