Samurai Champloo (サムライチャンプルー) is an anime title that began broadcasting on Fuji TV in Japan on May 19, 2004, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop fame. The show, which is set in the Edo period, is not a true historical title, but features action, adventure and some comedy blended with an anachronistic hip-hop soundtrack. It's name is a play on the Okinawan food, Champuru.

What Watanabe started with Cowboy Bebop he now continues with Samurai Champloo. He has created a new genre by implementing a hip-hop theme into this title, much like Cowboy Bebop had a blues and jazz theme. The score is composed of hip-hop beats by Japanese hip-hop artists Nujabes and Tsutchie among others, although the hip-hop influence is mostly subtle. Some samurai sport Adidas-like stripe patterns on their kimonos, while one of the main characters, Mugen, has a capoeira-esque fighting style. The show has many other anachronistic elements as well.

The show revolves around three characters: The brash and lanky vagrant Mugen, the quiet and stoic ronin Jin, and the beautiful and quick-thinking waitress Fuu. Fuu helps Mugen and Jin escape from a vengeful daimyo and, in exchange, she persuades the two to help her in her search for a mysterious samurai who smells like sunflowers.

The show was licensed for distribution in the United States by Geneon Entertainment nearly a full year prior to the show's airing in Japan, a decision based almost entirely on the reputation of its creator, Shinichiro Watanabe. On January 20, 2004, it was revealed that the broadcasting rights were acquired by Cartoon Network, and the series and is slated to begin airing in the Adult Swim block in the summer of 2005.

There is also a manga adaptation of Samurai Champloo that debuted in Shonen Ace in January 2004.

External links

• Samurai Champloo Official Web Site
• Champloo Online
• Way Of The Champloo discussion forums
• Too Many Champloo...