Note: this review covers both seasons Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru and Zoku Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru In the year 2205 the past is threatened by the historical revisionists who seek to change it. Protecting history becomes the task of a boisterous band of swords that are brought to life including the glamorous Kashuu Kiyomitsu and the kindly Yamatonokami Yasusada. Beyond their battles these legendary swords from different eras lead charming daily lives. First episode: Interesting Secondthird episodes: wait why hasnt there been more fighting? Fourth+ episodes: nevermind THIS IS FUN Look I loved this. There are currently two 12episode seasons and I am desperately hoping for a third. But even so this was very different than what the description led me to believe. It sounds like its going to have a lot of fighting right? The concept of timetraveling history defenders sounds solid. So I expected a lot of this: I got um a small amount of that. But mostly what I got was: And Yes the show focuses a lot on the daily life part. The timetraveling history protection is mainly there for select character development. But like I said I ended up loving this. The series starts with this adorable child swords first day in the Citadel. See all the characters are swords from Japans history given human form by a mysterious but much beloved magical master. Never seen by the audience and they/them pronouns used at all times. Since the swords live and train here when not being sent on missions new swords get a tour and introduction to everyone. This is convenient for plot reasons letting the audience get settled. Hmmm I thought as we met the 10th character with no end in sight I wonder if this was based on a video game? Im getting that vibe. Blueguy Yamatonokami and Redguy below Kashuu are the deuteragonists of the series with YamaBlue getting more focus in season 1 and Kashuu getting more in season 2. Also please join me in admiring Kashuus beautiful painted nails. This is really helpful because with such a large cast things would get lost if they tried to give everyone character development. Instead we have these two that get more than one episode of development a nebulous group of like 20ish that pop up in multiple episodes enough that you can probably remember their names and the rest of the cast really only pop up with lines a few times. Oh? Didnt I mention? There are a lot of characters. 62 swords in fact 40odd of whom appear in the first season. With so many characters it cant get deep. Instead most episodes focus on a handful whether it be X is selfconscious about his size but helps the team on the mission by being tall or Kasen who has for some reason taken on the role of Main Laundry Doer tries to steal Yamanbagiris neverremoved cloak for washing. Sometimes we get familiar tropes like two characters compete to get Position X while the regular person is gone or two characters who dont like each other are forced to work together and end up singing about it while cooking. Or that perennial favorite unable to convince a loner to make friends any other way the group puts together a host club. It ended up being so fun because the show doesnt try to overdo it. This isnt the mess that was Miracle Trainhttps://anilist.co/review/12816theres no attempt at trying to make things really dark and mysterious. This is mainly full of hijinks by a bunch of pretty dorks who live together most of whom have personalities like big brother or gym maniac or alcoholic thats Jiroutachi purple in the first gif or nice grandpa who drinks tea all day and looks 25 and can kill you Munechika below or daddy who Im not kidding gets straightup called SWORD DADDY and killed me. Everyone is so darn likable even the loners and rude characters. It was pure funnot millionlaughsaminute comedy but something I could sit down know that I was going to watch characters be friendly and funny and resolve issues and get a happy ending without getting monotonous. Verdict English dub? Yes and with so many SO MANY voiced characters if youve watched any amount of Funimationdubbed anime youll probably recognize a few. Having just finished Kamisama Kiss before starting this I was like HEY THATS TOMOE when one pinkhaired sword starting speaking and immediately identified Korosensei from Assassination Classroom in season 2. This isnt a bad thing Its more of an Easter egg. That said I loved Kashuus voice which I hadnt heard before. There was something so captivating about his light and casual voice via Garret Storms. my ears: this voice is friendshaped Most things sounded fine in English but my favorite thing besides Kashuus voice was definitely the two separate episodes where characters just break out into song while cooking together. 10/10 would watch again. Visuals: The major thing that clued me in to this originating as a game wasnt just the amount of characters but their designs. These are fun pretty colorful designs. Characters are visually distinct so even if you cant keep track of names its easy to keep personalities separate. Plus the show as a whole is colorful and light. Worth watching? Hi this is a show that explains none of its magic but includes pretty swordboys who paint their nails and have friendly swordfights and take daytrips to the beach and occasionally kill monsters so that history wont change. Its so much fun. Yes its the kind of show where Ive got questions about the History Retrograde Army and why theyre all explicitlyevillooking monsters and those questions are never answered but it doesnt ever pretend its going to answer them so I dont really mind. stares straight at Miracle Trainhttps://anilist.co/review/12816 see THIS is how you do an inanimateobjectturnedprettyboysdoingthings show you amateurs. Important note: there is a separate show called Katsugeki Touken Ranbu made by a different studio that seems to be closer to what I initially thought I was watching: more action more serious. I havent watched it yet but be aware its a separate thing although based on the same mobile game.