Samurai Champloo, Volume 7 (Episodes 24-26) | 
| Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
Actors: Beau Billingslea, Kirsty Pape, Daisuke Gori, Paul St. Peter, Melodee Spevack
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy Used: $14.23
You Save: $15.75 (53%)
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Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 30980
Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), Dutch (Original Language), English (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 75 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D12300D
UPC: 013023230095
EAN: 0013023230095
ASIN: B000BGR0MO
Theatrical Release Date: January 11, 2005
Release Date: January 17, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Complete with original artwork, disc(s), and case. In stock and ships today!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Director Shinichiro Watanabe brings his picaresque adventure-comedy Samurai Champloo to its conclusion as Fuu, Mugen, and Jin reach Nagasaki. The final episodes showcase Watanabe's skill as a storyteller: earlier moments that seemed to be digressions turn out to hold more significance than viewers suspected. The mystery of the "samurai who smells of sunflowers" is revealed, although Americans may not understand the significance of his ties to the Shimabara Rebellion, an uprising of Christians and peasants in the 17th century. But Watanabe doesn't resort to Morris-the-explainer scenes: the revelations and back stories of the main characters are integrated into the narrative. Mugen and Jin battle foes in duels that recall the confrontation between Spike Spiegel and Vicious in Cowboy Bebop. Watanabe said, "I actually like to travel, but, now that I'm finished with his project, I feel like I do when I come to the end of a really long trip." Fans of Samurai Champloo can only hope that after a rest, he'll create new adventures for his outrageously mismatched trio. (Rated 16 and older: violence, violence against women, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
Watanabe's New Masterpiece January 30, 2006
Antonio D. Paolucci (Beaver Falls, PA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Samurai Champloo has become one of the greatest anime series ever with this final volume. It ranks well beside Cowboy Bebop, Watanabe's other masterpiece of anime, and in many ways surpasses it. Watanabe's series, though based in fuedal Japan, does not limit itself to those restrictions, instead taking a surrealistic view of history, which allows for both minor and huge discrepancies, and the larger the lie, the funnier the episode. Along with the comedy, the story centers around great action and even greater music.
But in this volume, drama dominates. All of the characters meet the conclusion of their own personal stories, while wrapping up their story as a group. Jin faces a man directly linked to his past as a swordsman; Mugen faces a family bent on revenge for Mugen's past life as a pirate; and Fuu finally meets the Sunflower Samurai. Though you may think I spoiled it, just watch and see, for none of these endings end exactly as you would expect.
Then, after all three of these linked episodes are finished, you are treated to a Reggae-style rap sung partly in English but mostly in Japanese. To me, this was the perfect ending theme to a series that relied heavily on its music.
So as not to spoil, I'll finish my review saying this. The end of Samurai Champloo is both exciting and a bit sad. It's a perfect conclusion to a perfect anime series, and sufficiently answers all the questions left behind in the previous volumes. If you have any anime sense, then you've already seen this anime and love it. If you don't, then hurry and get this so that you can say you were one of the first to see one of the best. This anime was definitely worth me collecting every separate volume, and I'd recommend the same for anyone else out there. Right now, I'm hoping Watanabe takes the same direction he did with Cowboy Bebop and makes the Samurai Champloo movie.
One of the greatest anime tales December 10, 2005
Orlando M. Roncal (Miami, FL USA)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
Great story, great ending, everything comes together at the end, all questions will be ansewered. And the msot important thing is....you find out what happens to our heroes, it's a shame I had to see this great story come to an end.
What they've been fighting for but who really wants to see this end January 2, 2006
Keith A. Jones (Philadelphia PA)
4 out of 10 found this review helpful
Yes this is the finale and although we want to know the mystery of the Samurai that smells of Sunflowers we will still crave this great series. In this volume Mugen, Jin, and Fuu close in on Ikitsuki Island but conflict and these three are still close. Three brothers that have some problems with Mugen take Fuu hostage. She's finally freed and the trio eventually makes it to find what they've been fighting for. The final battles of samurai champloo do not disappoint. Mugin has a showdown with the last brother and he not only wants Mugins blood but he wants to kill his pride.
One of the best endings to a television series... January 21, 2006
Xander (San Antonio, TX USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
At long last, the seventh and final volume of Shinichiro Watanabe's follow-up to Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo is here.
It's been a long, exciting, and sometimes strange journey for Fuu, Jin, and Mugen -- and it all comes down to the climactic three-part finale. "Evanescent Encounter" is the culmination of everything the series has to offer.
The finale opens up with the three main characters having a surprisingly open and heart-felt chat by a fire. Secrets are revealed and some lingering questions are answered. This prelude really hits it home that the trip Watanabe-san has taken us on is coming to an end.
I don't want to divulge too much -- as there are plenty of shocks and surprises in this final volume -- but the action and drama in the last three epiosdes is arguably the best in the entire series. The final battles are animated so incredibly well and will keep many on the edge of their seats. And the lingering question of whether Fuu will finally meet the Sunflower Samurai is at last answered...
Shinichiro Watanabe has done an incredible job with Samurai Champloo. While it may not be the instant pop classic that Cowboy Bebop is, it is a great tale of three strangers setting out on a journey who come to discover a great bond and friendship. The last three episodes are everything the viewer has been waiting for and then some. I can honestly say, this is one of the best endings I've seen to any television series (animated or live-action).
So, what are you waiting for? Go pick up the final volume of Samurai Champloo now! You will not be disappointed.
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