Samurai Champloo

[Hitokiri]

I just saw it as well and despite of having prior doubts on the show. I enjoyed it. I loved the action scenes (im the type who laughs if a guy gets his arm chopped off ).

I will though have to make a choice when sexual content. While I never have been tempted by sexual conent in anime and manga (thank God...literally), I am not perfect.

Overall, this is a series that proably doesn't have a strong plot but is just fun to watch. Like FLCL. That and three of my favorite VA's are in there - Steve Jay Blum, Kari Wahlgreen, and Wendee Lee. Also the voice actor who plays Jin is Kirk (Sparky) Thornton who plays Saitou in Rurouni Kenshin and Rei-Dei the Blade in Trigun.

[S1lentOp]

It's on Cartoon Network... Now I can't like it anymore because mainstream has butchered it.. *sobs*

[livingsacrifice]

The show was mainstream when it was released with the hip-hop look.

[Yojimbo]

Wendee's in it for like 30 seconds so it's not like a big cameo or anything guys. I have the first volume and am planning to buy the second soon.

[termyt]

I was rather impressed with the episode I saw on CN this weekend. But the rest of this thread makes me wonder if I really am impressed.

If I may, what's the deciding factor for you, Yojimbo?

[freerock1]

I was rather impressed with the episode I saw on CN this weekend. But the rest of this thread makes me wonder if I really am impressed.

Same here. I get the feeling it's a compelling story, but content probably leaves much to be desired. I was a little surprised at the language even in the AS version--not so much the words themselves (which were nothing you wouldn't hear on network TV), but rather the sheer volume of foul language. It seemed like the characters at times couldn't say 2 lines without swearing. Granted, it's probably pale in comparison to something like 'The Shield,' but still it seemed a bit more excessive than the typical AS Action show.

I may give them a couple weeks to see how it goes but based on the thread, I'm not overly optimistic.

[lj1958]

Watched the first show last Saturday. It was pretty interesting. I'll likely keep watching it till something is of a big concern content wise. I appreciate the warnings, though, since both my kids like anime as well.

One thing though...since Adult Swim buys mainly Bandai and Geneon US-distributed anime, it's getting to the point that it's creepy to hear the same actors in almost every show. Thank goodness Kari Wahlgreen knows how to do at least a few different voices, although her character here sounds a lot at times like her character in Last Exile.

[mitsuki lover]

All I know is that in the cast list for Samurai Champloo at ANN they had
Wendee Lee listed as being in ep.2.
So far the only reason I think I'll stick with it,other than the fact that it is by the
creators of Cowboy Bebop,is because Kari Wahlgren is in it.

[AngelSakura]

Hmm. Well, it seems even Shinchiro Watanabe is entitled to a cliche once in a while, if last night's episode is any indication. But Mugen and the woman he met reminded me of previous incarnations of Spike and Faye. Same voices (Steve Blum/David Lucas and Wendee Lee, respectively), roughly the same personalities, everything. XD

[mitsuki lover]

I'm finding that Samurai Champloo is much like Gungrave in that neither one had a very impressive pilot episode IMO.
However the second episodes of both were much better.
Fuu continues to be my favorite character simply because she's played
by Kari Wahlgren

[Joshua Christopher]

Actually, I like the hip-hop thing. As far as the show goes; all style, nothing else. If you want to watch a bunch of cool sword fights, stylish stuff, and some good humour, this show is great.

For me, not so much. Plot comes first, and I don't find anything that great thus far in Champloo. Just eye-candy.

[livingsacrifice]

:SPOILER:

Well, I bought the second dvd of champloo. They advance through the plot a bit. But its filled with more sexual content than the last dvd. There is soft porn drawings and a episode centered around a gay charater. It didnt bothered me, but its a fair warning, it is very explit. Otherwise, the guy that plays Vash in trigun, does a voice for a charater in this dvd. But compared to the first dvd, its a little more comical and funny.

[Ichigo_89]

I'm pretty dissapointed. The characters are flawed and a bigger story is non-existant. Last week's episode was pretty cliche. Seen it all before. Sure, there's lotsa style. But it's just not enough to save the rest of the show.

[uc pseudonym]

I've seen the first episode, but not the second. So far, I can't say a great deal, but I will say the following:
-I am not at all a fan of the "hip-hop style"
-Gene is the only character I vaguely like
-the animation and fight coreography were appreciated
-we'll see how it progresses

[Hitokiri]

I rather like the hip-hop style of Samurai Champloo. I like the character designs and who they are though you don't know much about them. The plot reminds me alot of FLCL. There's a plot but it's hard to really get what it is.

Yep, it's eye candy...but good eye candy.

[livingsacrifice]

I think the show picks up around episode 10 and on. They do have some holes that need to be filled, but its taking a bit longer with this show. But for now, I'm enjoying the hip-hop style(which I'm not a fan of) and the sweet fight sences.

[mitsuki lover]

Kari Wahlgren is what is keeping me watching this show!

[Seaniel]

I've seen the whole thing. A fan, yes. It's one of my favorites. But I really didn't even pay attention to some of the more explicit content...which is why I had to try to remember some of it after reading your reviews. All that really got me was the action and the style. I dislike hip-hop music, but for some reason I had no problem getting into this. I should also mention that I desire to be a samurai myself. Or at least a ronin...

[eva-boy7985]

Kari Wahlgren is what is keeping me watching this show!

Just a small question: according to http://www.imdb.com, kari wahlgren plays both Lavie Head in Last Exile (a very loud, rather higher pitched childish voice) and Robin Sena in Witch Hunter Robin. I own both series, but unless she's really talented in terms of vocal range, I recognize no similarity between the two characters' voices. Is this true, or a glitch on the part of my info source? Just curious, since she's been brought up in this thread......
(sorry for the topic deviation )

[Tommy]

I decided to check this show on Adult Swim. It was some episode about a guy who could kill people by slicing up their internal organs without touching thier skin. They called him the "Street Killer." They didn`t show the internal organs geting sliced up. The worse it got was people bleeding through their eyes and very mild language. like just D and H.

Is the sexual content in the Adult Swim version?

I didn`t pick up who the main character was. Was it the hippy dude or the guy with glasses. I don`t remember the names. All I know is the episode I saw had no sexuality whatsoever.

[mitsuki lover]

Well yes Kari Wahlgren does have a good range.You have to to be a voice actor.
She also is featured as Mika Asagi under on Gungrave under one of her pseudnomyns:Kay Jensen.

I believe the ep. with the gay character was the one about the Dutch Counsel General.In it Fuu looses an eating contest because of a stupid fly!

[mitsuki lover]

Well that is your privelege.However by doing so you probably also miss some
key elements of the plot.

[Yojimbo]

Yeah for instance like with last nights episode. Jin develops feelings for a, recently sold into, prostitute. And they show little vignettes of "scenes" while he is walking away all dejected looking. Nothing more than like scenes showing her face with an arm across her neck that kind of thing. But scenes like that really just set it in that sad mood and no real nudity so I don't see anything wrong with it.

[uc pseudonym]

Is the sexual content in the Adult Swim version?

I have yet to see an episode where any sexual content has been edited, though I have not seen all of them in the American version.