Way of the Champloo

I've been watching this brilliant little anime series for the past two weeks or so (I'm currently on episode 16, and a few snatches of the ending), and so far, the general consensus is: it kicks major amounts of ass. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, many immediately compare it to one of the greatest anime series of all time, Cowboy Bebop.

I don't believe in choosing one of the two series and saying it's better; it is exactly the differences between the two series that makes each better. Otherwise, we would just have another Bebop clone. I'll just say they both kick ass.

Champloo is a mishmash (hence the name, which comes from the Okinawan word for stir-fry) of different things, anachronisms (Champloo has things from our present in a past setting, whereas Bebop has things from our present in a future setting)and sensibilities that we would never think would work at first glance... but they do!

Rapping peasants, breakdancing samurai, it all works so well, strangely enough.

And so, 10 reasons why this series rocks:

1. The vibe. This series just has a strange cool vibe that Bebop had, only this time it comes in a different flavor. When you see the trio walk around the towns and cities of Japan, when you see them fighting, it's damn cool.

2. It pulls no punches. Aah, just see the endings for episode 2 and 4 for examples. I don't want to spoil ya or anything.

3. The fights. The fight in episode 1 between Jin and Mugen, short as it was, was amazing. And that's just episode 1. AND, they say that the fights after episode 17 are even better.

4. It is one of the very, very few samurai-related anime that doesn't have overly supernatural overtones, "fighting" that isn't fun, or no spurts of blood gushing out from people. One of the other examples of this is the first Ruroni Kenshin OVA.

5. The ensemble cast. Champloo is about the three main characters, that is, there isn't really one central focus in the film (so far) There are stories for Mugen, stories for Jin, stories for Fuu throughout the series, kinda like in Bebop.

6. It doesn't end in the middle. The one pitfall with manga-based anime series is that some series end at the end of a manga storyline, leaving us endlessly wondering what the hell is going to happen. Karekano and Slam Dunk are two notorious examples. Although the ending for Champloo isn't that final, it does end nicely and gives a little potential for something a little extra.

7. Ninjas and Pirates. anything that has ninjas and pirates in it has to be cool.

8. Replayability Factor. All of the great anime series I've watched has a quality of replayability that makes you watch the episodes again and again until you've memorized all the lines by heart. Evangelion and Bebop are examples.

9. I don't want it to end. I like this series so much I kinda have apprehensions in confronting the last episodes. It's like saying goodbye to a very cherished friend.

10. It is a clear, and cool, homage to all those Jidaigeki/Chambara films from the forties to the seventies. I've seen bits of Yojimbo and Zatoichi in there. Both of those films kicked major amounts of ass - which translates over here.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to everyone. Watch it, NOWNOWNOW! Don't walk, run! And if you're in jail, break out...