Omnia sunt Communia Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Samurai Jack is a 4-time Emmy award-winning American animated television series created by animator Genndy Tartakovsky that aired on Cartoon Network from 2001 until 2004. It is noted for its highly detailed, outline-free, masking-based animation, as well as for its cinematic style and pacing. The plots of individual episodes range from dark and epic to light-hearted and comic, but typically follow Jack in his singular quest to find a method of traveling back in time. Many of the battle scenes in the series are reminiscent of samurai films, and since Jack's robotic enemies "bleed" oil or electricity and monsters/aliens bleed slime or goo, the series is able to exhibit the action of these films while avoiding censorship for violence. Feature FilmThere had been plans for a Samurai Jack movie that were in development in 2002. But this project was canceled after the lackluster performance of The Powerpuff Girls Movie. In an interview, Tartakovsky confirmed that "Jack will come back" and that "we will finish the story, and there will be an animated film." It is also stated on the inside jacket of the Season 4 DVD that Genndy still thinks the best way to finish the story is to do a feature-length movie, and goes on to state that this will hopefully be in the "near future". Newly formed production company Frederator Films has announced in Variety that one of their first projects will be a feature film adaptation of Samurai Jack, written and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoda Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I used to love Samurai Jack when I was younger, there was always a really memorable episode involving a seemingly never-ending bridge and an angry Scotsman with the beard the size of a small car. It'd be great to catch up on this, it's not one of those cartoons that's excessively deep, but you can get lost in it all the same. The same guys that animate this animate the Star Wars: Clone Wars cartoon don't they? The style looks remarkably similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthYENIK Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Yeah, same guy did both cartoons, as well as Dexter's Laboratory. Jack is a great cartoon. Probably the greatest American action cartoon. The episodes seem to have more substance than most cartoons dream about having. It's also got a real mythical feel to it. The character of Jack is a real good mix of a veteran hero and one still learning and adapting to his surroundings. All in all, it's a very entertaining show. EDIT: I forgot about Batman the Animated Series, so this would have to be bumped down to my second favorite American animated action series. Edited January 28, 2009 by darthYENIK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryuclan Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I used to love Samurai Jack when I was younger, there was always a really memorable episode involving a seemingly never-ending bridge and an angry Scotsman with the beard the size of a small car. It'd be great to catch up on this, it's not one of those cartoons that's excessively deep, but you can get lost in it all the same. The same guys that animate this animate the Star Wars: Clone Wars cartoon don't they? The style looks remarkably similar. I remember that episode. I loved that one. The scottish guy had a machine gun for a leg haha. My favorite episode would have to be Samurai Jack and the Rave. The best thing about this show was the incorporation of music into the action. It was like The Boondocks just a lot more Anime-ey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC. Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 YEAH that Scottish guy with the machine gun as his leg was badass. I was wondering what happened to this show. I'm glad there's going to be a movie to finish off the story. Anyone know what was the last episode shown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omnia sunt Communia Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Anyone know what was the last episode shown? Season 4, Episode 13 (LII): Jack and the Baby. While peacefully enjoying a snack of peaches, Jack hears a baby cry and races to find out what's the matter. He rescues Baby from a crew of hungry (baby-eating) monsters. The two then set off to find the baby's mother. Jack makes a great temporary parent, finding food, shelter, dealing with diapers. He tells Baby a bedtime story of Momotaro (Peach-boy, an archetypal Japanese folk-tale). When sick, Baby wants peaches; when they return to the peach orchard, the monsters find them again. After the final defeat of the monsters, Baby's mother is found. When she notices a surprising change in her child, Jack explains the baby has achieved "sakai", the spirit of the samurai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyn Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 F*cking yes! I adore Samurai Jack. My favourite episode was the one with the 3 blind archers on top of the tower. I really should get my hands on the dvd's. SRS Incorporated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnyboy Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I remember watching this show, and not liking it when I was younger. I mean the episodes were good, but I guess I wasn't that big of a fan. Not a bad a show, but when the movie is made, I will watch it on TV if anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Garcia aka NjNakedSnake Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Yes, I remember this show. Was a lot of really good episodes. I'm partial to the one where Jack helps the Spartans. And the one where Jack learns to jump from those monkey creatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpain Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I like Samurai Jack very much. It has a clever way to avoid censorship and has a great pacing. My favourite episode wasnt about Jack, but it was about one of Aku's robot henchman trying to get his dog back by killing Jack and failing to do so, so he died. Damn deep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWEETSAPRIK Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 For a cartoon this show was surprisingly good. PяopagaиdaIиc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omnia sunt Communia Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 My favourite episode wasnt about Jack, but it was about one of Aku's robot henchman trying to get his dog back by killing Jack and failing to do so, so he died. Damn deep. "Tales Of X9" (Series 4, Episode 11: L). What a great episode. I loved the film noir style and the deep, emotional plot. It's defiantly not something you see very often in cartoons; especially children's cartoons. The reoccurring speech from X9 is what really made the episode sink in to me. Really makes you think about who's the bad guy. I have quite a few 'favourite' Samurai Jack episodes. In order though; they would have to be: Jack and the Scotsman, Part 1, Jack and the Scotsman, Part 2, Jack and the Ultra-robots, Jack Remembers the Past, Jack versus Demongo, the Soul Collector, Jack and the Spartans, The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, Jack and the Zombies, Jack and the Haunted House and Tale of X9. Jack and the Scotsman, Part 1 has to be my overall favourite though. I just love the character of The Scotman and he's introduced perfectly in this episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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