Review of Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo takes place in the Edo period of Japan and follows the journey of Fuu, Mugen, and Jin as they search for the samurai that smells of sunflower seeds. After Fuu helps them escape from the local magistrate and his minions, Mugen and Jin agree not to kill each other until they have helped her find the samurai. The three travel across Japan, encountering assassins, Germans, and desperate teenagers along the way until the story culminates in fierce battles and acts of camaraderie. Samurai Champloo is worth watching for its unique nature alone. Renown for its hip-hop beats which define the mood of the showand even the way in which it is animated (note the record scratch and the way the animation skips), Champloo brings to the anime world something completely novel. The animation itself is a sight to behold, showing attention to detail and realism comparable to Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain. The fight scenes too portray samurai swordplay in a way rarely seen in other shows.

The premise, while nothing incredibly exciting, is different and immediately appealing; the setting in historical Japan (much of which follows historical facts) and focus on a cross-country journey by two samurai and a humorous girl are elements that you won't find elsewhere. There's plenty of character development through entertaining side stories, the show is of good length, and while there is little suspense overall, each episode should keep your attention. The ending is touching and while I never found myself overly dedicated or emotionally attached to the show, I was sad to see it come to a close.

Really Samurai Champloo seems to be defined by those last sentiments. More likely than not, you won't find yourself glued to the screen and there is no powerful plot or premise; however, that is what makes the show great. If you want an elaborate plot with terrifying enemies and daring heroes, Samurai Champloo isn't what you're looking for. But if you want a chill story that doesn't waste time but never feels rushed, doesn't feature crazy special effects but never has a dull fight, and doesn't command your attention but still leaves you wanting to watch to the last episode, then give it a try. If you like hip-hop and the elements that it would inspire in an anime, Samurai Champloo is what you want.

Animation: 8.8/10
Audio: 7.8/10
Story/Script: 8.0/10
Overall Score: 8.1/10 (Excellent)

Check out my full review featuring synopsis, snapshots, and high-quality episode/OST downloads at http://animefiend.blogspot.com