Characters
Tsukikage Ran
~ I’m just a beautiful wanderer ~
Appearing no-nonsense and distant, Ran is nevertheless laid-back and carefree even when she dishes it out to her opponents. Ran’s daily routine consists mainly of napping and sake-drinking. Money is never an issue for her, as she’s quite capable of starving. And she truly enjoys the little things in life, such as finding a nice shade under a tree with a soft breeze, and how to enjoy a good sip.
The Japanese, in line with their ancient tradition of honoring even the simplest and most humble of foods, form this word by placing the honorific prefix o- before the word kara, which means “shell, hull, or husk.” Thus o-kara means “the honorable shell.” A more old-fashioned term for okara is kirazu, which means “that which cannot be cut;” tofu, by contrast, can be cut. When the Japanese refer to okara as an ingredient in cooking, they often call it unohana after Deutzia scabra, a tiny white flower that grows in thick clusters on briar bushes and blossoms in the spring. This reflects okara’s potentially light, almost fluffy nature, like grated coconut.
A recurring theme in the anime is of characters who are driven to questionable acts for personal gain. Ran would on a whim question their priorities, after which some would receive the blunt edge of her blade, and some would not be so lucky. Either way, the action usually finishes before you can say “I feel a smackfest coming on.” That’s not to say the animators did a rush job. The execution of Ran’s moves are simply breathtakingly efficient - as befitting a master samurai. The choreography is not exaggerated, the pace is sharp but every frame is there. If you have experienced something like kenjutsu, kendo, jujutsu or aikido, the simple elegance and fluidity of the moves will impress. Much a pleasurable time can be spent going through the action scenes frame-by-frame.
One more thing which I appreciate is Ran’s charming side. Perhaps it’s my imagination, but I find that in her gentle mode, Ran’s voice becomes reminiscent of the charming Satou Sei from Marimite - especially when she’s responding to a cute girl 
Lady Meow
~ of the Iron Cat Fist ~
Meow is the life of this series. It is her outrageous antics and her impressionably big heart that drives the stories. I am smitten by her innocence and optimism. This is probably why the tone of the stories is mostly light-hearted, particularly when compared to other samurai anime. If you’re in for a laugh, Meow and Ran will certainly satisfy.
Meow wears a not-so-conventional mauve costume, in contrast to Ran’s traditional black and white. This clearly reflects her role as the colour of the show. The comedic timing is superb; it’s markedly slower than Daichi Akitaro’s other work, Jubei-chan, but does well in balancing comedy and drama. It’s not the type to raise one’s blood pressure, but still could get me in stitches.
Despite her approachability, Meow can hold her own. So while she is often being poked fun at, she is never relegated to being a helpless sideshow. What I find most endearing about Miao is her 100% sincerity. It’s something I myself try to live by, and I can’t ask for more in a character.
The many faces of Meow
Next: Kazemakase Gallery
