# Afro Samurai (2007)

> In a futuristic Japan settled by the sword, a young warrior sets out to avenge his father's murder.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/18054

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 5
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, action, drama
- Created by: Takashi Okazaki
- Network: Spike
- Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Phil LaMarr, Kelly Hu, Yuri Lowenthal, Ron Perlman, Grey DeLisle, John DiMaggio, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson
- TMDB rating: 7.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465316/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: brooding, kinetic, bloody, mythic

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the stylized animation, action and voice cast while the gore is a defining feature.

## Synopsis

Afro Samurai (2007) is a American-produced adult animated samurai miniseries created by Takashi Okazaki for Spike. Samuel L. Jackson voices the title character, a determined swordsman in a futuristic Japan where conflicts are settled by blade, and his single-minded pursuit of revenge drives the five-episode run. Phil LaMarr and Kelly Hu lend voices to principal supporting figures, and Ron Perlman adds a memorable presence to the cast. Each episode is built around a stylized duel that moves the quest forward, with a clear arc from first challenge to final confrontation. Produced with GONZO and Fuji Television, the series draws on the lineage of Japanese anime and shonen-style action, delivering a bold, bloody and mythic register. Its tone blends brooding melancholy with flashes of kinetic energy, and its visuals lean on ritualized swordplay and striking color. Fans of Samurai Champloo, Blade of the Immortal and Afro Samurai: Resurrection will find resonance in its stylized violence and vengeful, honor-bound mood. The miniseries is a compact, self-contained experience for viewers who want an uncompromising, graphic revenge saga.

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- [Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/71987)
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