Samurai Jack

Locked in mortal combat with his arch nemesis, an evil demon-wizard, the ancient samurai warrior is catapulted into a dark future. In this chaotic reality, he is known only as Jack.

The Seven Swanky Samurai Code Of Bushido:

I. SCI-FI WASABI
II. AKU’S LABORATORY
III. JACK SAMURAI – ROBOT FIGHTER
IV. ADULT SWIM
V. LET THE DOGS DO THE TALKING
VI. TARTAKOVSKY, THE MERCILESSLY GENUINE
VII. I’LL BE BACK TO THE FUTURE

I. SCI-FI WASABI

A long, long time ago in a feudal land of swords and sorcery a lone samurai was destined to carry out his family’s tradition to battle an evil wizard bent on laying waste to his peaceful land.
His task was as clear as the good he stood for and the evil he fought, he must single-handedly defeat the demon using only his mind, his might and the legendary saber he brandished.

Before the demon could once again be vanquished, he tricks the samurai sending him spiraling deep into a twisted future where the demon has become all powerful, reigning havoc throughout the cosmos. This is the curse for Samurai Jack.

II. AKU’S LABORATORY

"Always be aware, for the presence of evil is sometimes right behind you."

The wizard-demon Aku, whose very name literally means “evil” in Japanese, has ascended three times to exert his fearsome dominion over the world. Each time he has been beaten back by the chosen samurai. To avoid yet another defeat, Aku propels the dedicated young samurai forward into the future, where he finds that Aku’s influence has extended beyond the surface of the Earth stretching throughout the vast void of space. This is a place made in the image of a mad-minded overlord. The entire environment can become the samurai’s opponent at any moment.

Thanks to Aku, Jack’s foes are limitless. His task growing more difficult with each turn. Jack might need an extra cup of coffee to get through this paper route.

III. JACK SAMURAI – ROBOT FIGHTER

Trained from birth to take up the way of the samurai against the evil oppressor Aku, Jack was sent around the world to train and study with the greatest teachers from Tibetan monks to Greek philosophers. Through these disciplines, Jack has embodied the virtues of Bushido, becoming the “superior man” as described by the great Yamaga Soko. Jack is the ultimate hero.

Violence. As Cartoony as it may be, it’s not okay to see your hero making mince meat of human foes. Ah, but Jack fights the evil in a fantastical future world, in other words, he goes to toe-to-toe with the likes of fire breathing robots! How cool, how cool! Samurai steel versus robotic circular saws. The result is more action than a Bruce Lee film fest. Better than seeing Conan battle the robots from The Black Hole movie. It’s not everyday that your neighborhood gets rampaged by monstrous minions created by an evil wizard. Slice and dice, razor man!

IV. ADULT SWIM

To drive in traffic, you gotta see the big picture. Samurai Jack is the Mac truck on Cartoon Network’s super highway, taking up all eight lanes.

The Adult Swim block on the network’s nighttime line up has made great strides to expand the animation audience and expelling the myth that cartoons are just for kids.

Samurai Jack occupies a unique space, bridging the gap between these two viewing groups. Cool enough for kids, artistically appealing for the older crowd. An extravaganza of sight and sound. For good measure and much enjoyment, the soundtrack goes far beyond the norm. Blending tribal tones with techno and hip-hop beats. Something video games have been doing for years.

Action is the name of the game here. Jack is the strong silent type with no sidekick. The show’s poetically simple format can maintain an elegant display of glorious visual excitement for more than 15 minutes without a single word spoken. Cartoons just don’t do stuff like that!

V. LET THE DOGS DO THE TALKING

"I have seen Aku implement these atrocities before. But no more. Even dogs should not be forced to live like dogs."

The Samurai called Jack finds himself in a strange land populated by aliens, robots, flying cars and talking dogs. This is a reality as only Aku could envision. Well, maybe Hanna and Barbara could too. Certainly the show draws from its own roots. One of the many things that give it its power. Like Jack himself, this show gains strength from its ancestors.

In this land, talking dogs can hire Jack to fight an army of giant insectoid robots in order to help free them from Aku’s slavery. Huckleberry Hound never had it so good.

VI. TARTAKOVSKY, THE MERCILESSLY GENUINE

Samurai_Jack was created by Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of the hit show Dexter's Laboratory and producer of the ultimate crime-fighting trio, The Powerpuff Girls.

The show was created to fill a void in Genndy’s medulla oblongata. A little bit Battle of the Planets, a helping of Dragonball and a few slices of Thundarr the Barbarian, all guided by the aura of Akira Kurosawa – these are some of the influences that led to Tartakovsky creating the cutting edge animated show.

But mostly it was the stuff he grew up on as a kid. The things he’s always aspired to do and be. In constant pursuit of recreating that feeling of his own childhood toon viewing days, Genndy conceived of a show that he would have loved to watch.

With a motive like that, you just know it comes from a good place. After a single viewing, it may change your expectations of cartoons forever.

VII. I’LL BE BACK TO THE FUTURE

Stranded in this netherworld, Jack decides he will help save the inhabitants of this bleak future. However, he must strive to find a way back to his past so he can destroy Aku before this future ever happens. This is the way of Samurai Jack.

He is noble. He is benevolent. He is righteous. He is samurai. He is Jack.