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Shinichiro Watanabe does not shy away from experimenting with different things when it comes to making anime. With several great anime series under his belt, every work of his is no less than a masterpiece. Whether it’sMacross Plusin the mecha genre orTerror in Resonancein mystery anime, he has managed to prove his diverse skillset in every category. With phenomenal art style and stellar soundtracks, Watanabe knows how to make any anime a massive hit.
Cowboy Bebopis a strong example of how significant his works are to the anime community. However, one anime, in particular,Samurai Champloo, might possibly be his best work, and there are plenty of reasons that prove how this anime changed the future of anime industry with it’s powerful impact.
Why Samurai Champloo Is One Of The Best Anime From Watanabe
Possibly Watanabe’s Magnum Opus?
Set in a kind of modernized Edo era of Japan,Samurai Champlooseems like just your average adventure at first. Our protagonists are Fuu, a cute waitress working at her uncle’s small tea shop; Mugen, a hot-headed swordsman always looking for fights; and Jin, a disciplined and highly skilled ronin. Mugen and Jin arrive at the tea shop where Fuu works. When she is harassed by a group of samurai, Jin and Mugen come to her help.
After that, both of them are set to be executed as they kill the magistrate’s son accidentally, who was among the samurai troubling Fuu. However, Fuu bravely manages to help both Mugen and Jin escape and asks them to join her on her quest to find the samurai who smells of sunflowersto return the favor of her helping them flee.
The journey doesn’t end here. It’s just the beginning – Fuu
Episodic Storytelling
While each of theSamurai Champloo’sepisodes feature new settings and new characters, the anime still does an incredible job of delivering a great story flow. This is what also makes each of its episodes unpredictable. Each of these episodes covers different themes, be itrevenge, friendship, or even love.
What’s more impressive is the fact that Watanabe naturally blends hip-hop culture with the Edo period in Japan. In Samurai Champloo, this fusion is executed perfectly in a way that does not seem overwhelming at all.
The Perfect Combination Of Edo Japan And Hip-Hop
Samurai Champloo is, without a doubt, one of the best Hip Hop anime ever made. The standard it has set for the genre is extremely hard to match. The iconic music producer Nujabes did a number on Samurai Champloo and created the Lofi hip-hop track we still see getting used to this date. Battlecry is still regarded as one of the greatest opening themes ever.
Furthermore, tracks like the Obokuri-Eeumi, a song in the Amami language, played during an instance where Mugen was drowning and reminiscing about his painful past, made the scene much more impactful. From graffiti artists to freestyle raps, Samurai Champloo does an incredible job of incorporatingmodern elements with the Edo period in Japan.
We live in a world where we have to hide to protect ourselves. Sometimes, people act like they’re only human to make themselves feel better – Jin
Even if one analyzes Mugen’s fighting style closely, itresembles breakdancing a lot,which is pretty cool to watch. Samurai Champloo does the perfect job of using hip-hop in the way it’s always meant to be used to represent freedom and rebellion. With such incredible details, Watanabe made sure that the samurai Champloo remains a timeless classic in its genre.
Unforgettable Characters
Every character you come across in Samurai Champloo is equally entertaining and well-written. Even the side characters have their own charm and complex personalities that make them very memorable. In the main cast, we have Mugen, Jin, and Fuu, whose miseries never seem to end. In every episode, they are met face-to-face with danger and hardships that only get worse as the series progresses.
First up, we have Mugen. The reckless swordsman whose fighting style is nothing short of a breakdance and full of unpredictable moves. His personality is just the same; he is constantly picking fights and believes himself to be the strongest swordsman of the era.
His character development, in particular, is quite fascinating as he gradually realizes the importance of friendship, which is why he steps up to protect those close to him, even if he endangers his own life.
The only thing we’re allowed to do is believe that we won’t regret the choice we made – Mugen
Mugen is no less than an antihero as he does not fit the bill of your usual shonen protagonist, thanks to his chaotic nature. Contrary to Mugen, we have Jin, who, despite all odds, remains calm and collected. However, the Ronin hides deep secrets and a lot of guilt as he carries his heavy past, having to kill his own master in an act of self-defense.
His skilled swordsmanship is incredibly fascinating to watch, as his fighting style is fast-paced yet calculated.Lastly, we have Fuu, who appears to be just a typical heroine in anime, all bubbly and innocent. However, as the series progresses, she quickly changes the viewer’s narrative, as she is not afraid to take risks.
Even though she might not be as strong as Jin and Mugen, Fuu is not afraid to fight if the situation demands it. Fuu and Mugen’s interactions are easily some of the funniest ones in the whole series.
Fight Sequences That Leave You In Awe
Every battle you witness in Samurai Champloo is full of style and crazy moves. Every character has their own specific fighting style. Whether it’s the unpredictable and rough battles of Mugen, the disciplined duels of Jin, or even unwanted fights that Fuu has to take on, every action sequence has its own significance and impact on viewers.
You talk too much for a man who’s about to die – Mugen
The animation of the fight scenes is detailed, and the choreography is phenomenal. The soundtracks made for these fights were produced by some of the greatest artists of the time like Force of Nature, Fat Jon, and Nujabes, which made the action scenes and fights much more epic.Samurai Champloois more than just an anime; it’s a movement and an inspiration for the anime we see today.
Not only did it manage to break free from the usual shonen anime we see through the unusual mixture of hip hop and samurai fights, but it also inspired a lot of music artists in the West.
