About Afro Samurai

Afro Samurai is an animated television series that first premiered in 2009. The story recounts the journey of Afro, the protagonist with a raggedy afro hairstyle who seeks revenge against Justice for his father's murder. With a world teetering on dystopia, Afro Samurai is a thrilling narrative of one man's vengeance amidst a stylized blend of futuristic yet feudal Japan.

Making / Production

The series, helmed by Takashi Okazaki, was produced by GDH and released in the U.S. by the famous Funimation. It is a distinctive blend of American hip-hop culture and classic samurai tradition. Vibrantly animated, it brings forward a compelling narrative revolving around unity, revenge, and the quest for power.

Actors

• Samuel L. Jackson: He lends his voice to the main character, Afro Samurai. Jackson's performance brings out the depth and complexity of the character.
• Ron Perlman: Perlman voices Justice, the main antagonist of the series. His performance is chilling and memorable, adding a layer of ruthlessness to the character.
• Kelly Hu: Hu lends her voice to Okiku, bringing subtle nuances to her character, which adds to the overall plot.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The character Afro Samurai was inspired by Takashi Okazaki's love for soul and hip hop music.
• Inspite of being an anime, the dialogues of the series were recorded in English first.
• Afro Samurai was originally a self-published manga series before it was picked up for an anime adaptation.

Awards

Afro Samurai received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for high-end multiplatform animation.

Quotes

• "A warrior on the path of vengeance does not have friends. Only enemies and victims."
• "Death is a part of life. And to reject death is to reject life."
• "It's never been about what you do. It's what you don't do."

Music, Soundtrack

• The music and soundtrack for Afro Samurai were composed by The RZA from Wu-Tang Clan, bringing an interesting blend of hip hop and classic anime scores.
• The title theme, "Afro Samurai Theme", is a catchy tune that perfectly encapsulates the show's unique mash-up of cultures.
• Songs such as "Cameo Afro", featuring Big Daddy Kane, add further flair to the already stylistic anime.