It offers some very clever comedy (even in the English Dub), some really cool, unorthodox sword-slashing action and a dense plot. ‘Samurai Champloo’ has both style and substance and is the kind of show that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. While this may not directly contribute to the end story of the main characters, it does add value to the main underlying theme of the anime - “rebelling against the social norms and authority.” There is an episode that centers around two side characters and their obsession with graffiti. There are other scenes that are suddenly juxtaposed with people beatboxing and even the transition effects of one scene to another is almost like a DJ scratching his disks. There is also one episode where an influence of psychedelic has represented really well with a burst of colorful illusions. They do eventually reach a conclusion but it’s the sub-plots that truly drive the entire character development.Įven the animation is always in tune with the anime’s theme and offers thick linework that represents graffiti.

The plot, as a few haters might say, diverts from the main motive that is “to look for a Samurai who smells like Sunflowers” but what they don’t realize is that ‘Samurai Champloo’ is not really about the destination but more about the journey of the characters. It takes place in the Edo-period of Japanese history and then creates a meta-style by mixing it up with hip hop and the bohemian culture. The only kind of historical fiction that I don’t mind watching is the one that does not try to be accurate and ‘Samurai Champloo’ hits the right spot with that. Historical fiction is one genre that I completely despise because it often leaves you in the middle, wondering whether or not you should judge the show based on the genuineness of its deceptions. Another noticeable similarity between the two is the indulgence of hip hop culture through both audio and visual depictions to make them more appealing to the Western audience.

One major similarity is the plot, which is distributed into various different sub-plots that slowly build-up towards an overarching main story.

Shinichiro Watanabe is only known for two anime series - one is ‘ Cowboy Bebop‘ and the other one is ‘Samurai Champloo’ and a lot of similarities can be noted between the two.

Mugen samurai champloo