I finally finished watching this series.
Samurai Champloo (サムライチャンプルー) is an anime title consisting of 26 episodes that began broadcasting on Fuji TV in Japan on May 19, 2004, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop fame. The show, which is set in the Edo period, is not a true historical title, but features action, adventure, and some comedy blended with an anachronistic hip-hop soundtrack. Its name comes from the Okinawan word, "champuru" (e.g. goya champuru), which means to mix or blend.
What Watanabe started with Cowboy Bebop, he continued with Samurai Champloo. Mixing a genre of anime and a genre of music that one would not think would go together, he implemented a hip-hop theme into the genre of Samurai swordplay (known as Chanbara). This is much like Cowboy Bebop, which combined science fiction with a blues and jazz theme. The score is composed of hip-hop beats by Japanese hip hop artists Nujabes and Tsutchie among others. The hip-hop influences do not end with just the soundtrack including the theme song "Battle Cry." Characters, costume design, attitudes, and even editing methods reflect hip-hop culture. Some samurai sport Adidas-like stripe patterns on their kimonos, while one of the main characters, Mugen, has a capoeira-esque fighting style that resembles the breakdancing of the 1980s. The show has many other anachronistic elements as well—elements that the show's creators seem to revel in, as evidenced the disclaimer from the first episode: "This work of fiction is not an accurate historical portrayal. LIKE WE CARE. Now shut up and enjoy the show."
The show revolves around three characters: The brash, lanky vagabond Mugen, the quiet and stoic ronin Jin, and the cute and quick-thinking waitress Fuu. Fuu helps Mugen and Jin escape from a vengeful daimyo and, in exchange, she persuades the two to help her in her search for a mysterious samurai who smells like sunflowers, with a coin toss. She will have trouble keeping the two from killing each other, though.
It honestly has more style in its opening theme than most series do in their entire run. It's incredibly funny and active with appealing characters.
After watching the entire show in one sitting, I went and watched Inuyasha, and was confused about how I never noticed that all the characters seem to stand there with only their mouths moving.
Look Forward to it!
