Samuel L. Jackson‘s inhabited many iconic roles, from Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Jackson’s fans might know that he was also part of an epic anime series, Afro Samurai. Based on the manga by Takashi Okazaki, Afro Samurai delivers an action-packed, blood-soaked tribute to samurai films, including the work of Akira Kurosawa and Takashi Miike. It also wouldn’t exist without Jackson’s involvement; when the anime studio Gonzo created a concept trailer for Afro Samurai, it happened to catch Jackson’s eye.
Jackson would work as an executive producer on Afro Samurai, while also voicing the titular character, Afro. Jackson had previously expressed his love for anime in an interview, telling Comics Online: “I’ve been trolling the comic book world forever. And through doing that, I got turned on to things like Ninja Scroll. Also, when I was in Japan, they gave me a big box of the stuff…And I sat and watched a bunch of it, and knew what was going on even though it was all in Japanese. They hadn’t put any subtitles on it.” Afro Samurai is the culmination of that fandom.
What Is ‘Afro Samurai’ About?
Afro Samurai takes place in a world where the greatest warriors are defined by the “Number 1” and “Number 2” headbands; only the Number 2 headband can challenge the Number 1, leading to bloody wars breaking out. A young Afro witnesses his father Rokutaro, who wears the Number 1 headband, fight the gunslinger Justice (Ron Perlman)…only for Justice to kill Rokutaro and take the Number 1 headband. Years later, a grown-up Afro wears the Number 2 headband and seeks vengeance upon Justice for killing his father. In the process, he has to come to terms with the ghosts of his past, both figuratively —especially with his imaginary companion Ninja Ninja, who’s also voiced by Jackson —and literally as he encounters his childhood friends Otsuru and Jinnosuke, who both have been changed by his actions. Throughout Afro Samurai, Afro also has to battle multiple assassins who want to claim the Number 2 headband for himself, including the warmongering monks that make up the Empty 7 clan.
Like Other Great Samurai Stories, ‘Afro Samurai’ Features Bloody Swordfights & Meditations on Violence
Afro Samurai is best known for its high-adrenaline sword battles, which grow more violent and more over-the-top as the series goes on. Just for an example: the very first fight scene with Afro features him surrounded by a group of warriors who want the Number 2 headband. One of those warriors carries a musket, who fires it at Afro…but the titular samurai draws his sword and carves through the musket ball, shattering it and sending the fragments spraying into his opponents. It leads to a bloodbath where Afro hacks off limbs, decapitates bandits, and leaves a trail of blood in his wake. His battle against the Empty 7 Clan is no less intense, especially since the monks have built a robot version of Afro that’s programmed with his every move. Afro and his robotic double trade blow for blow, until the real warrior emerges victorious. Even the opening fight between Rokutaro and Justice will have viewers on the edge of their seats; how can a swordsman as skilled as Rokutaro manage to fight a gunslinger? For that matter, what makes Justice worthy of the Number One headband? The answers lead to a revelation that fits right into Afro Samurai’s steampunk world.
But like any great samurai story, Afro Samurai isn’t just about the bloodshed and blades. It’s a meditation on the cycle of violence and revenge, and what it will cost you. Afro is a prime example of this: following his father’s death, he was taken in by a swordsmaster who taught him his fighting skills. But it turns out that the same swordsmaster owned the Number 2 headband, leading warriors to attack his orphanage and kill most of the orphans under his care, and Afro to kill him. The guilt of his actions led Afro to create Ninja Ninja to cope, while Jinnosuke was rebuilt into a half-machine, half-man hellbent on killing Afro. Even Justice calls out Afro on the murders he’s committed: “I thought all those souls you sent to Heaven behind you…mattered. But only now you see…your little anger is just a sea spray of blood in the endless ocean of this world’s killing. It’s got no end. And no beginning. Just the strong and the dead.” It’s a statement that only underlines how empty revenge can leave a person.
‘Afro Samurai’ Would Spawn a Franchise, Including a Film and Two Video Games
Afro Samurai became a smash hit as ts mix of bloody violence and deep story, along with the incredible soundtrack by The RZA, made it a must-watch for anime fans. A sequel would come a year after Afro Samurai‘s release, in the form of a film titled Afro Samurai: Resurrection. Having beaten Justice and become the Number 1 warrior, Afro is drawn into a new cycle of bloodshed and revenge, and forced to face his resurrected father. Two video games were also produced by Namco, with the first blending elements from the original manga and the anime to make a new story. There were even plans for a live action film that never came to pass. Afro Samurai‘s legacy lives on in other anime, including Cannon Busters and Yasuke on Netflix, and it’s a reminder that Samuel L. Jackson is a badass in any medium.
Afro Samurai is available to stream on Hulu.
