Samurai Champloo: The Complete Series

I'm not much of a hip-hop fan (I'm a hater, just hatin'), so I avoided watching Samurai Champloo despite the many recommendations for it that came my way. The few clips I had seen of the series had annoying (for me) background music and weird art, so that was that...or so I thought. Destiny arrived in the form of a bout of severe bronchitis that left me stranded in bed with nothing to do for a week and a half. Since I had exhausted all other options for entertainment by that point, I reluctantly decided to go for it with Samurai Champloo, which had to beat staring at the ceiling, right? Other fans of the series won't be all that surprised to hear that I was hooked from the very first episode I saw, notwithstanding the fact that the opening song made my eardrums bleed and still does. I really (really) do not like hip-hop, but I LOVED the way that it is incorporated into this series. Samurai Champloo would not be what it is without its musical and hip-hop influences, so I decided to suspend my judgments and go where it took me, which is a classic chanbara jidaigeki with all of the usual suspects - Fuu, the naive and feisty waitress with just enough street smarts to keep her alive (but not out of trouble); Jin, the ultimate traditional swordsman and warrior; Mugen, the wild-haired ronin from Ryukyu, with his exceptional natural talents and battle instincts; and the colorful side characters who float in and out of the episodes. At the time that Samurai Champloo was made, hip-hop was a battle cry for a new Japan, while nothing is more traditionally appealing than the jidaigeki (which in itself is a vehicle to criticize government abuses and corruption). To put the two together and tell these stories is truly inspired. "Tabi ni deru" or going on a journey is a classic Japanese cultural element that is central to why Samurai Champloo is structured the way that it is. The belief that you grow exponentially as a human being through travel is so fundamental to the way that Japanese experience life that many televisions specials are based upon sending a celebrity on a "Journey Of Discovery." I have actually seen a special in which a boy-band member travels to the absolute sticks in the Chinese countryside to learn how to make fried rice. This kid is from a famous studio that takes young people from their families and raises them to be stars, usually from a ridiculously early age. I am sure that having money, fame, and fortune is nice work if you can get it, but seeing him bloom like a flower under the caring eyes of his host family, who were as far from the glitz and glamour of his life and career as you could possibly get, was kind of...special (sorry). I found it touching to see how he experienced the poverty and emptiness of the countryside contrasted with the warmth and kindness of the Chinese family who took him in and not only taught him about making fried rice, but a lot more about the richness and value of human connections. Yes, he grew exponentially. Meanwhile, I, as a member of the audience, honked in a tissue whispering "it's...beautiful...", and I also gained some excellent tips on making fried rice! Win-win, my friends - food for the body and food for the soul. That's why we have these episodes in Samurai Champloo that seem to be connected by nothing, but there is a major life lesson in every single one. Oh, it's not heavy-handed by any means - blink, and you'll miss it. These human elements, done with a lot of delicacy, are what make Samurai Champloo so amazing. The music...is...incredible. I'm ranting, but traditional singing (Ryukyu-style - somewhat like sean nos) and shamisen have its moments here, along with Nujabes and Minmi's "Shiki no Uta" (lyrics that brought images of Japan to life behind my eyelids, so beautiful). The ending credits of the episodes are full of hints about Fuu, sepia-toned and nostalgic, which kept me guessing on her bizarre quest, which at first struck me in the same way as it strikes Mugen and Jin, Fuu's unwilling companions. She's searching for the Samurai that Smells of Sunflowers - whaaaat?? I've got sunflowers in my garden, and they don't smell like anything - which is kind of the point. Please just watch it if you've come this far - I'd have to write a book to explain the story without spouting spoilers left and right. You'll get what Fuu is looking for. And what Jin is looking for. And what Mugen, who is determinedly not looking for anything, finds, despite himself. There is so much going on in this series that I often return to watch it just one more time and go away thinking on what I saw. Don't let the sword fights and non-stop action fool you. Samurai Champloo is a brave piece of social commentary on persistent and deep-rooted beliefs that are part of traditional Japanese society and are often widely and uncritically accepted by people who ought to know better. Like what? Well, the status of women is a very big one, and so is xenophobia (Mugen is from Ryukyu, and I cannot tell you how many times that I have had people tell me in all seriousness that people from Ryukyu are not really Japanese, with the implication that they are ever so slightly inferior), and let's not forget the episode with the eating contest, and the "why" behind the story of the Samurai Who Smells of Sunflowers - you don't have to agree or disagree, by the way, it's just put out there for you to see and think about. I enjoyed all of the episodes, but the ones that especially stood out for me were the two Misguided Miscreants ones, which tell of Mugen's past; the two Elegy of Entrapment ones in which our friends meet Sara, the blind shamisen player; and the last three, called Evanescent Encounter, which end the series. Just wow. I'm sorry I wrote a book instead of a review, and thank you for reading it! I hope you will give Samurai Champloo a shot, and enjoy it as much as I did.

I'm not into anime per se, but I do love a good story no matter where it's from. Samurai Champloo: The Complete Series [Blu-ray ] is from the director of Cowboy Bebop, a series I'm completely in love with. Even though stories about samurai don't necessarily interest me, Mr Watanabe's involvement (and amazon.com's blu ray sale) made me pick this up on blu ray and I'm glad I did. There are some elements from Cowboy Bebop that can be seen in this which I enjoyed, down to the occasional John Woo reference (watch for birds), and the characters are interesting enough in the beginning to hold your interest until the story kicks into higher and higher gear as the show goes on. We have Mugen the maniac: born on an island where prisoners were exiled and looked to be basically raised by wolves. Fiercely independent and feral yet with glimmers of gold in his heart. There's Jin: quiet and dignified, very refined. Also fiercely independent, yet disciplined, graceful and does not waste a movement. Driving the story is Fuu, a ditzy 15 year old tea house waitress who saves their lives and extorts a promise from the two guys to travel with her and act as her bodyguards as she hunts for the samurai who smells of sunflowers. Their adventures on the way are by turns hilarious and terrifying and watching the characters grow, both personally and in their relationships with each other is a joy to watch. The story builds to a mighty climax that is worthy of Mr Watanabe's followup to Cowboy Bebop. This is a three disc set, and by the time the third disc was in my player, I couldn't stop until it was finished. The artwork is nothing short of gorgeous. These characters move among a world that look like paintings that could be displayed in the finest art galleries. I wasn't sure about a hip hop soundtrack, but it really worked in this show and I need to see if I can buy it. My particular favorite is the opening theme song which I can't get out of my head (and that's a GOOD thing). The 5.1 soundtrack sounds wonderful and the picture was crisp and clear, just as you'd expect from a blu ray release (if only Cowboy Bebop would be released on blu ray!). I haven't watched the dubbed version, but the voice actors' performances on the original Japanese soundtrack are terrific. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Koichi Yamadera (Cowboy Bebop's Spike) in one episode as well as Unshô Ishizuka (Cowboy Bebop's Jet), who appeared as a character in a couple of episodes as well as doing some voiceover narration in several more. I felt like I had moved to a new neighborhood and was treated to visits from some old friends. Even if you've never seen Cowboy Bebop, this show is very worth seeing, especially if you're fond of samurai swordplay. You'll see that aplenty in Samurai Champloo. That said, like Bebop, this is not a show for kids - I'd say it was rated PG-13 at the very least. With swordplay, you have blood and these folks aren't shy about having characters bleed on screen. I've seen more explicit results of violence in other shows and movies, but this one has enough violence that some parents might want to consider waiting until children are older before showing it to them. There is also some language that might be inappropriate to the little ears in the family, as well as some brief nudity and mature dialog. As far as I'm concerned, this has everything, great characters and relationships, easy on the eyes and ears and a story that builds and develops to a very satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!

Previewing this anime before and now finally finishing the series here on Blu-ray, this series is simply phenomenal. This amalgamation of cultures, sub-cultures, and history whipped up into one sure-fire series makes this a standard bearer for those interested in Japanese culture and animation. Though the producers, writers, and animators, like DJs, mixed up this anime based on samurai history, Tokugawa Shogunate Japan, hip-hop music, and anachronistic symbols and styles, what you end up getting is one of the most authentic series ever. Two samurai, Jin and Mugen, and a happenstance girl named Fuu accidentally meet and end up going on a perilous, but at times, very humorous journey to look for the elusive "samurai who smells like sunflowers." The action pays tribute to old samurai films of old, but with the blinding speed and liberality of anime, the ferocity of the action gets better when Jin and Mugen have to fight off their hordes of opponents or their individual ones. The three make a very unlikely trio of heroes, as one is boastful, loud, and gregarious in his fighting style (Mugen), the other a calm, cool, one-hit combo that takes all enemies down Jin. Fuu plays comic foil as she gets herself into trouble every episode or has to hold the line from the two samurai from killing each other. You really get to adapt and follow the characters well. The episodes pit them together against common enemies, or sometimes they will take sidetracks to see where the characters themselves come from. Its good pacing. Finally, the mixture of hip-hop is that flashy jacket that makes this anime the star of the show. Fat Jon, Nujabes (rest in peace), and Force of Nature collaborate to make old-skool beats that are seamless with the action and non-action scenes. There's no disconnect with the Edo-era Japan when the hip-hop is added in. Its like a character within itself, and its done in a way that is believable and fits each scene. The mood of the scene corresponds well with the music. You have smooth slow-down scenes with slow, jazzy beats, or fast, groovy styles mixed in with the rapid-fire samurai slashing. The soundtrack is worth getting on its own for enjoyable listening. One of the best anime series I have seen...hands down. This is anime that deserves several viewings. Especially fans of Japanese culture, this is a flagship anime for years to come to those who are newcomers to the genre of samurai anime.

This entire box set will be a collectors item one day. Rurouni Kenshin aka Samurai X has got to be one of the best samurai-based anime ever created. It’s so popular, they even made live-action movies based on it. They’re actually worth watching too (I found them on Amazon Prime to rent). Please keep in mind that this anime series covers the entire lifespan of a Kenshin Himura. But HOW they achieve this is tricky. First, there are 2 movies (sold together) TRUST / BETRAYAL This 2 disc box set gives a detailed origin story. There is then a miscellaneous movie which is not necessary to watch, but adds some context. Then there’s this box set. 50 episodes. This tells of Kenshin’s life achievements and also has the meat of his life’s story and battles. It will refer a lot to the TRUST/BETRAYAL movies. Finally, they released a movie called REFLECTION. You’re going to want to invest in the 2 origin movies and the Finale as well as this box set series. You will then know the life of this magnificent character and the inspiring story of his works. This series will have you in your emotions. It’s not ALL about action and the story plot is very intense. Please keep in mind that Trust/Betrayal have copious amounts of violence & blood. But this box set series has “censored” blood (it’s colored white) and violence has been turned down a lot. The reason for this is that Kenshin vows to stop killing. Which makes for an interesting arch because his old enemies come back to haunt him and he must battle them while keeping this vow. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers; but there’s love, friendship and intense battles in this series and I LOVE the way they explain the battle mechanics during a conflict or fight. This is NOT one of those movies where the guy runs across the screen and then there’s a SLASH and everyone drops dead. No. They explain how attacks work and how they failed and it’s very methodical in its approach. Brilliant battles!! If you haven’t seen this series, please reconsider your otaku membership card and revoke your anime license !! Hahaha!!

This is a very entertaining anime series. Laugh out loud comedy mixed with intense and well choreographed battle scenes all to a mix of hip hop music. This series is a perfect "gateway" into Japanese animation, great for die-hard fans who want to introduce anime to friends and family members. Most of my friends who aren't fans have issues with hard to follow plots, melodramatic characters, and the "cartoon-y" animation style where "only their mouths are moving!". Well this plot is simple and easy-to-follow (granted one episode gets pretty freaky, you'll know which one I'm talking about :D), the characters are believable (the Eng Dub voice actors are phenomenal), and the animation style is very attractive and fluid, especially during the fight scenes. It's also a bit more adult than your typical anime series. Expect swearing, smoking, and suggestive material. Older teens and up will very much appreciate the reprieve from middle schoolers blushing and tripping over themselves when they are near a member of the opposite sex. I actually found that the more "grown-up" content was a bit of a surprise to people watching anime for the first time. Since it is animated, many people may have the misconception that because it is a "cartoon" it is only intended for children. This is a good example of how anime isn't just for kids. As far as the length is concerned it's just long enough to start getting a little emotionally invested but not a total marathon like InuYasha or Rurouni Kenshin. I personally prefer a longer series, but this is probably the perfect length for most people who don't have months and months to invest in one story. Overall it is a very unique and high quality series. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different than the "cookie cutter" anime genres out there today.

Really good anime, great fights, some really funny episodes here and there. Animation still holds up. If you liked this should check out cowboy bebop or if you've seen it you should like this one.

I'm relatively new to the anime scence. I've only seen a handful of movies/shows, and those have been over a very long span of time. I'd hardly call myself knowledgeable about the genre, but my interest started stirring not too long ago. So, after reading the recommended shows, I decided to give the Samurai Champloo a shot. If you're a new comer to anime, I think this show is a great place to start. The melding of different genre's like samurai lore as well as hip-hop provide a unique world and enviroment, and allow for some great fight/action sequences. But what really surprised me was the character development and growth. Each character seems pretty cliche when they start, the undisciplined talent, the disciplined emotionless warrior, and the girl who needs help. However, as the show progresses, you grow to understand the characters, why they are they way they are, and see them grow into something different and unique. Couple this with some great twists, some imaginative stories, and huge entertainment, and you get an unforgettable series. Thanks to this show I'm going to start looking into some other anime, and see what else I can find. In short, highly recomended, especially to non-anime fans looking to get into the genre.

I'm honestly gonna assume that if you're looking to buy this, you've likely already seen the show or you've at least seen reviews on it and you're just wondering which physical version to get. This one. Bam, problem solved. This is the show you've been looking for. It's a great, 10/10 show by Shinichiro Watanabe. It's worth watching if you haven't and worth owning if you have. If you're wanting a review of the show, look elsewhere. I'm just here to let you know that this is a good copy of the show to own. It comes with the show, creditless intro and outro, and concept art. I'll be honest, I can't remember if there was any behind the scenes stuff on this version. What I can remember is being satisfied with this copy of a great show that works perfectly fine in my Blu-ray player, satisfying my craving for Champloo.

I am a huge fan of anime and I can say with absolute confidence that this is one of the best series I've had the privilege to come across. I love the story line, the soundtrack and the three main characters are all my favourites. You become so fond of them as the series goes on. The character development is soo great! The series has a great mixture of humour and action and each episode has its own unique story. It has an amazing flow to it. I find that is hard with a lot of animes but this series masters that. All in all it's an amazing watch and I would highly recommend it. It makes my top three favourite animes for sure. It deserves a lot of credit as I'm sure many people would enjoy it. It changed and impacted my life personally and everytime I see it I get the same sensations of beauty and amazement. I give it five stars and two major thumbs up! It really is terrific and I honestly cannot express how much I love this series.

Me encanta esta serie, no paro de verla una y otra vez. Es graciosa, sarcástica, con acción, tiene de todo. Excelente decisión al adquirirla.

Excelente serie. Si eres fan del anime, debes tenerla en tu colección. El precio y el tiempo de envío fueron excelentes.

Watanabe does it again! The Cowboy Bebop's director takes a new take of artistic historical culture (Edo-era) and upgrades it within a modern tone reflecting modern cultural norms. The anime itself is a comedy with each character flushing out deep developmental growth throughout the series. Unfortunately, its only 1 Season (26 Episodes) but I feel, that is all this series needed. Highly, recommended for any anime fan or just anyone looking for something different with historical themes mixed with a fantastic Hip-Hop soundtrack. It is geared towards a mature / older crowd. The Digital Copy works great in 2020, and can be redeemed at Funimation. The Physical disc comes in a generic double disc packaging. Pros: - Samurai Fighting - Hip-Hop Soundtrack - Edo-era - Characters are likeable Cons: - too short (26 episodes)

現代風チャンバラアニメ‼️ ムゲン・ジン・フウの三人が織り成す のりとタイミングとリアリズムが交じりあうストーリーから目が離せません。 またEDが程好く切ないのもよきです。 画質も綺麗ですよ。