Just finished up the 5 part series Afro Samurai, starring Samuel L. Jackson, soundtrack by RZA, and originally aired on Spike TV in the US. While it's not a patch on Samurai Champloo, in my opinion it's bad form to start comparing samurai anime just because they both have sword action. It's got more of a Western feeling that reminded me of the bleak landscaped cartoons of the 80's - He-Man, Thundercats, Transformers. The enemy is cadaverous, insectoid or mechanical; and the violence is the exact adult equivalent of the bloodless fighting I watched as a kid. If you're looking for a quick, clean series with undiluted bloodshed/revenge/no distracting humour, then this is what you should be watching. I don't think they should extend it beyond the 5 episodes that have already been made (not that there are plans to), but I would be interested to see what else comes out of the makers, because it's rare to get such a concentrated samurai tale produced in the same way that makes it over to my viewing habits.
3 days ago
