The guy with the Blades sorta reminds me of Naruto, and the style in some scenes of Kite, though the vibe overall's more like Samurai Champloo.
What an awesome animation though! So smooth, and violent in creative and controlled ways. The coreography's great. The movements. The transitions between scenes. It feels like it doesn't even need a sense of morale or more of a meaning to the characters, it gives a glimpse into their world all the same, and it's a pleasure to watch. Awesome work.
-cd-