Samurai Jack (2001–2004)

A samurai sent through time fights to return home and save the world.

Creator:

Genndy Tartakovsky

Stars:

Phil LaMarr, Mako, Kevin Michael Richardson

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Phil LaMarr	...	Samurai Jack (48 episodes, 2001-2004)
Mako	...	Aku (23 episodes, 2001-2004)

Storyline

In the distant past, a Japanese samurai embarks on a mission to defeat the evil shape-shifting wizard Aku. Before he can complete his task, though, he is catapulted thousands of years into the future. He finds himself in a world where Aku now enjoys complete power over every living thing. Dubbing himself "Jack," he sets out on a new quest--to right the wrongs that have been done by his enemy and to find a way back to his own time so he can destroy the evil for good.

---

Plot Keywords:

samurai | fight | combat | alien | sword | 

---

Taglines:

In the future evil takes many forms, and our only hope is one man from the past.

---

Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jack o samurai

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cartoon Network, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Rough Draft Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min 25 min (52 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The mines the dogs are excavating in the pilot movie used to be the city of Townesville from the The Powerpuff Girls. This is evident from a billboard which has a picture of the Talking Dog which appeared in an episode of the "Powerpuff Girls".

---

Quotes

Aku: Oh, put that thing away, Samurai. We all know what's going to happen. You'll swing your sword, I'll fly away, and probably say something like, "I'll be back, Samurai!" And then I'll flutter over the horizon and we probably won't see each for... about a week. And then we'll do the same thing again.
Jack: Your word play will not trick me, villain!
[he attacks Aku]
Aku: I'll be back, Samurai - you'll see! Bwah-ha-ha-ha.
[flutters over the horizon then reappears]
Aku: See what I mean?

---

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits,the cartoon network logo gets sliced by jack.

---

Connections

Featured in 100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)

User Reviews

Brilliant, magnificent, imaginative, stunning, funny... Way too many adjectives left...

I thought that America had no imagination left in the realm of animation. Yes, there's Disney and Don Bluth and Bakshi... But that was 'then'... I had no hope left... Then a teeny-tiny channel called "the Cartoon Network" appeared... Hmm... Dexter... Powerpuff Girls... Hmm... Then came a Samurai warrior... HOLY @#$%&*! Where did this come from? WOW! In the history of American animated TV series I have never seen such great craftmanship... The backgrounds are exquisite. Painted, airbrushed, computer-generated -I DON'T CARE!!! They are beautful. Not only in it's execution but it's scheer originality and beauty. The lack of symmetry and use of light and odd colors add to its uniqueness and effect. It adds so much to the wonder of the bizarre Aku-ruled Earth. ACTION! SO MUCH ACTION!!!! Wonderful, swift, exciting and technically magnificent. The fight scenes are choreographed wonderfully and just plain EXCITING!!! I've never said that about any animated show! Jack's eyes and movements flow sweetly and say so much. Very few cartoons come across so well (Ren & Stimpy is an exception) with such grace and simplicity without losing it's integrity. But the artwork isn't the end of it: GREAT WRITING!!! What's that? Writing? Wha? Yes. The terrific stories and engaging characters are just as electric and fresh as the artwork that represents it. Every time I watch an episode there is always something I don't expect. So much creativity pours from either the animator's pens or the writer's pens. BEST ANIMATED SHOW OF ALL TIME. Yes, even better than BATTLE OF THE PLANETS... well maybe... ;)