Afro Samurai Review

An odd concept really, Jackson does the voice-over for 'Afro' a more than slightly deranged black dude with a massive afro and kickarse fighting skills with a katana. The start of the series (a rather short series mores the pity) a faceoff between Afros father, the number 1 fighter and a guntotting number 2 ensues. This is where the story really begins with blood aplenty as the creepy guy with guns removes Afros fathers head at the end of the fight and leaves with the number 1 headband. This though is where it gets odd with Afro travelling around with his dads sword (and head o_O) before training at a dojo with the intention of getting revenge on the Gun-weilder. Afro is probably the strongest in the dojo now only to find his master is the holder of the number 2 headband, something he needs to fight the number one. After a massive fight most of the dojo is destroyed leaving Afro and his new 'friend' Ninja-Ninja. Now as the number 2 many battles are fought through the series leading to a battle with the only other survivor of the dojo now living off of a respirator (shaped like a massive teddy bear o_O)
The art in this series is excellent if a little odd at times, often gives the impression the artists were smoking something at the time (as was the story writer) but fit the series very well.
Musicwise while normally not my kinda music (rap mostly) it again fits the style and storyline perfectly, similar to the Hip-hop of samurai champloo or jazz and blues of Bebop.
While not something for the kids its an anime that decides to be different and acheives it far better than many do.