"Samurai Jack" (2001) TV series 2001-2004

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Creator:

Genndy Tartakovsky

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

10 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In the future evil takes many forms, and our only hope is one man from the past.

Plot:

A samurai sent through time fights to return home and save the world.

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Samurai Warrior | Martial Arts | Katana Sword | Made For Cable TV

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Phil LaMarr	...	Samurai Jack / ... (48 episodes, 2001-2004)
Mako	...	Aku / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2004)

Runtime:

25 min (52 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Denmark:7 | Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-Y7

Company:

Cartoon Network

Trivia:

In Brazil, the name Aku was changed to Abu due to the original name's unfortunate similarity to a Portuguese swear word meaning anus.

Quotes:

X-49: Lulu... Sweet thing... I miss her. I hate the rain. It makes me all... sentimental.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Cartoons (2005) (TV)

A Godsend for American Animation

Samurai Jack has something sorely lacking in American animated entertainment - greatness. Not since the Batman series, or perhaps ever, has a American cartoon flaunted such daring visual bravado, intelligent cinematic storytelling, intense action, and a revolutionary spirit so confidently - it's a warmly welcomed shake-up to the monotonous humdrum continuum of TV animation in this country. Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of Dexter's Laboratory) has captured lightning in a bottle with his latest brainchild, and in doing so has demolished the mold for cartoons both present and future. Indeed, calling this show itself a cartoon seems somehow disrespectful and stereotypical. Here, the freedom allowed by the medium brings the story of Jack and his vendetta against a millenial nemesis named Aku in the far future feverishly to life. Every background, set piece, character, and detail are all strikingly imagined, almost shocking in their originality. The minimalist nature of the animation itself gives the program a unique and powerful vitality, and the abstract and sometimes surreal stylization is unlike anything ever seen in cartoons. Tartakovsky avoids the clunky and often lifeless quagmire of more detailed and lifelike approaches to action animation and instead opts for he intensity and impact of a comic book in motion, and the results are both awesome and beautiful.

More than anything else, Samurai Jack truly feels like a work of art, like something that is crafted rather than produced. It's a testament to the fact that animation in the U.S. can be cutting edge, revolutionary, and mature. Truth be told, I haven't been excited about a new television program in quite a while. Time will tell, but Samurai Jack seems destined for masterpiece status - not only here in America, but quite possibly worldwide.