<P> The film was released on Blu - ray and DVD by Funimation on November 1, 2016 in North America under the title Rurouni Kenshin: Origins, which includes an English dubbed version of the film . Funimation also gave the film a TV - MA rating . </P> <P> The film has performed extremely well, earning $36,798,585 in Japan in its debut and US $25 million in a limited international release, for a total gross of US $61.7 million . The film garnered to become Japan's sixteenth highest - grossing film of the year . </P> <P> The film received positive reviews from critics . Deborah Young from The Hollywood Reporter praised the film in the Busan Film Festival, saying that the "choreography is fast and furious and the sword fights ably showcase Battosai's incredible skills . Naoki Satō energetic score pounds out the action scenes to a barbarian beat ." Michelle Nguyen of Geek.com praised the film as well, stating that "Rurouni Kenshin: Origins treats the source material with respect and love . This film is many things: part Japanese historical drama, part action movie, and part nostalgic emotional journey ." and goes on to say "More than just nostalgia, seeing Rurouni Kenshin in the flesh is a profound coming - to - Jesus like experience for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike . We have at last a film that shows what a live action adaptation of an anime should be like . Rurouni Kenshin bursts forth on the screen with heart and with sword, just as his name implies ." </P> <P> Nick Creamer of Anime News Network awarded the film an "A -", stating that "Kenshin: Origins smartly leans on one of the source material's great advantages: the inherently compelling nature of the transition from the Tokugawa to the Meiji era . Much of the film's thematic and emotional power comes from the poignancy of that transition--more than just a tale of samurai clashes, it presents an argument for both the great and terrible sides of both eras --" and goes on to say "Overall, I'd highly recommend Rurouni Kenshin: Origins to both fans of the original and fans of adventure films in general . Origins is action - packed, full of striking characters, and energetically composed, while also drawing smartly on the poignant context of its source material . It's an altogether terrific time ." Nobuhiro Watsuki overall praised the film . During an interview with Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, he commented, "It was right on! Takeru Satoh played Kenshin's dual personality well . He truly was Kenshin . Yosuke Eguchi who played Saitō Hajime, Koji Kikkawa who played Udō Jin - e, and Munetaka Aoki who played Sagara Sanosuke really took on their characters' expressions and movements in the action sequences . It drew me in, especially the scene with Saitō's Gatotsu pose . It sent chills down my spine! I thought Emi Takei playing Kamiya Kaoru was really cute and Yu Aoi playing Takani Megumi was also fantastic, and in the film parts I felt I didn't explain well enough in the manga were improved . There were actually lines in the movie that made me think' I want to use that line in the manga!"' </P>

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