Review of Samurai Champloo

Although I do not consider myself a weaboo, I did watch a lot of anime. None of them really stood out for me except for Samurai Champloo (and a few others of course). The story is simple enough, two samurais who seem like exact opposities help a girl on her journey to find a sunflower dude. The journey there is exciting, clashing with the strongest foes, clans, cults, gangs, and even with their own personalities. I think what really made the anime enjoyable was the fact that the story isn't so convoluted. Most animes like to twist around the story to make it seem moreinteresting, but I don't necessarily believe that more complication makes a better story. And believe me some anime fans love a more complicated story, thats just not for me. Its simple and straightforward, giving me time to focus on the aesthetics and fighting.

Some episodes are better than others, but they are consistent throughout in terms of being enjoyable. Some episodes are quirky, thrilling, or even heartfelt. The combat is completely badass, in my opinion. Again, it is also simple, but the way the two main characters have their own distinct fighting styles and is visible throughout the anime, to me, is pretty cool.

However I can NOT stress enough about how great the music is. Nujabes does an excellent job on combining their hip-hop style music with the Edo period of warring samurais. His music, along with J dilla, was basically a catalyst for the modern-day lofi hip hop trend. The music can add different feelings of suspense in a combat, or sadness in a near-death situation (the piano is EXCELLENT), or even feelings of nostalgia at certain points. A unique, original style at the time that goes along with the uniqueness of the anime so well.

Overall I think it's one of the best animes out there if you don't like cringey writing or complicated plot lines. Definitely recommend if you love badass anime, or if you just love hip hop.