History Anime / SwordOfTheStranger

* RedHeadedHero: [[spoiler: Nanashi, technically. He dyes his hair black to avoid unwanted attention, but he's still a natural red head.]]

* BlondGuysAreEvil: Subverted. Luo-Lang is actually more honorable than most of the rest of his group. That is to say, a full-on BloodKnight seeking a WorthyOpponent versus a homicidal petty aristocrat seeking immortality. In-universe, it's firmly upheld: his hair and eye color (along with his stature) is frequently noted as so alien that it evokes the image of a demon.

* NamesToKnowInAnime:
** Luo-Lang is voiced by Creator/KoichiYamadera. Best known for roles such as [[Anime/CowboyBebop Spike Spiegel]] and [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Ryoji Kaji]].
** The supporting character Jyuurouta is voiced by Creator/MamoruMiyano. Best known for roles such as [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] and [[SoulEater Death The Kid]].
* NoArcInArchery: Averted.

* NotSoDifferent: Luo-Lang and Nanashi, both of whom have physical traits that would make them strangers to their own cultures, and are looking for a higher reason for fighting.

* WorthyOpponent: Luo-Lang views Nanashi as one, killing his superior for the chance to fight him.

--> "You almost look like a wife who has lost their husband."

* TwoGirlsToATeam: For the Ming warriors.

* AutomatonHorses: Nameless discusses the importance of proper horse care early in the movie. Later on, a messenger rides his horse full-tilt to deliver an urgent message, whereupon the poor thing collapses. And finally, horses get targeted for attacks. A lot.

* BlondGuysAreEvil: Subverted. Luo-Lang is actually more honorable than most of the rest of his group. That is to say, a full-on BloodKnight seeking a WorthyOpponent versus a homicidal petty aristocrat seeking immortality

* CleanCut: Luo-Lang does this to [[spoiler:Byakuran's arm when he aims his gun at Nanashi and Kotaro, because Luo-Lang wants to fight]].

* [[spoiler: PoweredByAForsakenChild]]: Main ingredient of immortality elixir is [[spoiler: [[HumanSacrifice sacrified child]]]].

** Luo-Lang is voiced by Creator/KoichiYamadera. Best known for roles such as [[CowboyBebop Spike Spiegel]] and [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Ryoji Kaji]].

** When Nanashi starts his {{Roofhopping}} in the climax, he doesn't even slow down when a [[EliteMook Chinese with nasty scythes]] stands on his way - [[MuggingTheMonster he simply]] [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cut through him]].

** The supporting character Jyuurouta is voiced by MamoruMiyano. Best known for roles such as [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] and [[SoulEater Death The Kid]].

** When Nanashi starts his {{Roofhopping}} in the climax, he doesn't even slow down when a [[EliteMook Chinese with nasty scythes]] stands on his way - [[MuggingTheMonster he simply cut through him]].

* BadassBaritone: Luo-Lang has a very deep voice in both the original and the dub, and is one of the two best fighters in the movie.

** When Nanashi starts his {{Roofhopping}} in the climax, he doesn't even slow down when a Chinese with nasty scythes stands on his way - [[MuggingTheMonster he simply cut through him]].

* TheStarscream: [[spoiler: Shogen Itadori has no interest in saving his liege but only advancing his position. He reveals this by having his top pupil shoot the Daimyo, who was a hostage at the time.]]

** Possibly [[spoiler: the other best fighter, Nanashi. He is likely mixed, given the fact he's got red hair in an anime without AnimeHair, though through the use of dye he does perfectly pass for Japanese.]] However, [[spoiler:red hair is possible for a completely Japanese person, just incredibly rare. Also, Kotaro asks him if he's a "southern barbarian", which implies Kotaro thinks Nanashi is Dutch or Portuguese who the Japanese often traded with via the Philippines.]]

** Possibly [[spoiler: the other best fighter, Nanashi. He is likely mixed, given the fact he's got red hair in an anime without AnimeHair, though through the use of dye he does perfectly pass for Japanese.]] However, [[spoiler:red hair is possible for a completely Japanese person, just incredibly rare. Also, Kotaro asks him if he's a "southern barbarian", which implies Kotaro thinks Nanashi is Dutch or Portuguese who the Japanese often traded with via the Philippines.

** Possibly [[spoiler: the other best fighter, Nanashi. He is likely mixed, given the fact he's got red hair in an anime without AnimeHair, though through the use of dye he does perfectly pass for Japanese.]] However, [[spoiler:red hair is possible for a completely Japanese person, just incredibly rare. Also, Kotaro asks him if he's a "southern barbarian", which could refer to another part of Asia where red hair is more common, such as Central Asia or the Himalayas.]]
*** The term Southern Barbarian is a reference to the Dutch or Portuguese, who traded with Japan from the South via the Philippines.

* KatanasAreJustBetter: Averted; only one main character uses an actual katana, and the weapon itself isn't that much better.
** Also a case of ShownTheirWork as a Katana isn't meant to be used to hit other blades, doing this destroys Nanashi's sword in the final fight as it snaps in half and is shown to be serious chipped.

*** A Southern Barbarian, or Nanban in Japan did not refer to South or Central Asians. The term Nanban referred to European traders, particularly the Portuguese and the Dutch, who sailed from the south through the Philippines.