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Do you know Afro Samurai? You Should!

First appearing in manga in 1999, Takashi Okazaki’s creation has been coming west slowly but surely. Unlike most Japanese pop invasions, which tend to rush into the market, the Afro Samurai team is taking it’s time, building up it’s arsenal and in a year’s time, everyone will know of the Afro Samurai… at least that’s the plan, and I think they can pull it off.

The visual flavor is so stylish it’s not even funny, taking the hip-hop/samurai styles of Samurai Champloo to a whole new level. Loose, exagerated, heavy in contrast and composition that that frames each piece on it’s own. It’s not surprising the Afro Samurai has received the support it has so far.

Samuel Jackson’s name is the one most commonly tied to the Samurai, but Namco, RZA, Gonzo and many others have been tied to the live action, video game, comic book and anime series that are all in various stages of development.

There is the occasional press release, but the work is rarely mentioned in interviews and never show up at trade shows - building up momentum, one step at a time.

I’m still waiting for the stills from the anime series, and as soon as they are posted, I’ll throw them up here.