Story (8/10):
Although this sounds like an excuse, Samurai Champloo does not need a deeply enthralling plot of epic proportions to be good. Samurai Champloo is episodic. This means that each episode or two will have a subplot with a major goal on the side for the entire anime. Most of the subplots are fair enough. The shenanigans of Jin and Mugen, two main male characters, are very fun. The plot, overall, is simple and straightforward. 2 samurais and a random girl go on a journey to find a samurai that smells of sunflowers. What I enjoy of the story is the era in which it takes place. There are a few samurai, here and there, but in Samurai Champloo, their time is coming to a close. Conflicts are sometimes different from the straightforward samurai approach to things. When people want power, they will not just kill people, they will keep them alive and exploit them instead. Being thrust in the middle of these two things, this new era and tradition, is a major foundation for Samurai Champloo.
Art (8/10):
Honestly, I don't know how to grade older art. Samurai Champloo certainly looks solid, but compared to the newer, more colourful art styles I've seen before , the visuals are hard to rate. In general, Samurai Champloo is less colourful than other animes. It is more grounded and persay, a more realistic style? What is amazing about the art is the fight scenes. The directors know how to make good action scenes. Samurai Champloo has some amazing fight choreography with how fast, energetic and crazy Mugen slashes and how precise Jin strikes. These moments are engaging and hard to look away from. If you want swift katana fights with plenty of noob (random people who are a lot weaker than main characters) stomping, Samurai Champloo should fit the bill just right. The fights are definitely some of the high points of this anime.
Sound (10/10):
This has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. Background songs are chill af and have this hip-hop vibe that is addictive as eating a whole bag of Lays chips on a Monday afternoon. The music heavily complements how the anime feels and plays out to the viewer. It heavily relieves tension and is great for not just watching the anime, but outside standalone as well. The soundtrack is great for studying and background music in your own life! However, in order to truly appreciate the soundtrack, you have to fill your own memories with this anime, so that every track receives additional significance from its original prupose. Other than the OST, the OP, I would say, is different? I mean it is rap, which is incredibly unique for an anime opening. Although the song is a bit prickly at first, it should warm up on you in time. The ED is great. It sounds and feels like a true classic.
Characters (8/10):
What I like about Samurai Champloo is the lack of tropes in an anime. I have watched a decent amount of anime where you kinda expect stupid events to happen such as a girl randomly falling for the male protagonist, etc. The characters in Samurai Champloo feature none of that and WILL have decently fleshed out backstories as they progress on their journey. The cast, in general, is very likeable, although I'm sure many will find Mugen as the favourite. His fighting style and "I don't care about anything" attitude come off as charismatic. I am also glad that the female lead, Fuu, is not annoying. That's a relief!
Enjoyment (9/10):
The change in pace from heavily tense anime to something more relaxing is something I found incredibly enjoyable. The comedy in this anime is crazy good and there is one episode near the end that made me laugh really hard. Once you couple great comedy with awesome action, you have a great enjoyment factor in an anime.
Overall (9/10):
It is hard to go wrong with Samurai Champloo. From the art, the soundtrack, and the comedy, it is a very well-rounded anime. There are few to none cons unless you care about deep plot, romance, deeper characters, or a more anime-esque colour palette for the art. I found none of these aspects to be a big deal and found myself smiling at how chill Samurai Champloo can be. Anime is a medium of entertainment and Samurai Champloo is just solid fun that you can enjoy at your own pace, on your lunch breaks, after a hard day at work, or a crazy university test. It can be there waiting for you and ready to give you a smile.
