Shinichiro Watanabe (best known for Cowboy Bebop) and Kazuto Nakazawa (who helmed the anime short in Kill Bill) joined forces for this wild, woolly, and vibrant comedy-adventure series. Set in Meiji-era Japan, the protagonists here are the reckless warrior Mugen, the mysterious ronin Jin, and the zany teashop waitress Fuu, who rescued Mugen and Jin from being executed after a violent sword battle, and the pair are repaying the favor by helping her locate a samurai who can only be identified because he smells of sunflowers. Along the way, the trio inevitably run into trouble and swordplay, but unlike other anime offerings, Samurai Champloo is clearly aimed at today's urban youth market, even to the point of incorporating American and Japanese hip-hop music on the soundtrack and having the characters engage in breakdancing (this is clearly not your father's samurai movie!). The modern style novelty admittedly wears thin after a while, but the substance keeps the series moving at a swift pace, and the comedy is fast and rude (the brilliantly conceived and utterly loony Fuu truly fuels the series--and how often does a waitress become the center of attention in this genre?). Anime traditionalists may scoff at the anachronistic trappings, but kudos are in order to the filmmakers for daring (and succeeding) to take the genre in different directions. Rated 16-up, this dual-language four-episode opener is highly recommended. [Note: Samurai Champloo, Vol. 2 is also available, with Vol. 3 slated for release on May 31, and Vol. 4 debuting on July 26.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)
Samurai Champloo, Vol. 1
(2004) 100 min. DVD: $29.98. Geneon (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 20, Issue 3
Samurai Champloo, Vol. 1
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