Samurai Deeper Kyo tells the tale of two Master swordsmen, Kyoshiro and Demon Eyes Kyo. One is the gentle spirit of a protector, who uses his sword to defend the innocent. The other is known as the unrepentant slayer of a thousand men. As the two face off during the battle of Sekigahara a meteorite slams into the battlefield, and when the dust clears where once there were two samurai, now there is only one.

Or is there? Years later the consciousness of Demon Eyes Kyo awakens inside the body of Kyoshiro - two master swordsmen, one body. When the secret is discovered by Yuya, a bounty hunter interested in claiming the reward on the man's head, the true journey begins.

True to the historical era upon which this anime is based, there are plots within plots; alliances are cultivated and betrayed, and allegiances shift with the blowing wind. And as the characters delve into the history of Kyo and Kyoshiro and learn the truth behind their identities, relationships blossom. But in a war torn era, where everyone is forced to choose a side, even friends can find themselves standing on opposing sides of a battlefield.

I found this anime very enjoyable, though I am told that the anime differs greatly from the manga. The artwork and voice acting are well done, and it was a pleasure to see the relationships between the characters develop and the changes wrought in each character as a result of those relationships.

The ending was rather ambiguous and open to interpretation, which is not unusual for anime. Since I was able to decide for myself what the most satifying ending would be, the lack of a solid conclusion did not detract from the anime's charms. Between the intriguing characters, the openness of the ending, and the many possibilities to explore within the storyline, Samurai Deeper Kyo is a fertile field for fanfiction. For this reason, and the fact that I enjoyed it so much, Samurai Deeper Kyo has a place on the accepted series list.