"This DVD criticism is not an accurate historical portrayal...like I care.
Now shut up and enjoy the review."

One of the anime world's newest standouts, Shinichiro Watanabe's Samurai Champloo is a refreshing new series that stands proudly next to his last creation, Cowboy Bebop. Filled to the brim with the same stylish presentation, humor, and action that made Bebop so popular, Champloo is an interesting effort that blends a few concepts for maximum entertainment value. Originally premiering on Japan's Fuji TV less than a year ago (May 19, 2004), the series has enjoyed a huge burst of popularity and acclaim in a relatively short period of time.

The show's opening disclaimer (paraphrased above) tells us to shut off the nitpick center of our brains, as it makes little attempt to accurately portray life during the Japanese Edo period (1603-1867). Cars are seen, modern language is used, and the hip-hop soundtrack is prominently displayed (much like Bebop's jazzy score). It's not a big deal, though---this series is much too fun to fuss over.

The loose plot of Champloo lends itself to a more relaxed pace, but things pick up quickly during the show's dynamic action sequences. The first four episodes introduced us to Mugen and Jin, two highly skilled Samurai with completely different fighting techniques---in fact, the show's title is a literal translation of this, as "Samurai" refers to a more traditional style while "Champloo" is a looser, unorthodox term. We're also introduced to Fuu, a 15 year-old girl on a quest to find a Samurai who smells like sunflowers. After an action-packed introduction---which includes a near-execution and a lot of dumplings---the two warriors agree to help Fuu, since they literally lost a coin toss. The second volume in the series follows our heroic trio across the Japanese countryside, looking for the Samurai in question---well, not always looking---and it goes a little something like this:

Episode 5: "Artistic Anarchy"
Kicking off with a clever sequence of artwork in the style of Vincent Van Gogh, we're re-introduced to our three heroes; they're broke again, but still travelling the countryside. This episode revolves around a series of attempts to score some quick cash, including Fuu's introduction to modelling and Mugen basically mugging the locals. Many of the subplots presented here are connected a bit too easily, but it's still a fun way to start the volume. Not the strongest episode by any means, but there's certainly a few good laughs to be had along the way. Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5

Episode 6: "Stranger Searching"
This continues the more humor-oriented side of Champloo; while some won't appreciate the change from the more serious episodes of Volume 1, it's nice to see something a little different (besides, it'll pick up nicely in a few episodes). Our heroes arrive in Edo for an eating competition, with the focus continuing to shift from the sunflower Samurai to a series of side adventures. It's certainly not Samurai Champloo's best mix of its strongest elements, but this light-hearted episode stands in good contrast with the more action-oriented ones. Overall Rating: 3.5

Episode 7: "A Risky Racket"
We finally get a nice dose of character development here, though the two Samurai aren't exactly in the picture. Fuu is the primary focus of this episode, having just been captured and robbed of her savings. There's a nice twist to the story, as the thief turns out to be helping his mother with the stolen money---but there's no happy ending in sight for the poor guy. There's a few weaker spots here, but this is a great stand-alone story overall. While fans of Mugen and Jin might not like this one, the next adventure will get things back on track. Overall Rating: 4

Episode 6: "The Art of Altercation"
Continuing the series' use of title alliteration, the final chapter in this second volume is probably the strongest overall. It's a bit funnier than the first three, often times really taking the more offbeat supporting characters completely over the top. The newest face here is Nagamitsu, a loud-mouthed badass looking for a person who matches Jin's name and description. The pride of both leads to a confrontation, followed by a few amusing scenes after Jin is forced to give up his glasses. Nagamitsu's beat-boxing roadie is just the icing on the cake. Overall Rating: 4.5

Overall, a healthy batch of episodes that are right on par with the first four, though for different reasons. There's a bit of filler during these episodes---though neither Champloo or Bebop are continuously story-focused----and the subject matter here is much stranger than that of Volume 1. While this filler might turn off some action buffs, the stranger elements give these episodes a more interesting edge than the first four adventures. It's a good start for the series thus far, and easily worth checking out for the combination of awesome art, action and humor. Those who haven't seen the first volume are encouraged to start there, or just catch it on Adult Swim when the series premieres in May 2005. FYI: It'll carry a TV-MA rating (the DVD itself is rated 16+ for violence and language, though there's some nudity too), so Samurai Champloo isn't for the younger folks.

Back to business: this DVD release from Geneon (formerly known as Pioneer) gets by on technical presentation alone---which is just be another way of saying it's a bare-bones disc. While it's a shame we couldn't get a few bonus features on the side, the act of shelling out $30 for a few episodes and no extras is hardly a new concept for Region 1 anime addicts. We'll probably get a fancy, overpriced boxed set or special edition release somewhere down the line, but this is the best we're going to get for now. With that said, let's see how this disc stacks up, shall we?

The disc's audio presentation keeps the ball rolling, as Samurai Champloo is presented in English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 or DTS options. I'm not a big fan of English dubs, and the horrible voicework on the English mix is one example why. Nonetheless, it exhibits a wide soundstage with crisp dialogue and strong music, as does the Japanese 2.0 track. The DTS is the real standout here, as you get the benefit of an original language track and an extremely dynamic presentation. It's one of the best mixes for any anime I've heard thus far...and that includes those found on the terrific Cowboy Bebop and Akira DTS re-releases. Ugly yellow English subtitles are provided for the Japanese-impaired.

Yet another highlight for this release is a nice overall presentation, including sharp, clean animated menus. Each of these 25-minute episodes has been divided into the four customary chapters of anime(Opening Credits, Part A, Part B, and Closing Credits), and there was no layer change detected during playback. The packaging is also sharp, as this one-disc release is housed in a standard black keepcase with an attractive overall art design. There's also a four-page insert with comments from several of the series' musical contributors, including Fat Jon, Forces of Nature, DJ Kent and KZA.

There are no extras to be found here, save for a few Trailers for other Geneon releases. It's a real shame that anime fans frequently shell out $30 for only 100 minutes of content...but at least this content's good. For the record, a few commentaries, interviews, or art galleries would have rounded out this release nicely. If the disc's other areas weren't so good, this would be a tough call.

Great show, even better technical presentation...and no bonus material. It's an all-too-familiar situation for anime lovers, but the strength of Samurai Champloo makes this disc a solid technical follow-up to the first volume. Those unfamiliar with the show might want to check out a few episodes on Adult Swim before jumping into the water, but it's a safe bet that any fan of Cowboy Bebop should find this to be an animated breath of fresh air. If you like your anime fresh, funny and action-packed, Samurai Champloo should be right up your alley. Recommended.