Souten Kouro (Beyond the Heavens)

Souten Kouro caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to be impressed by the art, by the main character, and that it still kept my attention as a historical anime. I usually get a tad bored with historical anime, laden with lots of characters whose relationships I can never remember by the time the next episode is subbed, or by mid-season. Luckily, for this anime, it's not as important. Just pay attention to the main guy Cao Cao and his actions.

The first episode covers a lot of time, and leads me to be impressed by the main man, the type of guy the viewer and many in the anime grow to respect. Nowadays there are a lot of main characters that are of the straightforward and virtuous type, but Cao Cao manages to pull that off and also achieve an air of ferocity and justice.

What about everything else? The action is animated without restraint, and makes no apology for all the blood spilled, body parts severed, and people killed. Blades, bruises, missing teeth, torn clothes, pain, and tears it's all there on the screen. The action scenes aren't drawn-out or lengthy by any means, but what is shown makes an impact. It can also be gruesome outside of the action scenes, too.

What about the goings-on behind the doors of the elite? Basically the higher ups in power are crooked, and Cao Cao is popping up on their radar as a fast-approaching threat. Viewers can enjoy a messed-up beaurocrat getting his just desserts while the suffering townspeople cheer on in hushed tones around their slums. The top brass aren't the only ones who aren't keen on the idea of a young upstart strutting around their town. Not everyone loves Cao Cao, so his path will be an interesting one.

I look forward to these episodes, eager to see what Cao Cao does next.

Recommendations:

• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou >>...two warring ninja clans collide when a peace treaty dissolves, to see who will stand once all the blood is spilled
• Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuiokuhen >>...story of a red-haired young man who swiftly becomes a killer, and woman he encounters one rainy night
  
• Saiunkoku Monogatari >>...sharp girl struggles into the lowest political ranks, with a mission to educate the idle emperor, more comedy, less action
  

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