The Dagger of Kamui – AnimEigo (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1985
Director: Rintaro
Writer: Mori Masaki
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Mami Koyama, Tarô Ishida, Yuriko Yamamoto, Ichirô Nagai, Kaneto Shiozawa, Takeshi Aono, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Takashi Ebata, Takashi Toyama

Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 136 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"19th Century Japan--the final years of Tokugawa Shogunate. One fateful evening, Jiro (Shogun's Hiroyuki Sanada) returns home to discover his adopted family has been murdered. Shortly after stumbling upon a mysterious dagger, the young foundling is blamed for the murders and chased out of his village. While on the run, he crosses paths with an enigmatic monk who vows to teach him the way of the shinobi. Years later, Jiro sets out to solve an old Ainu mystery, but soon realizes he might be walking into an elaborate trap..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "newly restored in stunning high definition!"

The Dagger of Kamui comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 26.9 GB

The source looks excellent; colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Japanese), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English (vintage dub). Although both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, the Japanese language track sounds more robust. Included are these subtitle options, full English subtitles, songs & signs, and full English with SDH cues.

Extras:

Extras for this release include the original theatrical trailer (2 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), U.S. Blu-ray trailer (56 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), art galleries: line art gallery (178 images) and color art gallery (33 images), original storyboards for the entire film with text information about them; and an audio commentary with director Rintaro and anime historian Masahiro Haraguchi.

Summary:

Rintaro directed The Dagger of Kamui. He’s known for Galaxy Express 999, Adieu Galaxy Express 999, and Metropolis. The Dagger of Kamui was adapted from a novel of the same name written by Tetsu Yano, an author who also worked as a translator for the writings of Robert A. Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, Desmond Bagley, and Frank Herbert for Japanese audiences.

An orphan who's accused of killing his mother and sister seeks revenge for their deaths and goes on a journey to uncover who his real parents were.

What begins a story about revenge becomes a story about betrayal when the protagonist learns that he’s been deceived by those who pretended to help him. The story evolves into a journey of self-discovery as the orphaned protagonist investigates his origins. Throughout his quest for the truth, he remains resolute in his desire to avenge his family's death.

The thing that immediately grabbed my attention about The Dagger of Kamui was how violent it is. When it comes to the carnage, it is violent and bloody, with characters' bodies being cut in half. A strength of these moments is how they are choreographed.

The narrative, which runs for over 2 hours, is filled with highs and lows. While there are moments when the pacing slows, maintaining momentum is never an issue. Additionally, the narrative effectively uses flashbacks to develop the protagonist and includes several well-timed revelations.

When it comes to the animation, it's rooted in the stylized "explosive" aesthetic that director Rintaro pioneered. That said, his animation is filled with experimentation in which he frequently changes techniques. Ultimately, The Dagger of Kamui is an exciting film that perfectly balances style and substance.

The Dagger of Kamui gets an excellent release from AnimEigo that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer