Samurai Champloo
Anime DVD Review
Shinichiro Watanabe's super-cool follow-up to Cowboy Bebop is a tour-de-force of style and substance, it explodes across the screen with the power of an atomic bomb. Joined at the hip-hop with stunning visuals and lush animation (and a Spike look-alike) is a smashing musical score with contributions by both Japanese and American hip-hop artists.
Champloo is cutting-edge in every way and re-defines the medium and genre as a whole. Together with collaborators Kazuto Nakazawa and Mahiro Maeda, Watanabe has created "the" hot anime series to have, and has again, set the standard by which all other anime shall be judged.
Below: A trio of samurai heroes!
Below: Scenes from
Samurai Champloo.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2005
Samurai Champloo Original Soundtrack
Anime Soundtrack Review
A great fun soundtrack for those that like hip-hop, but aren't crazy about rap, this mostly hip-hop instrumental, smooth, funky, groovy album is great driving music and will be appreciated by those that aren't even into anime!
Starting with "Battlecry" (the show's opening theme), the CD segues into some cool beats that must be heard to be appreciated. Very nice mood-setting electronica-jazz with an inner-city overlay beat, it's unique and original, and not out-of-place in any modern setting. Great stuff!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, February 2006
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