Class of 2003
A Sign of Things To Come?

Its stay on the block may have been abbreviated, but Rurouni Kenshin remains one of the most popular shows to ever air on Toonami. This show combined historical fiction with the raw, often visceral action, intrigue, and humor (and at times, romance) that was prominent in shows like Trigun, a series that premiered on Adult Swim around the same time (many lamented that this show would have fit in with that block more than on Toonami). Kenshin displayed some of the funniest moments ever seen on Toonami as well as some of the most violent scenes ever seen in daytime television. Did I mention that the cast of the series is one of the best ever seen on the block?

Sure, Kenshin would have been better off on Adult Swim, but in the four months when it was exclusive to the Toonami block, it definitely increased the draw for the block. In the midst of the finale of Dragonball Z and the arrival of Yu Yu Hakusho to the block, Kenshin was something that Toonami needed in a big way.

Was it edited too much? Probably. But did it diminish the quality of the show? Heck no! Like I mentioned, Kenshin was one of the biggest draws for the Toonami faithful to remain faithful to the block. Idiotic decisions aside (like the fact that the series was moved from weekday afternoons to a Saturday late-night slot because ratings were so good for the older audiences), Kenshin was one of those shows that will be remembered for a lot of things from liberal drinking of sake, insane, witty banter, and, of course, a little of the old ultraviolence. In fact, the airing of Kenshin may have been the catalyst for the block's current incarnation and change of demographics, whenever that's going to happen. Whether or not the series actually joins the new Saturday night Toonami lineup, Kenshin remains one of the most important shows to be a part of the block.

Go on to the next show.