#kikuchiyo

[ginkovskij]

Stills from Seven Samurai (1954, dir. Akira Kurosawa)

[beesgav]

yea

[basedkikuenjoyer]

This one's been a long time coming, Sweetie & I picking up the anime remake over dinner recently seems like a good time to do it. If we're going to talk about Wano as an homage to classic samurai cinema we can't ignore Akira Kurosawa's epic many would consider his magnum opus. I'd argue Rashomon deserves that honor but I like weird shit, today we're talking Seven Samurai.

Now, as always Wano is not one samurai movie reference. It's a massive pastiche. Seven Samurai's influence is a lot more structural. Big epic split between a segment of rounding up the gang, one where we spend time on preparations, then a big battle. The 1954 film is credited with like, pioneering this basic film structure of getting the band together for a mission then executing it. The mission is very different, the Raid being a little more like 47 Ronin instead of the titular Seven defending a village from bandits, but the way the story is arranged very much shows that influence. Even the seemingly detached sidestory at the start to introduce one of the gang fits the mold, luckily Kiku got to go all Oyuki on someone else's topknot over cutting her own hair like Kanbei.

You know the drill by now, as always she's the one who really shines when you look at this side of things. Samurai 7, that's a straight retelling. More futuristic setting but it's functionally the same gang. The only one with a name that really obviously resonates with the Akazaya Nine is Kiku, thanks to the two versions of the guy we have here. Kikuchiyo. Originally played by Kurosawa mainstay Toshiro Mifune. There are some elements that track. Good with kids, can be a bit of a wild card. Very different aesthetic though obviously.

Where it really shines is being the odd one out. The "heart" of the group. Not to mention one who'll break off and do their own thing. And that's consistent in both versions. Kikuchiyo is not actually a samurai, he's the son of a farmer. The bridge between the villagers and the men they hire. Our sweet, wonderful Okiku does sorta have that going for her, but with a different coat of paint. Digging back into where she starts in Oda's journey as a writer.

Probably said this at least somewhere, but on top of the whole Kamatari connection to Oda's time as a Rurouni Kenshin assistant Kiku also kinda gives you this Misao vibe. And I specifically mean how Misao related to the Oniwabanshu. Kid that idolized them but was left behind for her own good. Our sweet flower sure felt like that at the start. Nice blend of the two that ends up being it's own wonderful thing.

[could-they-be-a-pro-wrestler]

How successful would Kikuchiyo…

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[hug-kiss-marry-kill]

[kermitsex]

He died the way he lived. Cheeks out.

[absolutemag7trash]

[annon-guy2]

GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising: Dual Guest Character Poll (Manga/Light Novel/Anime)

[sournote2014]

I added my signature to this one.

[ginkovskij]

[beesgav]

I never draw Chie actually interacting in the universe she's meant to be for, huh

[swankpalanquin]

it's always interesting to me what parts make people laugh in movies that i like

[reikunrei]

i invite you over for a casual dinner but instead i actually make you watch the entirety of akira kurosawa's seven samurai in one sitting with me

[shinchinin]

tags post

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[gourde]

Samurai 7 goes sooooo hard why don't more people talk about it