Gifu Dodo!! Kanetsugu and Keiji

Gifu Dodo!! Kanetsugu and Keiji was produced by Studio DEEN and released in 2013 as an anime adaptation of the historical manga series written by Tetsuo Hara and Nobuhiko Horie, with art by Masami Tokimura. The story serves as a spin-off of the popular Sengoku-period epic Keiji, shifting the narrative focus toward the deep, enduring friendship between the legendary samurai Naoe Kanetsugu and the flamboyant warrior Maeda Keiji. By framing the brutal conflicts of the era through the lens of their mutual respect and shared chivalric ideals, the series sought to explore the concept of the 'true man' amidst the political turmoil of 16th-century Japan.

The character designs were crafted to reflect the bold, stylized aesthetic established by Tetsuo Hara, known for his distinctively masculine and larger-than-life artistic flair. During its broadcast, the series was noted for its commitment to the source material's dramatic tone and its portrayal of the Sengoku era's philosophical underpinnings. While it captured the attention of fans of the historical seinen genre, it was received as a niche production, appreciated primarily by those already familiar with the broader Keiji literary universe for its thematic dedication to loyalty and honor.