About
Samurai Champloo is an animated series created by Manglobe in 2004. The series is set in the Edo period of Japan and follows a woman named Fuu, Who comes along the path of two samurai named Mugen and Jin. Who she made promise them to help her find a samurai who “smells of sunflowers”.
Characters
Fuu is the insatiable adventurer. Whether it be food or venturing she just can’t stay away either. Her main goal is to find “the samurai who smells of sun flowers”, and to confront her father for leaving her and her mother. Her adventure began when the tea shop she worked at burned down, giving her courage to start her journey since nothing was holding her back. She made Mugen and Jin agree to follow her on her quest after she won a coin toss. Only one problem, Mugen and Jin were in the middle of a duel that wasn’t finished. So she has to find the samurai and her father, all while keeping Mugen and Jin from killing themselves, or each other.
Mugen is the loose cannon and always looking for a fight. He’s known in the series for using an unorthodox break dance fight style, and being the wise cracker who plays by his own rules. Most often being a pervert around women and picking fights with people he doesn’t like.
Jin, is the polar opposite. The prodigy of his master’s dojo and a master swordsman who uses the traditional style of fighting. However Jin is very cynical and shy when it comes to being social. He’s an enemy of everyone at his dojo for killing his master. Which puts him in a constant battle with assassins and students of the same dojo.
Reception
During its time. Samurai Champloo was a must watch for any Anime enthusiast or somebody new to the field. It was most notable for sporting an urban, hip-hop-esque style of theme. Similar to that of the long running series, The Boondocks. The show was such a hit. That after its finale, fans wanted to have another season. Even though the story that was promised was over. Many other Anime’s in the following years have tried in taking the route that Samurai Champloo had. With never getting too serious about the story and having funny, memorable events.