Latest news with #SamuraiChamploo
Hypebeast
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
YEN TOWN MARKET Is Bringing a ‘Samurai Champloo' 20th Anniversary Pop-Up to Seoul
Summary Seoul is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary ofSamurai Champloowith a special pop-up event. This marks the first time such an event dedicated toShinichirō Watanabe's cult-fave anime will be held in South Korea. Limited-edition apparel, accessories and merch will be available at the pop-up. This includes sweaters, long and short-sleeve tees featuring brand-new anniversaryNujabesandSamurai Champloographics. A significant highlight of the pop-up will be the limited re-release of the highly sought-afterrecord box set. This collector's item was initially launched exclusively in Japan and quickly sold out upon its original release. The set includes six 7-inch vinyl records featuring opening themes and in-show tracks composed by Nujabes. Each record sleeve boasts a unique design adorned with memorable scenes from the anime, including its iconic opening sequence. TheSamurai Champloo20th Anniversary pop-up will take place over the coming weekend from May 31 – June 1 in Hannam-dong, one of Seoul's most vibrant shopping districts. Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary – YEN TOWN MARKET POPUP in SEOUL1F, 10 Hannam-daero27-ga, Yongsan-gu, SeoulSouth Korea
The Mainichi
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
'Hand-drawn is best': Anime director Shinichiro Watanabe on 'Lazarus'
TOKYO -- "Lazarus," the first new original anime by internationally acclaimed director Shinichiro Watanabe in six years, is now streaming on the Cartoon Network, and notably retains a hand-drawn style going against the industry trend toward computer graphics (CG) and artificial intelligence (AI). The 59-year-old director, also known for the works "Cowboy Bebop" and "Samurai Champloo," says that music is the source of energy to inspire the works and while Lazarus is a TV series, "I make the episodes thinking of them as 20-minute movies." The foundation of Watanabe's creativity was laid in his hometown, in the city of Ayabe in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, where he lived until his high school years. While in junior high school, he and a good friend held "research sessions" on film and anime. "We would say things like, 'I hear the filmmaker (Federico) Fellini is amazing.' 'Oh really?' But we couldn't see his movies. There were no video rentals or online streaming in those days." Watanabe read all he could on film theory through books from the library. Since there was no theater in Ayabe, he went to the neighboring city of Maizuru or Fukuchiyama to devour all he could. "I watched movies repeatedly after breaks in between and they left a deep impression," Watanabe recalled. Watanabe got his information on Western music through magazines and FM radio delivered by public broadcaster NHK. He would read each monthly magazine issue from cover to cover until the next one came out. He could afford about one record a month, listening to it every day and memorizing the English lyrics. "There was so little information in the countryside you'd be surprised. But the experience was profound. It was a rich experience. Having little information is not necessarily a bad thing," said Watanabe. While he also wished to become a filmmaker, he decided to aim to become a director of anime, which was booming. Those around him recommended going to university, but he instead went to Tokyo in 1984 after graduating from high school, thinking, "Four years of college is a waste. I want to create works quickly." Watanabe visited Tokyo's many movie theaters daily while doing part-time work delivering liquor among other tasks. Half a year later he found work at Nippon Sunrise Inc., present-day Sunrise, the originator of the popular "Gundam" franchise and now a brand of Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. "The large number of movies I saw back then are still inside me and that's what I base myself on," Watanabe reflected. It was also a habit for him to visit imported record shops and check up on lesser-known artists. "I was busy every day" between my part-time work, movies and record store visits, he recalled with a laugh. The first of Watanabe's works that he directed entirely himself, 1998's "Cowboy Bebop" was a hit overseas. "I worked hard to hone my skills, and I made it with all my heart. I never thought for a millisecond that it would be accepted overseas. Perhaps my taste for American films, which I grew up liking, was a good fit for the American people," he added analytically. Watanabe's newest project, "Lazarus," was wholly funded by the U.S. Cartoon Network, and is receiving acclaim for its filmlike visuals, audio effects and stylish soundtrack, among other things. "John Wick" director Chad Stahelski designed and directed the action sequences. On the project, Watanabe enthused, "I reaffirmed the appeal of hand-drawn animation. There's a lot of noise about making things easier using CG and AI, but it's not true. It's hand-drawn animation that's the best." Watanabe's works also give a glimpse of evolution. "I want to be constantly changing. I want to constantly update. If I keep repeating what I did before, I'll stop growing. Creativity will also weaken. I don't make anime by watching anime. If I make anime inspired by other genres, it'll become an original work." Now approaching 60, Watanabe mentioned, "When I was young, I wasn't sure whether to do movies or animation. I've made a lot of animated films, so I hope to fulfill the other dream of mine, a live-action film, one of these days."
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
5 anime that left a lasting impact with just one season
There is a certain allure to anime that tells its tale in a single season, even in a medium where lengthy series frequently take center stage. Despite their brief running times, these programs are able to hold viewers' attention with gripping stories, endearing characters, and powerful concepts. Whatever the cause of the brief existence, several of these anime only lasted one season but were nevertheless well-liked by viewers. Today, let's examine five of those. 5 anime with just one season Cowboy Bebop - Crunchyroll Sunrise produced and animated it under the direction of a production team known as Hajime Yatate, which consists of director Shinichirō Watanabe, scriptwriter Keiko Nobumoto, character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto, mechanical designer Kimitoshi Yamane, and composer Yoko Kanno. The 26-episode series, which is set in 2071, centers on the life of a roaming bounty-hunting crew on board the Bebop starship. Death Parade - Crunchyroll Death Parade is a psychological thriller anime series produced by Madhouse and written, directed, and produced by Yuzuru Tachikawa in Japan. In Death Parade, Decim, an enigmatic bartender and arbitrator at the Quindecim bar where people who pass away simultaneously are sent to decide their fate, is the protagonist. Hellsing Ultimate - Crunchyroll I'm still pissed off for how Walter was turned evil in Hellsing Ultimate Since its premiere in early 2006, Hellsing Ultimate has been one of the greatest vampire anime to ever appear on television. Ten episodes, each lasting at least forty minutes, comprised Hellsing Ultimate's 2014 finale. These episodes told a gruesome and captivatingly sinister tale of humanity and what it really means to be a monster. Parasyte: The Maxim - Crunchyroll I love Parasyte The Maxim but I don't know anyone else who has seen this magnificent series. In 2014 and 2015, Japan released two live-action adaptations of the manga. Madhouse's adaptation of the anime television series, Parasyte-the maxim, ran in Japan from October 2014 to March 2015. The series centers on Shinichi Izumi, a senior in high school, who is the target of a parasitic organism's unsuccessful attempt to take over his brain. Samurai Champloo - Crunchyroll The Japanese historical adventure anime Samurai Champloo was released in 2004. Hip hop and other anachronistic cultural allusions are mixed with traditional aspects in the series' fictitious depiction of Edo era Japan. The show chronicles the adventures of Ronin Jin, a vagabond outlaw, and tea waitress Fuu. These one-season anime gems deserve a spot on your watchlist, so what are you waiting for? Start streaming them today!
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How an Anime Master Perfects the Cool Guy Action Hero
When it comes to creators who have defined contemporary anime, Shinichiro Watanabe is no less than a television auteur. His anime series, which include the renowned 'Cowboy Bebop' and 'Samurai Champloo,' are known for thrilling fight scenes, propulsive musical scores and fun, unpredictable characters. Watanabe's signature is his magnetic Joe Cool protagonist. He's a cowboy, bounty hunter, itinerant with some moral gray areas, but he's ultimately a good guy who's loyal to his crew. While loafing around at a bar he may give the vibe of an impassive layabout. But during a mission he is a suave, athletic fighter with a hybrid style of tussling that draws from various martial arts forms and alludes to several of the great movers and fighters from history. 'Lazarus' is Watanabe's latest series, about a scientist whose miracle drug may wipe out humanity and the ragtag team of miscreants who must track him down. Recruited to that team is Axel Gilberto, a fresh yet familiar take on Watanabe's typical hero. Here's how the latest version of Watanabe's always athletic, always stylish leading man fits into his history. The Original Watanabe's original cool-guy hero is Spike Spiegel, the centerpiece of his popular space Western 'Cowboy Bebop.' Spike's attitude and style are a mix between two well-worn cinematic tropes: the unflappable Old West gunslinger and the cynical down-on-his-luck film noir detective. His body language conveys a sense of nonchalance, even indifference. When he's relaxed, his gangly frame is often reclined, and when he's up and about he saunters around, hands in pockets, arms akimbo, with a smooth, uninterrupted gait. His fight style reflects this same fluidity; Spike is a master at evasive movement, great at narrowly dodging hits. Though he excels at both close range fighting and taking shots at a distance, his legs and footwork are really the stars of his combat style: Watanabe based Spike's fight technique on jeet kune do, the style developed by Bruce Lee. Spike's focus on minute, economical movement and his deft modulation of distance while dodging and striking an opponent is reminiscent of Lee. But his fleet footwork in this fight — the quick pivot and fanned out steps — actually recall the floating butterfly steps of Muhammad Ali (which is fitting, seeing as Lee was also inspired by Ali's footwork). The Outlaw 'Samurai Champloo' takes place in Edo Japan, where a waitress named Fuu employs two fighters to accompany her on a journey. Jin is the archetypal samurai character: a quiet, solitary ronin with expert, if traditional, swordsmanship skills. Mugen is a wild card: an outlaw used to working in his own self-interest who shares Spike's impulsiveness but is even more uncorked. Brash and hedonistic, Mugen is all id, and his fight style reflects this pugnaciousness. Mugen is an offensive fighter, always launching forward into attacks, but what makes him stand out is his mix of breakdancing-style spins and capoeira with his swordfighting. He's versatile, often using the environment around him, vaulting off objects to get himself airborne. Mugen's leg moves are vital in both his offense and defense. Near the end of this fight sequence with Jin, Mugen blocks a sword strike with the bottom of his sandal, which is reinforced with a metal plate: This small detail is also a characteristic of Watanabe's heroes, who all have interesting footwear. Spike fights in oversized, bulbous shoes. And Watanabe's next hero, Space Dandy, sports large steel-tipped and steel-bottomed boots. The Romantic 'Space Dandy' is perhaps the goofiest series in Watanabe's oeuvre. It features a shallow, harebrained, barely competent hero, but still offers a delightful parody of its creator's tropes. Dandy — that's what he is and it's also his name — is more of a lover than a fighter, and yet he often finds himself caught in inconvenient scenarios. Dandy is the foil to typical Watanabe cool-guy protagonists: He's another misfit who's always getting out of scrapes with his ragtag crew, but he can't fight, he's a bad shot and he's not as smooth as he thinks. In the above scene, Dandy shows off his speed and style with a series of Michael Jackson-esque dance moves in quick succession. Dandy's at his most agile when he's aiming to grab a woman's attention. Though Dandy's flirtations fall flat, his moves do come through for him in another vital way. When he's accosted by a gang of aliens wielding laser-zapping spears, his floundering movements save him from an untimely demise: Somehow even his clumsy physical gaffes seem to reflect some of the same dexterity and grace as Spike and Mugen's intentional dodges and deflections. The ultimate irony of this scene is that the woman whom Dandy was trying to impress is the one who gets the big action-hero fight: Scarlet flips and turns like an aerialist, then shows off some muay thai-style hand-to-hand combat, all while Dandy cowers on the floor. The Latest Model So much of the design and movement style of Axel Gilberto in 'Lazarus' feels reminiscent of the Watanabe heroes who preceded him. He's got much of Spike's fluid, evasive style of combat, and his devil-may-care attitude. He relies heavily on sweeps and parries like Mugen but torques and launches his body to more dramatic heights like he's a parkour master. He even has the wild mop of hair to mirror Spike's and Mugen's (Dandy's well-oiled pompadour, while also a dramatic 'do, is the exception). Axel is so confident in his abilities that he enjoys breaking out of prison as a kind of hobby; he wears a smug face as he does a massive aerial over the head of a prison visitor and lands backward against a railing: Even Dandy would have trouble matching Axel's flair, as this action sequence of him sweeping under, kicking at and catapulting over prison guards demonstrates the balletic quality of Axel's moves: There's no hesitation or breaks in his stride as he progresses down the walkway, and, like Spike and Mugen, he leads legs first. He barely touches the guards as he disarms and deflects them. Though this is our first introduction to this character, we can already get a sense of his particular charms and talents — he's another Watanabe favorite in the making.
Buzz Feed
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Nine Slightly More Under-Talked About Shows That Started 10/10 And Ended 10/10
Recently, u/meatballfhs75 asked r/AskReddit, "What show starts as a 10/10 and finishes as a 10/10?" So I've rounded up some of the lesser-known top suggestions and given you a bit about them. 1. Band of Brothers HBO Suggested by: redondo21 Number of seasons: One About the show: This is the story of the Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division from 1942 to the end of World War II. Created and produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, this dramatised telling of the 'Easy Company' takes you throughout their role in the war. Beginning with their training, all the way through to the liberation of Kaufering concentration camp, and the end of the war. It's a fascinating and emotional retelling that will keep you glued to every episode. Where to watch: NOW TV (UK), MAX (US) 2. Orphan Black Space / BBC America Suggested by: Ill_Tumblr_4_Ya Number of seasons: Five About the show: This sci-fi series follows the life, or lives, of Sarah Manning, who discovers she is one of several clones. Sarah endeavours to figure out the conspiratorial origins of her multiple lives, and in doing so, faces the dangers of various powerful organisations. It's a great show, and Tatiana Maslany's performance as Sarah('s) is sensational. Where to watch: Netflix, ITV (UK) 3. The Americans FX Suggested by: 3_34544449E14 Number of seasons: Six About the show: This spy drama is set during the cold war, and is about the lives of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, Soviet spies who are under cover as a suburban couple in D.C. There lives become more and more complex as they deal with their conflicting loyalties. Where to watch: Channel 4 (UK), Disney+ 4. Samurai Champloo Fuji TV Suggested by: audiate Number of seasons: One About the show: If you're into anime, you may know this show, but if you aren't it may be a great place to begin. With an excellent soundtrack, Samurai Champloo follows two great warriors who are sworn enemies, but are forced to come together in order to complete a very special task. Where to watch: Hulu (US), Crunchyroll 5. Derry Girls Channel 4 Suggested by: Icy-Honeydew-3338 Number of seasons: Three About the show: We follow five teenagers attending a Catholic girls school in Derry in the mid-nineties. We watch the group navigate school life during the political unrest, as well as the bizarre situations they get themselves into. You'll laugh, cry, and be left wanting more by the end. Where to watch: Netflix, Channel 4 (UK) 6. Rome HBO Suggested by: taraclaire Number of seasons: Two About the show: This historical drama is set during one of history's greatest turning points, the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. We see the upheaval through the stories of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, who become heroes after their feats in the arena. It's been praised for its detail and accuracy, and will keep you engaged throughout. Where to watch: Apple TV+, MAX (US) 7. Six Feet Under HBO Suggested by: Darthscary Number of seasons: Five About the show: We follow the Fisher family, who run a funeral home in Los Angeles. This dark comedy takes us through their lives, as they navigate the complexities of life and death, while dealing with their own personal struggles, desires, and goals. Very few who've seen it don't love Six Feet Under, and it's commonly awarded the title of 'best ending' of a series ever. Where to watch: MAX (US) , NOW TV (UK) 8. Shrinking Apple TV+ Suggested by: onlyfansandpuppies Number of seasons: Two About the show: We follow Jimmy, a grieving therapist whose recent loss has impacted how he deals with his patients. His new approach is to tell them exactly what he thinks, in a more brutally honest way. We see how this approach changes his attitude towards grief and relationships. While a new season is on the way, so we can't claim that the whole thing is flawless, the first two seasons have been universally praised. Where to watch: Apple TV+ 9. The Expanse Prime Video Suggested by: millerep Number of seasons: Six About the show: In a futuristic setting where humans have expanded beyond earth, there exist three areas which humans inhabit, Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt. We follow a ragtag crew made of from members of each 'nation' per-say, after a peculiar substance is found that threatens life everywhere. Political tension is ripe, and we watch as the internal divisions between people of Earth, Mars, and the Belt grow alongside a threat that looms over all.
