Review of Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo is directed by the same director as Cowboy Bebop, so my expectations were very high. Much like Bebop, the narrative is not very straight forward and diverges from time to time. The main story line is very simple and nothing special. There are some pacing problems, some of the "filler" episodes contributed almost nothing to the main story line or characterization of the main cast. The animation is fairly consistent, but some episodes it is very apparent that the budget went somewhere else. The show's definitive strong point is its music. The show has one of the most beautiful and unconventional opening themesin anime history. The ending theme is also very beautiful and is great to hear at the end of every episode mush like "The Real Folk Blues" was a great send off to at the end of every Bebop episode. The characters have minor backstories, but never stray too far from conventional anime tropes. The characters seem to be lacking a certain depth. This can be my own personal gripe when comparing it with Bebop. Overall a somewhat enjoyable show with stellar music, but if you are looking for the next Cowboy Bebop, you might find yourself a disappointing show. Somewhat recommended.