Is the Yaiba anime worth watching?

Yaiba is one of the many anime airing in the Spring 2025 season. This period has offered a mixed bag of shows, including popular titles such as Lazarus and Fire Force, as well as lesser-known ones like Kowloon Generic Romance and Witch Watch. Yaiba falls in the latter category and has managed to flow under the radar.

However, this doesn’t speak to its quality. Rather, Yaiba is a highly enjoyable anime that blends a nostalgic shonen storyline with stunning visuals to deliver an exciting package. It is undoubtedly worth watching, especially for newer fans who wish to experience a fresh take on a classic narrative.

Yaiba is based on a manga that ran from 1988 to 1993. Its creator, Gosho Aoyama, is also the acclaimed mangaka of the Detective Conan franchise. Yaiba is a predecessor to this fan-favorite series and already received an anime adaptation from Studio Pastel in the past.

Spanning 52 episodes, this version aired from 1993 to 1994. However, it received mixed reviews and the animation style has not stood the test of time. To pay homage to this classic story from a legendary mangaka, the beloved Studio Wit remade the anime to fit modern standards.

The second adaptation is currently airing and has four episodes released at the time of writing. While it has failed to be a breakout hit, this is a commendable adaptation that does justice to the creator’s vision while appealing to newer viewers as well.

The anime follows the tale of Kurogane Yaiba, a young boy raised in the wilderness as a swordsman. Upon returning to civilization, he is quick to find a rival in the accomplished Onimaru. Unfortunately, what starts as a humorous rivalry soon turns serious as Onimaru falls prey to a demonic sword and succumbs to the dark side.

To stop Onimaru and become a powerful samurai himself, Yaiba sets out on a quest to find the Raijin Sword. Accompanied by the straight-laced Sayaka, his pet tiger Kagetora, and the vulture Shounousuke, his journey is filled with chaos, action, and the spirit of friendship.

The anime remake preserves the spirit of the manga, but fixes the pacing and consistency issues of the original story. It is an easier watch for the modern audience, supported by crisp visuals, hilarious comedy, and several heartwarming moments. The main attraction of the series, however, is the protagonist himself.

Yaiba is a quintessential shonen hero: reckless, kind-hearted, yet comically dense. His naivety towards society leads to many funny gags that will resonate among all ages. Those who crave the childish spirit of main characters such as Goku will also grow to love this protagonist.

As mentioned earlier, another strength of the series is its visuals. Studio Wit, best known for Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga, outdoes itself yet again and delivers fluid fight sequences that keep viewers hooked from start to end. The backgrounds and color palettes are stunning, seamlessly blending ancient samurai culture and modern society.

The characters are somewhat stereotypical, which is expected given the era in which the source material was created. Nevertheless, rather than seeming unoriginal, the entire cast, ranging from the villainous Onimaru to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, is immensely charming.

In the current shonen anime landscape, where dark and complex stories are most visible, Yaiba is a refreshing tale that evokes nostalgia within all viewers. It is funny but also has its fair share of dramatic moments. Hence, we would wholeheartedly suggest giving the anime a shot and getting a taste of old shonen storytelling.

Where can you watch the Yaiba anime?

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The anime remake is airing in Japan on stations associated with the Nippon Television Network System (NNS), with channels such as Nippon TV and ytv. Globally, the series is available on Hulu and Netflix.

The series is licensed by Viz Media and new episodes come out at 5:30 pm JST every Saturday. This translates to 1:30 am PST, 2 pm IST and 4:30 am ET.

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