well, that's the point of the story
it's VERY centered around the character, the 15 year old samurai (Himura Kenshin), the violence helps with the story, as the main point is around how he's only 15 and he has to commit all these assassinations. There's also a TV series (long, around 90 episodes) that goes with it that is about him, but is much much lighter (and I don't believe he ever kills a man in the TV series; the TV series comes after the 4 episode violent one.. he swears never to kill another man at the end of the 4 episodes, it's a very very good story)

and it is NOT mindless violence.. and it's much more tastefully done that SOME OTHER (not-so-good/bad) animes that have violence in there just for the sake of being violent

I know a girl who likes the TV series a lot, and she likes the 4 episode OVA (original video animation, one that doesn't air on TV) a lot too, despite its violence, because of the story (and the other animes she watches aren't violent)

> > yes, tehre are a lot in the past

> there are? i didnt know that

> > and some VERY good ones
> > i.e. Rurouni Kenshin, VERY good one, it's violent, but not mindless violence, it's got a GREAT plot, and the violence is very tastefully done. About a 15 year old samurai.

> are stories about 15 years olds engaged in violence a good idea?