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While Cowboy Bebop often leads debates about the top anime ever made, its close relative, Samurai Champloo, warrants similar praise. The impact of this historical epic remains relevant today, particularly in Sony's premier Ghost series.

Enhanced Tributes

This latest Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to the 2020 PlayStation 5 title, deepens its homage to Japanese period dramas with the inclusion of the classic film mode. This feature offers monochrome graphics, vintage film look, and old-school sound. Additional modes include Takashi Miike Mode, which focuses the view and intensifies blood and mud; and Shinichirō Watanabe Mode, featuring a lo-fi hip-hop score crafted under the filmmaker's guidance.

For those intrigued about the second one, Watanabe is the creative force behind the jazz-infused Cowboy Bebop and the urban-music-inspired the Edo-era adventure, among other prominent anime.

Mixing Time Periods

Watanabe’s classic 2004 anime the groundbreaking series blends feudal Japan with urban culture and current perspectives. It chronicles the unexpected group of Mugen, a untamed and erratic fighter; Jin, a calm and disciplined wandering warrior; and the brave waitress, a courageous waitress who recruits them on her quest to find “the warrior with a floral scent.”

While the soundscape is fundamentally his creation, much of Champloo’s music was inspired by renowned musician Nujabes, who passed away in 2010 at the young age of 36. Nujabes deserves his flowers together with Watanabe when it comes to the audio the anime is famous for and pays homage to in the new game.

Cultural Fusion

Much of what made the series distinguish itself on the cable schedule was its perfect fusion of hip-hop and Asian culture. That combination has been a fixture in urban art since Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993, which itself originates from an group of youth growing up on Kung Fu movies featuring the martial arts legend and the iconic actor.

For many, Adult Swim and the anime served as an entry point to underground music, with producers like Nujabes, the rapper, and Flying Lotus, the latter of whom went on to score the Netflix anime Yasuke.

Visual Flair

Stylized and symbolic, Champloo’s opening introduces the protagonists through representative beasts in the background — the wild one struts like a rooster, while Jin moves with the composed, fluid style of a colorful fish. Although Champloo’s central characters are the focus of the series, its supporting cast are where the true heart of the anime can be found.

There’s thief Shinsuke, who has a lonely story of perseverance in one chapter, and another character named Yamane, whose exchanges with the wild swordsman change him profoundly that Yamane ends up in his writings years later. In the specific installment, “Gamblers and Gallantry,” the ronin becomes enamored with a wedded lady sold into prostitution named the female character and helps her escape from a brothel.

A Unified Narrative

At initial view, the 26-episode series appears to tell a non-linear tale of the trio’s journey to finding the mysterious warrior, but as Samurai Champloo develops, events from previous episodes begin to weave together to form a unified story. Every interaction our main characters face along the way has an effect on both the characters and the overall narrative.

Period Influences

The series also draws from historical happenings (the same era as Yotei), filtered through Watanabe’s artistic lens. Events like the historical uprising and places such as the security station (which the character watches over) are woven into the story.

At the start, woodblock printer the historical figure shows up and briefly fixates on Fuu as his muse. After she rejects him, his work ultimately reaches the hands of the Dutch artist, who, in Champloo’s fictional history, is influenced to create his iconic floral artworks.

Enduring Impact

All of these components tie closely into Champloo’s soundtrack, giving this samurai story the kind of unique character that other productions have long tried to emulate. Titles like the urban samurai series (featuring Wu-Tang’s RZA), the hip-hop anime, and Yasuke all sought to recreate its mix of aesthetics and audio, but with mixed results.

the sequel has the opportunity to continue from where the classic anime ended, igniting a new wave of inspiration much like the anime once did. If you’re diving into the game, it’s recommended revisiting the series, because without it, there’d be no “the special setting,” no wave of urban-music-inspired shows, and no continuing impact of the producer, from which the influence originates.