2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Yukio Okazaki
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Natsuko Takahashi
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
With roaming patrols of bandits scouring the lands in search of a large group of samurai, our heroes decide to divide into three groups, two samurai per farmer, and meet up just outside the village. Kikuchiyo is, of course, dismissed to do whatever he wants.
In the first group, Shichiroji does his best to calm Kirara, who openly confronts steely Kyuzo with her fears about his loyalties and his continued desire to cut Kambei down in a duel. While it's definitely a departure from the original, I very much enjoy their fresh take on Kyuzo, not only making him a skilled professional of the highest degree, but making his true goals unstated and ambiguous, allowing others to freely project their own hopes and fears against him.
The second group is led by Kambei, but mostly consists of boisterous Kikuchio and rambunctious Komachi teasing young Katsuhiro for a perceived crush he has on Kirara. It's all in good fun, but there's also some nice reflection from the rookie when Kambei challenges him with the question, "Why do you want to be a samurai?"
And then we get to the third, where Gorobei, Heihachi, and an embarrassed Rikichi get through some bandit patrols by disguising themselves as a travelling trio of drag queen performers. As I'm sure you can guess, hilarity ensues.
It's a good episode, acting as a nice final breath-catcher before everyone arrives at their shared destination and begins work. There's some action, some laughs, some moments of introspection, but by breaking everyone up into subgroups, we finally get a solid sense of how everyone has established their role in the broader team, and the dynamics that develop as a result.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
September 18, 2009
September 10, 2009
Samurai 7 #9: The Bandits
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Toru Yoshida
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
The central action of the series gets a bit of an early start as the bandits, having learned about the hiring of the samurai, ambush our heroes as they near the farming village. I love the idea behind these baddies, that they were once noble samurai who grew addicted to their power over cowering peasants, as well as an endless steroidal desire to cybernetically make themselves bigger and better and stronger until all that's left are these gigantic mechanized monoliths armed with swords five storeys long.
And, yet, our human heroes are still able to cut them down with ease. My one problem is that it's never explained exactly why samurai are capable of such superhuman feats. Is there a difference in gravity in this world? Is genetic engineering involved? Merely a statement on human evolution amongst the cosmos? It's great to see them hack battle ships in two and the use of their abilities is consistent, but I still wish they'd slip in some form of explanation as to why such things are possible.
Anyway, we get guns! Anybody familiar with the original film knows that firearms play a very important part when it comes to the seven samurai, their strategy, and their partial loss. Now, here, they do try to slip in a bit of a explanation as to why such devices aren't more common place in this steam punk society, but I don't think the answer that no samurai would dishonor himself by carrying a gun is enough. You just know the bandits have already crossed that ethical line and their mecha bodies would be laden with the things. Hell, they should just drop in a line that the chemicals needed for that particular form of projectile combustion is rare in this pocket of the universe.
So, yeah, we've got two little plot holes, but the series still has plenty of time left to fill them. It's more than made up for with the action of this episode, as well as steely samurai Kyuzo finally picking a side, Kikuchiyo hijinks, Katsuhiro showing off some skills, a farmer explaining why she's been snitching for the bandits, and the Shikima acting as mysterious as ever.
Great stuff.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Toru Yoshida
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
The central action of the series gets a bit of an early start as the bandits, having learned about the hiring of the samurai, ambush our heroes as they near the farming village. I love the idea behind these baddies, that they were once noble samurai who grew addicted to their power over cowering peasants, as well as an endless steroidal desire to cybernetically make themselves bigger and better and stronger until all that's left are these gigantic mechanized monoliths armed with swords five storeys long.
And, yet, our human heroes are still able to cut them down with ease. My one problem is that it's never explained exactly why samurai are capable of such superhuman feats. Is there a difference in gravity in this world? Is genetic engineering involved? Merely a statement on human evolution amongst the cosmos? It's great to see them hack battle ships in two and the use of their abilities is consistent, but I still wish they'd slip in some form of explanation as to why such things are possible.
Anyway, we get guns! Anybody familiar with the original film knows that firearms play a very important part when it comes to the seven samurai, their strategy, and their partial loss. Now, here, they do try to slip in a bit of a explanation as to why such devices aren't more common place in this steam punk society, but I don't think the answer that no samurai would dishonor himself by carrying a gun is enough. You just know the bandits have already crossed that ethical line and their mecha bodies would be laden with the things. Hell, they should just drop in a line that the chemicals needed for that particular form of projectile combustion is rare in this pocket of the universe.
So, yeah, we've got two little plot holes, but the series still has plenty of time left to fill them. It's more than made up for with the action of this episode, as well as steely samurai Kyuzo finally picking a side, Kikuchiyo hijinks, Katsuhiro showing off some skills, a farmer explaining why she's been snitching for the bandits, and the Shikima acting as mysterious as ever.
Great stuff.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
September 9, 2009
Samurai 7 #8: The Guardians
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Hirofumi Ogura
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Having escaped the magistrate's forces in the partially flooded caverns beneath and beyond the city, our heroes come across the Shikimori, bizarre mechanical mole men who build electric fuel cells for the city, as well as offer room and board to homeless farmers willing to grow their crops ... all while never speaking and hanging from the ceiling like bats, electric eyes always open. When we learn they also supply fuel cells to the massive cybernetic bandits, in exchange for some of that stolen rice, bitter farmer Rikichi snaps and threatens to break multiple uneasy truces.
After a bit of a stumble last episode, this series is back in top form, establishing a no-win societal scenario where a group of classes are forced to go against their better judgment and work together because it's the only thing that guarantees mutual survival. This is the type of place Kurosawa brought to life so well, where easy answers are hard to come by and one should never be quick to judge. Hell, even Rikichi, during a furious rant, reveals some shadier aspects of his own past.
It's yet another excellent episode with more stunning design work, a healthy blend of tones, solid characters that are settling into some perfect dynamics, and some damn good storytelling.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Hirofumi Ogura
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Having escaped the magistrate's forces in the partially flooded caverns beneath and beyond the city, our heroes come across the Shikimori, bizarre mechanical mole men who build electric fuel cells for the city, as well as offer room and board to homeless farmers willing to grow their crops ... all while never speaking and hanging from the ceiling like bats, electric eyes always open. When we learn they also supply fuel cells to the massive cybernetic bandits, in exchange for some of that stolen rice, bitter farmer Rikichi snaps and threatens to break multiple uneasy truces.
After a bit of a stumble last episode, this series is back in top form, establishing a no-win societal scenario where a group of classes are forced to go against their better judgment and work together because it's the only thing that guarantees mutual survival. This is the type of place Kurosawa brought to life so well, where easy answers are hard to come by and one should never be quick to judge. Hell, even Rikichi, during a furious rant, reveals some shadier aspects of his own past.
It's yet another excellent episode with more stunning design work, a healthy blend of tones, solid characters that are settling into some perfect dynamics, and some damn good storytelling.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
Samurai 7 #7: The Friend
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Hiroyuki Okuno
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Shuichi Koyama
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Still pursued by the magistrate's son, Ukyo, and his armed police force, our heroes duck into the shady depth of the city's red light district. Right up front, things go a little off as the first few minutes are animated in a loose, lanky style reminiscent of Peter Chung. It's still well done, but glaring in the face of the clean style typically seen in this series.
But it's worth it as we meet the seventh potential member of our group. Kambei's "old wife", Shichiroji (Tohru Kusano) is a calm, dedicated man who served under the noble samurai in the great war. Renouncing his warrior status, he fell in love with a geisha and now lives a peaceful life as bodyguard of her inn. It's an interesting character with a romance that raises questions about bridging classes, something I'm sure will play out well down the road, and I like how he's the only one of the group who no longer has his sword.
It's not a perfect episode, being a little simplistic in it's plot, not playing up the dynamic of the team enough, and dropping the annoying Ukyo once again onto the front lines. Hell, even the class exploration of the red light district, declaring independence until the ruling merchants pay for blades to be drawn, could've been explore a bit more. But I still liked it. Uneven in both content and delivery, and the weakest episode so far, but still stronger than half the anime out there. And the antics of Kikuchiyo are always good for a laugh.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Hiroyuki Okuno
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Shuichi Koyama
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Still pursued by the magistrate's son, Ukyo, and his armed police force, our heroes duck into the shady depth of the city's red light district. Right up front, things go a little off as the first few minutes are animated in a loose, lanky style reminiscent of Peter Chung. It's still well done, but glaring in the face of the clean style typically seen in this series.
But it's worth it as we meet the seventh potential member of our group. Kambei's "old wife", Shichiroji (Tohru Kusano) is a calm, dedicated man who served under the noble samurai in the great war. Renouncing his warrior status, he fell in love with a geisha and now lives a peaceful life as bodyguard of her inn. It's an interesting character with a romance that raises questions about bridging classes, something I'm sure will play out well down the road, and I like how he's the only one of the group who no longer has his sword.
It's not a perfect episode, being a little simplistic in it's plot, not playing up the dynamic of the team enough, and dropping the annoying Ukyo once again onto the front lines. Hell, even the class exploration of the red light district, declaring independence until the ruling merchants pay for blades to be drawn, could've been explore a bit more. But I still liked it. Uneven in both content and delivery, and the weakest episode so far, but still stronger than half the anime out there. And the antics of Kikuchiyo are always good for a laugh.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
Samurai 7 #6: The Fool
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Mitsuo Kusakabe
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Hisaya Takabayashi
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
An imperial envoy to the city is found brutally murdered; the only evidence on scene being a bloody sword. Ayamaro, the city's magistrate, thus orders that all samurai must be rounded up until the guilty party can be sifted out. Offered up to the citizens as reward are bales of rice, likely the stolen ones that started this whole thing.
From the moment of his introduction, I've absolutely loved the portrayal of boisterous cyborg Kikuchiyo, the roaring, clumsy brawler so desperate to be thought of as a samurai, and this episode swings a nice arc for him. Deciding these new samurai hunts would be a great way to force some more warriors into their group, he allows himself to be arrested so as to stage a big prison break. Unfortunately, he not only makes off with the type of weak warriors who have been taken advantage of the farmers and their dwindling rice, but he accidentally leads the police to the rest of our heroes.
It's great to see this clunking mechanical man filled with so much life an animation, not to mention the endearing roar of Kong Kuwata, despite lacking anything resembling a face. And as the heroes decide to escape the city through it's massive sewer system, and are forced to work as a team for the first time (though still two members short) during a tense action sequence on a pair of vertical railway cars, it's Kikuchiyo who constantly rises to the occasion ... though his willingness to sacrifice himself may have paid off a bit earlier than he anticipated.
It's yet another great episode in a great series, where the creative team shows they can successfully stray from the source material of Kurosawa's classic film, building original sequences that are strong, deep, and still explore the rich characters and ambiguous class politics the legendary filmmaker was so well known for.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Mitsuo Kusakabe
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Hisaya Takabayashi
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
An imperial envoy to the city is found brutally murdered; the only evidence on scene being a bloody sword. Ayamaro, the city's magistrate, thus orders that all samurai must be rounded up until the guilty party can be sifted out. Offered up to the citizens as reward are bales of rice, likely the stolen ones that started this whole thing.
From the moment of his introduction, I've absolutely loved the portrayal of boisterous cyborg Kikuchiyo, the roaring, clumsy brawler so desperate to be thought of as a samurai, and this episode swings a nice arc for him. Deciding these new samurai hunts would be a great way to force some more warriors into their group, he allows himself to be arrested so as to stage a big prison break. Unfortunately, he not only makes off with the type of weak warriors who have been taken advantage of the farmers and their dwindling rice, but he accidentally leads the police to the rest of our heroes.
It's great to see this clunking mechanical man filled with so much life an animation, not to mention the endearing roar of Kong Kuwata, despite lacking anything resembling a face. And as the heroes decide to escape the city through it's massive sewer system, and are forced to work as a team for the first time (though still two members short) during a tense action sequence on a pair of vertical railway cars, it's Kikuchiyo who constantly rises to the occasion ... though his willingness to sacrifice himself may have paid off a bit earlier than he anticipated.
It's yet another great episode in a great series, where the creative team shows they can successfully stray from the source material of Kurosawa's classic film, building original sequences that are strong, deep, and still explore the rich characters and ambiguous class politics the legendary filmmaker was so well known for.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
Samurai 7 #5: The Drifter
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Shunusuke Tada
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Natsuko Takahashi
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Our villagers are running out of rice and having very little success when it comes to recruiting new samurai. They only have two of the required seven so far, with young Katsuhiro and blunt Kikuchiyo still being brushed off as unfit by Kambei. Enter Heihachi.
Easily my favorite samurai from the original film (due, in large part, to the warm performance of Minoru Chiaki), the round-faced design and easy going performance of Junji Inukai perfectly capture his constant smile and inviting sense of humor. Following tradition, he's a samurai who served in the Great War, but never got a chance to see actual combat, so he just drifts from town to town, using his sword to pay the way by chopping wood or carving perfect toothpicks. To flavor things a bit more, the creative team has also given him engineering skills, demonstrated in a big battle when he seems to abandon our heroes at first, but is really constructing an elaborate, ingenious trap.
It's a wonderful episode, and I'm joyed to see how well the team is pulling together. It's also great to see other moments from the classic film reappear, like a peek back at the town where a panicky father worries what the samurai will do to the village daughters, or Kikuchiyo producing an elaborate family tree to prove his samurai lineage, only for the rest to pick it apart and prove it was stolen from a kid with the same name. Excellent, excellent stuff, and all retold through fresh, talented eyes.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Shunusuke Tada
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and Natsuko Takahashi
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Our villagers are running out of rice and having very little success when it comes to recruiting new samurai. They only have two of the required seven so far, with young Katsuhiro and blunt Kikuchiyo still being brushed off as unfit by Kambei. Enter Heihachi.
Easily my favorite samurai from the original film (due, in large part, to the warm performance of Minoru Chiaki), the round-faced design and easy going performance of Junji Inukai perfectly capture his constant smile and inviting sense of humor. Following tradition, he's a samurai who served in the Great War, but never got a chance to see actual combat, so he just drifts from town to town, using his sword to pay the way by chopping wood or carving perfect toothpicks. To flavor things a bit more, the creative team has also given him engineering skills, demonstrated in a big battle when he seems to abandon our heroes at first, but is really constructing an elaborate, ingenious trap.
It's a wonderful episode, and I'm joyed to see how well the team is pulling together. It's also great to see other moments from the classic film reappear, like a peek back at the town where a panicky father worries what the samurai will do to the village daughters, or Kikuchiyo producing an elaborate family tree to prove his samurai lineage, only for the rest to pick it apart and prove it was stolen from a kid with the same name. Excellent, excellent stuff, and all retold through fresh, talented eyes.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
September 1, 2009
Samurai 7 #4: The Loner
2004 episode
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Futoshi Higashide
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Kyuzo, the potential fifth member of the group, is introduced this episode, and he's every bit the steely-eyed professional of the original film. Barely saying a word, his dual-sword action gives even the skilled Kambei a run for his money. But there's a twist! Instead of being a wondering ronin the group randomly comes across, he's a samurai in the service of Ayamaro, the uncaring magistrate of the city and father to perverse Ukyo, and is actually tasked with doing what various groups of hired blades have been unable to do: kill our heroes.
It really is an interesting spin on the character, and Shinichiro Miki delivers his few line in a perfectly clipped tone, but the visual design of the character feels off, with designer clothes, supermodel good looks, and a ridiculous scabbard that, in reality, would be cumbersome and ineffective.
But that's about it. It's an otherwise fine episode with some beautifully crafted action sequences, good bonding between our lead cast as their dynamics settle into place, some good exploration of class politics through the slimy dealings of Ukyo, and a few good laughs thanks to Kikuchiyo's boisterous recklessness.
I wish I could say more, but this episode was lean and too the point, effectively setting up a nice dynamic between Kyuzo and Kambei that will be very interesting to explore down the road.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and Futoshi Higashide
written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
based on the film SEVEN SAMURAI by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
(1954 film)
(previous)
(next)
Kyuzo, the potential fifth member of the group, is introduced this episode, and he's every bit the steely-eyed professional of the original film. Barely saying a word, his dual-sword action gives even the skilled Kambei a run for his money. But there's a twist! Instead of being a wondering ronin the group randomly comes across, he's a samurai in the service of Ayamaro, the uncaring magistrate of the city and father to perverse Ukyo, and is actually tasked with doing what various groups of hired blades have been unable to do: kill our heroes.
It really is an interesting spin on the character, and Shinichiro Miki delivers his few line in a perfectly clipped tone, but the visual design of the character feels off, with designer clothes, supermodel good looks, and a ridiculous scabbard that, in reality, would be cumbersome and ineffective.
But that's about it. It's an otherwise fine episode with some beautifully crafted action sequences, good bonding between our lead cast as their dynamics settle into place, some good exploration of class politics through the slimy dealings of Ukyo, and a few good laughs thanks to Kikuchiyo's boisterous recklessness.
I wish I could say more, but this episode was lean and too the point, effectively setting up a nice dynamic between Kyuzo and Kambei that will be very interesting to explore down the road.
(series trailer)
(opening)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(purchase)
(official website)
(wikipedia)
(anime news network)
(internet movie database)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)