Is Samurai Deeper Kyo worth watching? – A Complete Review

Samurai Deeper Kyo (Samurai Dīpā Kyō) is a manga series written and illustrated by Akimine Kamijyo.

The series is set in the Edo period and follows the story of  Demon Eyes Kyo, a feared samurai, seeking to regain his body after his soul is sealed inside the body of his rival, Mibu Kyoshiro. 

The Samurai Deeper Kyo manga was adapted into an animated television series in 2002.

The production by Studio Deen aired on TV Tokyo from July 2, 2002, until December 23, 2002, with a total of 26 episodes.

1. Quick Review

The series begins with the narration of a legendary battle that takes place at the fog-engulfed battlefield of Sekigahara.

The main focus is an intense battle between two remarkable swordsmen. 

The first is noble warrior Kyoushirou Mibu of the Mibu Clan. His rival, recognized by his blood-red eyes and hair, is called “Demon Eyes” Kyou or the thousand-man-slayer. 

The legendary fight between these two powerful warriors is interrupted by a meteor that hits the battlefield and results in the disappearance of the two fighters.

The main plot of  Samurai Deeper Kyou starts four years after that epic battle, with Kyoushirou reintroduced as a pervy medicine salesman who is overflowing with debt.

When this character is attacked by a monster that seeks to devour him, the “demon eyes” Kyou trapped within him is awakened. 

Thus the story continues as these two legendary warriors try to find a way to disentangle themselves from each other and rediscover their secrets.

Samurai Deeper Kyo has an interesting protagonist and a storyline that comprises of good plot twists and character development. 

2. Info Card

3. Is it worth watching?

Samurai Deeper Kyo is a good option for those interested in an anime with a historical setting or even if you love samurai action.

The series displays pretty impressive artwork but fails to show the same flair in its animation which is very restricted and doesn’t do the characters justice. 

The soundtrack is super addictive. The music shows some out-of-this-world guitar skills that make you unconsciously do your own little air-guitar routine. The characters themselves are pretty interesting even though some of them fit fairly squarely into stereotypes from any shounen anime.

I. Plot

The story begins with the battle of Sekigahara where two warriors Kyoshiro Mibu and “Demon Eyes” Kyo are engrossed in a battle of epic proportions.

Both men seem to disappear off the face of the earth when a meteor crashes into the battlefield. 

The plot picks up four eyes later with bounty hunter Yuya Shiina capturing Kyoushiro who is now portrayed as a traveling medicine salesman in serious debt.

The story takes a turn when Kyoushiro encounters a monster who threatens to kill bim.

He then discovers that deep within his being lays the dormant mind of Demon Eyes Kyo which is awakened by this incident.

Besides the main character Kyoushiro, the antagonists in the show are noteworthy for having their unique fighting styles and personalities.

II. Characters

i. Main characters

Demon Eyes Kyo is one of the main characters in Samurai Deeper Kyo.

He is known for his demonic-looking blood-red eyes and wild unruly black hair that only adds to his menacing look. Kyo is described as one of the most feared samurai in the world. 

His character has earned nicknames such as “Demon-eyes Kyo” and “thousand-man-slayer” because of his appearance and combat abilities respectively.

Kyoushirou Mibu is the other protagonist of the Samurai Deeper Kyo series.

He is Kyo’s powerful rival in the legendary battle of Sekigahara. After the meteor disaster, both fighters vanish.

Kyoushirou reappears four years later with a completely different personality and now possesses the soul of “Demon Eyes” Kyo. 

His character is described as a kind and helpful person.

His newer persona acts as the comic relief in the anime while the Kyo trapped in his body brings a serious tone to the show during fights.

ii. Secondary main characters

Yuya Shiina is one of the secondary main characters and a bounty hunter.

She is interested in the largest bounty she can find which just so happens to be a reward of 1,000,000 ryo for Demon Eyes Kyo’s head.

Yuya’s character is short-tempered and even violent if she’s irritated, but is also balanced by her gentle and kind personality.

III. Setting 

Samurai Deeper Kyo is set in Tokugawa Japan. 

The series revolves around Mibu Kyoshiro, who turns out to be sharing a body with the feared samurai Demon Eyes Kyo. 

The anime starts with a hilarious tone of Kyoushiro’s character dealing with this new revelation. The anime takes on a more serious note when Kyo is involved.

IV. Theme Songs 

The opening theme for the series is “Aoi no Requiem (Blue Requiem)” by Pipeline Project featuring Yuiko Tsubokura and the ending theme is  “Love Deeper” by Pipeline Project featuring Yuiko Tsubokura.

The music used in the anime is one of its redeeming features. With upbeat and high-spirited music involving guitar riffs and sets the tone for the intense scenes in the series.

4. Grade:

5. Final Thoughts

Samurai Deeper Kyo has an interesting historic plot with samurai, an epic battle, and a tense fighting atmosphere.

The series has some good plot twists and appreciable character development. The soundtrack is another factor that deserves to be praised because it’s one of the most memorable things about the show.

The series is worth a watch for those of you who love delving into the historic eras of Japan when the samurai were the ultimate warriors.