Down from the mountain
A breeze comes
and ruffles my sleeve.
Are you gossiping about me,
The woman who travels alone?
Mind your own business, mischievous sparrow.
What I have is freedom...
What I have is freedom,
And my companion, sake.

At the last few anime showings at my library, I had ordered in Tsukikage Ran...but nobody had selected it as one of the anime to watch. The packaging wasn't especially attractive, and I took it home to watch, partly out of curiosity, partly to determine whether I should bother to include it in future events.

I fell in love with the theme song--a traditional-sounding song with full orchestral background, such an eye-opener in a sea of J-pop--and found the series delightful to watch as well.

Based roughly on live-action Samurai television shows, each episode features a new adventure in a new location. (There is no particular story arc.)

The only constant is the two main characters, basically making this series like a bunch of 'road' movies. Ran is serious, intelligent, strong and quiet. She drinks unbelievable amounts of sake without apparent effect, and unabashedly, ruthlessly mooches off Meow, being perpetually broke. Meow is a more typical anime-girl, hyperactive, ditzy, vain and self-absorbed,,,but she's bright enough to know who to punch in a battle. She isn't rich, but somehow always seems to have a pocketful of cash. (Lucky for Ran!)

The two characters play off one another beautifully, providing an extremely funny background to whatever problems or villains crop up in their path.

If you're in the mood for a samurai adventure with a lot of laughs, and some kick-butt women who don't cook, clean or do fan service (well, not on the two discs i've watched) then this is the anime for you! Thirteen episodes just isn't enough.