Blue Eye Samurai

Yeah I feel like Netflix out of nowhere made not only one of the best animated but perhaps one of the best shows of 2023!

The journey and character of Mizu was something I did not expect! A vengefull samurai with a dark past, comiting to kill 4 certain people.. no matter what!

This was a journey of all kind of emotions! I was either super excited at times, or felt my heart and soul crushed or feeling the tears due to the beautifull and emotional stories! The show does not shy away from gore or nudity either!

The other characters are great as well, and each stand out! I have to praise Kenneth Brannagh as Fowler! Does a great job at creating a detastable villain!

The animation however might be the true achievement of the show! Beautifully animated with breathtaking sequences! American animation is at groundbreaking point with this along with Spiderverse, Arcane, puss in boots etc! This is the kind of stuff we want!

Best part was the announcement of season two!

With so much of the anime world being over populated with minor variations of the same stories and themes, this was a really great palate cleanser.

Netflix can certainly commission some great works now and then. An original story with a great female lead. I was expecting this to be based on a manga or light novel, yet apparently it isn't. Also with the title I expected it to be a twist on the life of William Adams an actual blue eyed samurai of the time. Again nope, for that you'll have to watch the phenomenal Richard Chamberlain's Shogun.

The voice cast is fantastic. Kenneth Branagh oozes malicious evil and is completely unrecognisable voice wise. His scottish accent does come and go through out the series which is the only criticism of his performance. If you are going to make a character that make it consistent. George Sakei doesn't have to do much acting wise as he's done this role so many times before. Alas its what people tend to give you when you get to his age, even though his voice still has plenty of energy to it.

This is definitely not for kids with the bloody action of every episode with regular sex and sex themes. After the uproar of how women were treated in Game of Thrones its not surprising the writers felt they had to hammer home the point that women have very little options in that time period repeatedly.

The action is well thought out and stays grounded without going over the top as so many series and films want to. There's a clear arc for each of the characters and the writers have thought it through without making the development seem either forced or the next necessary step. There is one slight exception to that which feels it unless you're aware that such craftsmanship and ingenuity was present, and done in the time period. Just not on the mass production level needed for the plot point. There are some nice twists and turns in it to keep the tale from going stale.

There are some familiar tropes used in the series which are forgivable. The supporting male character who doesn't realise he's fallen for the lead. The comic Ringo who is a genuine delight to watch and you grow to care for. That in itself is a nice change to how such characters are usually done.

Blue Eye Samurai is a captivating show that truly exceeded my expectations. The animation alone is a visual feast for the eyes, with stunning attention to detail and fluid movements that brought the characters and their world to life. Every frame felt meticulously crafted, showing the dedication and talent of the animators. Not only was the animation top-notch, but the story was equally compelling. From start to finish, Blue Eye Samurai kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to see what would happen next. It cleverly weaved together elements of action, drama, and mystery, creating a truly engaging narrative that captivated both my imagination and emotions. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engrossing anime.

The brilliant animation team, Blue Spirit Studios, based out of Montreal and Paris, is the same group that did "What If?" which was their first foray beyond French cartoons. Their captivating artwork complement a fluid story line with strong character development. Continuing to collaborate with "Heroes" producer, Michael Green, Masi Oka provides timely humor as Ringo. The soundtrack is invigorating, lending a pulse to, at times, predictable action sequences. The comparisons to Kill Bill have been made by some critics, which is spot on since it combines a traditional story with a modern vibe. Over eight tightly packed episodes, the series contains a considerable amount of pacing that allows it to breathe with meaning and purpose. There isn't a better animated series IMHO and is perfect for fans of "Warrior" on MAX. You won't be able to tell how satisfying this show is till you start it.

It's just nice to watch a TV show in 2023 where the writers are not trying to bash you over the head with "THE MESSAGE" and you can in engage with a likeable and believable female protagonist who you want to see succeed. Fantastic animation style, music (with a Japanese version of For Whom The Bell Tolls being something I that I never knew I ever needed!), and the dialogue with a stellar voice cast that all contribute to a great show that I was fully invested in from start to finish. The show does however at times over-rely on it's use of sex scenes, and I'm not prudish, but it does feel a little awkward at times. But still a 10/10 for me , absolutely amazing.