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Samurai Jack

post #1 of 36
5/16/08 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 
I can't find anything covering within like the last 6 years, so here we go:

I love this show. Years and years ago while bored and channel surfing, I fluked out and managed to stop right when the 'Jack and the Warrior Woman' episode was starting up. That was all it took. I had never seen a cartoon so wonderfully made - the art & sound design, the perfect music, the humor, it's cinematic use of widescreen shots, montages in a cartoon with little or no dialogue?? Fell completely in love with the show. I picked up the first season when it hit dvd and devoured it in a day. Though I'll admit not every episode could hold a candle to that first one (but Jack and the Scotsman one is still one of my favorites and the Three Blind Archers is one of the greatest things I've ever witnessed), I still had a big ol crush on the show. However, as someone who doesn't regularly watch television I didn't keep up with the new episodes and as the years went by I forgot how much I loved the show and didn't jump on the following season's dvd releases.

Fast foward to last weekend when I picked up season two for 5 bucks, also known as the best 5 bucks I've ever spent.

Boom. One episode in and I'm completely in love with this show again. I was worried that there might be some loss in the quality of the production during the second season (that there might have been pressure to make it more 'viewer friendly' by adding more dialogue, amping up the action, giving him a sidekick or something else ridiculous). Quite the opposite. I'm only finished the first disc so far, but this season already completely trumps just about every episode from the first. There isn't a single.. well I can't even say subpar because they are always fantastic, but not a single episode doesn't shine brightly on it own. Somehow, everything has gotten better. Please tell me it says this good for the remaining two seasons.

For my buck, and as great as it is, the Clone Wars doesn't have a thing on Samurai Jack. As a grown (mostly) man, I have no shame in admitting this is easily my favorite cartoon show, and without hesitation one of my favorite shows period. The production levels on it are flat-out superb, and it's so much damn FUN. I had the biggest shit-eating grin during the final scene of the first ssn2 episode "You can fly?!?" "No, jump good!"

So who else has a sloppy one for this, or has it been talked to death in the past?
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post #2 of 36
5/16/08 at 4:31pm
I enjoyed it, but I never saw the rest of the show.

Did it stray far from the plot or did it finish up things nicely.


I did however enjoy the Clone Wars stuff.
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post #3 of 36
5/16/08 at 4:37pm
If it weren't for Futurama, this would be my favorite cartoon ever. I also love the episode where he was in this structure and he was fighting a ninja who was absolutely invisible in the shade/dark. So what did our boy do to counter that? He made himself all white and hid in the light!! I just looked on Wiki and I think it's the 4th season premiere episode, Samurai vs Ninja.

It's a great show, I have the first two seasons on dvd and this thread just makes me want to buy the last two seasons.

Edited to also add the second season holds another favorite of mine, Jack and the Spartans, another phenomenal episode
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post #4 of 36
5/16/08 at 5:37pm
I would say this is one of the most beautiful television shows of the past decade, with animation as fluid and lifelike as the graphics are simpistic and symbolic.

I second the Jack vs. Spartans episode, the one where he fights the five desert robots is pretty awesome too.
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post #5 of 36
5/16/08 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, the one with the robots designed to beat Jack was fantastic. I loved how he kept visiting destroyed cities and there would be that one person just barely alive enough to tell their story. Was neat how they managed to make it graphically 'violent', yet okay for kids (robots only bleed oil, so its okay!) with all the shots of robots impaled on spikes and ripped to shreds lying in pools of oil.. and when Jack finally destroys the last robot and the oil sprays onto his face like in a dozen samurai films. The scientist guy was pretty hilarious-

High five!
What?
High five! High five!
I.. don't understand.
..nevermind.

This show can accomplish more in 20 minutes than some movies do in two hours.
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post #6 of 36
5/16/08 at 5:50pm
Not to mention the essential use of sound. Some episodes have no dialogue for the first half, and to be able to do that while using crude caricatures and lose none of the meaning is astounding. Genndy Tartakovsky is a musical genius.
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post #7 of 36
5/16/08 at 5:51pm
I love the JUMP episode where Jack learns to jump from a bunch of Yeti looking creatures. The show has a sense of open-eyed wonder & life that is seldom seen in today's commercialized tv animation.

I used to catch this on Cartoon Network all the time, and I have all the DVD sets, but I've never gone through them chronologically. Now that all my tv shows are coming to an end, I think I'll get cracking on that.
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post #8 of 36
5/16/08 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graynadian View Post
Not to mention the essential use of sound. Some episodes have no dialogue for the first half, and to be able to do that while using crude caricatures and lose none of the meaning is astounding. Genndy Tartakovsky is a musical genius.
The 3 Blind Archers episode is a perfect example of this. There's a long stretch with no dialogue, no music, just perfect execution of sounds to tell the story. I'm still suprised they could get away with such bold choices in a "kids" cartoon.. but I'm so glad they do. No catering to ADD brats here.

And completely agree about the JUMP one, Tieman.
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post #9 of 36
5/16/08 at 6:20pm
Count me in as a Jack fan. I so miss the weeknights when this and Justice League were played back to back. Right now I'm just hoping we get a movie to wrap the series up properly. Also like to add Jack's battles with Demongo and Mondo-bot as some of my faves.

And FYI, Cartoon Network started showing an episode every saturday night about a month ago in case anyone wants to check it out.
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post #10 of 36
5/16/08 at 10:49pm
I have season two on dvd. I very much need to get on amazon and buy the rest. I'll second the love for all the episodes mentioned and add the Jack vs. Evil Jack episode (the forest alternately aflame and flooded) and the haunted house episode. I love the brush and ink look of the ghost dimension. It was the bold linear design that first caught my attention since I was very into printmaking in college. Every few minutes there would a tree or a mountain or a building and I'd think, damn, I could do a whole series just with that image.
I also have to admit my love for the three fairy tales episode, mainly for the end of the two-headed monster segment. "When does the magic begin?"
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post #11 of 36
5/17/08 at 9:46am
Fucking brilliant show from beginning to end. Tartakovsky really cemented his place in animation history with this show. I put him up there with all the great names in animation.

I think the first movie that CN showed had me hooked immediately when Jack went on a rampage killing those scarab looking robots, in the most violent way possible, and at the end when oil splashed over him ala blood, i was hooked.
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post #12 of 36
5/20/08 at 1:33am
Another huge fan here. I was on board from the premiere movie, too, and caught most every episode as it aired from then on out. The last couple of seasons were tougher to catch, thanks to sparse airings on CN, and I think they only showed that Aku origin story (Birth of Evil?) ONCE. Thankfully, it's included as regular episodes on the DVDs.

Spartans and Blind Archers are definitely two favorites in the serious/beautiful category.

There really are great silly moments, too, though. In the one with the farting dragon, some old man (or woman?) tells him that the dragon's lair is down one path. Jack asks what's down the other path... "Space Ace." WANK WONK WONK WONNNK!

My 13 year old cousin sent me a txt recently to let me know that this show was on TV, and he was watching it. He makes me proud, that kid.
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post #13 of 36
5/20/08 at 1:39am
"If it's not Scottish, it's crap!"
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post #14 of 36
5/21/08 at 3:53pm
I have all four seasons, and like another CHUDite above, I hope they close the loop with a movie. This show won an Emmy, and it deserved the award.

Genndy is very open about the two biggest influences, Blade Runner and Conan. After rewatching Conan a while back, I really see that. Strong, direct visuals, and using music to tell the story. It's a fantastic show, always economical, epic, and warm. It bounces around ideas and genres between episodes, and is almost always a pleasure.

Certainly one of the best cartoons ever.
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post #15 of 36
1/10/10 at 1:12pm
I recently bought all 4 seasons. I watched the show on and off when it aired and haven't seen all of the espisodes.

Just finished the disturbing episode where Jack was dangerously close to making out with a disguised lady Aku!
Mako's awesome voice work and Jack's freak out makes the reveal a great moment.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is I, Aku!
Bah-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!!!!

-Fight me Coward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #16 of 36
1/10/10 at 1:47pm
I don't remember if I got that link from CHUD so sorry if everyone here already knows about this:

Quote:
According to longtime media executive Fred Seibert, former head of Hanna-Barbera and current head of Frederator films, Genndy Tartakovsky’s popular animated show, Samurai Jack, is headed to the big screen with J.J. Abrams as a co-producer. The film, which is budgeted at $20 million, will combine traditional 2D animation with stereoscopic 3D. It is being produced by Fredarator Films and Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot Productions.
http://screenrant.com/jj-abrams-prod...+Movie+News%29
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post #17 of 36
1/10/10 at 2:02pm
Hopefully Genndy's writing/directing.
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post #18 of 36
1/10/10 at 2:22pm
Cartoon Network's sister channel Boomerrang has this on every night at ten. My DVR is crammed full of episodes.
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post #19 of 36
1/10/10 at 5:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
Hopefully Genndy's writing/directing.
Yes, please. This would be a great time at the movies.
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post #20 of 36
1/10/10 at 5:37pm
Whoaaaa that is a nice combination of talent! That will certainly be something to look forward to!

Related: There was an art show feating a ton of CN promo materials here in Atlanta a couple of years ago. I checked it out, and saw a lot of great stuff. Here are the pics I took of Samurai Jack-related material:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_gray/tags/samuraijack/
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post #21 of 36
1/10/10 at 8:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Gray View Post
Related: There was an art show feating a ton of CN promo materials here in Atlanta a couple of years ago. I checked it out, and saw a lot of great stuff. Here are the pics I took of Samurai Jack-related material:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_gray/tags/samuraijack/
Cool stuff. I especially like Jack on the wall.
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post #22 of 36
1/11/10 at 8:36pm
Thread Starter 
A movie would be bliss, especially with JJ Midas' involvement. It's too bad that Mako passed on before they could do it though...

And it bears repeating-

Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
Hopefully Genndy's writing/directing.
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post #23 of 36
1/11/10 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trejo View Post
A movie would be bliss, especially with JJ Midas' involvement. It's too bad that Mako passed on before they could do it though..
Damn, I had missed the fact that Mako passed away. Well, I'm thankful that they got to finish the series with him, at least.
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post #24 of 36
1/11/10 at 8:49pm
Mako had one of the greatest voices ever. His MIGHTY PIPES will be missed.

And I'll be really disappointed if Genndy doesn't direct or at least storyboard the movie. He's one of the kings of animated action. I watched the episode with the three blind archers the other day, and that moment when a pinned down Jack flicks his sword up to split an arrow is just greatness.
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post #25 of 36
1/11/10 at 11:29pm
Why would anyone finance a very minor hit like Samuraï Jack without Tartakovski? It would make no sense whatsoever.

The only thing that scares me is as other have mentionned Mako's absence. He was a huge huge part of the charm of the show.
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post #26 of 36
1/11/10 at 11:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Alexor View Post
Why would anyone finance a very minor hit like Samuraï Jack without Tartakovski? It would make no sense whatsoever.
Before this they were planning on making a live action Jack with Brett Ratner.
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post #27 of 36
1/11/10 at 11:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
Before this they were planning on making a live action Jack with Brett Ratner.
I looked and this was in 2001 and as you said live action. Very different.
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post #28 of 36
1/12/10 at 12:15am
The Point was that makes even less sense than an animated movie without Tartakovsky.
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post #29 of 36
1/12/10 at 12:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
The Point was that makes even less sense than an animated movie without Tartakovsky.
I disagree. Samurai Jack's style is directly linked to Tartakovsy. Live action adaptations are usually loose and poor adaptations so having a commercial director like Ratner makes sense business wise.
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post #30 of 36
1/12/10 at 12:53am
Well even if Genndy isn't involved, it's at least going to be animated and handled by some of the many people who worked on the show.

Turning an extremely stylized action cartoon into a live action movie directed by a guy with no style whatsoever was a horrible idea.
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post #31 of 36
1/12/10 at 1:29am
Quote:
The only thing that scares me is as other have mentionned Mako's absence. He was a huge huge part of the charm of the show
Someone correct me if I'm wrong - I'm sure you will! - but I thought Mako passed on somewhere around 3rd/4th season. I'd have to dig out my dvd set but I swear there was a behind the scenes feature on voice work that looked into his replacement. Maybe I just dreamed that part all up!

On a related note, a SJ movie has long been a dream for me and my son who watched the entire series with me and was just as enthralled by the style and storytelling. This would be cool.
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post #32 of 36
1/12/10 at 1:35am
Well the last Samurai Jack episode aired in 04 and Mako died in 06.
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post #33 of 36
1/12/10 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
Turning an extremely stylized action cartoon into a live action movie directed by a guy with no style whatsoever was a horrible idea.
What? With Jackie Chan as Jack and Chris Tucker as Aku? It would have been masterpiece!
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post #34 of 36
1/16/10 at 12:49am
Count me in as a fan of the JUMP episode. I watched it for the first time last night and that FREEZE FRAME ending was great. And James Venable credit for composing some of the best music I've ever heard in an animated series.

I also watched the 'Jack and the Scotsman' episode again. I like how "YER RUDE!" is the insult that offends Jack the most.
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post #35 of 36
1/29/10 at 6:46pm
I love every inch of this show; next to Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Justice League/Unlimited, it's my favorite 'toon of the last decade. I can't wait for the movie.

Regarding Aku, I think the reason he works so well is that he's the guy who gets to talk. As noted, one of the series' hallmarks is its superb use of silence and sound design. But Aku's appearances tend to be filled with dialogue (great dialogue, at that), and there's a reason for that: he's already won. Why the hell shouldn't he gloat and ham it up whenever he's given the opportunity? It's brilliant, methinks.
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post #36 of 36
12/5/10 at 11:12pm
I've been re-watching some episodes lately.

Like 'Jack and the Rave'. I like how they embrace the goofiness of the whole thing by putting Jack in the most ridiculous outfit possible and frequently cutting to shots of Jack sucking on a pacifier.
"Music Maker Man!
YOUR BEATS ARE BAD."

And the haunted house episode with the soul-sucking demon that turns things into scratchy, black and white drawings was surprisingly creepy.

Also, time to praise James Venable again. I've been listening to a lot of his music on youtube lately. Especially the music that kicks in at the beginning and end of the DEMONGO episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6dd-CnFkPc
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