Elusive Samurai is one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful anime I’ve ever seen

The new anime from CloverWorks is based on the life of Hōjō Tokiyuki, a real-life historical figure who was heir to Japan’s shogunate in the 1300s. The story follows the young lord Tokiyuki as he seeks to restore his family’s rule after the ferocious warrior Ashikaga Takauji betrays and overthrows the Hōjō clan. I won’t spoil what happens from there, but I’ll say one thing: No matter what else it’s doing, Elusive Samurai boasts some of this season’s best animation.

CloverWorks animates much of the show in a bright, cheery style that flaunts the gorgeous free-flowing kimonos of Kamakura-era Japan. It’s just so nice to see details like the intricate folds of Tokiyuki’s sky-blue and cerulean garb in motion, and subtle details like the delicate bounce of fabric as he rides a trotting horse.

But the spectacle doesn’t stop there. The early episodes demonstrate the series is an absolute all-you-can-eat buffet of visual styles. CloverWorks highlights tense moments with animation inspired by other art forms. When Tokiyuki confronts the soldiers who overthrew his family and burned down his tranquil home, he sees them with impact frames that look like they’re drawn with a fiery palette of thick oil pastels. In the second episode, Tokiyuki fights an uncle trying to capture him. The animators portray a key fight scene in a style that makes it look painted with splotchy ink, but inverted so Tokiyuki feels otherworldly.

And a narrator occasionally connects plot points to historical events, so having a scene that appears to take inspiration from traditional Japanese art styles, like shadow puppetry, feels appropriate. The visual references are grabby, but not all over the place.

I’m still waiting for a few other parts of the show to develop beyond the animation. Like several popular shōnen series, Elusive Samurai takes some time to get its story rolling. A few of the characters can be grating as they train up and learn the ropes. Still, each episode stands out as a visual delight, making Elusive Samurai one of the best anime from the 2024 summer season — an exhilarating start to a show with an animation style that simply can’t be contained.