It's an Ufotable anime adaption based off of Touken Ranbu and created by directed by Toshiyuki Shirai. There are many epic moments in both adaptions.
WARNING: Unmarked SPOILERS ahead, please self-advise. Various tropes here contain major plot spoilers!
List the examples in a chronological order, if possible.
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Anime
Whole soundtrack is one big Moment o Awesome, but opening deserves a special mention for impeccable, intricate, meaningful and fluid animation, AND good vocals provided by a Soma Saito-a.k.a. Tsurumaru Kuninaga's seiyuu.
To the Frontlines
- The scene where Izuminokami and Horikawa partake in an epic chase scene with the Time Retrograde Army during their first mission.
- Izuminokami was able to take down the last remaining enemy and save Horikawa at the last second before the Time Retrograde can kill him from behind.
- Precision in animating Izuminokami vs TRA and Horikawa's rooftop fight deserve a separate mention.
- At the end of the episode, the Saniwa appears in person and helps Izuminokami and Horikawa push back against the Time Retrogrades.
- Not only did they arrive in style, but the Saniwa also summons Yagen, Tonbokiri, and Mutsunokami to aid them and defeat the remaining enemies. The Saniwa's summoning sequences were nothing short of epic and awesome.
- How each of the three swords defeat the Time Retrogrades are fantastic and unique to each character: Tonbokiri charges the enemy before tossing them into the air with his spear, Yagen lands a multitude of slices in a spin attack, and true to Mutsunokami, he shoots down the enemy before the petals from his summoning scatter.
Commander
- Horikawa's instant reaction and assist in killing Time Retrogrades trying to separate Izuminokami from the rest of the group. His wakizashi instincts start working.
- Yagen senses the two Retrograde's hidden presence and finishes them off.
- Mutsunokami saves Izuminokami's life again, but this time at the last second before the last remaining Retrograde could kill him with an arrow.
Master's Orders
- It's a good thing Mutsunokami and Tonbokiri were in the area and manage to save most of the foreigners after the ship exploded.
- Minor one for Izuminokami and Horikawa. They haven't reached the ship yet, and they still are able to entrust the situation to other team members, prioritizing the info gathering to the action.
- For a newly manifested sword, Horikawa easily confirms himself as the assistant sword in this episode, from getting the information on pro-war faction for Izuminokami, through stepping up and calming down both seething Kanesada and frustrated Mutsunokami and suggesting working separatedly to his partner sword to make Second Unit more, well, united, to thinking of an excuse for wearing western clothing within SECONDS, being convincing enough to deceive the anti-westerner ronin.
What I Want To Protect
- Villanous example; an Ootachi type Time Retrograde can handle 4 (yes, FOUR) Touken Danshis.
- Tsurumaru's arrival near the end of this episode, just in time to save Yagen.
The Fires of War
- Another villainous example; the Ootachi type Retrograde sending a signal to the rest of the army with its sword to fire ship cannons towards Edo city.
- Tonbokiri, despite his yari being snapped in half and his body taking a serious injury, manages to get back up again, roar "I'm not finished yet!", and grab what's left of his weapon to take down the Enemy Ootachi. Do Not Go Gentle is in full effect here.
The Citadel
- The Saniwa uses special white talismans to save Tonbokiri's life and restore the blade of his spear in the repair room.
The First Unit
- Oodenta grabs a Retrograde mook by the neck and outright HURLS it towards the rest of the Revisionists with a single throw, killing it.
- Mikazuki single handedly blocks an Ootachi type Retrograde's attack and casually praises the Ootachi enemy for his skill."That's some fine swordsmanship."
- Villainous example; The abnormal "Street Slasher" Retrograde naginata summons several, and later a whole army of other Retrograde soldiers throughout this very episode.
- He can also fuse several Retrograde soldiers into one HUGE Ootachi type.
- First Unit as a whole in the intense battle near the end of this episode.
- Also the entire fight sequence between Mikazuki and the aforementioned Retrograde Ootachi in general.
Protect History
- This particular exchange between the departing Second Unit and the arriving First Unit is awesome in its own way.Mikazuki: "Protect history. Understood?"Izuminokami: (with determined expression) "Yeah."
Former Master
- The Second Unit travels through time in their sword forms before they fully materialize in their human form as they arrive at their destination in the past.
- Second Unit's attempt to clear the escape route for Ryoma Sakamoto to ensure the flow of history.
- Which brings us to Mutsunokami's Pre-Mortem One-Liner:
- "I am not going to let you guys ruin the era or world that Ryoma lived in!"
- And again, when he loses his sword and gun during a battle with the Retrograde army, Ryoma Sakamoto throws his very own sword to Mutsunokami, just in time for him to defeat the remaining Revisionists.
- Horikawa saves Ryoma Sakamoto from the Time Retrograde army.
- Later on, Izumonokami and Mutsunokami fight an Oodachi type Time Retrograde soldier and finally succeed in defeating it.
- Izumonokami and Mutsunokami kill several Retrograde soldiers during the Satsuma Residence fire.
- During the battle of Hakodate, Izumonokami and Mutsunokami kill the first wave of Retrograde soldiers. However, the second wave of Retrogrades arrive...
- So, the Saniwa summons First Unit members, Oodenta, Higekiri, Hizamaru, and Yamanbagiri to provide backup.
- The decisive battle to ensure that no Retrograde Armies intervene with Hakodate's battle.
- The Saniwa uses their remaining energy to summon Mikazuki, Tonbokiri, Yagen, Tsurumaru, and Honebami to assist the First and Second Unit during the final battle.
- Bonus point: Tonbokiri finally avenges his defeat to an Ootachi type Retrograde, and Horikawa saves Izumonokami from a Retrograde soldier, marking his return to the Second Unit. He then proceeds to assist Izuminokami in the final kill.
- The First and Second Unit manage to eliminate one thousand Revisionists after the final battle.
- The Saniwa uses their remaining energy to summon Mikazuki, Tonbokiri, Yagen, Tsurumaru, and Honebami to assist the First and Second Unit during the final battle.
Manga
- In chapter 1 plays it different from the anime adaption where Izuminokami save both Horikawa and the child from the getting hit from falling debris by slicing it in half.
- In chapter 2, Tonbokiri manage to saves Yagen's life by killing the Retrograde before the enemy can reach him.
