Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran
Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran is an animated action comedy written and directed by Akitaro Daichi, and produced by Madhouse Studios. The television series follows Ran and Meow, two wanderers who face all sorts of antagonists in Tokugawa Japan.
The series started airing on WOWOW. Afterwards, it aired as Ran: The Samurai Girl on Animax Latin America and Animax Asia, which also broadcast Bandai's dub across Southeast Asia and South Asia. The series is licensed in North America by Bandai Entertainment. The anime premiered on Tubi.
Plot
Tsukikage Ran comprises thirteen self-contained stories. The series follows characters Ran and Meow into a new town, where they encounter some kind of wrongdoing. Every episode climaxes with a sword fight featuring the protagonist, sometimes aided by Meow's martial arts prowess.Characters
Main characters
;Ran Tsukikage;Meow
Other characters
;Tonto Sharakusai;Mei
;Stephanie
;Shiina Junzaburo
Production
Tsukikage Ran is inspired by chanbara series like 1965's Su-ronin Tsukikage Hyogo. While it remains faithful to the genre, it is infused with Akitaro Daichi's distinctive style. The episodes were scripted by first thinking of a title and writing a plot about it. As many ideas were not used, director Daichi notes an unproduced episode where the protagonists "fight over udon or soba" noodles.The score was composed by Toshihiko Sahashi. The opening theme song Kazemakase is an enka ballad performed by Akemi Misawa. The ending theme Kazemakase 2 is performed by Reiko Yasuhara.
Staff
- Original creator and director: Akitaro Daichi
- Directorial advisor: Hiroaki Sakurai
- Character design: Hajime Watanabe
- Chief animation director: Takahiro Yoshimatsu
- Art director: Hidetoshi Kaneko
- Director of photography: Hitoshi Yamaguchi
- Music: Toshihiko Sahashi
- Sound director: Kazuya Tanaka
- Animation production: Madhouse
- Production: Bandai Visual