6. Sword Of The Stranger (2007)
What To Expect: Butch Yojimbo and the Sundance Samurai
Plot: After fleeing from some mysterious swordsmen who attack and destroy his home, a young boy (Kotarou) and his dog escape into the wilds. They meet a nameless ronin in an abandoned temple who has vowed to never draw his sword again (don't worry, the vow lasts as long as it takes to say 'tortured past'). After saving the boy's life the two are thrown into an epic quest involving a deadly western fighter looking to test himself against the best warriors in the land, a group of monks torn between faith and survival, a proud general and the Ming Dynasty in this Sengoku-era set actioner. Sword Of The Stranger is a typical 'Chambara' (Samurai cinema) story featuring a wandering samurai getting caught up in a bigger plot but what makes it stand apart from its contemporaries is this beautifully crafted film, which was directed by Masahiro Ando and produced by Bones, features some of the best fight scenes ever drawn as it combines hand drawn animation with CGI which make it a must-see of the genre.