Ruroni Kenshin

Ruroni Kenshin is about wandering swordsman, Kenshin Himura also known as Battousai the Man Slayer for his actions during the last war. Kenshin is now a peace loving swordsman but like all people who love peace in animes they are forced to fight. Kenshin is different in that if he must he will still kill people but it is now especially more difficult because his sword is a reverse blade sword. This means that while fighting the blunt side of his weapon would be on the side meant for striking. Kenshin first runs into trouble because of Miss Kaoru, a young woman who is the soul surviving master of her dojo teaching the Kamiya Kashin style of sword fighting. After being forced to reveal his skill with a sword Kaoru immediately knows that Kenshin is the Battousai but still allows him to live with her in her dojo. Along the way Kenshin meets more friends and allies, reveals more about his dark past, and tries his best to save those in need. 

As I've mentioned in other reviews I like most all animes so once again I'll say that I love this anime. I personally am very interested in Asian culture and while this anime takes a few liberties there are some historical references and stories in the anime. The sword fighting is great and it even has a Final Fantasy Buster Sword like weapon in it for a few episodes so that is pretty cool. I think of the best things about this anime besides the sword fights is the way it transitions from a lighter anime to a darker one. Through the use of flash backs we gradually are brought into the darker parts of Ruroni Kenshin whether it be the main characters past or even some of the more develop antagonist's past. This is a great anime that should be in your collection if it isn't already and it this version is too clean for you there are Ruroni Kenshin OVA movies I believe called Samurai X Trust and Betrayal and Samurai X Reflection which is much darker and tells the story in a different way. 

Kenshin is regaining his innocence. With each life he saves, or spares, he seems to gain a bit of himself back. He's able to live a relatively good life with the spirited girl Kaoru, and their growing collective of friends, like the wild-tempered, but trustworthy Sanosuke, and the plucky pickpocket Yahiko (who, yes, is initially annoying, but he has his moments). Almost every single one of these characters, as well as a goodly portion of others, has great characterization (and suitably tragic background), and many of the so-called bad guys are really would-be-heroes who just happen to be working for someone else. (Like the four underlings of Aoshi ...) You could be rooting for Kenshin to defeat a character in one episode, and then find yourself rooting for that very same character in the next.