Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai proved to be one of the surprise hits from the streaming giant, after premiering in late 2023. The animated series is created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green. It revolves around a female warrior on a mission to assassinate a group of individuals illegally stationed in Japan.
The series received positive reviews and was renewed for a second season. Moreover, the first season also received several accolades, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Programming. The adult animated series overcame several odds to nab the award over the fan favorite X-Men ’97, proving itself worthy of the accolade, and here is why.
Blue Eye Samurai Did the Impossible By Overcoming Sexism
Blue Eye Samurai premiered in 2023, receiving mostly positive reviews and proving to be one of the best shows of that year. It was praised for its visuals, storytelling, and voice performances, scoring 96% on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season.
During an interview with The Mary Sue, co-creators Amber Noizumi and Michael Green discussed some of the challenges they faced while telling the story of Mizu, a female samurai of mixed racial background, voiced by Maya Erskine.
Also just some of the sexist people out there who maybe are like ‘I don’t normally like girl characters.
Noizumi made the above statement, highlighting how the series had to face sexism primarily because it featured a female lead. She explained that the show’s success was important, especially because it proved female-led stories can resonate with a wider audience. Noizumi added:
It’s also nice to be rewarded for people who don’t normally root for a female lead.
The writer-producer explained that people often looked down upon female characters, but openly embraced the character of Mizu, who herself faces sexism in the series. Therefore, the series overcame the impossible by impressing viewers who have a sexist outlook.
Furthermore, Noizumi also noted how Mizu’s character allowed people to cope with their unresolved feelings over their mixed racial background. Therefore, despite the main character having very specific traits, the series appealed to a wider audience because of its strong writing and characterization.
Blue Eye Samurai Deserved to Win the Emmy Over X-Men ‘97
Blue Eye Samurai proved itself to be a milestone in storytelling, especially for female-driven shows in the animation space with its win at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The series was nominated in the Outstanding Animated Program category, alongside X-Men ‘97, a revival of the popular 90s cartoon series based on the Marvel Comics team.
Blue Eye Samurai defeated X-Men ‘97 for the award, proving its cultural relevance and overall superiority in terms of quality. The series was particularly admired for its blend of 2D/3D-hybrid animation by French studio Blue Spirit, which gave it a unique visual aesthetic.
Furthermore, the series was also honored in the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation category. Brian Kesinger received the award for his character designs while Toby Wilson received it for production design. Meanwhile, Ryan O’Loughlin’s storyboarding was also honored.
Ultimately, Blue Eye Samurai proved against all odds that good stories will shine, irrespective of sexist remarks or other obstacles they might face. A second season of the series was announced in December 2023 and is expected to have six episodes. The sophomore installment is reportedly on track for a 2026 release.
Blue Eye Samurai is streaming on Netflix.
