Blue Eye Samurai is Netflix’s 2023 animation series belonging to the samurai\ronin genre. Set in Japan’s Edo period, it follows the journey of a female warrior, Mizu, who has to hide her identity as a woman to take revenge.
While a huge audience liked Blue Eye Samurai, it becomes a bit mild when compared to other classic series like Afro Samurai. Both series are pleasurable to watch, but one of them is a trailblazer.
Afro Samurai Walked so Blue Eye Samurai Could Run
Afro Samurai is a seinen anime by Studio Gonzo that was released in 2007. The story is set in a feudal yet futuristic Japan, in which the strongest and most powerful person wears a Number 1 headband. The protagonist, Afro, sets out to take revenge against Justice, who had killed Afro’s father, the previous Number 1 wielder. Creator Takashi Okazaki was inspired to create the series due to his fondness for hip-hop and soul music.
The series strived to show real, unfiltered vengeance and gore. It is a fast-paced story that puts forth some of the best action scenes that can get your adrenaline pumping. The protagonist’s character is developed through his backstories rather than showing him to the audience since childhood.
Blue Eye Samurai is also set during the Edo era, minus the futuristic features. And Mizu, the protagonist, is on her quest to kill four white men, one of whom is her father. The theme of vengeance is clear between the two productions, but they each execute it in a different way.
The Samuel L. Jackson x Afro Samurai Combo Stands Undefeated
Samuel L. Jackson stars as the titular character in Afro Samurai. His voice supplies a necessary quality to the protagonist. His cursing and boasting in the movie is once again an iconic addition. He creates the perfect image of the quiet yet violent and overpowered character.
The animation of the series is also no joke, and the chaotic action scenes are spelled out for watchers. Given that the author was inspired by hip-hop and soul music to create his series, of course, Afro Samurai does a tremendous job in the music department. Afro Samurai is not a forerunner of the samurai genre but it is a great addition that people are bound to mention as days pass by.
While Blue Eye Samurai has won two Emmy awards, and Afro Samurai has won one, it still does the samurai genre a great service. Afro Samurai will always be a guilty pleasure with all its gory-groovy glory. The right touches of Samuel L. Jackson’s voice and superb action scenes make Afro Samurai stand out in the lot.
Afro Samurai is currently streaming on Hulu and Crunchyroll. Blue Eye Samurai is available to stream on Netflix.
