Posted: 11/01/2011

Bamboo Blade: Complete Series

by Amber Burnham

Now available on DVD from Funimation Entertainment

Bamboo Blade is an anime series that focuses on a high school kendo club that is being taught by an instructor, Toraji Ishida. Although he does not teach much about the art of kendo because he seems to have no underlying motivation. Except that is, to acquire food. At dinner one night, a former upperclassman—also a kendo instructor asks for a practice match between the two friends’ girls’ kendo teams. There is a bet stipulation that if Ishida wins then he will receive free sushi for one year. At this point his one motivation in life and the kendo club have become unified in importance. The problem is that Ishida’s kendo club only has one girl member. As a matter of fact there is only one member on both teams to begin the school year. Not only does Ishida have to find four more female members but he then has to make sure that they are able to win against what is rumored to be an extremely formidable team of his friend.

The motivation behind the sudden interest in the kendo club by its instructor, Ishida, creates many opportunities for comedic situations. Along with laughs, the series also offers interesting characters and kendo fights that are just as engulfing as any fight in an action series. The audience spends a few episodes not only getting to know the characters but also watching them practice. When their first challenge arises, you become engulfed in the kendo fighting as you would any fighter anime. You find yourself wondering what the characters are going to do next, remembering the kinds of moves they had been practicing before. Even a person who does not know much about kendo can become involved in the matches and even learn a little along the way.

Bamboo Blade is a nicely animated and smartly written series. It successfully combines elements from various genres of anime such as the high school drama, coming of age story, comedy and sports into an entertaining experience. The characters are drawn in more realistic ways, with teenager like problems. The anime fan, girl who can’t figure out what she wants to do with her life, as well as one who hides her darker side for the sake of her boyfriend—are a few of the characters that are in the show. With a nice array of characters, you will be able find someone you can relate to, even if you are not in high school any more.

Bamboo Blade is available through Funimation’s S.A.V.E. (super amazing value edition) series. This means that you will be getting the entire series at a great price. It is a must for anime fans that may not have the kind of money to spend on expensive sets. You will get the entire series at a price you can afford without giving up the quality.

Amber Burnham has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Kendall College. She is also a regular panelist on Kichicast, the all-girl, Chicago-based podcast devoted to anime, manga, and Japanese culture. You can listen to Kichicast at kichigi.com.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com