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

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Creator:

Genndy Tartakovsky
(more)

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Genndy Tartakovsky		(52 episodes, 2001-2004)
Randy Myers		(3 episodes, 2003-2004)
Robert Alvarez		(2 episodes, 2003)
Robert Renzetti		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Genndy Tartakovsky		(52 episodes, 2001-2004)
Bryan Andrews		(5 episodes, 2001-2004)
Don Shank		(2 episodes, 2003)
Chris Reccardi		(unknown episodes)
Amy Rogers		(unknown episodes)
Paul Rudish		(unknown episodes)
Erik Wiese		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Genndy Tartakovsky	....	executive producer (52 episodes, 2001-2004)
Brian A. Miller	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Diana Ritchey	....	line producer (unknown episodes)
Linda Simensky	....	executive producer: Cartoon Network (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
James L. Venable		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Dan Krall		(52 episodes, 2001-2004)
Scott Wills		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Michael Lazzo	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)
Linda Simensky	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Roger Webb	....	color stylist (20 episodes, 2001-2004)
Chris Battle	....	property designer (18 episodes, 2001-2002)
Chris Reccardi	....	storyboard artist (13 episodes, 2001)
Charlie Bean	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Chris Mitchell	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Paul Rudish	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Don Shank	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Roy Braverman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Eric Freeman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Andy Suriano	....	character designer (26 episodes, 2001-2004)
Lynne Naylor	....	character designer (15 episodes, 2001-2002)
Shakeh Haghnazarian	....	character designer (9 episodes, 2002-2003)
James T. Walker	....	sheet timer (3 episodes, 2003-2004)
Jim Smith	....	character designer (2 episodes, 2002)
Bill Wray	....	painter: main titles (2 episodes, 2002)
Robert Alvarez	....	sheet timer (2 episodes, 2003)
Bong Koh Jae	....	animation director (2 episodes, 2003)
Mun Jeong Yu	....	animation director (2 episodes, 2003)
Yeol Jung Chang	....	animation director (unknown episodes)
Todd Frederiksen	....	background designer (unknown episodes)
Dan Krall	....	layout artist (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Erik Freid	....	assistant on-line editor (4 episodes, 2001)

Series Music Department
Paul Dinletir	....	composer: additional music (52 episodes, 2001-2004)
Joe Privitelli	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Darrick Bachman	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Cartoon Network
• Hanna-Barbera Productions
• Rough Draft Studios

Distributors

• CNX Films (2003) (UK) (TV)
• Cartoon Network
• Hollydan Works (2008) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Kids' WB (2002-2003) (USA) (TV)
• Toonami Jetstream (2006) (USA) (all media)
• YTV (2003) (Canada) (TV)

Other Companies

• 7ATE9 Entertainment  DVD production

Runtime:

30 min

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:

Tartakovsky has acknowledged taking some of his inspiration from the Frank Miller graphic novel Ronin, including the premise of a master-less samurai warrior thrown into a dystopic future ahead of our present.

Quotes:

Aku: Who dares to summon... Oh, it is YOU.

Movie Connections:

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

The Age of the Samurai has returned...

Samurai Jack is the definition of an action cartoon series.

It shows a magnificent samurai, dubbed the name Jack, on a journey to return to the past after he is sent to a dark and unwelcome future run by his archnemesis, the dark shape-shifting wizard Aku.

Along the way, he helps restore order to the forsaken wasteland run by evil controllers in often incredibly action-packed, or otherwise hilarious, ways (in one episode, Jack is turned into a rooster and is forced to take part in cock fighting--which is actually legal during that time).

Genndy Tartakouvsky is an animation genius, coming out with ideas such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and the micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars, which has a second season coming up. The artwork for Samurai Jack is beautiful and the battle scenes are well-thought and brilliantly drawn. The adventures that Jack goes through can be sometimes funny, but still are always action packed. The ideas for Jack's adventures are brilliant as well.

Overall: solid storyline, brilliant characters, well-thought adventures, beautiful artwork, and even more brilliant action.

Rating: 10 out of 10. This series rocks period.