"Afro Samurai" (2007) TV mini-series

Creator:

Takashi Okazaki

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

4 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

A Black samurai goes on a mission to avenge the wrongful death of his father in a futuristic feudal Japan.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Afro | Revenge | Futuristic | Japan

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Afro Samurai / ... (5 episodes, 2007)
Phil LaMarr	...	Brother 1 / ... (5 episodes, 2007)
Yuri Lowenthal	...	Kuma / ... (5 episodes, 2007)
Terrence 'T.C.' Carson	...	Sword Master / ... (3 episodes, 2007)
John Di Maggio	...	Brother #2 / ... (3 episodes, 2007)
Greg Eagles	...	Brother #6 / ... (3 episodes, 2007)

Also Known As:

Afuro zamurai (Japan)

Runtime:

125 min (5 episodes)

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-MA | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:R-15

Company:

Fuji Television Network

Quotes:

Ninja Ninja: Oh! Mama-sans don't get no much better than that girl! She's sweet, pretty, knows a first aid, broils a mean fish dinner.
Ninja Ninja: [leaning closer to Afro] I call that practically marriage material.
Ninja Ninja: Comon, confess. You wanna hit dat booty.
[Afro stares harshly at Ninja Ninja; Ninja Ninja pulls back]
Ninja Ninja: I just wanna see my boy happy, you know.
Ninja Ninja: Seriously, man, don't you think there's something vaguely familiar with that womanl?
Ninja Ninja: Look, if you ain't gonna knock dem boots, than I will.
Afro Samurai: Go on, then.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hate

Can you dig it?

Afro Samurai came out of left field from me. Totally unexpected, I saw the tile pop up somewhere and sounded cool enough for me to give it a go. And even though I'm not an anime fan, I found lots to appreciate in this mini series of blood and mayhem.

The main appeal for me was the combination of blaxploitation culture and samurai swordfighting (chambara). Samuel Jackson doing the voice-overs for both Afro Samurai (Clint Eastwood style, few words, calm and badass) and his sidekick Ninja Ninja (wisecracking non-stop banter) was another major plus. The third advantage is the simple story that takes its cue from a long line of revenge movies: this is a simple revenge story and that's why it works so well.

In a futuristic world, young kid watches his father get cut down by baddie who is after his father's Headband #1. Headband #1 allows its bearer to be like a god. The only one who can challenge him is the one who wears Headband #2. Anyone can challenge Headband #2. As one could expect, Headband #2's path is littered with corpses as everyone and their dog want their chance to challenge Headband #1. Young kid grows up and becomes Afro Samurai and walks the path of revenge against Headband #1. A colourful ensemble of baddies will stand in his way, from a neo-Buddhist cult of assassin monks, to cyborgs to teddy-bear faced guys with a grudge to common crooks. Through flashbacks we come to find out how Afro Samurai became who he is and how he obtained Headband #2. Simple yet effective.

The main appeal here is the visual aspect. Being a fan of 60's and 70's chambaras and jidai-gekis I find the swordfights a tad too hyperkinetic for my taste, but that's anime for you I guess. However everything has a smoother, more westernized approach perhaps to the rapid, eyesore that often is the genre which I took to with pleasant surprise and relief. The graphics and design tend to be great (especially Afro Samurai's) although they can settle for just good or serviceable at times. The blood geysers and slashing, taking their cue from stuff like Lone Wolf and Cub and Lady Snowblood (copious amounts of glorious arterial sprayings) will please every fan of the red stuff although it's not particularly gruesome. Good, clean, family fun.

The soundtrack is done by usual suspect RZA. I have to say that the whole combo of hip-hop/anime/exploitation works particularly well even though I'm only a fan of the latter third. If you wanna get a picture of what Afro Samurai is, think of the animated sequence in Kill Bill vol. 1.