Samurai Champloo hits AS next week

[MKTerra]

Just FYI, next Saturday night (May 14), Samurai Champloo starts airing on Adult Swim :) They'll also be showing Metropolis that night, and an Inuyasha movie the week after.

This should be interesting. I've been hearing nothing but good things about the series :)

[Steve]

I can't wait to see it.

Been seeing the Cartoon Network promos for the show and it looks very good.

This gives me a chance to pimp the thread I started back in March. Hope you don't mind.

New anime (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=50020&highlight=samurai+champloo)

I'm also anxious to try Paranoia Agent and s-CRY-ed as well.

I've already seen Metropolis (Japanese version). It's decent but has one of the most beautiful animation you'll ever see.

[warlog]

I have seen the first 3 episodes and i hear rumors of a beatboxing samurai.

[jed108]

I have some friends that had episodes of Champloo and yes there is an episode with a beatboxing samurai. It's probably my favorite part out of the episodes that I have seen.

[Inkthinker]

Episode 8 features The Man on the Road to Big, MC Samurai. One of his retainers beatboxes backup for him whenever he speaks. It's awesome.

I love the whole series, its top-quality animation and the anachronistic stylings of the design keep it ahead of every other samurai series I've seen. The fights, espescially towards the very end, are spectacular.

[SpydaWeb]

Paranoia Agent starts to fall apart somewhere in the middle for me. I've not finished it yet, but it's not as interesting as when it first started out.

[Inkthinker]

Samurai Champloo holds together all the way to the end. I was pretty pleased with the way it all turned out... I don't think it's quite as powerful an ending as Bebop had, though.

This Saturday night is a good one for anime fans. The premier of an excellent series, and a brilliantly animated feature film. [AS] is, at least on Saturday nights, doing some damn fine work.

[Azangel]

Please, somebody, REMIND ME to watch this.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Please.

[We R. Venom]

Hell yeah, show is so tight.

[TJEscobar]

It's a great show.

[Inkthinker]

Please, somebody, REMIND ME to watch this.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Don't forget to watch this.

BWAAHAHAHAHAAAAaaa... :D

*wipe tear*

Ahhh, I kill me.

[Azangel]

Hey, Inkthinker?

:-P :-P :-P :-P

:D

[Sanagi]

Loved it!

I just hope that, like Bebop, the characters get deeper as the series progresses. The first episode was fun as hell but it was pretty much all action.

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

It was awesome! The fight between Muugen and Jinn was great IMO.

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

Great start, but I don't see how this series can outclass Rurouni Kenshin in swordplay.

[Xero Kaiser]

kenshin's fights weren't that great. well, the ones in the OVAs were nice, but the ones in the normal series were kinda lame

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

kenshin's fights weren't that great. well, the ones in the OVAs were nice, but the ones in the normal series were kinda lame
You didn't see Kenshin vs Aoshi? Kenshin vs Raijuta, Kenshin vs Saito? What about Kenshin vs Soujiro? Or Kenshin vs Aoshi in round 2? Or Saito vs Usui? Kenshin vs Soujiro round 2? or Kenshin vs Shishio?

[TJEscobar]

Great start, but I don't see how this series can outclass Rurouni Kenshin in swordplay.

It doesn't necessarily do that, but its got better character likeablity, humor, and plot.

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

It doesn't necessarily do that, but its got better character likeablity, humor, and plot.
Man, Kenshin, Saito, Sano, Aoshi, Kaoru, and Megumi don't provide humor, character likeablity, and plot?

[MKTerra]

Great start, but I don't see how this series can outclass Rurouni Kenshin in swordplay.I'll note for the record that you started it :pYou didn't see Kenshin vs Aoshi? Kenshin vs Raijuta, Kenshin vs Saito? What about Kenshin vs Soujiro? Or Kenshin vs Aoshi in round 2? Or Saito vs Usui? Kenshin vs Soujiro round 2? or Kenshin vs Shishio?Man, Kenshin, Saito, Sano, Aoshi, Kaoru, and Megumi don't provide humor, character likeablity, and plot?...perhaps this debate merits its own thread... O_o;

As for the first ep, Jin looks like Amon from Witch Hunter Robin :p

I wonder if they're gonna do that skippy garbly thing for every scene switch in the series...

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

I'll note for the record that you started it :p...perhaps this debate merits its own thread... O_o;

As for the first ep, Jin looks like Amon from Witch Hunter Robin :p

I wonder if they're gonna do that skippy garbly thing for every scene switch in the series...
I think Jin is more of a copy of Saito in terms of character design, but he has a more stern Kenshin like attitude.
http://www.hojo.org/hojo/look_jin.jpg
http://senhordeavalon.flogbrasil.terra.com.br/1085020290.jpg

[warlog]

I'll note for the record that you started it :p...perhaps this debate merits its own thread... O_o;

As for the first ep, Jin looks like Amon from Witch Hunter Robin :p

I wonder if they're gonna do that skippy garbly thing for every scene switch in the series...
Yes i think they do it every ep.

[warlog]

It doesn't necessarily do that, but its got better character likeablity, humor, and plot.
Yes, can't help but to like the wacky trio.

[Chou Blaster]

Well I enjoyed it.

I prefer Mugen over Jin.

Especially how he was trash talking those punks. And broke that spoiled punk's fingers.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Usually I don't like first episodes of anime(don't ask me why), but I like to hang around for at least four or five episodes to really make a judgement. I will say that I enjoyed the story-telling technique of Champloo and all the lead characters have a certain something about them that makes them more than ciphers.

[Buzz Dixon]

This was one of the best first episodes of any show.

BTW, am I the only one who thinks there's a heavy LUPIN influence in e characters?

[Karl J. Barnes]

This was one of the best first episodes of any show.

BTW, am I the only one who thinks there's a heavy LUPIN influence in e characters?

Like that they aren't so much heroic, but more on the side of anti-heroes or even criminal?

[Azangel]

I wonder if they're gonna do that skippy garbly thing for every scene switch in the series...


It's cool and annoying all at the same time...

Actually that's what my opinion was of the whole episode. Really cool, I want to watch it...but it's really really intense and the jumps back and forth were weird.

Eh, having a bad week. Maybe the second episode will make up for it. ;)

[Buzz Dixon]

Originally Posted by Buzz Dixon
BTW, am I the only one who thinks there's a heavy LUPIN influence in e characters?
Like that they aren't so much heroic, but more on the side of anti-heroes or even criminal?
More specifically, the red jacket... ;)

[Trystenn]

OMFG Spike and the guy with the glasses is totally me and my friend, i mean almost word for friggin word they spoke like me and my friend.
It was so Eery, im am totally watching it next week.

[Inkthinker]

Yes i think they do it every ep.

No, they don't.

I can't speak for all of Rouroni Kenshin, having only seen the episodes on CN, but in my opinion they don't match the quality of the swordfights in Champloo. It's mostly to do with the respective studios, but the fact is also that Kenshin was a long-form anime, and Champloo is 26 episodes and done, so it can afford a higher production value.

Wait until Mugen fights blind Sara in episode 21. Nothing matches the fights in that episode.

[MKTerra]

One thing I've noticed is that fighters don't clash their swords together very often; it's all dodging. Probably makes for less wear on the swords.

[Unbiased]

^

I guess that is because this show follows the old martial arts saying, "Good footwork can beat any attack." Towards the end of the anime, there will be certain comments made about Jin and Mugen's fighting styles. The show is about finding openings in your opponent's defense. Of course, you run into problems when certain foes have no such openings.

[Inkthinker]

^

I guess that is because this show follows the old martial arts saying, "Good footwork can beat any attack."

Or as Miyagi say, "Best defense, no be there".

:D

[MKTerra]

Huh, from the schedule it looks like AS is restarting Champloo after showing ep 12 last week... and on their website they only have episode blurbs for up to 13 (there are 26 episodes, right?).

[Inkthinker]

Huh, from the schedule it looks like AS is restarting Champloo after showing ep 12 last week... and on their website they only have episode blurbs for up to 13 (there are 26 episodes, right?).

Yep. I was disappointed in the extreme... I really thought they'd just go through the set, the way they did with Cowboy Bebop and other 26-episode series.

Now folks will have to wait even longer for the second set, and it's a shame 'cause there's some great ones in there. I'm guessing it's because they don't want the aired episodes getting ahead of the ones on DVD. If they air on [as] AFTER the DVD release, more people buy the DVDs so they won't have to wait to watch them.

[Steve]

According to TV.com, no new eps will air till January.

Bummer.

[Azangel]

***bawls***

[MKTerra]

According to TV.com, no new eps will air till January.

Bummer.Hrm. Guess that leaves some room for Naruto and Evangelion in the meantime...

[The Herald of Torrent]

Hrm. Guess that leaves some room for Naruto and Evangelion in the meantime...

Speaking of which, 1) I really don't understand this hype about "Naruto". 2) Any chance of them moving EVA to Saturdays?

P.S. Can someone tell me the difference between Gundam SEED: Astray and Gundam SEED: Astray R?

Yeah, I know you're all wondering why I'm here...

[MKTerra]

Quick question... ISTR hearing that Samurai Champloo would be returning sooner than January. Does anyone know when it's actually returning?

[Johnny_Storm]

Quick question... ISTR hearing that Samurai Champloo would be returning sooner than January. Does anyone know when it's actually returning?

I would trust the tv.com date of January 1. They had good dates for the return of Fullmetal Alchemist, Justice League Unimited and Smallville well in advance.

[MKTerra]

Hmm, ok, thanks.

[Steve]

New episodes should debut November 19th, along with Ghost in the Shell 2nd Gig.

Source (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=7298)

[MKTerra]

New episodes should debut November 19th, along with Ghost in the Shell 2nd Gig.

Source (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=7298)Ahh, thanks. I wonder how I'm gonna keep up with all these shows... O.o

[Chevan]

Ahh, thanks. I wonder how I'm gonna keep up with all these shows... O.o

Tivo, maybe? Or build a Media Center PC? (not sure if the PC would do what you wanted, though)

[MKTerra]

They've started airing new episodes again, btw.

[Inkthinker]

21 is my favorite, I think.

[MKTerra]

And interestingly enough, 21 just aired :) Pretty cool couple of episodes. Jin looks funny without his glasses on :p

[Steve]

A very nice two part episode.

But dam, I would've loved to see that chick take on Mugen and Jin at the same time.

[Len Ikari145]

I think Jin is more of a copy of Saito in terms of character design, but he has a more stern Kenshin like attitude.
http://www.hojo.org/hojo/look_jin.jpg
http://senhordeavalon.flogbrasil.terra.com.br/1085020290.jpg

What makes it even creepier is the fact Jin and Saito are played by the same guy(in english anyway).

By the way, is there any mention of who the Sunflower Samurai is yet?

[MKTerra]

What makes it even creepier is the fact Jin and Saito are played by the same guy(in english anyway).All I know is that the VAs for Jin and Fuu also do Grave and Mika in Gungrave :p
By the way, is there any mention of who the Sunflower Samurai is yet?Only in that
Fuu says he's her father.

[Steve]

I usually prefer subs, but I think the dubbing has been good in this series.

[The Real Nemo]

Only in that
Fuu says he's her father.
Also that he was apparently involved with the Japanese underground Christians in some way.

[MKTerra]

Well now, 22 was a weird episode... I bet 23 starts out like 22 never happened.

[The Real Nemo]

Well now, 22 was a weird episode... I bet 23 starts out like 22 never happened.
Pretty much, reminded me of Cowboy Bebop's "Toys in the Attic" that way...

[Crinos]

Episode 23 is a hoot. Mugen pwning all the American players was golden.

Also, the end credits of ep 22 freaked me the fuck out.

[Steve]

A change of mood alright. I wanted to see more action between Mugen/Jin vs. the undead though, or whatever they were.

Heh. I guess Shinichiro Watanabe likes mushrooms?

I remember a mushroom focused episode in Bebop as well. It even ended with that kid saying mushroom.

[The Real Nemo]

A change of mood alright. I wanted to see more action between Mugen/Jin vs. the undead though, or whatever they were.

Heh. I guess Shinichiro Watanabe likes mushrooms?

I remember a mushroom focused episode in Bebop as well. It even ended with that kid saying mushroom.
*nods* That'd be "Mushroom Samba." I guess it's possible that most of SC episode 22 was just a mushroom induced hallucination of some kind...

[Sanagi]

*nods* That'd be "Mushroom Samba." I guess it's possible that most of SC episode 22 was just a mushroom induced hallucination of some kind...
I kept on wondering whether that was the case, but it was hard to say. It was so weird... And I also kept wondering what any of it had to do with The Tale of the Heike.

[Inkthinker]

22 and 23 are both pretty silly episodes, probably as a last hurrah before we delve into the big finale.

24, 25 and 26 leads to the end of the series, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Were not the fights between Mugen and Sara sportin' monster fierce animation? Those are some wicked moves in there. You can tell from the art style that they subcontracted those episodes to a different studio than usual, or at least had different key animators working on it... I'd like to find out more about that.