Rurouni Kenshin/Episodes

Rurouni Kenshin is a 95 episode Japanese anime series adapted from the manga series of the same name by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The series was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and produced by Aniplex and Fuji TV, the series premiered in Japan on Fuji TV on January 10, 1996, and ran through September 8, 1998. The final episode, episode 95, did not air in Japan, but was a bonus episode for the VHS and DVD releases.

The 27 episodes of season 1 are based on the first six volumes of the manga series. Situated during the early Meiji period in Japan, the story tells of a fictional assassin named Kenshin Himura, who becomes a wanderer to protect the people of Japan. The 35 episodes of season 2 are based on volumes 7-18 of the manga series, and depict the fight of the former assassin named Kenshin Himura, against his successor Makoto Shishio, who aims to conquer Japan. The 33 episodes of season 3 were not adapted from the manga. During that period, the "Jinchu Arc" of the manga was still being written and was still incomplete by the end of the anime fillers.

The series was licensed for broadcast and home video release in North America by Media Blasters, who split it up into "seasons". These began airing on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on March 17, 2003, but after episode 48 aired on July 4, 2003 the series moved to Cartoon Network's Saturday Video Entertainment System block until the completion of the second season (episode 62), leaving the third season unaired in North America. The series returned to Toonami for a second run beginning on October 23, 2004 and ending on March 12, 2005.

There are also two original video animation (OVA) series which have respectively four and two episodes. The first of them, Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal was released in 1999 in Japan and in 2003 was collected into a two hour feature-length motion picture with new animated sequences and released in North America as a Director's Cut DVD. The second OVA is Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection, composed of two episodes that were originally released on December 12, 2001 in Japan. It was later released in the United States by ADV Films in DVD on March 25, 2003, while a Director's Cut edition was later released. Both OVAs were eventually released on Blu-ray by Aniplex of America in 2011.

Twenty-two English DVDs from the series were released from July 18, 2000 to September 24, 2002. Each of them contain four episodes except for volume 22 which contains five episodes. The "seasons" were later released in three premium "Bento box" DVD boxes on November 18, 2003, March 30, 2004 and July 27, 2004 respectively. They were released again, but in new packaging as "economy box" sets on November 15, 2005, January 17, 2006 and February 14, 2006 respectively.

Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal
Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal, known in Japan as Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen, is an OVA series that serves as a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin anime television series. It was released in Japan in 1999, and was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and written by Masashi Sogo.

The OVA series is based on chapters 165 to 179 of the Rurouni Kenshin manga written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It chronicles the story of Himura Kenshin as the Hitokiri Battōsai during the years of the Meiji Restoration while also revealing the origins of his famous cross-shaped scar as well as his role as a legendary assassin of the Imperialist cause, and explaining his relationship with a woman named Yukishiro Tomoe, who would become his first wife. Kenshin's fated first encounters with his master, Hiko Seijūrō, and his future rival, Saitō Hajime are also depicted.

Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal is currently being licensed by Aniplex of America for releases in the English language. Due to the OVA series initially being licensed by the now-defunct ADV Films, it was originally released under the title of Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal in North America. Trust & Betrayal was later collected into a two hour feature-length motion picture with new animated sequences and released theatrically in Japan. In 2003, this feature-length motion picture was eventually released in North America on DVD as a Director's Cut by ADV Films. Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal was released on Blu-ray by Aniplex of America on August 24, 2011.

Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection
Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection, known as Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen in Japan, is the second OVA series of the Rurouni Kenshin anime television series, acting as its sequel. It was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and written by Reiko Yoshida, and was released in Japan in 2001.

The OVA series is set both during and after the timeline of the television series and tells of Kenshin and Kaoru's later days, much of which is not derived from the Rurouni Kenshin manga. It is mostly told from the point of view of Kamiya Kaoru. The story follows Himura Kenshin as he attempts searching for ways to atone for those who died at his hands, while Kaoru waits for Kenshin to return home. Kenshin's actions, however, alienate him from his estranged son, Kenji.

Reflection was originally released in North America as Samurai X: Reflection while it was being licensed by ADV Films. Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection is now currently licensed by Aniplex of America for English-language releases. Reflection was released in the United States by ADV Films on DVD on March 25, 2003, while a Director's Cut edition was later released. Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection was released on Blu-ray Disc by Aniplex of America on September 21, 2011.