Cowboy Bebop Director’s Other Famous Anime Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary, And It’s Still A Masterpiece

While Samurai Champloo is one of the series that professional anime critics and reviewers consistently tagged as one of the best anime series ever, it has never received the kudos and acknowledgments its sister series Cowboy Bebop was able to achieve. However, with its 20th anniversary fast approaching, there’s no time like the present to explain why Samurai Champloo is a series that should be at the top of any anime fan’s bucket list.

From visionary director Shinichiro Watanabe, creator of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo Follows the adventures of two misfit samurai, Mugen and Jin, and a feisty teenager named Fuu. Together the trio forms an unlikely friendship during feudal Japan’s Edo period. Fu, driven by a childhood memory of a dear man she once met, sets them on a quest to find the mysterious samurai “who smells like sunflowers”. The result is still among the best samurai anime ever.

Along the way, the trio runs into a revolving cast of characters, villains and predicaments that force the trio to work out of their comfort zones and ultimately mature into tough, stable and serious warriors and men. Outside of individual developments, the journey also chronicles how the three former strangers bond and become best friends. Although it may be overshadowed, Samurai Champloo Is just like a masterpiece like Bebop Is.

The greatness of Samurai Champloo is lost in the shadow of his sister

Samuari Champloo suffers from unfair comparisons to Cowboy Bebop

Debuting six years later Cowboy BebopIt is easy to think that the vibe and passion for anime spawned by the groundbreaking Cowboy Bebop series would guarantee huge fan interest and support for Watanabe’s follow-up work. Surprisingly, however, outside fans of period pieces, martial arts action, and summery dramas, Samurai Champloo Does not have the same grip on pop-culture that Cowboy Bebop generated.

One popular fan theory argues Cowboy BebopIts greater popularity is due to its broadcasting schedule. It aired on western television stations earlier than Samurai Champloo and had a much longer broadcast run on the stations it aired on. As a result, it was able to cement itself in the anime pop culture that remains unshakeable. Given that Watanabe is behind both series, Samurai Champloo Can’t help but be measured against the iconic Cowboy BebopMaking it difficult to judge the show independently.

Another fan theory claims that Cowboy Bebops jazz-infused soundtrack has a broader appeal than Samurai Champloos hip-hop-heavy sound. Whatever the reasons, it certainly has nothing to do with the quality of the product. In the five years between series, Watanabe refined and incorporated all the iconic elements that made Cowboy Bebop Such a cult classic.

Samurai Champloo is a hero’s journey with an awesome twist

Fans and critics often point out that, similar to Cowboy BebopThe music in Samurai Champloo is a distinguishing factor that sets it apart from other anime. It is no understatement to say that Music plays a crucial role in Samurai ChamplooImproving the impact of the story. The integration of music into the story provides a visceral feeling that adds to the viewing enjoyment. The music not only helps set the mood but often helps guide a viewer’s understanding of the scene.

Even more interesting than the music, however, is the story. On its surface, it is presented as a basic action journey. Mugen, Jin and Fuu’s journey to find a mysterious traveler. However, Watanabe wraps the basic storyline in a rich layer of subplots and side quests that add depth and complexity to the story. As the creators discuss in Dark Horse Comics’ companion book to the series – entitled Samurai Champloo Roman AlbumThe real journey is the characters’ quest for self-discovery, which is as crucial as the adventure itself.

For example, rather than the heroes having an experienced mentor provide support and advice along the way, Mugen, Jin and Fuu look to and rely on each other. As a result, most of the conflicts and barriers that the heroes must overcome on their journey are generated by the trio themselves. This means that conflict rages even when no external enemies exist. Conversely, it also means their maturation in more organic, personal and heartfelt. It’s a great twist to a common narrative device that more series would do well to explore.

Fortunately, with this year being the series’ 20th anniversary, there’s no shortage of ways to watch Samurai Champloo In total – which is only 26 episodes. It’s a small price to pay to enjoy one of the greatest anime series ever made. Cowboy Bebop is great, however Samurai Champloo Deserves just as much credit for its complex characters and fascinating use of music.

Source: Samurai Champloo Roman Album