Samurai Champloo - Vol. 7 (DVD, 2006)

From the creator of Cowboy Bepop, Shinichiro Watanabe, Samurai Champloo delivers everything a great anime series has to offer. Humor, suspense, love, and adventure. This is the final volume that brings it all together and I will not give anything away. You will be glued to these episodes. Do not watch these first, watch the entire series, or you rob yourself of a great experience.

PROS - Right when you thought you have seen it all, this volume will blow you away.

CONS - No more Samurai Champloo after this volume. Our characters have reached the end of their journey and you are sad that it is over. Watching the series over again helps with the sense of loss, but only a little.

Samurai Champloo comes from the same team that made Cowboy Beebop, with animation by the Kill Bill crew. The character schematics are very close to Bebop's, but lack the emotional depth. It's still a great anime and if you liked Bebop you should give it a whirl.

Basic premise: 15-year old Fuu is on her own, working for a teahouse and planning for the day when she'll leave to find the Samurai who Smells of Sunflowers, when she bumps into two knuckleheads, Mugen and Jin. While fighting each other, they manage to burn down the teahouse and Fuu talks them into coming with her on her journey.

The American voice actors are familiar, and do a decent job. I haven't rewatched it yet to see the differences between dubbing and subtitles.

The music in Samurai Champloo isn't nearly as big of a presence as the music in Bebop, but there are moments where characters throw down some lyrics. Champloo is done in Hip Hop style. There are some odd episodes, and a throwback to Bebop (as if one was really needed).

NOTE TO PARENTS: ANIME, JAPANESE ANIMATION, IS NOT JUST INTENDED FOR A YOUNGER AUDIENCE. THIS PARTICULAR SERIES INCLUDES LOTS OF VIOLENCE, MATURE LANGUAGE AND MATURE SITUATIONS. I'D CONSIDER IT FOR TEEN AUDIENCES AND ABOVE.