Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Afro Samurai

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2007
  • TV-MA
  • 26m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,503
104
Afro Samurai (2007)
Trailer 3 for Afro Samurai: Resurrection
Play trailer0:37
8 Videos
36 Photos
AnimationActionAdventure

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

  • Creator
    • Takashi Okazaki
  • Stars
    • Samuel L. Jackson
    • Phil LaMarr
    • Yuri Lowenthal
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,503
    104
    • Creator
      • Takashi Okazaki
    • Stars
      • Samuel L. Jackson
      • Phil LaMarr
      • Yuri Lowenthal
    • 47User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes5

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 Season2007

    Videos8

    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Trailer 0:37
    Watch Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Trailer 1:39
    Watch Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Afro Samurai: Season One
    Trailer 1:02
    Watch Afro Samurai: Season One
    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Trailer 2:03
    Watch Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Afro Samurai: The Complete Murder Sessions
    Trailer 1:10
    Watch Afro Samurai: The Complete Murder Sessions
    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Trailer 0:36
    Watch Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Afro Samurai
    Trailer 1:40
    Watch Afro Samurai
    Afro Samurai
    Trailer 1:29
    Watch Afro Samurai

    Photos36

    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Samuel L. Jackson in Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Afro Samurai (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Afro Samurai…
    Phil LaMarr
    Phil LaMarr
    • Brother 1…
    Yuri Lowenthal
    Yuri Lowenthal
    • Kuma…
    Greg Eagles
    Greg Eagles
    • Brother 6…
    Terrence 'T.C.' Carson
    Terrence 'T.C.' Carson
    • Sword Master…
    John DiMaggio
    John DiMaggio
    • Brother 2…
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Justice
    S. Scott Bullock
    • Dharman
    Fred Tatasciore
    Fred Tatasciore
    • Juzo…
    Dave Wittenberg
    Dave Wittenberg
    • Assassin…
    Jeff Bennett
    Jeff Bennett
    • Foo…
    Jason Marsden
    Jason Marsden
    • Sasuke
    Tara Strong
    Tara Strong
    • Otsuru…
    Crystal Scales
    Crystal Scales
    • Young Afro…
    Kelly Hu
    Kelly Hu
    • Okiku
    Steve Blum
    Steve Blum
    • Assassin
    Grey Griffin
    Grey Griffin
    • Oyuki…
    John Kassir
    John Kassir
    • Soshun
    • Creator
      • Takashi Okazaki
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    7.1
    Afro Samurai: Resurrection
    Afro Samurai: Flesh and Bone
    7.4
    Afro Samurai: Flesh and Bone
    Samurai Champloo
    8.6
    Samurai Champloo
    Hellsing Ultimate
    8.2
    Hellsing Ultimate
    Hellsing
    7.8
    Hellsing
    Trigun
    8.2
    Trigun
    Afro Samurai Champloo
    7.7
    Afro Samurai Champloo
    Ninja Scroll
    7.8
    Ninja Scroll
    Black Lagoon
    7.9
    Black Lagoon
    Deadman Wonderland
    7.1
    Deadman Wonderland
    Elfen Lied
    7.9
    Elfen Lied
    Claymore
    8.0
    Claymore

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Samuel L. Jackson and Phil LaMarr appeared in Pulp Fiction (1994).
    • Quotes

      Afro Samurai: Nothing personal. It's just revenge.

    • Alternate versions
      The DVD is available in two versions: a Spike TV edited version and a Uncut/uncensored version with more sex and violence.
    • Connections
      Featured in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Hate
      Written by Michael Baiardi and Christian Altman and Matthew Harris

      Published by Soundfile Publishing (ASCAP)

      Performed by M1

      Courtesy of Soundfile Records

    User reviews47

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    "Afro Samurai" - Just a lil' dude wit' a head full of hair...
    Can you dig it?

    This is what you get when you mix Japanese samurai flicks, ultra-savvy blaxploitation attitude, future-tense technology, and hip-hop into one energetic camp hybrid that takes NO prisoners.

    The pseudo-Anime' "Afro Samurai" is set in a futuristic feudal Japan, in which all the swordsmen in the world are in a murderous pursuit of the #1 Headband, which once obtained, would allow its wearer to call himself a god and master of all that he surveys. So when #1 is killed in a battle with gun-totting madman and #2 Headband Justice (Ron Perlman), #1's son Afro (Samuel L. Jackson) swears an oath of vengeance against now-#1 Justice. Undergoing conventional samurai training by a renowned master, young Afro grows up, receives the #2 Headband, sets out on his mission of revenge and attempts to obtain the #1 Headband, cutting down every single man who challenges him. Bearing witness to it all is Afro's loyal sidekick and only friend, Ninja Ninja (also voiced by Jackson), who provides much of the show's comic relief.

    In many ways, at least to me, "Afro Samurai" was a long time coming. Ever since first getting wind of it in late 2006 and catching a few episodes during its short, five-episode run on Spike TV earlier this year, I've become an "Afro Samurai" fanatic. As a longtime fan of Japanese animation and Manga (Japanese comics), "Afro Samurai" cut and slashed its way into my heart from its earliest moments when Afro's father is challenged and defeated by the maniacal Justice. I've waited a long time for something to come along that fused hip-hop and Japanese animation into a relentless action feast and when it finally came along, I was not the slightest bit displeased. The animated show "The Boondocks" is another example of this Anime'/hip-hop trend done right.

    But first and foremost, "Afro Samurai" is only concerned with one thing: style over substance, that means excessive sword-play and violence over anything even remotely resembling a discernible plot. Make no mistake, though, while this is a visually arresting feast for the eyes, it is definitely not for the squeamish, much less anyone under the tender age of 17. The brain-child of creator Takashi Okazaki, director Fuminori Kizaki and co-writers Tomohiro Yamashita and Yasuyuki Muto, "Afro Samurai" lets the blood flow (but really, more like spray) in fountains and geysers. The blood flows in copious amounts in the various martial arts sword-fighting sequences, which are excellently and stylishly executed much like Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" movies or your favorite samurai blood-letters. The dynamic and surreal score by Wu-Tang Clan co-founder and "Afro Samurai" soundtrack producer The RZA is quite a stand-out, and blares up during the most intense action. Any soundtrack that features hip-hop legends such as Big Daddy Kane, Wu-Tang Clan co-founder GZA, Q-Tip (formerly of A Tribe Called Quest), and Talib Kweli - you can bet I'm picking it up.

    So as you can see, I've said nothing but good things thus far. Many have maligned the fact that since Afro speaks so little in this series, his character comes to be defined by the way he viciously cuts down his adversaries in the many battle sequences. Probably like your favorite swordsman who speaks little but carries a big sword, Afro is really nothing new. In fact, if you look deeper, his comic foil Ninja Ninja could also be considered Afro's wild, fun-loving, and talkative alter-ego (since there were a few times when I felt Ninja Ninja wasn't even real).

    "Afro Samurai" also has one of the most memorable casts of bad guys ever assembled for animation outside of Japan. I already mentioned Justice, but there's also the monk/assassin collective, the Empty 7, the teddy bear-headed Kuma, and assorted heavy artillery-totting hired killers and disposable bandits and hoodlums. Although I was a little disappointed that babe Kelly Hu as Okiku didn't have a bigger role, she only seemed to be in it for the sex appeal (and as the director's cut proves, to give a little something for the guys who may be watching). Although an odd choice for a role such as this, Samuel L. Jackson is a thorough double-edged sword as both Afro and Ninja Ninja. (It's hard to believe this is the same man who once played the Bible-quoting hit-man Jules Winnfield in 1994's "Pulp Fiction.")

    With "Afro Samurai," an Anime' fan gets something that he's always wanted and more: a piece of animation that blends so many distant genres and fuses them into one hell of an eye-popping action experience. Now, if only he can convince his other Anime'- and "Kenshin"-loving friends to watch the one and only dude wit' a head full of hair, "Afro Samurai."

    10/10
    helpful•30
    6
    • dee.reid
    • May 22, 2007

    FAQ1

    • Why are the DVD and Blu-Ray-Versions called "Director's Cut"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 4, 2007 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • G.D.H. (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Afro samuraj
    • Production companies
      • Fuji Television Network
      • G.D.H.
      • Gonzo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Afro Samurai (2007)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Afro Samurai (2007)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.