Reviewed on July 2, 2021
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BEYOND THIS POINT: LIGHT SPOILERS
There may be remarks on certain story elements. However, these references are early into the work, overall trivial and minor, or not the central focus of the article-
The Review
After watching Cowboy Bebop for the first time back in 2020, Shinichiro Watanabe became a name to look out for. His vision and approach to that show was something I have never seen before—a mishmash of genres, atmospheres, and scenarios that I now want to achieve in my own creative writing.
So, when I wanted to try out another anime under Watanabe, I found myself looking at Samurai Champloo. Even reminding myself not to compare this series to Cowboy Bebop, I reached a conclusion early into my viewing that persisted until the end: Samurai Champloo is good, but not good enough. In nearly every aspect, there’s always a blemish to an otherwise great showcase of talent and creativity.
- CHARACTERS, CHEMISTRY & CONFLICTS
The main characters—Fuu, Mugen, and Jin—are often the driving force of this anime yet many early scenarios depict them with despicable and uncharismatic traits. While Fuu is sensible and the mediator of the trio, none of her personality stands out; Mugen’s thuggish behaviors are often more detestable than endearing; Jin is a peaceful man, but too silent for the screen. Regardless, the trio’s dysfunctional yet close relationship is a synergy that is always engaging to watch. Unfortunately, the main cast is mostly there to entertain; even after 26 episodes, I can’t say that I completely understand and love the trio.
This is the fault of other aspects in the series. For instance, consider the voice work: both the Japanese and English dubs provide passing performances. The English dub offers a stronger energy to the series than the Japanese dub, yet these voices often feel mismatched to the characters: Fuu is a tad too strong for a 15 year old; Mugen is quite gruff and cocky, but delivery of lines are often awkward; Jin’s voice is near perfect but we rarely hear him.
Or perhaps consider the nonexistent plot and episodic approach: every episode, Fuu constantly says, “We got to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers”, yet the series itself never addresses that central conflict until the end. Because of this, main characters are often in this unchanging state of stagnancy.
I suppose that might sound hypocritical for someone who enjoyed Cowboy Bebop, but there is a distinction: Cowboy Bebop never directly asks you to follow Spike’s conflict with Vicious and Julia, but viewers naturally found themselves interested in his past; Samurai Champloo constantly asks you to follow Fuu’s search, but viewers always find themselves waiting and waiting for more information, to a point of apathy. Viewers have little reason to be interested in the series’ plot, or even its characters.
- THE CONFUSED SCENARIO AT HAND
And thus, Samurai Champloo is reliant on its scenarios. Despite the various, often confused, identities this series has, Samurai Champloo can be condensed into three types of scenarios:
- Comedic scenarios: these are the episodes that let loose with creativity and wacky ideas. Voice work shines and the series succeeds. These are the episodes that you can at least crack a smile and think, “that was well worth my time”.
- Serious scenarios: these are the episodes that attempt a more grounded, drab approach to its world. While often hit-or-miss, they usually guarantee impressive progression of the episode’s plot and characters.
- Bland scenarios: these are the episodes that can’t decide whether it wants to be comedic or serious, finding a middle ground that is a bore to watch. They usually resort to inaction, visibly revealing constraints in animation, time, budget, and creativity.
Unfortunately, the series has too many bland scenarios and reuses certain ideas to the same result: Fuu is, once again, a damsel in distress; Fuu talks with the scenario character; we’re going to explore the idea of a brothel, again. As much as this series is a love letter to Japanese and Eastern culture, the themes and topics it explores can often feel narrow.
Then again, Samurai Champloo never establishes a clear theme that viewers can hold on to. While the series excels with interconnected conflicts and comedy, the writing is generally unremarkable. Most attempts at anything philosophical usually falls flat by the end of the episode, and even important details are often conveyed through overt exposition in dialogue. The disorientating and disorganized transitions between scenes further paints Samurai Champloo as a weekly cartoon over a high-budget movie.
Samurai Champloo could have done a lot of things better. Its iconic soundtrack, which mixes fresh hip-hop and percussion tunes with the old Samurai era, is unfortunately left to the background and in short snippets; this is a shame, since the some of the best scenes in the show were the ones where music was allowed to develop and speak for the characters or scenario at hand. Aside from the integration of amazing lyrical songs, the series mostly depicts its unique sound as simple beats and loops.
But the biggest blemish to the series is its animation. While some episodes have incredibly awesome movement, a majority of the series looks, moves, and feels rough. Samurai Champloo isn’t the prettiest anime around—and I’m not talking about the lack of big eyes and cute faces.
Samurai Champloo feels like a series noticeably affected by its budget and time, despite its ambitions in animation and scope. Indeed, the series was the first show created by Manglobe, a studio formed under former Sunrise employees. Certainly, the talent was present, but perhaps they lacked the resources to carry out that talent.
- CUT TO THE SECOND HALF, PLEASE
So far, I have been overly critical of the series, but most of these observations originate from the 1st half. The first 13 episodes are far from perfect; aside from a few entertaining ones, most offered bland and serious scenarios with inconsistent animation and dullness. This is the half visibly affected by some constraints or internal struggles at Manglobe.
The 2nd half, however, is on par with Cowboy Bebop, though not without a few mishandled episodes. Offering enjoyable comedic scenarios and engaging serious scenarios, this half was a grand display of great animation and action, showcasing the harmony of voice work, music, and writing. Manglobe seemed to finally understand what they wanted Samurai Champloo to be.
By the end of the last episode, I was more than content to have watched this series. If the 2nd half hadn’t kicked the series into high gear, I would be leaving with a more negative impression of the show. Unfortunately, the damage of the 1st half is apparent; this series shouldn’t have been 26 episodes. Samurai Champloo would have been a solid experience as a 13-episode anime.
Above all, Samurai Champloo was made to entertain than to enlighten. The series works best when the scenarios are wacky and comedic, in which characters can let loose their personality and stupidity. I would absolutely recommend the series at its best. But the lack of consistency and competency in nearly every aspect makes the series a tough recommendation; the immense enjoyment you may receive by watching Samurai Champloo comes at the expense of time partially wasted.
Verdict
EYE LIKE
CRITICAL RATING: 8/10
A MESSY MIX OF EXTREMES HIGHS AND LOWS:
While the series is often inconsistent in animation quality and subject matter, there’s no denying its animation and comedic excellence… when it happens. Although the first half is mostly underwhelming, the second half ultimately cements this series as an experience worth enjoying –
Episode Breakdown
| 5 (A) | 4 (B) | 3 (C) | 2 (D) | 1 (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 11 15 18 20 26 | 1 3 5 10 17 21 23 25 | 4 7 13 14 16 19 24 | 2 6 9 | 12 22 |
| Total Score | 89 / 130 = 68.5% (5-point benchmark) 89 / 104 = 85.6% (4-point benchmark) |
| Favorite “Comedic” Episode(s) | 15. Bogus Booty 18. War of the Worlds 23. Baseball Blues |
| Favorite “Serious” Episode(s) | 20. Elegy of Entrapment, Verse 1 (21. Elegy of Entrapment, Verse 2) (24. Evanescent Encounter, Part 1) (25. Evanescent Encounter, Part 2) 26. Evanescent Encounter, Part 3 |
The Watching Guide
How much you enjoy Samurai Champloo depends on the situation and mindset you decide to watch it in. This applies to any series, of course, but it’s especially important for this one. Below is a simple list of things to keep in mind:
- Simulate the era of television: this is a series that does not need to be binged, lest you burn yourself out. Try to set up a loose schedule for weekly viewings. Samurai Champloo feels at home as a television show and is a lot better when you let yourself relax than anticipate.
- Consider a condensed viewing: it may be best to skip the outright bad episodes and opt to watch the okay or good episodes. The episodic nature of the series ensure that you don’t necessarily lose important story details or developments even when you miss an episode. Head to “Cutting the Series in Half” for a curated list of episodes to watch, depending on what kind of experience you want.
- Consider Cowboy Bebop a separate entity to Samurai Champloo: mostly a word of advice for those who came directly from the former series like me. The more you try to compare to two, the more you wish you could watch Cowboy Bebop again. Samurai Champloo is a different anime with a different world and subject matter—and that’s perfectly fine.
- Watch to be entertained, not enlightened: don’t expect anything incredibly philosophical or thought-provoking—enjoy the comedy and characters for what they are. Of course, it’s a different story if none of the jokes make you laugh or smile; if that’s the case, feel free to drop the show.
- THE BLU-RAY SET
A barebones release with no benefits compared to a streaming service, aside from a physical release and more reliable playback. There are little to no enhancements whatsoever; poor animation will still look poor. Additionally, extra features—trailers, promos from 2004, and an art gallery—are incredibly brief and nonessential.
There also seems to be an issue with sound mixing; having watched other Funimation Blu-rays, I’m surprised by how inconsistent this series’ volume can be; I understand this is to prevent flat voices, but it’s cumbersome turning up the volume to hear what Jin is saying, and then immediately lower the volume to prevent Fuu from unleashing an incredibly loud scream.
Cutting the Series in Half
- WHAT 13 EPISODES SHOULD MAKE THE CUT?
As I mentioned before, I said that Samurai Champloo would work best with 13 episodes instead of 26. To put that statement to the challenge, I compiled my choices for what episodes should stay and what episodes should be slain. I do have some guidelines:
- Episode 1, “Tempestuous Temperaments”, will always be the first episode. This episode is the foundation for the series and essential in understanding the general premise and characters.
- Multi-episode scenarios cannot be separated. These multi-part episodes are a package, and to skip one part means to undermine the other part. I’m aware that these episodes have recaps, but I want to consider them as a single “40-minute” episode over two “20-minute” episodes.
- An asterisk (*) will designate episodes that shouldn’t have been in the route, but are obligated to be included due to the above guidelines.
- A double asterisk (**) will designate episodes that fit in with the route, but aren’t really recommended to watch.
In the end, these lists are for those who are truly strained for time; I’d usually recommend experiencing the whole thing if possible. It’s likely that the episodes I left out are the same episodes you’d love to watch.
- COMEDIC CHOICES
| Episode Number | Episode Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ep. 1 / “Tempestuous Temperaments” / * |
| 2 | Ep. 3 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 1)” / ** |
| 3 | Ep. 4 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 2)” / ** |
| 4 | Ep. 5 / “Artistic Anarchy” |
| 5 | Ep. 6 / “Stranger Searching” / ** |
| 6 | Ep. 8 / “The Art of Altercation” |
| 7 | Ep. 9 / “Beatbox Bandits” / ** |
| 8 | Ep. 12 / “The Disorder Diaries” / ** |
| 9 | Ep. 15 / “Bogus Booty” |
| 10 | Ep. 18 / “War of the Words” |
| 11 | Ep. 19 / “Unholy Union” |
| 12 | Ep. 22 / “Cosmic Collisions” / ** |
| 13 | Ep. 23 / “Baseball Blues” |
- SERIOUS SCENARIOS
| Episode Number | Episode Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ep. 1 / “Tempestuous Temperaments” |
| 2 | Ep. 3 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 1)” |
| 3 | Ep. 4 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 2)” / * |
| 4 | Ep. 10 / “Lethal Lunacy” |
| 5 | Ep. 11 / “Gamblers and Gallantry” |
| 6 | Ep. 13 / “Misguided Miscreants (Part 1)” / * |
| 7 | Ep. 14 / “Misguided Miscreants (Part 2)” |
| 8 | Ep. 16 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 1)” |
| 9 | Ep. 17 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 2)” |
| 10 | Ep. 19 / “Unholy Union” / ** |
| 11 | Ep. 20 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 1)” |
| 12 | Ep. 21 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)” |
| 13 | Ep. 24 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 1)” / * |
| 14 | Ep. 25 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 2)” |
| 15 | Ep. 26 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 3)” |
Note: Choose either “Hellhounds for Hire” or “Misguided Miscreants”, or perhaps watch both. The former scenario may be more entertaining to watch, but the latter scenario may be more relevant to the characters.
- BEST BATCHES
| Episode Number | Episode Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ep. 1 / “Tempestuous Temperaments” |
| 2 | Ep. 3 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 1)” |
| 3 | Ep. 4 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 2)” / * |
| 4 | Ep. 5 / “Artistic Anarchy” |
| 5 | Ep. 8 / “The Art of Altercation” |
| 6 | Ep. 10 / “Lethal Lunacy” |
| 7 | Ep. 11 / “Gamblers and Gallantry” |
| 8 | Ep. 15 / “Bogus Booty” |
| 9 | Ep. 16 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 1)” / * |
| 10 | Ep. 17 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 2)” |
| 11 | Ep. 18 / “War of the Words” |
| 12 | Ep. 20 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 1)” |
| 13 | Ep. 21 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)” |
| 14 | Ep. 23 / “Baseball Blues” |
| 15 | Ep. 24 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 1)” / * |
| 16 | Ep. 25 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 2)” |
| 17 | Ep. 26 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 3)” |
- PLOT PERFECT
| Episode Number | Episode Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ep. 1 / “Tempestuous Temperaments” |
| 2 | Ep. 3 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 1)” / ** |
| 3 | Ep. 4 / “Hellhounds for Hire (Part 2)” / ** |
| 4 | Ep. 6 / “Stranger Searching” / ** |
| 5 | Ep. 7 / “A Risky Racket” |
| 6 | Ep. 8 / “The Art of Altercation” |
| 7 | Ep. 13 / “Misguided Miscreants (Part 1)” |
| 8 | Ep. 14 / “Misguided Miscreants (Part 2)” |
| 9 | Ep. 16 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 1)” |
| 10 | Ep. 17 / “Lullabies of the Lost (Verse 2)” |
| 11 | Ep. 19 / “Unholy Union” / ** |
| 12 | Ep. 20 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 1)” |
| 13 | Ep. 21 / “Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)” |
| 14 | Ep. 24 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 1)” |
| 15 | Ep. 25 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 2)” |
| 16 | Ep. 26 / “Evanescent Encounter (Part 3)” |
CRITICAL EYE 