“Brave 10” is a 12-episode TV series from 2012; directed by Kiyoko Sayama (“3x3 Eyes”, “Miyuki-chan in Wonderland”, “Angel Sanctuary”, “Vampire Knight”)

Our story opens one year before the Battle of Sekigahara, which would spell the end of the dominance of the Toyotomi and the beginning of the 300 year rule of the Tokugawa. After the burning of her temple in Izumo, Shrine Maiden Isanami is on the run from Tokugawa ninjas led by Hattori Hanzo. Fleeing to the keep of the warlord Sanada Yukimura (the man who would historically hold back the Tokugawa with an army 1/20th its size), Isanami is aided by the master-less, fallen-away Iga ninja, Saizo Kirigakure. Saizo, the rough-around-the-edges-tough-guy-with-a-heart-of-gold, does what any able-bodied action hero should do, and protects Isanami.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, and his supporters, here specifically Date Masamune and Hattori Hanzo, are seeking the powers of the very Goddess of Death, in order to help them gain control of Japan. To combat the Tokugawa and save Japan from the power lying dormant within Isanami, Yukimura gathers ten brave warriors (the Sanada Juu Yuushi) in an effort to thwart these adversaries who are willing to plunge all of Japan into the strife and turmoil of a civil war.

“I, Sanada Yukimura, have a warrior for each finger of my hands - Ten Brave Warriors!”

“Brave 10” is a breezy, Shounen/Boys’ action series where the good guys defeat the bad guys, and peace is returned, however temporarily, to a land in turmoil. The show’s pace seems very rushed, especially at the end, but it has lots of cool posturing and delivers on its kickass fights. However, the underlying historical reality lends the anime a certain feeling of poignancy and nostalgia, since you know that all of these nice, heroic, fun loving characters are doomed… and the Tokugawa will win.

“Bring it On!”

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