Samurai Jack Season 1

Rating PG Formats DVD Genre Animated Starring Phil LaMarr, Mako, Rob Paulsen Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky Publisher Warner Home Video External Links Official Samurai Jack Site DAM.com

Samurai Jack, the popular animated tale of a Japanese warrior transported into an alternate future, is currently airing in its fourth season on Cartoon Network. Now fans of the time-displaced samurai can enjoy his adventures any time thanks to a swell two-DVD set available from Warner Home Video on May 4, 2004.

Producer/director Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory) created this remarkable animated action/adventure series out of a host of influences, from anime to Westerns to space opera to (of course) chambara flicks. Using unique borderless artwork and a tremendously visual storytelling style realized by a crack team of Korean animators, the adventures of Samurai Jack are among the most inventive and entertaining animated programs ever devised.

The series relates the adventures of the son of a Japanese feudal lord who had defeated an evil shape-shifting sorcerer/demon named Aku (in a clever bit, the villain's name is the Japanese word for evil), voiced with sinister glee by the incomparable Japanese actor Mako (Bulletproof Monk). Unfortunately, Aku escapes from his mystic prison and proceeds to wreak his vengeance on the daimyo's domains. The son escapes and spends years in martial training all over the world (for example, he learns stick fighting from a Masai warrior, archery from Robin Hood and kung fu from Shaolin monks). He develops into an incredibly skilled fighter (with an impossibly large chin) determined to end Aku's vile dominion.

Returning to his native land and claiming his family's hidden magic katana, the warrior proceeds to lay a samurai-style smackdown on the devious Aku, defeating the villain after an epic battle. Just as he's about the deliver the coup de grace, though, the evil Aku opens a portal in space/time and casts the warrior into the far future.

There - since he prevented the warrior from slaying him - Aku has risen to the uncontested master of the world, with his evil influence felt in every corner of the globe (in a nice, subtle touch, the city rooftops sprout branched antennas resembling Aku's spiky visage). When the locals refer to the new arrival in hipster slang as “Jack,” the young samurai adopts this new name and sets out on a quest to confront Aku and return in time to undo his centuries of evil.

That'd be a great plot for an epic motion picture or TV mini-series, but Samurai Jack serves this story up by the beginning of the second episode, in scarcely more than 30 minutes of running time. Tartakovsky and his talented team of writers, storyboard artists and directors tell this story with a striking visual style, borrowing familiar conventions from anime and film (like split screens, extreme close-ups, silhouetted panoramic shots and that anime habit of portraying the same attack three times in quick succession).

The 13 episodes on the two-disc set chronicle the first-season Jack's adventures as he struggles to understand this strange new world, and then thwart the evil wiles of Aku and his minions. In an unmistakable homage to classic TV, Jack wanders the Earth like Cain in Kung Fu, righting wrongs and getting into adventures.

Also fascinating is the way that Tartakovsky and the writers deal with what is essentially, when you strip out the space-age samurai trappings, the Gilligan's Island plot. Each episode presents either a mortal threat to Jack, an opportunity for him to complete his quest, or both. To the credit of the show's creators, each episode manages to present a unique situation that fits into the show's continuing story arc without seeming contrived or hackneyed. Cleverly, the first season actually ends with a resolution of sorts to Samurai Jack's quest that doesn't interfere with the ongoing storyline.

Of course, the show's emphasis on action also helps keep things from getting dull. One of the advantages of setting the show in the future is that Jack can carve up robotic foes with his invincible katana by the score without resulting in family-unfriendly gore. (Although in a sly homage, the severed robots at times spew oil like the arterial sprays of the Lone Wolf's victims.) A samurai with a magic sword battling Ultimate Evil in the far future promises plenty of action, and Samurai Jack delivers.

The show also has an uncanny ability to tell its story visually, without relying on endless dialogue for exposition. In one funny scene, Jack fights a battle-mad Scotsman for the right to pass on a narrow bridge. The camera pans up from the scuffle to focus on the sun, which fades to a full moon and then back again as the sounds of battle continue.

Careful viewers will also notice a number of in-jokes and references to other Cartoon Network shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory. An outstanding musical score that blends traditional Japanese themes with hard-rocking techno boosts the show's excitement level even higher

Also among the show's strengths is an interesting and sympathetic central character. Although Jack is a man of few words, his noble personality develops over the first season to be much more than a nigh-invincible warrior. Jack is polite, intelligent, brave and serene, a true samurai. Although he embodies the refined skill of a true adherent of bushido, the warrior code, at times Jack responds to a possible confrontation by refusing to fight. As such, he's a worthy foe and foil for the black-hearted Aku. He is also the master of ultra-cool battle poses and sweet moves like calmly sheathing his sword with maximum contempt for his fallen robotic foes.

As Jack, Phil LaMarr gives a terrific performance that hints at the strong emotions held in check by the warrior's Zen-like calm. In the making-of video that accompanies the DVD, LaMarr jokes at the ease of his role - another character will supply some exposition, and Jack replies with a terse "I see." But despite LaMarr's modesty, he delivers remarkably strong vocal chores.

(Trivia: Well known for his stint on Mad TV, LaMarr also played Marvin, the compatriot of Pulp Fiction hitmen Jules and Vince, whom the latter accidentally shoots in the face. LaMarr is also no stranger to voice work, having supplied the vocals for, among other roles, Vamp in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.)

And once again, Mako is absolutely superb as the evil Aku. His unearthly voice expresses arrogance, rage and sly cunning. He also serves up a worthy entry in the Evil Laughter Hall of Fame.

The principals are ably backed up by a cast that includes names (and voices) familiar to animation fans. Represented are veteran voice actors Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Animatrix), plus guest spots by Sab Shimono (The Shadow) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series).

Of course, the video is presented in full frame (1.33:1) aspect ratio - it is a TV show, after all - although the animators frequently cut to widescreen. (Indeed, the creative uses of split screen, widescreen and multi-panel compositions are a big part of the show's visual interest.) The discs offer English, Spanish and French language tracks in Dolby digital stereo, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

DVD extras include a making-of video in which Tartakovsky and his fellow artisans recount the wide variety of influences they tapped to create the series. Several relate how Tartakovsky encourages them to draw upon their favorite pop culture inspirations from video games to Viking legends to gangster flicks. There's also an animation test and art gallery, and an informative creators' commentary track on Episode VII.

Samurai Jack is an absolute joy for fans of Asian-American popular culture. It pays homage to everything from anime to Hong Kong bullet-fest cinema to Planet of the Apes in telling the story of an admirable and honorable hero. Its release on DVD is a long-awaited treat, and this superb collection is worth every penny of its $30 sticker price. The only excuse for not running out and buying this excellent compilation right now is that it hasn't been released yet. Come May 4, it's a definite must-have.

Episode List:

• Episode I-The Beginning-When Aku is reborn to set forth his reign of terror, the Emperor's son is sent off to learn the ways of the samurai. That boy becomes a man and attempts to slay Aku with a mighty sword, but Aku banishes him to the future.
• Episode II-The Samurai called Jack-The Samurai lands in the future and is named Jack. He is enlisted by a race of dogs to destroy Aku.
• Episode III-The First Fight-Jack gets weapons and beats back Aku's army of beetles saving the canine race.
• Episode IV-Jack, the Woolies, and the Chritchellites-Jack helps free the Woolies from the tyrannical Chritchellites.
• Episode V-Jack in Space-When Jack mistakenly destroys a group of scientists' chance to escape Aku, he and the scientist join forces to try and fix the problem, hopefully returning Jack home as well.
• Episode VI-Jack and the Warrior Woman-Aku morphs himself into a woman in order to keep Jack from returning to the past to destroy him.
• Episode VII-Jack and the Three Blind Archers-Jack must get past three blind archers to reach an all-powerful wishing well.
• Episode VIII-Jack vs. Mad Jack-Jack meets up with Mad Jack and must battle his darker self.
• Episode IX-Jack Under the Sea-Jack has an underwater adventure with a jelly-whale and sea monkeys while hunting for an ancient time portal.
• Episode X-Jack and the Lava Monster-Jack goes to a cave full of challenges only to find an old warrior longing to reach Valhalla.
• Episode XI-Jack and the Scotsman-When Jack and a Scotsman meet on a never- ending bridge, they end up shackled together and on the run from bounty hunters.
• Episode XII-Jack and the Gangsters-Jack hooks up with some Chicago gangsters to try and get close to Aku.
• Episode XIII-Aku's Fairy Tales-Aku tells fairy tails to the children to try and win them over to his side instead of Jack's.