Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~

About Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~

Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~ (薄桜鬼) blends action, drama and supernatural by Studio DEEN (2010). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. At its core: The protagonist, Yukimura Chizuru, is the daughter of a doctor who works in Edo. The father leaves Edo to work as a volunteer doctor and moves to Kyoto without his daughter.

From there, as time passes by, Chizuru sets off worrying about losing contact with her father, so she resolves to go to Kyoto in search of him. On the way, Chizuru is attacked by few criminals and witnesses a struggle between an oni and the Shinsengumi. Taking her into custody and saving her, the Shinsengumi debate on what to do with Chizuru when they discover that she is the daughter of the doctor they are also looking for.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Shinichirou Miki as Toshizou Hijikata and Shoutarou Morikubo as Souji Okita. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. The run is 12 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by Studio DEEN, so the studio's house style defines how Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~ looks and moves on screen. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.8/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Shinichirou Miki voicing Toshizou Hijikata gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2010, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.