"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:

Jack: We are in no condition to fight these odds.
Scottsman: [gruffly] Especially not with a pajama wearin' daisy strapped to me wrist.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grandma's Boy (2006)

Subtly brilliant

One of the things that sets Jack apart from other animated action series is its use of subtlety. Though full of scenes of intense action, there are also long stretches with no dialogue, using imagery to tell the story. The art direction is excellent. Some viewers find the characters have a strange graphic style but it works well in the context of the strange world where Jack finds himself.

I especially like the use of different sizes of wide-screen to aid in the story-telling. A full-frame scene will shift to different ratios of widescreen to emphasize images such as a great distance between two characters or to focus on one's eyes. The series also includes subtle humour (note again, subtlety), such as Jack dressing up as a teenager to infiltrate a rave party or accidentally being transformed into a chicken!

Phil LaMarr is excellent as usual as Jack and Mako is the perfect voice for Aku. Those who dismiss it as an anime rip-off should consider the difference between "rip-off" and "inspired by".