Samurai Jack: Season 1

The announced release of the first season of the brilliant animated series, Samurai Jack, is a genuine cause to rejoice! Finally, a studio understands the value of an animated series in a timely manner. One can only hope that other studios will get the message that animated properties can and are just as popular as live-action series and movies. Samurai Jack was created by the multi-talented and truly gifted Genndy Tartakovsky, who also created the fantastic Dexter's Laboratory. Samurai Jack combines innovative and imaginative storytelling with a captivating animated style that is at once simple and evocative. The series tells the story of a Japanese samurai who has embarked on an epic mission to fight evil and save his world. In the distant past, the samurai, who calls himself "Jack," is the son of an emperor captured by the evil Aku, a shape-shifting wizard. The young Jack is sent away not only to survive but to train his mind and body in all forms of martial arts so that he will eventually be capable of vanquishing Aku. Jack returns as an adult and reunites with his mother who gives him the sacred sword of the samurai to defeat Aku and rescue his father. Armed with the sword, Jack is on the verge of a final confrontation with Aku when Jack is literally ripped from his own time by the evil wizard and hurtled thousands of years into the future -- a future where Aku has already become the all-powerful evil lord who controls the world and all living beings. Jack begins anew, working not only to right the wrongs Aku has visited on the population of this future world, but ultimately to return to his own time and stop Aku before the nightmarish future he has seen can even be realized. Mature themes including the true meaning of courage, morality, responsibility, faith, despair, good and evil are explored as Jack struggles, and risks his life time and again to overcome what at first appears to be a force that is all-powerful and unstoppable. However, through Jack's insights and pure heart, viewers come to realize there is hope, not just for Jack, but for any society in which just one individual risks it all against tyranny and evil.

This is one of the 'cooler' shows I have seen in a while. Jack is a man who is often shown, rather than heard. He speaks only when needed, fights only when he has to, and lets his calm demeanor do the rest. While he can hold his own in any fight, he is always compassionate towards those deserving - even when it means forgoing his own plans. This is a very good show for both kids and adults alike. The show has some great action but is presented in a kid-friendly format (all of the characters Jack cuts up are conviently robots). Jack is also shown as an excellent role model - fair, patient, true to his word, a hard worker, etc. For adults, there is a strange appeal to the mature crowd - the animation is a bit more stylized and the show favors more subtle facial expressions in place of dialogue at times. Also, those that have seen some Kurosawa will notice a few similiarities as well. My only complaint is that they have not released the rest of the show yet. So for now, this first set will have to suffice.

"Samurai Jack" is an animated series that is in a catagory of its own. In some ways it seems to have stylistically taken ideas from the UPA era as well as from the old Hanna Barbara limited animation (Yogi Bear, the Flinstones, ect.) Although inspired by these "Samurai Jack" holds a quality that surpases the old style. Where the Flinstones and Yogi Bear were driven primarily through dialog "Jack" is comfortable with just sound and movement to sprinkle the canvas with story. The old dialog driven toons were an attempt to save money and they were wonderfull for their time, but this series is spectacualr for our time. As an animation student I have found that each scene and shot has been carefully thought through and established. "Samurai Jack" will live on(although the series has finished)in this DVD collection. Hopefully the other seasons will soon follow suit. This is coming from a fan of Genndy since he worked on "Two Stupid Dogs". The First Season of "Samurai Jack" is a must have in any DVD collection, and after you watch it through you will need to watch it all again with the directors Commentary. PS. I hope they air the fianl three episodes of the series soon, I want to know how the story ends.

Samurai Jack is one of the best animated or non animated shows on television. Simply put, with all the action and adventure, the show is able to bring comedic instances into each episode. Its not fair to judge the box set, because it has not came out yet, but the show deserves recognition. Two shows that stand out are the "three blind archers" where the animators creativity really shines. As Jack blindfolds himself, you witness his senses gradually determine his surrounding environment as if he was able to see (daredevil). Or the "robot ninja" he fights in a tall building, jack becomes all white, while he nemesis is all black. Animated action in this show just sets the standard for american animation. This show does not provide alot of dialog, since it really does not need to. I stopped watching this show because cartoon network keeps changing the schedule/ or putting it on in ridiculous times. This is a great show and the dvd should also be something to have.

amazing delivery time, cant wait to see my fellas face on christmas morning

Art. That is what this is. Sure it is an animated show, but it is art in all examples of art. The music adds so much to the show. The characters are so engaging and interesting. Even Aku is interesting as a villian. Jack is the hero and he holds that title so well. For the story alone I would suggest people watch this, but for the fact that this is art I suggest everyone to buy it and watch it over and over again. The price has went up I notices which sucks as it was pretty cheap when I bought this season.

Peccato sia solo per regione 1 e quindi si vede solo su computer o con lettori americani ( 5 stelle all'opera - 4 stelle per il venditore che non aveva indicato la regione esatta ), peró bellissimo.

Definitivamente recomiendo esta adquisición, estoy super satisfecho. Lo compré porque no soporto verlo por otro lado con tantos comerciales, marcas de agua, baja calidad de video y el audio distorsionado que suelen usar. Esta en idioma español. Detalles estéticos, me vino arrugada la caja que contiene el DVD pero lo importante para mi es lo de adentro.

I'm beyond happy this product came out. I highly recommend this gem to those who have watched it and loved it and also to those who have not seen it and are interested.