Samurai Jack = Sheer Brilliance?

Unquestionably.

Visionary, unique, gorgeous to look at. It’s genius stuff.

(And yes, Jack in a loincloth is hot.)

What service do you use to get them Askia, I’ve searched on Kazaa and got nuttin’

the first movie/three episodes is out on DVD and includes an additional episode (not watched it in a while).

I LOVE the asthetics of the show, but sometimes- not very often, just sometimes- the actual storytelling really drags for me! But I must also admit I’ve not seen very much of it, so I’m not really one to pass comment.

At risk of enraging the anime-fanatics, I would say this is BETTER than the bulk of anime product. But then, I’d rather not say that, because animation is animation, let’s not be so elitist as to partition the world when discussing wonderful cartoons! Let’s just say Samurai Jack is damn beautiful cartoonses!

Wow… I should take lessons in subtlety from you, Askia.

And, yeah, I guess I didn’t know what the “official” SDMB stance on filesharing and discussing it was.

And I have no idea why you bring up “codes” and stuff in the last paragraph. Isn’t that kind of a non-sequiter? I mean, what in the world does that have to with anything? wink wink

My 3 year old likes to climb up in her daddy’s lap and watch it with him.

The think I like best about Samaurai Jack is its meta-mythology, and that the show respects its viewers enough not to spoon feed them the backstory.

For example, in the Origin of Aku story [spolier] We learn that Jack’s sword was forged not just by monks as previously described, but by Gods.

A big bearded Nordic guy with one eye, a bird-headed Egyptian, and a blue-skinned Indian with four arms. Now, everyone who knows anything about world mythology knows who I’m talking about, and the show doesn’t spell it out for us, having each diety introduce itself, and give a list of powers. I like it when a show realizes that I’m not an idiot. [/spoiler]

Oops.

I blame Aku.

Our pop culture is gross and lowbrow and we are not deserving of the likes of Samurai Jack. The nobility! The sacrifice! The ass-kicking!

The 90-minute pilot is out on DVD and worth owning. I am watching eagerly for any news of a season-by-season DVD release.

Arghh! The second half of “The origin of Aku” was on last night, or at least it would have been if the power was on. Now I’m all grumpy.

I may just have to get that DVD to compensate. Yeah, that’s it. “No. There is no escape.” What an excellent line…

Oh, and I definitely agree with Johnny Bravo about the dark ninja episode. That was possibly the most visually original thing I’ve seen on television in years.

AT one point in the Origin of Aku, we see Aku’s reflection in a puddle as rain falls into the puddle.

Now, normally in a cartoon, we’d just see a flat reflection in the puddle with expanding concentric white rings showing that there were rain drops hitting it.

The puddle and Aku’s reflection rippled.

I almost fell off the couch.

Completely freakin’ amazing.

I also admit to greatly liking this show. While I haven’t seen them all by a long shot, I have seen quite a few, and it really is an inspiring show.

The Blind Archer episode is phenominal in showing us how Jack tries to hone his sense of hearing to combat the archers.

Really amazing stuff. I was very impressed the first time I saw it.

I can’t add anything to the discussion, except to chime in and say I’m a big fan, and that I watch entirely too much Cartoon Network for a 30-something with no kids.

I saw the last half of an episode (aka, the extended fight scene) which took place in a blank white space & Jack and the Enemy were solid black shapes. There was a bit of strobing going on, too, IIRC. Was that the Dark Ninja episode?

One of my recent favorites is the Egyptian one. Shows jack as a kid playing in Egypt with young friends. The grand-scale ancient Egyptian scenery/architecture was gorgeous.

But I think my favorite (other than the Scotsman eps) is the one with the lava-man. The style of the section where the creature tells his story is fascinating minimalist/animated hide carvings. And the final scene……showing the slain Viking standing in Valhalla is another gorgeous depiction. IMHO, Genddy T. could make a righteous spin-off show just about ancient Norse mythology. Mmmm, Valkyries…

And I’ll say it again - Aku is no-doubt the most shiver-inducing villain in 'toons.

Jack was a solid white shape. But yes, that’s the one.

Yes! Samuri Jack! IMHO- the best cartoon…ever.

i’m in the midst of writing a glowing critique of it for a writing course I’m doing, and in trying to pin down its manifold appeal I think it boils down to this- the storyline and the characters are created in such a way that it is instantly accessible to kids, yet it’s visually so stunning, and addresses such “deep” themes that it’s worthy of serious adult attention and discussion.

One of my favourite episodes is the one where Jack meets up with the 3 travellers who are going to climb a huge mountain in search of a thing of great power at the top. Jack tags along, thinking it might be something to aid him in his quest- but he finds nothing at the top of the mountain- except the knowledge that he will never be defeated by Aku, just as he did not let the mountain defeat him. Awesome.

Plus, the fight scenes kick bucket loads of ass

I only saw one episode… I seem to recall scientists? Whenever they calculated the odds was hilarious…

I sooo wanna see more of them. I wish I had cable still sighs

Cartoon Network is always kinda fun. I also liked Clone High. Not all the episodes were great but c’mon… Joan of Arc is HOT!!!

After Jack has survived armies, assassins, bounty hunters, robot death machines, aliens, monsters, mutants and demons, I loved it when Aku screams in frustration: "WHY don’t you DIIIIIE?

BTW: What does the circle with four inward slashes that Jack uses it as his sign mean in Japanese?

Askia.

Cut it out.

First warning.

Cartoon Network NEEDS to release DVDs of Samurai Jack.

I love it. The cinematography. The heroes. The villains. The ass-kicking.

Bloody brilliant.

The episode with the basket-robots…it was so…intense. Very Old West, somehow.

Also, the one with the haunted house…that one actually gave me the shivers. A cartoon. Gave me the shivers. Gahhh. Madness.

And what about the pimp-samurai wannabe? Priceless.

It’s all brilliance.