Cowboy Bebop - Samurai/Edo Era editionMini-adventure series following two bored ronin hired by a lady to find "the samurai who smells of sunflowers"Hip-Hop Influenced9.5/10

Well, this show had a second good run. Since I was stuck with either watching it on Netflix or Toonami, I decided to watch it on Toonami, because I have enough shows to watch on Netflix already. This would be my routine on Saturday nights.The story is basically your typical type where they travel around and we get some filler - and some of them were good and funny, except for the zombie one though (that one was like it was in its own universe).But I really enjoyed the story overall, and I really liked the characters.It was a joy to watch them interact with each other and it made me laugh every time I watched them.The art style is nice, but I noticed some weird animations at points.I liked the music but I'm not really into the hip-hop stuff, which was the opening.My final thoughts: Well, this was the first time I watched it and I'm glad that I decided to watch it on Toonami. Another great hilarious anime.

First some disclaimers. I came to anime late in life, not completely understanding the power of this art form in the right hands. I have since compensated for this untoward behaviour by watching about 50 of the genre, both full length and series, sequentially, in a very short period of time. Like, days. I am currently not sure what year it is, or what country I am living in, but I know for a fact that anime is no less an art form than the stuff you stand in line for at the museums. Second disclaimer, after watching this series, I made a beeline for Cowboy Beebop -- oops sorry for the pun -- but could not get past the first in the series. (This may or may not lend credibility to the other IMDb reviewers who maintain the two series are as different as they are similar?) Disclaimers aside, this is a wonderful treat, fun, action-packed, great music, fascinating themes, and a lot hidden irony (and other treats) buried deep in the dialog for those with very sharp ears. The characters, who form a brilliant ensemble cast, are as good anything in mainstream media. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE English AUDIO. The hip-hop sub-theme is fun, never too distracting. Highly recommended. FOOTNOTES: After watching a highly concentrated mix of Japanese and American anime, my conclusion is that the Japanese product is better crafted to an entirely higher order of magnitude. My favorite so far is APPLESEED, which, no coincidence, had, I believe, the strongest story line and script to support the wonderful animation. My criticism of Japanese anime generally is that the stories tend to be considerably weaker than the animation, leaving the viewer with an "A/V high" that last for a few hours, and then you forget why you liked the product in the first place. (oops) American product is better written, period. I consider the LAST AIRBENDER series, and the feature OVER THE HEDGE, to be two of the best productions ever done in America, regardless of genre.

What really made me love "Cowboy Bebop" was how it was able to mix genre, culture, style, and music that seemed almost like an unlikely mix but turned out to hit the right notes. It's done the second time around but directed this time toward the samurai genre and hip hop music, which on a side note I'm not a fan of either one but this show is one of the exceptions I make. And this is also another of my personal favorite anime TV shows.Unlike "Cowboy Bebop" this show actually does have a plot but isn't entirely concerned about it since it's really more of a motivation device. This is a show where style over tops substance.It's just great seeing an alternate version on ancient Japan which is a blend of both old and current customs making it all the more interesting and humorous. The hip hop soundtrack is awesome it really blends in well with the action and what currently happens as the show progresses. But of course as usual it's the characters and what they do that really drive it, their colorful and three dimensional enough for us to actually care about them.Mugen whom looks like he could be an ancestor of Spike Spegel is basically reckless, irresponsible, arrogant, tough, rough, not altogether bright, a rebel without a cause and has a bit of an inflated ego complex where he at times he brags he's killed lots of people though I highly doubt it is really everything he builds it up to be. Deep down though his heart is in the right place, he is capable of doing what is right whether he wants to or not. He sort of represents a more modern western school of action since his style of fighting is sort of your conventional swordplay mixed with break dancing.Jin who looks like actor Christian Bale is sort of the passive aggressive type. A man of very few words, he really doesn't say much in the show sometimes and when he does talk it's a very soft even voice. He's a silent rebel, doesn't bend to anyone and does the right thing when needed. He's represents the old school type of action since his style is based on the martial art Bushido, his moves are more precise but always quick as lighting.Fuu is naive in a good or bad way, worst of all seems to be a magnet for trouble even though she's not looking for it. She of course is sort of the mediator for the two, but whenever she turns her back both of them tend to duke it out. She's very sweet, feminine, smart'clever making her at times one step ahead as well as helpful or unhelpful for the two.The dynamic between all of them is sort of like any buddy buddy/buddy cop film, a road trip movie, or heck even a noir film since all three of them have hidden motives that we see as the show progresses. It's just fun and funny seeing the interplay between them all, despite their disagreements and grief they give one another subconsciously they are all close friends. Indeed it does show since despite the time both Jim and Mugen fight they never land one blow on one another as well as get untimely interrupted (may'be that's fate's way of telling them something). Both always work together to rescue Fuu whenever she's in trouble even though they didn't have to. All three of them seem to hold more conversations then the other people they talk to, but most of all they can trust one another the most. These characters really don't have anyone else in their lives which is why they mix; most of the people in their past or even present either have used them or betrayed them in some way.Dance to this Samurai Beat.Rating: 4 stars