Watch House of Five Leaves

House of Five Leaves is a 12-episode anime series produced by Manglobe and directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. The show is set in Edo-era Japan and revolves around the story of a naive samurai named Akitsu Masanosuke who is struggling to find a place in the world. After being fired from his job as a bodyguard, Masanosuke is approached by a mysterious man named Yaichi who offers him a job as a bodyguard for his gang of thieves, the House of Five Leaves. Despite his reservations, Masanosuke accepts the offer and begins to work for the gang.

As he begins to work with the gang, Masanosuke learns more about each member of the House of Five Leaves and their motivations for being a part of Yaichi's gang. He also begins to question his own beliefs about justice and morality as he is forced to confront the actions of the gang.

The show is a slow burn, with each episode focusing on a different character's backstory and motivations. This allows for a deeper exploration of each character and their place in the story.

Despite its slow pace, the show does have moments of action and suspense, particularly towards the end of the series. It also features beautiful animation and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

One of the major themes of the show is the idea of family. Each member of the House of Five Leaves is drawn to the gang for different reasons, but they all find a sense of belonging and purpose within the group. Masanosuke, who is initially distrustful of the gang, eventually finds himself drawn to them and begins to see them as his new family.

Another theme of the show is the concept of identity. Masanosuke is struggling to find his place in the world and is forced to confront his own beliefs and ethics as he works with the House of Five Leaves. Each member of the gang is also struggling with their own sense of identity, whether it be as a thief, a victim, or a member of the lower class.

The show also explores issues of power and control. Yaichi is the leader of the House of Five Leaves, but he is not a typical gang leader. He is quiet and reserved, and often gives his gang members a sense of agency by allowing them to make decisions for themselves. This leads to some interesting power dynamics within the gang and raises questions about the nature of leadership.

Overall, House of Five Leaves is a thoughtful and beautifully animated show that explores complex themes and characters. It is not a show for those looking for non-stop action, but for those interested in character-driven storytelling and exploration of complex themes, it is definitely worth a watch.

House of Five Leaves is a series that ran for 1 seasons (12 episodes) between April 15, 2010 and on FUNimation