Bamboo Blade: The Complete Series (S.A.V.E.)

Bamboo Blade brings a surprising total package of not just being a slap-stick series where its just zany, Japanese humor. Viewers will come to enjoy an anime that covers a very unique and serious sport in Japanese culture, the sword arts of Kendo, while keeping it lighthearted. The humor and the silly characters assemble, yet there are moments of serious thought and drama. Sort of in the tradition of Azumanga Daioh, Bamboo Blade takes the challenges of several Kendoka and their dim-witted coach as they traverse the world of sword fighting.

The real charm of the series are the ensemble of characters. The main character, Tamaki is lovable from the start. She's a quiet high school freshman who would prefer watching her favorite series, the Brave Bladers, at home rather than do Kendo. But after some cajoling from the Muroe High School kendo coach and seeing the "ijime" (bullying) of a new kendo student, she enters the fledgling club to exact justice like her favorite Brave Blader, the Red one. She has an irresistible youthful innocence as she runs into the harsher realities of growing up, such as facing her anxieties at a part time job, running into shady people, and the reality of tough competition in the kendo world.

Meanwhile, the coach of the Muroe High School Kendo team, who is in it because he has to fill his stomach and pay his bills, and the captain of the original team, Kirino, have to assemble a new squad. They get one of the most strange looking anime characters ever, Eiga ("Dan-kun") who looks like an acorn and talks very slow. He decides to bring his girlfriend, Miya-miya, who walks in as being very gorgeous. Yet Dan-kun's lady friend has a dark side to her, which has a continuous humorous arc as her mood shifts from being "black," a reference to the bad guy on the Brave Blader series to lovable and kind when Dan-kun is around. Other characters on the team include a very gung-ho, but dim-witted Saya, good, all-around good-guy Yuuji, and later on, a klutz named Satorin. Together, they struggle as a team to get wins and learn the art of kendo.

The humor and story arc make for a fine finish to the series. One of the more interesting plot points is the Muroe High School's interaction with other kendo teams' characters, so its not just watching one set of characters throughout the entire show with only importance placed on them. You meet new side characters from other high schools through competitions either become friend or foe, which can be extremely funny or dramatic. Also is the Brave Bladers arc that is behind the show, which brings humor, a side culture that pays homage to old anime classics, and inspiration for some of characters like Tamaki and Yuuji.

I guess the only downgrade for the series is that the humor sometimes becomes a little much, in particular an introduction of a foreigner character who is totally stereotyped (you'll see what I mean). That's just a minor squibble.

This has been enjoyable and charming series to watch, a recommend for anyone who not enjoys comedies but a very unique culture of kendo, a lesser known martial art in the world.

The best twist is that the fat kid has the most beautiful girl for a change. There is no romance or short skirts just an extremely well told story that navigates the tradition and culture of samurai better than anything i have ever seen.

If any of what i said is interest you BUY THIS MOVIE. you will not be disappointed.

I looked into this series on Hulu when Amazon recommended it (you might also like...) and I've really enjoyed it. This set has all the episodes at a decent price. English and Japanese audio options (English subtitles available too if desired). I'm happy with it.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews  4.8 out of 5 stars