YMMV / Sword of the Stranger

• Awesome Art: It really is a beautifully animated film.
• Awesome Music: The theme, "Ihojin no Yaiba".
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: The encounter with the two thieves. It's the only time that No-Name goes up against an enemy not affiliated with the Ming soldiers and the short Curb-Stomp Battle is comedic both in its timing and looser animation that it seems almost out of place in the film. While the bandits have a brief cameo in a later scene, their appearance never has any plot ramifications.
• Draco in Leather Pants: Luo-Lang is certainly a Noble Demon and has huge honor, but he is so popular and his positive traits make it very easy to almost look past his negative ones. He still is very much a Blood Knight who enjoys bloodshed and has no qualms sacrificing Kotaro despite that not only he doesn't share the goal of the rest of his companions, but he admits he doesn't even believe that immortality is real. One could argue he just goes along with the plan so he could find Worthy Opponent (and he does turn on his peers when he eventually does), but he still very much sees Kotaro sacrifice as collateral damage that he is perfectly cool with.
• Evil Is Cool: Luo-Lang is a badass, honorable Blood Knight who balances eerie calm with a primal and brutal nature and is introduced dealing out a total Curb-Stomp Battle. He's just as, if not more, well-liked than the heroes of the film.
• I Am Not Shazam: Just to be clear, Nanashi is just a word that means "no-name," and the main character is called that because we don't know his actual name.
• Magnificent Bastard: Luo-Lang is a masterful swordsman who seeks a proper challenge and duel above all else, allying with the Ming group for the opportunity to face opponents of all kinds. Introduced utterly decimating an entire band of raiders with skill and ingenuity, Luo-Lang even disarms himself and defeats their leader with his bare hands to showcase his abilities. Assisting his employer Byakuran in tracking down the young boy Kotaro, Luo-Lang simultaneously deduces supposed allies of Byakuran's are scheming against him, and kidnaps their leader to throw them into disarray. Luo-Lang grows impressed with the sights and tales he experiences of the mysterious swordsman "No Name", to such an extent that he betrays and kills Byakuran for dishonorably trying to shoot No Name in the back, before challenging No Name to a final, lethal duel. Though the brilliant fight ends with Luo-Lang mortally wounded, he nonetheless spends his final moments utterly content that he finally found someone worthy to fight against.
• Signature Scene: Between being the climax, Ihojin no Yaiba playing, and the gorgeous animation and choreography that still stand out despite the movie's age, the final battle between Luo-Lang and Nanashi is considered by many to be one of the greatest sword fights in anime, period, easily making it the most memorable scene even in a film chock-full of amazing fights.
• Signature Song: "Ihojin no Yaiba," the Triumphant Reprise of the film's main theme, is one of the most beloved battle scores in anime history and among the most iconic parts of the movie.

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