Afro Samurai

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Afro Samurai
アフロサムライ (Afro Samurai)
Genre	Samurai, Action
Manga
Author	Takashi Okazaki
Publisher	NOU NOU HAU
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	1999
TV anime
Director	Fuminori Kizaki (Japan) Jamie Simone (USA)
Studio	GONZO
Licensor	FUNimation Entertainment Madman Entertainment
Network	Fuji Television Spike TV Adult Swim/Bravo MTV MTV Canal+
Original run	4 January 2007 – 1 February 2007
Episodes	5 [1]

Common rating
Australia	MA15+
United States	TV-MA

Afro Samurai (アフロサムライ, Afuro Samurai^?) is a Japanese dōjinshi manga series created by Takashi Okazaki, originally featured in the NOU NOU HAU^[2] dōjin magazine. It was adapted into a 5-episode anime miniseries directed by Fuminori Kizaki and produced by Japanese animation studio GONZO. The first episode was shown online on January 1, 2007 and premiered on Spike TV on January 4, 2007 on at 11:00pm EST. The anime series has since gone on to air in the UK, where it premiered on Adult Swim on May 4, 2007[1], and Japan, where it was broadcast on Fuji Television. It also premiered on MTV in Australia in August of 2007.[2]

A new season has been announced for 2008 on Spike TV.^[3] Takashi Okazaki said in the new season Afro "loses his way, gets tired of all the killing" and he "wakes up to his destiny, which is to be the world's number one warrior."

The anime series features noted American actor Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of the titular character and his sidekick, as well as one of the co-producers, and also features Ron Perlman and Kelly Hu as character voices. Wu-Tang Clan member RZA produced the original hip hop musical score,^[4] which was released on compact disc by Koch Records on January 30, 2007 in both uncut and edited versions. The series was also licensed for North American distribution by Funimation, who released two versions: a SpikeTV version and an unrated directors cut on DVD. Both were released on May 22, 2007. In August 2005, Japan-based game developers Namco announced they would be releasing Afro Samurai related video games.^[5]

The cost of each episode is estimated at one million dollars^[6], which is a record for GONZO.

There are plans to produce a live-action Afro Samurai movie, also starring Samuel L. Jackson as the title character^[7], although production has not yet begun.

A video game adaptation of the series has been announced and will be released on the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Character histories 2.1 Main Characters 2.1.1 Afro Samurai 2.1.2 Ninja Ninja 2.1.3 Rokutaro (Afro's Father) 2.1.4 Otsuru/"Okiku" 2.1.5 Sword Master 2.1.6 Sasuke 2.1.7 The Empty Seven 2.1.8 Dharman 2.1.9 Afro Droid 2.1.10 Jinnosuke/"Kuma" 2.1.11 Justice 2.2 Minor characters 3 Episodes 4 Cast 5 Music 6 Video game adaptation 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Plot summary

The TV anime series is set in a "futuristic, yet feudal Japan," and stars a samurai named Afro for his hair. The story follows Afro as he tries to avenge his father's murder.^[8] In the world of Afro Samurai, it is said that the one who becomes "Number One", will rule the world, wielding powers akin to a god. Someone becomes Number One by killing the previous Number One and taking his ceremonial headband. However, the only rule in this world is that only the "Number Two" (also designated by a sacred headband) is allowed to fight the "Number One." The downside of this is that anyone (and typically everyone) can challenge and try to kill the Number Two, to gain the right to move forward and challenge Number One. Afro Samurai's father was the old Number One, until he was challenged by a gunman, "Justice" (who was then Number Two), who fought him in a duel to become the new Number One. At the time the gunman challenged his father, Afro had only been a child. The gunman severed his father's head right in front of the young Afro. Now an adult, Afro Samurai is the current Number Two and a master swordsman; he travels the road seeking revenge on Justice, the current Number One. Lengthy flashbacks interspersed throughout the story detail how Afro rose from frightened boy fleeing the death of his father, to master swordsman, and eventually to become the current "Number Two", while the story in the present deals with the adult Afro making his way to the mountain top keep of the "Number One" to duel Justice, while at the same time the mysterious cult known as the "Empty Seven Clan" sends various agents to kill Afro and take his Number Two headband.^[9]

[edit] Character histories

[edit] Main Characters

[edit] Afro Samurai

Adult Afro Voiced by: Samuel L. Jackson
Adolescent Afro Voiced by: Phil LaMarr
Child Afro Voiced by: Crystal Scales
The former holder of the title "Number Two," Afro is out to hunt down Justice, the man who killed his father for the rank of "Number One." From the time he was a child, Afro honed his skills as a swordsman; his style typically consists of wielding his sword with only his right hand while his left continues to hold on to his sheath, although during his fight with Jinno, he held his sword with both hands to compensate for Jinno's dual wielding speed. He is a very quiet individual, likely because the life of the "Number Two" does not allow him to have any close relationships with anyone, so when approached by others he says very little, if anything.

Although he seems cold, he is still haunted by his memories and past relationships; Justice later remarks that Afro, like his father, is still "soft inside." He also has a fondness for lemonade and is almost constantly smoking a joint when not engaged in combat.

The only times Afro had shown any extreme emotional reactions were when he fought the Sword Master for the Number Two Headband, and when fighting Justice who reminds Afro of his father's tragic death.

At the end of the series, he kills Justice and becomes the "Number One", but is almost impaled by one of Justice's spikes only to survive by having the spike go through his afro and skim that top of his head, thus saving Afro from death.

After the 'death' of Ninja Ninja, Afro seemed to be able to show himself more emotionally seen when he sheds tears for 'killing' Jinno before facing Justice and by his casual conversation with Jinno before facing him for the second time.

[edit] Ninja Ninja

Voiced by: Samuel L. Jackson
"Ninja" is Afro's complete antithesis, always speaking and usually saying aloud what Afro can't bring himself to say; generally, Afro refuses to respond to anything he says. Ninja Ninja speaks in stereotypical African American Vernacular English, with frequent use of profanity. As his name implies, he dresses in a ninja motif. He also seems to have a counter color scheme to Afro, while also having a similar frame and hair cut though he slouches when he walks. This can best be seen at the end of episode 2, where they are walking side by side after the fire. There are several clues throughout the show that point to Ninja Ninja being imaginary, such as Afro being the only one who speaks to him, his constant disappearing when Afro is not in combat or internal conflict, and the fact he is not hurt when he and Afro are knocked off a cliff by an RPG despite being next to each other. It is later shown in Episode 4 that Ninja Ninja first appeared suddenly when Afro lost his friends and loved ones while obtaining the Number Two headband. At the beginning of Episode 5, it is revealed that Ninja Ninja was the one that was "killed" by Kuma's strike; a symbolic way of showing that Afro has come to terms with the loss of his friends at this point in his journey. Also about halfway through the episode when Afro finally meets Justice again, Justice states that he watched him shed his imaginary friend (Ninja).

In the collector's DVD, interviews with the staff and writers concede that Ninja Ninja is indeed imaginary. However, even though Ninja Ninja is 'imaginary', he appears to have some form of presence in the real world, as well. When Brother 2 of the Empty Seven spies on Afro, Ninja Ninja can be clearly seen from Brother 2's point of view through the binoculars. Ninja Ninja also interacts with items around him constantly such as catching Afro's joint in his mouth, moving a hanging pillar inside Okiku's home, putting Okiku's comb into Afro's afro, eating the food that was intended for Afro given by Brother 3 (in the Director's cut) and throwing the Afro droid's microchip at Afro to cut in two. The idea of Ninja Ninja having at least a partial existence in reality is once again brought into light when he is 'killed' by Kuma. Because Kuma was such a skilled warrior and had the intent to kill Afro on the sword strike that killed Ninja Ninja, it would seem odd that he would pause from his attack and have a conversation with Afro if there was not a reason to give pause which strengthens the idea that he was taken back by Ninja Ninja's sacrifice before attacking Afro again.

[edit] Rokutaro (Afro's Father)

Voiced by: Greg Eagles
Rokutaro was the Number One at the beginning of the series, who lost his title and life to Justice. How he attained the Number One headband, what he did during his time as Number One, and how long he'd had it prior to Justice killing him remain unclear. According to Justice, it was Rokutaro's intention to end the headband wars by hiding the Number One headband but, people kept fighting and killing each other to possess the other headbands. So Justice saw the only way to stop the fighting forever and to obtain ultimate power was to have all the headbands, thus killing Rokutaro for the Number One.

[edit] Otsuru/"Okiku"

Okiku Voiced by: Kelly Hu
Otsuru Voiced by: Tara Strong
A young woman who specializes in the art of healing, Otsuru is an excellent cook and adores fireworks. She is the one who discovered Afro in the shrine after he lost the Number Two headband as a boy, and took him to Sword Master's dojo where he befriended Jinno. When she is introduced as "Okiku," she has once again found Afro in a bad way (having been blown off a cliff by an RPG fired by Brother 6); she bandages him and takes him to her home to heal. Apparently, some time after the events at Sword Master's dojo, she became an agent working for Brother 1 of the Empty Seven Clan. She possesses the unique ability to siphon memories from people as they dream and did this to copy down Afro's sword techniques to be used to complete the Afro Droid. She was also supposed to kill him should the opportunity ever present itself, but she finds herself unable to after having sex with him. She remarks that she still thinks of him as the same innocent boy she knew so long ago, revealing to him that she is actually Otsuru. Brother 2 of the Empty Seven then kills her for failing to carry out her mission and betraying the Empty Seven. Otsuru apparently had a strong emotional effect on Afro as seen when in Episode five Afro calls out her name in his grief over the friends that he has lost.

[edit] Sword Master

Voiced by: Terrence C. Carson
A one-eyed samurai who housed orphans and trained them to become warriors. When a young Afro first approaches him about the headbands, he receives a beating and is told by Sword Master that wearing the headbands leads to a life of murder, saying "We are born men in order to live, not to kill". Afro asks about the headbands again at dojo graduation, after hearing a rumor about Sword Master holding the Number Two Headband. The two meet alone underneath the Bodhi Tree outside the dojo, where Sword Master tells Afro he meant to take the secret to his grave. He then tells Afro to make a decision: forget avenging his father's death and live a normal life, or walk the path of the Number Two. When a large group of thugs in search of the Number Two headband attacks the dojo, Sword Master fights them to show Afro just what it means to be Number Two. After the battle is over, with all the thugs and most of the students dead, he faces Afro telling him that he's chosen his path. After Afro charges at Sword Master in order to kill him to claim the Number Two Headband, Sword Master closes his eyes and is killed by Afro who takes the Number Two Headband.

The official site reveals that Sword Master was in fact a friend to Afro's father Rokutaro, which helps explain the basis for his advice and world view.

[edit] Sasuke

Voiced by: Jason Marsden
A teenage student of Sword Master, and a friend to both Afro and Jinno. He wears a pair of glasses which are held to the face by string, similar to those worn in feudal Japan and late dynastic China. Though he graduated from swordsman school at the same time as Afro and Jinno, his skills are apparently inferior to theirs (though he is seen killing two people in his final battle). He appears to be very eccentric as shown by his playful manner with his friends as well as telling his friends that he hopes to eat chicken cutlet for his final meal, much to their disbelief. During a flashback in the fourth episode, he is killed in the Midnight Battle Under The Bodhi Tree after being impaled from behind by one of the assassins targeting Sword Master.

[edit] The Empty Seven

Brothers 1, 3, & 5 Voiced by: Phil LaMarr
Brother 2 Voiced by: John DiMaggio
Brother 4 Voiced by: Terrence C. Carson
Brother 6 Voiced by: Greg Eagles
The Empty Seven (無無坊主) are seven monks who believe that attaining both ancient headbands will lead to immortality and godhood. They employ robots and mercenaries to do their dirty work, since the monks themselves have greatly inferior skills when compared to Afro and Justice. Brothers 1 through 5 look like identical wizened old men with long beards, dressed in robes with some other accessories:

• Brother 1 was the apparent leader of the Clan (although such an authority was never outright stated). His personality and mannerisms were a mixture of an Evangelical preacher and a street pimp. He was almost always seen with an almost nude beautiful woman at his side. As with most of the Clan, he was a wizened old man, with a long beard, and has a prosthetic gold left arm (which can be switched out for a machine gun). He was killed when he tried to ambush Afro from atop the elevator leading to Kuma.

• Brother 2 was the eyes of the Clan, often seen scoping out Afro from a distance with a pair of high-tech binoculars. Usually Brother 6 was shown assisting him. All of his observations of Afro during his reconnaissance were reported to Brother 1 via cell phone. In combat, he was shown to use an extending Buddhist staff or kunai. When Okiku turns against the clan for Afro’s sake, it was Brother 2 who stabbed and killed her. Later, when he was lying in wait to kill Afro, Afro surprises him from behind by swiftly poking his eyes out and shoving his binoculars deep into the wounds. Likely the brutal manner of his execution was out of revenge for Okiku.

• Brother 3 was unusual among the group. While the other Brothers would plot Afro’s death, Brother 3 was usually content to face away off in the corner, listening to his circumaural headphones, and bobbing to the music. During the few times he actually spoke, he was shown to have a Southern US accent. He seemed to have a much more pacifistic approach than his comrades regarding decisions. When deliberating on which assassin to choose to kill Afro, rather than settle things through violence Brother 3 suggested looking at their individual credentials. Later, when Afro invaded the Empty Seven’s temple, he was waiting by the door with tea and rice crackers prepared while calmly chanting; Hachimaki o kudasai, Japanese for "headband please." Simply asking for the Number Two Headband, rather than attempting combat for it. Afro didn't take the rice and tea offered to him, but Ninja Ninja did. Because of this, Brother 3 survived while the other five monks were killed.

• Brother 4 was a gruff deep-voiced monk in a green robe who usually carried a Buddhist staff and wore and a wide metal hat. He was usually seen side-by-side with the arrogant, and sadistic Brother 5 who wore a plain white robe, regularly smoked a long pipe and spoke with a high squeaky voice. In combat, Brother 4's weapon of choice was a sansetsukon while Brother 5 fought with a jian. When determining which assassin would face Afro, Brother 4 insisted that Ivanov the Russian was the obvious choice, which led to an argument with Brother 5 whom held opposing views and felt Foo from China was more capable. Brother 1 settled the issue by suggesting a battle royale, an idea which greatly appealed to both 4 & 5. Later, after Brother 6’s defeat at Afro’s hands, Brother’s 4 & 5 launched out from where they were concealed in Brother 6’s backpack and attempted to gang up on Afro from both sides. This tactic failed miserably and both monks were easily dispatched.

• Brother 6 was a massive muscled individual with cold inhuman eyes in monk regalia who wore a wide metal hat. He was the only Brother who didn’t resemble an old monk with a long beard. Violent, and impulsive, Brother 6 never hesitated to use excessive force in his actions. In combat, he wielded a long Buddhist staff, and a backpack holding a variety of weapons, including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and a flame thrower. Brother 6 was the man who rescued Jinnosuke and Otsuru from the brink of death, but regarding Jinnosuke felt it would have been more merciful to just let him die. He was the one to burn down Otsuru’s home, and blew the bridge after Afro’s initial confrontation with Afro Droid (much to Brother 1’s displeasure). When that tactic failed, Brother 6 fought Afro one-on-one. He proved a difficult opponent and when defeated held Afro’s sword within his body disarming the samurai so that Brothers 4 & 5 could finish him.

• Brother 7 has never made any appearance within the series, and remains a mystery. The scientist, Dharman, was assumed by many fans to be the Brother in question, but the official site states that this is in fact not the case. Whether Brother 7 will appear in the second season or not remains unknown.

[edit] Dharman

Voiced by: Phil LaMarr (normal version), S. Scott Bullock (Director's Cut version)
Dharman is an insane cyborg scientist employed by the Empty Seven Clan to build their machine-ninja army and the Afro Droid. He also helped rebuild and heal Jinnosuke whom he considers his masterpiece, referring to him as his "Teddy Bear". His name comes from the fact that he closely resembles a Japanese Dharma doll. When Jinnosuke was defeated by Afro, it is likely that Dharman was the one who repaired and rebuilt him.

[edit] Afro Droid

A semi-sentient robot copy of Afro Samurai created by the Empty Seven Clan (specifically their personal scientist, Dharman). It was created from combat data siphoned from Afro's mind by Okiku, and is able to reproduce all of his learned techniques and abilities. It is physically superior to Afro, and its external appearance is identical. The Afro Droid is also equipped with guns, lasers, and explosives. Afro eventually defeats Afro Droid in the third episode after the droid is impaled on its own sword following a sky-high, mid-air duel between the two.

[edit] Jinnosuke/"Kuma"

Voiced by: Yuri Lowenthal
A swordsman who wears a cybernetic teddy bear mask, the same design as Otsuru's teddy bear from their time as children in their dojo, earning him the nickname "Kuma" which means "Bear" in Japanese. Jinnosuke possesses great skill in wielding twin blades and is an old friend of Afro from his days at the dojo. Back then Jinno thought of Afro as a brother, but when Afro killed their master for the Number Two headband, Jinno vowed vengeance against him. His remaining eye constantly weeps, and under his robotic eye there appears to be a scar in the same position, due to the injuries (emotional, and possibly physical) he suffered at the Midnight Battle Under the Bodhi Tree; he tells Afro that his tears have never stopped falling since that day. Jinno was rebuilt with cybernetic body modifications by the Empty Seven to "create a samurai of incredible power." Afro defeats him by destroying his life-support system, but it seems Kuma was again able to cheat death. He returns to challenge Afro years after the death of Justice, this time his body completely modified, appearing more android than human and virtually mummified in the other headbands from Justice's lair. Jinno also regained his teddy bear mask, this time with the Number Two headband covering the right eye, possibly as a mirroring of when Afro was recovering in the Sword Master's Dojo as a boy with his bandages mirroring Jinno's current bandages.

[edit] Justice

Voiced by: Ron Perlman
The holder of the Number One headband for most of the series, Justice is the man who killed Afro's father before his eyes many years ago. He is a remarkably skilled gunman, dressing in a cowboy garb with the Number One headband tied around his wide-brimmed hat. He has discolored, diseased-looking skin, which his bio on the official site implies is the result of a past accident (undecided, but assumed by the creators to have been submerged in toxic waste). Justice has the ability to regenerate himself after being exposed to blood as seen just before his final fight with Afro when, the injured hero's blood flows to Justice's feet and his withered body begins to reshape into the young version that fought Afro's father. He also has a third arm hidden on his back that holds a sword for catching opponents off guard (in an earlier version of the official website, Justice was described as "The Gunman with Three Arms"). His origins are unknown, but he claims that destiny designed him to attain all the headbands and thus, gain enough power to rule the world as a god and bring an end to all the violence and killing via force. Justice was able to survive being nearly decapitated (an ironic reversal of the scene with Afro's father), and seemed able to control the Number One's throne room to some extent, but Afro manages to defeat him by slicing his body into many smaller pieces. Even this may not have finished him, however; right before the final episode's credits roll, Justice is seen opening his eyes, his grin showing before quickly fading to black (though this may have been symbolic of his views of the battles never ending which were being touched upon as Afro and Jinno fight again).

During interviews in the DVD release, it is stated that Justice and Afro's father were in fact part of the same clan of swords men and indeed best friends, however their differing views on the headbands and how to end the violence plaguing the world eventually drove them apart, leading to the final confrontation between the two.

[edit] Minor characters

• Foo (voiced by Jeff Bennett) - A Chinese assassin hired by the Empty Seven clan. He is considered one of the world's most capable assassins. Brother 5 believes that Foo could have defeated Afro, but Brother 4 disagrees about this. He is killed along with every other assassin that charged toward the Afro Droid (his appearance was in the Director's Cut DVD).
• Hachiro (voiced by Jeff Bennett) - In Afro's flashback, he and his brothers were the ones who attacked young Afro some time after Justice killed Rokutaro. After young Afro attacked his brother Yashichi, Hachiro later attacked him. With some help from Jinno, Afro managed to kill Hachiro.
• Ivanov (voiced by John DiMaggio) - A Russian assassin hired by the Empty Seven clan. He is considered one of the world's best assassins. Brother 4 believes that Ivanov could have defeated Afro, but Brother 5 disagrees about this. He is killed along with every other assassin that charged towards the Afro Droid (his appearance was in the Director's Cut DVD).
• Kihachi -
• Kuro -
• Jiro -
• Juzo -
• Matasaburo (voiced by Dave Wittenberg) - He is one of the students of the Sword Master. He is killed in the Midnight Battle Under the Bodhi Tree.
• Oyuki (voiced by Grey DeLisle) - Oyuki was the bartender at the bar that Afro stops at. She is also where Soshun got the headband history from.
• Ronin (voiced by Dwight Schultz) -
• Shuzo -
• Soshun (voiced by John Kassir) - A man who comes from the Land of the Weapon Masters of the West. He first saw Afro in a bar and learned the history of the headbands from its bartender. He encountered Afro on the mountain when Ninja Ninja detected him. He wielded a crossbow with a grenade launcher in battle against Afro (who was wounded by one of his bolts) until he was killed by him.
• Yashichi (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) - He is the brother of Hachiro and was with him in their first attack upon young Afro. Some time later, young Afro managed to interrogate him for the info on who has the Number Two Headband before killing him.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Original air date
01	"Revenge"	2007-01-04
Afro witnessed his father's death by the hands of a man looking to claim the title of "Number One" and seeks to avenge his father. Now a grown man, he has the title of "Number Two" and sets out on his journey of revenge.
02	"The Dream Reader"	2007-01-11
Afro relives his harsh past through dreams when he is discovered by a local named Okiku by the riverbank who tends to his wounds.
03	"The Empty Seven Clan"	2007-01-18
As The Clan of the Empty Seven continues to put pressure on Afro, he is faced with his toughest enemy yet... Himself.
04‎	"Duel"	2007-01-25
The past comes back to teach Afro Samurai a lesson on the consequences of choosing revenge over family, and what it really means to wear the 'Number Two' headband.
05	"Justice"	2007-02-01
Afro's battle with his childhood friend Jinno brought back from the dead continues as does his ascension towards the number one, Justice.

[edit] Cast

• Samuel L. Jackson - Afro Samurai, Ninja Ninja
• Kelly Hu - Okiku
• Ron Perlman - Justice
• Jeff Bennett - Foo, Hachiro
• Steven Blum - Assassins
• S. Scott Bullock - Dharman
• TC Carson - Sword Master, Brother #4
• Grey DeLisle - Oyuki, Woman
• John DiMaggio - Brother #2, Giant, Ivanov, Patron #2
• Greg Eagles - Rokutaro: Afro's Father, Brother #6
• John Kassir - Soshun
• Phil LaMarr - Brother #1, Brother #3, Brother #5, Kuro, Teen Afro Samurai
• Yuri Lowenthal - Jinno/Kuma
• Jason Marsden - Sasuke
• Liam O'Brien - Kihachi, Patron #4
• Crystal Scales - Young Afro Samurai
• Dwight Schultz - Assassin #1, Patron #1, Ronin
• Tara Strong - Jiro, Otsuru
• Fred Tatasciore - Juzo, Patron #5, Shuzo
• James Arnold Taylor - Yashichi
• Dave Wittenberg - Assassin, Matasaburo, Patron #3, Punk

[edit] Music

Main article: The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai OST

The hip hop soundtrack is produced by the RZA and features other artists as well, such as Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, and GZA. The soundtrack was released on CD on January 30, 2007.

[edit] Video game adaptation

Main article: Afro Samurai (video game)

Afro Samurai is an upcoming video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was the cover story for the February 2008 issue of play magazine.^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official UK Website
• Official Website
• Afro Samurai manga beginnings
• Trailer for the TV series
• NOU NOU HAU website (Japanese)
• Review of the Afro Samurai Director's Cut
• Afro Samurai (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Afro Samurai at The Internet Movie Database
• AFRO SAMURAI Gonzo’s revenge flick pits Samuel L. Jackson against hordes of ninja
• THE CUTTING EDGE Gonzo takes a stab at international superstardom with the edgy 'Afro Samurai' and the help of Samuel L. Jackson
• HAIR STYLIST Director Fuminori Kizaki shares the art of the ‘Afro’
• Afro Samurai videogame announced