Product Details

• Actors: Hiroyuki Sanada, Mami Koyama, Tarô Ishida, Yuriko Yamamoto, Ichirô Nagai
• Directors: Rintaro
• Writers: Mori Masaki, Tetsu Yano
• Producers: Rintaro, Haruki Kadokawa
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Best Film & Video Co
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1995
• Run Time: 132 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303387993
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,617 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic anime that surges with emotion and intrigue!, April 18, 2000

By 

Virginia Blake - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dagger of Kamui [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jiro was a foundling. Left with a note pleading for his care and a mysterious dagger that hid the nature of his identity, he was taken into a warm home and a loving mother and sister. Their murder shook his world apart. Blamed for their deaths, the other villagers drove him into the wilderness where he found his way to Tenkai, a Buddhist monk who has Jiro expertly trained in the art of the ninja. Tenkai, however, knows more than he reveals, and his benevolence hides a sinister plot to manipulate Jiro into solving the mystery of a legendary treasure. Caught in a web of intrigue with vast implications, Jiro must evade the pursuit of deadly assasins in his quest to solve a mystery wrapped within mysteries that will take him from his homeland, to the ice sheaths of Kamchatka, to the American plains and back again. This is terrific anime that takes various familiar elements and combines them to form a ingenious tale that reveals a broad canvas ripe with swashbuckling adventure and populated with a brilliant cast of characters. Although the animation is not up to current standards, the story, an interwoven mesh filled with passion, vengeance, élan, and malfeasance, more than makes up for the deficiency. Even so, Kamui still offers moments of visual spectacle and beauty as well as action. This is no ordinary anime, however. The plots and intrigue and emotions drive the tale and temper the violence rather than let it run away with the movie. In comparison to the likes of Ninja Scroll and Yotoden (both excellent in their own right), Kamui is rather more tame and features little nudity, no sex whatsoever, and a modicum of violence. Rather, the story draws us closer to sympathize with the characters while putting together the puzzle of Jiro's destiny and the tragedy of his family's fate. We are drawn to the illusion that these characters are genuine, driven by human frailties and desires. Well drawn, engaging characters and an epic, complex story make this memorable anime into something I was glad to have experienced.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blade of Kamui is fabulous!, June 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blade of Kamui [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This film, which is also called the Dagger of Kamui in its subtitled version, is a story based on some fiction, & some fact. Based in Feudal Japan, Blade...is about Jiro, a young man who is forced to search out his past for the truth, & for fortune. Yeah, the plot seems corny, but the action is quite good. The storyline, which takes Jiro to California, is great, & much credit is given to the writers on this one. No, I cannot give away the whole story, but keep an eye out for Jiro's evil adversary Ten-kai. He is a masterful Ninja who goes to no end to accomplish his goals. The only difficulty I had with the film was Jiro's outfit. Everyone else was in the traditional garb, yet Jiro was wearing something a little outdated & definitely out of sync. Blade of Kamui is a long film, but is a must-see.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All hail Kamui!, April 27, 2000

By 

Andrew (KC, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dagger of Kamui [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This remarkable Japanese film stands on a plane above all other anime. It is a rich artistic masterpiece, underlain by universal archetypal themes; which make for an intricate, yet flowing plot with an inumerable number of pits and twists. Some people criticize this work, saying it is too long and boring and such. These small minded folks need to use the mature part of their brain, rather than waiting feverishly for sex and impossibly stupid violence (which are entertaing, but lack substance).