← Back to results
Sword of the Stranger
ストレンヂア -無皇刃譚-
2007 103 min Japan PG 12+
★7.6
Action, Animation, History
Director: Masahiro Andô
Trailers
EN
EN
Teaser
Description
Pursued by formidable Chinese assassins, young Kotaro and his dog run into No Name, a mysterious stranger who gets pulled into the chase. The unlikely companions form a bond over saving the dog from a poison attack, but chaos erupts when the assassins find Kotaro, and No Name must face his past before a horrible fate is met again.
Starring
Tomoya Nagase
Actor
Yuri Chinen
Actor
Kôichi Yamadera
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Sword of the Stranger is widely celebrated as a visually stunning achievement in samurai animation, featuring top-tier fight choreography and a compelling atmosphere. While some viewers find the plot and character development to be overly formulaic and thin, others argue its execution and emotional core make it a definitive genre classic.
| Cinematography | The film features exceptionally high-quality animation with fluid, visceral combat choreography that sets a high bar for the genre. | |
| Score | The musical score successfully integrates traditional instrumentation to mirror the historical setting and enhance the intensity of battle scenes. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some critics appreciate its concise, effective narrative, while others dismiss it as a collection of clichéd tropes with underdeveloped character arcs. | |
| Emotion | The depiction of violence is polarizing, ranging from praise for its gritty, R-rated realism to condemnation for what some perceive as excessive and grotesque gore. |