Afro Samurai (???????, Afuro Samurai?

), also written AFRO SAMURAI, is a Japanese

seinen dojinshi manga series written and illustrated by manga artist Takashi
Okazaki. It was originally serialized irregularly in the avant-garde dojinshi manga
magazine Nou Nou Hau from September 1999 to May 2000. Inspired by Takashi Okazaki's
love of soul and hip hop music and American media, Afro Samurai follows the life of
Afro Samurai who witnessed his father (owner of the No. 1 headband) being killed by
the hands of a gunslinger named Justice (owner of the No. 2 headband) while he was
a child. As an adult, Afro sets off to avenge his father's death and kill Justice.

The Afro Samurai dojinshi was adapted into a 5-episode anime TV series by studio
Gonzo in 2007. The same studio also went on to produce a made-for-TV movie sequel
entitled Afro Samurai: Resurrection in 2009, which gained two Emmy nominations, for
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation, which it won, and Outstanding
Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More). After the release of the anime
series, Takashi Okazaki remade the original Afro Samurai dojinshi into a two-volume
manga. To be only released in North America, Tor Books and Seven Seas Entertainment
licensed the title and published it under their new Tor/Seven Seas imprint.

In addition to the success of the anime series, Afro Samurai has also been adapted
into a video game and an upcoming live-action feature film. For the TV series and
the film, two soundtracks by the RZA of Wu-Tang Clan have been released as well as
a profile book in Japan.

Contents [hide]
1 Plot
1.1 Afro Samurai
1.2 Afro Samurai: Resurrection
2 Characters
3 Production
4 Media
4.1 Manga
4.2 Anime
4.3 Films
4.4 Video games
4.5 Soundtracks
5 Cast
5.1 Afro Samurai
5.2 Afro Samurai: Resurrection
6 Crew
7 Reception
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Plot[edit] Afro SamuraiIn a futuristic yet feudal Japan, it is said that the
one who wields the Number 1 headband is the fiercest fighter in the world and shall
possess godlike powers. The only way to obtain the Number 1 headband is to
challenge and defeat him in combat. However, only the Number 2 can challenge the
Number 1, while anyone can challenge the Number 2, which causes a constant struggle
for the Number 2 headband.

Justice, the owner of the No. 2 headband, goes to fight the owner of the No. 1
headband, Rokutaro. The two battle, ending with Justice decapitating Rokutaro and
claiming his headband. Rokutaro's head rolls in front of his son, a young boy named
Afro, as he sobs and vows revenge.

Now an adult, Afro Samurai is the current No. 2 and a master swordsman. He travels
Japan trying to make his way to the mountain-top keep where Justice awaits. As he
makes his way to Justice, he recalls his journey from a frightened young boy to a
master samurai. Along the way, many people challenge Afro for his headband,
including the "Empty Seven Clan" who send various agents, including a robotic Afro,
to kill him throughout his travels. He is also being hunted by his vengeful
childhood friend Jinno, who was long thought to be dead. Afro eventually defeats
his enemies, Jinno, and finally confronts Justice. Afro learns that there are other
headbands in existence, ranging to an unspecified higher number, and sees that the
corpses of those who wore them are skewered throughout the room where Justice
awaits. Afro defeats Justice and takes the No. 1 headband, and the other headbands
disappear.

Afro decides to live in the mountains once again. Jinno, adorned with every
headband in existence, returns and confronts Afro for the No. 1 band and his
revenge.

[edit] Afro Samurai: ResurrectionAfro refuses to wear the No. 1 headband as the
rules require, and spends his days making wooden sculptures of people from his past
instead of fighting. One dark and stormy night, Jinno (now mindlessly taking
orders) and a mysterious woman named Sio attack Afro. Jinno easily defeats him and
takes the No. 1 headband for Sio and then robs his father's grave of his remains.
Sio is revealed to be Jinno's sister. Sio tells Afro her plans to resurrect Afro's
father, Rokutaro, so she can torture him as revenge against Afro for the lives he
has destroyed, including her brother's and her own. Seo challenges Afro to find the
No. 2 headband to earn the right to challenge her. Afro, determined to recover the
No. 1 headband and his father's remains, sets off to find the No. 2 headband and
eventually learns that the bearer of the No. 2 headband is a man named Shichigoro.

Afro, in search of Shichigoro, coincidentally kills the kidnapper of Schichigoro's

son and prompts Shichigoro to buy him a drink. They eventually fight to the death
with the No. 2 headband at stake, and upon victory Afro continues on toward Sio.
Along the way he is observed by three masked, android warriors from his past. The
warriors are revealed to be a part of Sio's original plan to overwhelm Afro in the
final battle, but apparently had decided to battle Afro early in an attempt to
finish off before Sio had to dirty her hands.

Afro battles and defeats the three while Sio attempts to resurrect a mind-
controlled version of Afro's father. However, Rokutaro is revived before he is
completely restored, leaving him merely a mindless, though apparently somewhat
controllable, killing machine. Afro defeats the three and is soon confronted by
Sio, Jinno, and his resurrected father. With Afro hesitant to fight his father,
Rokutaro defeats and kills him (stops his heart from beating). Jinno comes to
Afro's aid, though pointless as Sio points out, in a sudden flash of selective
memories of being a childhood friend and sparring partner with Afro. Landing only a
few blows, Jinno is quickly killed by Rokutaro, who kills Sio in the same blow when
she attempts to come to Jinno's aid. The cybernetic remains of Jinno give off an
electrical surge, which, conducted through the spilled blood of Sio, restarts
Afro's heart. Afro apparently defeats Rokotaro and emerges from the scene wearing
the No. 1 headband.

Afro walks away from the battle, wearing the No. 1 headband and clutching the No. 2
headband in right hand. He comes across Shichigoro's orphaned son, who had been
following him, and hands him the No. 2, telling him to challenge him when he's
ready.

[edit] CharactersMain article: List of Afro Samurai characters

[edit] ProductionTakashi Okazaki started drawing African-American characters on
items like Kleenex boxes when he was a teenager, inspired by his fondness for hip
hop and soul music. He also drew ideas from American media and their depiction of
Japanese culture.[1] Takashi started combining elements of samurai into his work,
eventually developing the design for Afro. Takashi Okazaki began writing the
original dojinshi, then called Afro Samurai!, when he and his friends started
independently publishing the art magazine Nou Nou Hau.[2] The preparatory "issue 0"
of Nou Nou Hau was released on November 1998 with Afro Samurai artwork featured on
the cover.[3] Takashi Okazaki wrote the entire manga in the English direction, with
elements from English and Japanese comics. He also used Afro Samurai for a cat food
advertisement in the last pages of his mange book.[4]

In addition to the anime production, Takashi Okazaki re-made the dojinshi, with
much better art skills.[4] At the Japan Society from March 13 to June 14, 2009,
original Afro Samurai dojinshi artwork (as used on issue 0 of Nou Nou Hau) was
showcased at the KRAZY!: The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games
exhibition.[5]

[edit] Media[edit] MangaWritten and illustrated by Takashi Okazaki, Afro Samurai

was originally published in the self-funded Nou Nou Hau dojinshi magazine.[2] First
appearing in issue 0, the dojinshi version was first published from September 1999
to October 2000.[3] After the release of the anime version, Takashi Okazaki
recreated the original dojinshi.[4] Although the recreation of the original manga
was created in Japan, it was first published in the United States by Seven Seas
Entertainment and Tor Books in two tankobon volumes.[6] As a special supplement,
thumb-nail sized clips of the original dojinshi were shown at the end of the first
volume.[7] The English release of the manga was Tor Books and Seven Seas' first
publication under the newly formed Tor/Seven Seas imprint.[6] The manga was also
released in Italy through Panini Comics' manga publishing division Planet Manga,
starting on April 9, 2009.[8] The manga was released in one volume in Japan on
December 18, 2009. The limited edition came with all the issues of the original
dojinshi included in a separate volume.[1]

No. Title Release date ISBN

1 Nothing personal...it's just revenge. September 2008[9] ISBN 978-0-7653-2123-7
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Translation Notes
Supplemental Material

Afro witnessed his father get killed by Justice. Afro, now with the No. 2 headband
sets forth to avenge his father's death. On his way Afro encounters several foes.
2 Death isn't the end...it's only the beginning. February 2009[9] ISBN 978-0-7653-
2239-5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Honorifics Guide
Translation Notes
Creator Interview

[edit] AnimeOne of Takashi Okazaki's friends decided to make action figures based
on the character, which were released in small amounts. After the action figures
were created, a producer from the Japanese studio, Gonzo, happened to find them and
thought of an animated TV project based on the series. The anime took three years
to develop, and in the three years the studio also created a trailer, which
happened to fall into the hands of Samuel L. Jackson.[10] It was announced that the
project would be a five-episode "creative collaboration" between Samuel L. Jackson,
Takashi Okazaki, and Gonzo, with a music score by hip hop artist RZA from the rap
group Wu-Tang Clan.[11][12] In 2006, it was announced that Funimation Entertainment
acquired the rights to the anime series which would premier on Spike TV (now simply
known as "Spike") later that year, and that Samuel L. Jackson would voice Afro.[13]
Afro Samurai debuted on Spike TV, on January 4, 2007.[14] The series' worldwide
premier was on Spike TV's website where they streamed the first episode online. The
anime was later released on Japanese television Thursday, May 3, 2007, in English
with Japanese subtitles. The Japanese air was released completely uncut.[15] On
Friday, May 11, 2007 Funimation released the first Afro Samurai DVDs at Anime
Central, at their own booth, the regular Afro Samurai: Spike Version and the uncut
Afro Samurai: Director's Cut. Both DVDs were released to the public on May 22,
2007.[16] On September 4, 2007, all five episodes of Afro Samurai were released on
iTunes. To promote this, Funimation released eight custom designed iPods by Takashi
Okazaki.[17] In 2008, Funimation released the Afro Samurai anime series onto Xbox
Live in high definition format and also debuted on Blu-ray Disc in that year.[18]
[19] Also in 2008, Afro Samurai was shown at the German Film Festival in Germany.
[20]

# Title Original air date

01 "Revenge"
"Number One" January 4, 2007
As a boy, Afro witnessed his father's death by the hands of a man looking to claim
the title of No. 1. Now a grown man, he has the title of No. 2 and sets out on his
journey of revenge.
02 "The Dream Reader"
"OKIKU" January 11, 2007
Afro relives his harsh past through his dreams when he is discovered by a local by
the riverbank who tends to his wounds.
03 "The Empty Seven Clan"
"THE EMPTY SEVEN CLAN" January 18, 2007
As The Clan of the Empty Seven continues to put pressure on Afro, he must battle
his deadliest foe yet, himself.
04 "Duel"
"KUMA" January 25, 2007
The past comes back to teach Afro a lesson about the consequences of choosing
revenge over family, and what it really means to wear the No. 2 headband.
05 "Justice"
"JUSTICE" February 1, 2007
Afro battles with his childhood friend and makes his final ascension towards the
number one, Justice.
[edit] FilmsIn an Associated Press interview in 2007, Takashi Okazaki confirmed
there would be a sequel to the anime series, and that it would also be shown on
Spike TV.[21] In 2008, the sequel was announced to be a TV movie titled Afro
Samurai: Resurrection, and that actors Lucy Liu and Mark Hamill would join the
voice acting cast.[22] Hip hop artist RZA also came back to provide the soundtrack
for the movie. Afro Samurai: Resurrection debuted on Spike TV on the night of
January 25, 2009.[23] On July 16, 2009, Afro Samurai: Resurrection was nominated
for an Emmy in the "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or
more)" category in the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmy
Awards. At the Emmy awards, Afro Samurai: Resurrection lost to Destination
Imagination, a TV movie based on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.[24][25] The
art director of Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Shigemi Ikeda, won an Emmy for his work
on Resurrection, which is the first ever awarded for work on a Japanese-animated
production.[26] Afro Samurai: Resurrection was the first Japanese anime to be
nominated for and win an Emmy.[25]

Late 2009 also saw the release of Afro Samurai: Complete Murder Sessions on Blu-Ray
and DVD. A 4-disc collection of both Afro Samurai Director's Cut and Afro Samurai:
Resurrection, together in one complete boxset.
Announced at the 2006 Comic-Con, a live action version of Afro Samurai was said to
be in the making.[27]

[edit] Video gamesIn 2005, Gonzo had awarded Namco Bandai Games exclusive rights to
publish to Afro Samurai video games, as announced that year.[28] The debut trailer
of the first game was released at the company's Editor's Day presentation.[29] Afro
Samurai was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 27, 2009.[30]
[31]

[edit] SoundtracksWu-Tang Clan member RZA produced the soundtrack for both the Afro
Samurai TV series and the TV movie sequel Afro Samurai: Resurrection.[12][23] The
first soundtrack for the anime series, The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai: The
Soundtrack was released on January 30, 2007 by Koch Records (now known as E1
Music).[32] The second soundtrack for the TV movie, The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai:
Resurrection: The Soundtrack was also released by Koch Records on January 27, 2009.
[33]

[edit] Cast[edit] Afro SamuraiSamuel L. Jackson - Afro Samurai, Ninja Ninja

Kelly Hu - Otsuro
Ron Perlman - Justice
Jeff Bennett - Foo, Hachiro
Steven Blum - Assassin
S. Scott Bullock - Dharman (Director's Cut Version)
T.C. Carson - Sword Master, Brother 4
Grey DeLisle - Oyuki, Woman
John DiMaggio - Brother 2, Giant, Ivanov, Patron #2
Greg Eagles - Rokutaro, Brother 6
John Kassir - Soshun
Phil LaMarr - Brother 1, Brother 3, Brother 5, Dharman (original version), Kuro,
Teen Afro Samurai
Yuri Lowenthal - Jinnosuke/Kuma
Jason Marsden - Sasuke
Liam O'Brien - Kihachi, Patron #4
Crystal Scales - Young Afro Samurai
Dwight Schultz - Assassin #1, Patron #1, Ronin
Tara Strong - Jiro, Otsuro
Fred Tatasciore - Juzo, Patron #5, Shuzo
James Arnold Taylor - Yasichi
Dave Wittenberg - Assassin, Matasaburo, Patron #3, Punk
[edit] Afro Samurai: ResurrectionSamuel L. Jackson - Afro Samurai, Ninja Ninja
Lucy Liu - Sio
Mark Hamill - Bin, Oden Shop Master
Jeff Bennett - Brother 3
Steven Blum - Assassins, Man A
S. Scott Bullock - Dharman, Kidnapper
Grey DeLisle - Tomoe, Ogin
Greg Eagles - Rokutaro
Zachary Gordon - Kotaro
Phil LaMarr - Teen Afro Samurai
Yuri Lowenthal - Jinnosuke/Kuma
Liam O'Brien - Shichogoro
Kevin Michael Richardson - Blacksmith, Takimoto
RZA - DJ
Ariel Winter - Young Sio
Dave Wittenberg - Adolescent, Fencing Brother
[edit] CrewSamuel L. Jackson - Executive Producer
Jamie Simone - Casting and Voice Director
[edit] ReceptionThe Afro Samurai manga series has received generally positive
reviews from critics. Scott Green, writer of the Anime AICN segment of Ain't It
Cool News said that the manga "is a work of design" and that it "utilizes the
medium