Thanks for the memories!

So much average

Simply Perfect

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It doesn't take more than 2 episodes to realize that Samurai Champloo is going to be another Watanabe episodic classic. Typical of Shinichiro, he brings in all elements of funk and style, but it's the way it's all incorporated in 18th-century Japan, well I loved the setting(and the badass animation of course) a lot. Plus, the action shown is simply awesome, makes you believe in a samurai's skill and all the effort that he/she is putting in. You watch each episode for that one episode only, but still get a mysterious back-story to follow. Again, all the main characters have stark differences and have a story of their own, connected by a completely fateful(rather random) turn of events. All Cowboy Bebop fans will recognize this and expect a similar touch, but this anime gives you a fresh take on the relationship between complete strangers who help each other in their unique ways. A 10/10 from my side, you won't get a better action-adventure-funk anime, each episode different from the previous one filled with completely random stories but coming together in an epic way in the end.

This anime series follows Mugan and Jin; two very different samurai, who join Fuu; a young woman on a quest to find the 'samurai who spells of sunflowers. Mugan is a somewhat wild character with a brilliant but unconventional fighting style while Jin is the epitome of what a reserved samurai should be; these two unlikely travelling companions are travelling with Fuu because she saves them from execution in episode one. Their quest takes them through Edo era Japan and on their way they come across many interesting characters and various dangerous situations. It may come as a surprise but most of these encounters are also very funny.Coming from the creator of 'Cowboy Bebop' I should have expected something special but I was a little unsure if hip-hop in the time of the samurai would be anything other than silly… as it turns out there isn't too much of that and what there is is frequently hilarious! The three protagonists are each great and distinctive characters. There is a fair amount of action; some of it fairly bloody and as the series approaches its conclusion there is an increased sense that the characters are in real danger. There are plenty of laughs to be had; usually due to amusing situations rather than gags and one-liners you might expect in a sitcom. There is a small amount of swearing, some of it in English, but not enough to spoil the series for older viewers… the bloodshed already means the series isn't really suitable for youngsters to watch! The animation looks great with good character designs and backgrounds that seem to capture the feeling of the era. Overall I think this is a great series and heartily recommend it to anybody who enjoys anime; in fact I suspect even people who aren't usually anime fans may enjoy this.These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of the acclaimed jazzy masterpiece Cowboy Bebop, has added another irresistible treat to his portfolio. Samurai Champloo is a fast-paced, groovy, and character-driven grindhouse of an anime--'grindhouse', in the sense that it doesn't take itself too seriously (and it's bloody as hell). It tells a story about an unlikely pair of ronin swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, brought together by a common debt they owe to the lovely young teahouse waitress Fuu. Animes all have a distinct art style. Champloo's animation is fluid, it's character design is innovative, it's choreography is spot-on realistic, and the landscapes are lush and gorgeous. Fight scenes are seamless and for the most part true to samurai styles, with the exception of Mugen's style, which establishes the overarching theme of the show... Mugen is essentially the link between the edo period and hip-hop culture in Champloo. Without his badass break dancing fighting style jiving to the soundtrack of the show, it would be a rather meaningless mixture. This is not to say that the other characters don't stand alone in their strengths and principles. Jin's devotion to the traditional style of swordplay shows in every single slash of his sword. While Mugen's style is wide open and reckless, Jin's style is rooted in the stoic, closed nature of the bushido style of swordsmanship, focusing more on finding an opening. Sidenote: It's important to know that this anime is not another "who's the strongest?" anime like Dragon Ball Z or Bleach. The significance of the edo-period setting is shown in Mugen and Jin's struggles as samurai. The rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate coincided with the fall of the Samurai's military status, and this setting is established extremely well--It really is Mugen and Jin against the world. Fuu is the leading lady, and convinces the rival warriors to accompany her on her quest to find 'the samurai who smells of sunflowers'. With her spunky attitude, strong will, girlish charm, and a dark past to boot, this fifteen-year old teahouse waitress is well beyond her years. Each character in the trio is so different than the last. That dynamic between the characters is an entertaining trademark of Watanabe's animes. Each misadventure of the 26-episode epic brings them closer together, revealing more interesting aspects of their personalities, and ultimately brings them closer to Fuu's mysterious samurai. There's a lot to be said about what the characters say, and how they say it. English voice- overs in anime often prove to be laughable and annoying, but in Samurai Champloo, the instances where voiceovers and dialogue grate on your nerves are few and far between. The dialogue plays a huge role in character and story development, and there are very few words used in excess. Anime fans will hear some familiar voices (Steve Blum, Kari Wahlgren, Kirk Thornton), and the fact that they have starred in many other animes is an afterthought. In Cowboy bebop, old-school Jazz was mixed with a futuristic outer space setting. This show is a 'champloo' of feudal japan and some pretty snappy hip-hop--yet another unlikely pair, but needless to say, it works. I guess I'm with Jin on this one--when it comes to Watanabe and his storytelling prowess, he clearly doesn't understand the meaning of 'restraint'. 5/5

Samurai Champloo is a fun and energetic series. The episodes feature a variety of different story lines. Some are comedic, some are filled with action, some are filled with thrills, some are a bit tragic, and there's even an x-files-ish one. They're all pulled off very well with some contemporary editing, direction, and a stylish score. The only drawback is some of the funk/hip-hop/rock editing/themes can get annoying when they overdo it, especially in the beginning. But they use it as a means to convey that, even though it's an adult series, it's clearly meant for younger/younger-at-heart adults. The ending didn't close as strongly as it could have, but it was worth watching just for the ride.