Samurai Jack: Season One Review

That, as the title sequence says, is the gist of the cult-followed Emmy winning Samurai Jack, a cartoon released by the man behind Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and Star Wars: Clone Wars, Genndy Tartakovsky. If none of those shows ring a nostalgic bell, then you missed out on a golden era of animated programs. No need to fret, though. The first season DVD set of Samurai Jack is a must have for fans of the show, and a necessity for animation fans of any age.

The episodes follow Jack, a young prince who's destiny it is to defeat the ancient demon, Aku. He is tricked by the demon and banished to the future, where Aku is supreme ruler of Earth and reigns down over all. Jack's quest is to ultimately get back to his own time and stop Aku before his evil spreads, but he also helps those in need along the way. The universe of Samurai Jack is reason enough to have watched the show, and equally a reason why one should own it. The future Jack adventures in is full of aliens, robots, and locales all presented in a high-impact yet simple style. The color palates and character designs are astounding, and most episodes are told with a minimal amount of dialogue - the music and visuals present the story.

The show ranges the gamut of feeling; certain episodes feel very dark and mysterious while others are meant to be lighthearted and fun. There is a fair share of hilarity and awe-inspiring action sequences, and stories and locales change so often it is not a possibility to get bored while watching the show.The show often has an epic feel, both because of pans, letterbox sequences of action, and screen cuts that divide the story into comic book panels. And because the universe is full of robots, Jack is free to slice and dice his way through truly exciting action sequences without offending any viewers of any age.

The first season had some very memorable episodes, both because of their stories and the unprecedented way they were presented. The packaging of the two-disc box set is simple but stylized, like the show itself. There are also around forty-five minutes of special features, including commentary on one of Genndy' s favorite episodes; a making-of reel with interviews and origin stories; original artwork showing the evolution of the series set to music; and an original animation test to show what the final product would look like.

In short, the first season of Samurai Jack is a fantastic collection of thirteen episodes, some still remaining the best in the series. While there are only a handful of special features, the episodes themselves are endlessly re-watchable and well worth the purchase of around twenty-five dollars. If you already love the show, pick up the set; if you want to experience a truly original, artful, stylistic animated show that anyone can fall in love with, please find the set and discover Samurai Jack.