The anime adaptation of Shigeru Sagazaki's fantasy adventure light novel, illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima, "The Swordsman of the Countryside ~A Countryside Swordsman Who Became a Master, But His Talented Disciples Won't Let Him Go~" (often shortened to "The Swordsman of the Countryside"), wrapped up its first season in April. While the manga version is a fan favorite, the anime's plot changes have left many viewers with mixed feelings.
Despite the divided opinions, the anime has absolutely blown up in Europe and beyond, even earning the title "a godsend for sword enthusiasts." Recently, netizens pointed out the secret to its overseas success: the production team brought in experts dedicated to reviving lost German sword-fighting techniques to supervise the animation, bringing incredibly authentic Western swordplay to the screen. This dedication has earned massive respect from international audiences.
The viral post's author declared that "The Swordsman of the Countryside" hitting big in Europe is a no-brainer. After all, the show tapped into a team of experts who are literally resurrecting lost German sword techniques based on historical records! They've truly "revived" Western swordplay on screen, and the author is hyped for Season 2!
The anime's ending credits also reveal a key detail: since the protagonist's longsword techniques are based on German sword fighting (specifically 14th-century longsword styles), the production team brought in Japan-based American expert Jay Noyes as the Western sword fighting instructor. Noyes, who previously worked as a sword instructor for "Final Fantasy VII," clearly brought serious chops to the project.
Even Japanese viewers have been pleasantly surprised and impressed. One netizen commented, "At first, the protagonist's sword-twirling in the OP looked weird, but then I looked up Western sword fighting videos and realized those moves are legit!" Another chimed in, "The fight scene against the shield-wielding opponent was ridiculously cool. This old man means business!"
▼ Anime "The Swordsman of the Countryside" OP - Takanori Nishikawa "HEROES"
The action choreography for the series is meticulously designed based on authentic German sword fighting (HEMA), with detailed historical research into medieval European martial arts. Even viewers with a background in Japanese Kendo have noted, "You can tell these movements are historically researched, even if you're not an expert. It's incredibly accurate."
One netizen also offered an interesting cultural observation: "Japan's preservation of medieval martial arts culture is quite unique globally. That's why the world loves samurai so much."
For instance, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," which also aired its finale in late June and generated massive buzz, hit #1 on Prime Video Japan and even cracked the top 10 in five Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia – pretty impressive stuff.
But "The Swordsman of the Countryside" isn't just keeping pace – it's absolutely crushing it! Its finale not only claimed the #1 spot in Japan but also soared to #4 in the US, landed in the top 10 in 36 countries worldwide, and even snagged the #4 position globally for Prime Video TV series! For a first-season show to achieve this kind of success? Totally unexpected for many.
Of course, for die-hard fans of the original light novel and manga, the anime might feel a bit rushed and less impactful compared to the source material's tension and protagonist portrayal. Plus, its exclusive streaming on Amazon Prime Video overseas meant less reach for Taiwanese anime audiences. Still, Season 2 has officially been greenlit and is set to air in 2026. Whether the production team can turn the tide on those mixed reviews remains to be seen! QQ
via： togetter