Review of Samurai Champloo

When I was new to the world of anime, of course, like any other excited person, I searched some of the best anime to watch. I saw Samurai Champloo. I was EXTREMELY attracted by the orange coloured poster they attached to the review of this anime. It looked really cool to me. So when I started this anime, I was bubbling with curiosity and excitement. And then I watched a few episodes. The story was boring (now what I mean by this is - actionless. Prior to this, I had watched anime like Naruto, Code Geass, FMAB, etc. and so Samurai Champloo seemed SO BORING tome). I was REALLY REALLY hoping for some cool action scenes and especially since it was swordfighting! Ah! What a shame. Nah, the fights were not really good. I've heard people say that the art is really good in the fights. Now, I don't agree or disagree to that. But even if that was the case, the fights are still not good. They just kept walking towards the Sunflower Samurai. Encountering boring things on the way.

I was actually just wishing I could skip some episodes or something. Anything to get me out of the misery. But then I reached the final 6 or 7 episodes. Now, I started getting into the series a bit. I started liking it. Loved the characters.

And then I sort of started seeing it in a different light (after I did some googling, i.e.). The anime wasn't meant to be an action-packed series or anything. What was good about it was the portrayals of early Japanese livelihood, culture and progress. It showed different aspects of society and how each grew and developed over time. It excellently shows how Japan changed under the Western influence. It really is awesome.

At the same time, the anime is filled with the people's own Japanese culture too. It shows how even when things changed, they still kept hold of their roots.

I started loving Japan the moment I started watching anime. I can say that Samurai Champloo made me love the country more!

Oh, and the theme music. Need I say more?