What are these "Lost Specials"?
The Review Episode/Special
The Techniques Episode/Special
YOU'RE LYING! Where's your proof?
Why should we care?
Where can I see these specials?
How do we get the specials brought to America?



What are these "Lost specials" that I keep hearing about?
The specials are episodes that are not part of the series. They were generally aired as a review of certain things to prepare the viewer for upcoming episodes/story arcs. There are two serious specials: an episode review starring Yahiko and Kaoru as Plushies, and a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Technique episode.

REVIEW EPISODE:
This episode aired right before episode 45. It was a common mistake that people used to make back three years ago that episode 45 WAS the special and not a seperate thing. But that's been taken care of in recent years because of the DVD releases. This episode was very funny because Kaoru and Yahiko were plushies. In this episode they had a very basic summery of Kenshin (who he was and how he came to be in Tokyo with Kaoru & the gang); "Himura Kenshin's Greatest Hits" (basically him using his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu moves on various opponents, though it doesn't go into detail of how they work like the special techniques episode); a feature showing Kaoru getting angry over and over with Kaoru commenting "Hey, Yahiko! Are you implying that Kenshin is more afraid of me than of them [the villains]?" and her plushie crying in a corner; finishing with more summary talking about the Kyoto saga and how they lead up to episode 46. At the very end of the episode the two plushies say that there's more to come in the series and that they hope you watch.

TECHNIQUES EPISODE:
Similar to the "Himura Kenshin's Greatest Hits" from the first special, this episode goes through every technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and explains how it works. First they show a clip of the anime (for example: Kenshin facing Senkaku) leading up to where Kenshin uses a technique (in this example he used Ryuu Shou Sen). Next they would cut away to a black screen with the technique name written out and begin analyzing it piece by piece. In the example with Ryuu Shou Sen here is what it had to say:

The special would then resume with another clip of another villain and another technique. At the end there's a preview for the Shimbara Arc and it tells you that the first ep of that arc will air a week from the day the special aired (and that they hope you watch it).

* Ryuu Shou Sen literally means "Rising Dragon Flash"

YOU'RE LYING! I OWN ALL THE DVDS AND THERE ARE NO SPECIALS! WHERE'S YOUR PROOF?!
The specials were never translated and brought over to America. In fact, because of how old they are and how obsecure they are, I was one of the few people in America who actually knew of them (of course that changed when I put up this page). As for some proof..well, I do have two pictures that I captured from the first special that I'll post. And you can now watch both specials online. Scroll down a little bit for more info on that.



I have to appologize for the low quality but I don't have a very good copy of the specials. Anyway, yes, they do exist.

THEY'RE JUST REVIEW EPISODES. WHO CARES?
I do! I'm an avid Kenshin fan and I want to own the entire series, including the two specials, on DVD. Also, they're not just "review" episodes. The first special, in particular, was done a very unique way and was quite hilarious to watch. The second, the "technique special" was quite informative and a great review for those who were about to embark on the Shimbara Arc. They may not be vital to the RK story but they are a part of the series regardless.

WHERE CAN I SEE THESE SPECIALS?
Well, there's really not many options for those who haven't seen them. Because Kenshin was really before the boom of BT trackers, and the digital anime age, most of the fansubs were on VHS tapes. And yes, the episodes were eventually put onto a computer (and the quality royally sucked) but because these low quality subs were replaced with the release of the DVDs, and the fact that the DVDs did not include these specials, finding them is near impossible. However, in an attempt to give back to the great Kenshin community I've decided to put them both online using Youtube.

Special 1 - "The Review Episode"
RK Special 1 - Part 1
RK Special 1 - Part 2
RK Special 1 - Part 3

Special 2 - "The Techniques Episode"
RK Special 2 - Part 1
RK Special 2 - Part 2
RK Special 2 - Part 3

Enjoy.

See "UPDATE" further on this page for why the specials are no longer available.

HOW DO WE GET THE SPECIALS BROUGHT OVER?!
That's a VERY good question. I think it'll take many, many Rurouni Kenshin fans to write several companies and complain about them not bringing over the whole series in order for them to do anything about it. For starters I would recommend e-mailing, writing or otherwise contacting the following:

Dubbing & Editing:
Animax South Asia

Producer:
Media Blasters

Broadcaster:
Cartoon Network's Toonami block

Inform them that there are still two remaining Rurouni Kenshin specials that you would love to see brought over here to America. Remember to be nice.


Tell your friends and let's try to get these two specials brought over so that we can have a complete collection.

UPDATE
As of June 6, 2008, Media Blasters had Youtube remove part 1 of the "Review Episode" (special #1). In an effort to not have my Youtube account removed/banned, I have set all of the other parts (of both specials) to private. If you are outraged at this decision of Media Blasters, please send them an email (remember, keep it civil) and ask them to release the specials on DVD.

I hope that everyone who had a chance to see the specials while they were up enjoyed them. Perhaps sometime in the future we will finally get a high quality release.



Created on: February 8, 2005
Last Updated: June 6, 2008