Golden Kamuy OVAs Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

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Summary

  • Golden Kamuy exploded in popularity in Japan and features a diverse, older readership.
  • The anime adaptation has brought attention to Ainu culture and history.
  • Crunchyroll recently added 5 new OVA episodes while awaiting news on the fifth and final season premiere.

As someone who has spent decades immersed in the vibrant world of Japanese manga and anime, I must say that Golden Kamuy has been one of the most intriguing and engaging series to emerge from the Young Jump magazine in recent years. The way it skillfully weaves historical context with captivating storytelling is truly remarkable.

Recently, I found myself captivated by the phenomenal success of “Golden Kamuy” in Young Jump (YJ) – often referred to as the ‘Shonen Jump for adults.’ Both magazines are published by Shueisha and are leaders within their respective segments. They even share some marketing tactics, with “Oshi no Ko” being one of the series that was serialized in the same publication.

Although Young Jump may occasionally publish gory and mature content, it’s important to note that not all of their titles will be this way. Some series can be mistaken for shonen or even shoujo mangas, just like the case with “Kaguya-sama: Love is War,” another popular manga from Young Jump.

Regarding “Golden Kamuy”, it’s been quite popular, but we haven’t heard anything about the fifth and final season yet (announced in July 2023). However, some good news! Crunchyroll has added three OVAs to their collection recently. Each OVA, except for the last one, contains two episodes, making a total of five new episodes to enjoy. The OVAs are titled “The Bodyguard of ​Barato / Terror! ​The Mysterious ​Giant Bird”, “Love Made ​Me Escape From ​Prison / The Terrifying Battle of Deadly ​Poison! A Massive Snake ​Deep in the Hokkaido ​Wilderness!”, and “Monster”.

From 2018 to 2019, these OVA series were made available. However, one more episode titled “Shiton Animal Record” hasn’t been added yet. On the same day, additional content for Golden Kamuy was added, along with the movies Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp and The Concierge.

A Story Featuring the Ainu

It exploded in popularity in Japan

Written by Satoru Noda between 2014 and 2022, “Golden Kamuy” spanned 31 volumes. The central figure is Saichi Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), which marked a significant triumph for Japan over the Russian czar, paving the way for Japanese influence in Manchuria (even though it was technically still part of China; however, Japan obtained special privileges there).

Following the war, Sugimoto ventures to Hokkaido, joining forces with Asirpa, an Ainu girl, on a quest for a hidden fortune. Although the narrative is fictional, Noda researched the true history of Hokkaido during that time (Meiji Era, 1868-1912), and intertwines this historical context with the story. Consequently, the author strives to portray the Ainu people, an indigenous minority group from Northern Japan, truthfully and authentically. Key elements of the story include the Abashiri Prison, a real prison with a brutal history that housed both criminals and political prisoners.

As I watched, the anime adaptation of the series took off like wildfire in Japan, shedding light on Ainu culture – something much needed given their past struggles. Over the years, four seasons have graced our screens: the first two were aired back in 2018, season three followed in 2022, and just this year, we welcomed season four to the scene.

I recently noticed that Studio “Brain’s Base” took over the animation duties for the latest season of “To Your Eternity,” swapping places with Geno Studio who handled seasons 1-3. Additionally, Shizutaka Sugahara stepped up as director, replacing Hitoshi Nanba from the previous seasons. Furthermore, this captivating series has even been adapted into live-action movies.

The upcoming fifth and final season premiere for “Golden Kamuy” has yet to be disclosed. You can catch up with the series by streaming it on Crunchyroll.

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2024-12-19 06:13