Honestly didn't think about how good a character Fuu was. Especially near the end of the show her storyline was always the best of the 3 for me. Someone who went through so much only for the satisfaction of finding the samurai (spoiler things to happen), as well as how consistent of a character she is, she is always able to move on and she constantly helps others move on. All that said she is the only character I remembered the name of.
Yep. I love how bittersweet Fuu's story is. She accomplished and overcame so much only for her end goal to be taken from her before eight at the finish line.
Another incredible video my man, I can't stress it enough! I completely agree, looking back Fuu was always just that character anyone could appreciate. She's honestly like the glue Samurai Champloo, it just wouldn't be the same without her. Keep up the great work king, can't wait to see you reach even greater heights! 🔥
Most Champloo reviews bash on fuu, thanks for showing some love to the great character that she is, Side note: I always thougth about fuu being 19 and mugen & Jin 23
This is a great video. Fuu never annoyed me so I was shocked when I realized most people disliked her and I’ve even read that the show would be better without her. Thank you for just putting those thoughts I’ve had about fuu over the years in a single video ❤
I forgot. Congratulations on being here for a year. I support your video goals too. It's good when people with soul speak through the lens of their world.
Thank you for sharing this beautifully edited and written commentary. It's great you point that out, especially considering the other females in the story like Mugen's childhood friend and th blind assassin woman. It makes me wonder what I can incorporate into myself as a female too. Again, thank you for sharing this.
Great character analysis🔥 Hadn’t thought of it but if I had to say who the main character of Samurai Champloo was I’d probably say Fuu. The girl worth fight for, good shit💯
What a fantastic analysis! You seriously spit some facts and wise insights about 'women' and their importance in a time where people are selfish due to social media influences and destructive values.
Fuu has purpose in life. The boys just wander around reacting to life. Thats why the ending matters. If She hadnt been able to find her father, the guys wouldn't have faced their own pasts and grown. Handle your crap then keep on moving. Love this show!! Thanks for being a voice in support of the girl who made men out of boys without a certain kind of nasty!
Great video! I agree with pretty much everything you said. Just recently finished watching the show again with some friends and I'm happy to say that it's one of their favorite anime (2nd after FMA 03/Brotherhood)! They're just getting into the medium so I've gotta show them the classics, you know? 👍 Keep it up!
just subbed to ya channel man after watching the Boondocks Season 2 review and I saw you did videos on Champloo! Two of my favorite shows I watched back 2 back on adult swim. great werk homie, keep creating from ya heart. You are heard.
You worked to present subtle and little points that accumulated in to something really great That's all that one can ask Thanks Also, been real at the end, well, that's what most of us are doing...nice to hear that
@@chillreview636 I hope so. This video is so well edited and voiced. You deserve more subscribers 🥰. Also, thank you for making me watch Samurai Champloo for like 10th time 😂.
Fuu is top 3 on my list of favorite female anime characters I liked her most at the eating contest - her face, when she was focused on... killing that fly...
YESS, thank you for making this beautiful video on this wonderful but unnecessarily hated character. Awesome video. It's always a pleasure to listen to you.
More than the mascot, the hidden gem and the heart and soul to describe Mugen, Fuu and Jin, I think a more accurate description is as follows: Mugen- The fool on the hero's journey. The main character who needs purpose and motivation and develops chivalry because of a goal and purpose he values (Fuu). He changes the most by the end and almost all episodes center on him. Mugen is also the one who saves Fuu or attempts to save her in every episode. Jin only directly saves Fuu alone once in episode 26, when he avenges his master Mariya Enshirou. Otherwise, he's fucking off playing chess, dueling a firefly samurai, helping a gang leader's son, dead on a baseball field etc. Fuu- The hero's purpose. The goal. The plot. Mugen doesn't care for anyone but himself until he meets Fuu and is pushed by her goal to find the sunflower samurai. Jin- The rival and more specifically, the foil to the hero, as Watanabe stated that was actually why he was designed for the show to begin with. Jin challenges Mugen, forcing him to become better. Jin saves many other people besides Fuu, always attempting to help others, and even falls in love with a different woman, Shino. I also believe Jin represents the "theme" of the show, as he is the most historically accurate to the Tokugawa era, and holds the traditional values of bushido, challenging those who are more political than actual warriors anymore. Couple other things that are really important. You descibe both Mugen and Jin as ronin. This is false. Ronin was a masterless samurai. Mugen is NOT a samurai. He's not even Japanese, as he hails from the Miyakoan Islands of the Ryukyuan Kingdom which was conquered by Satsuma domain. His sword is clearly not a katana and bears Ryukyuan design. He is very much based off of Kikuchiyo from the critically acclaimed movie Seven Samurai, who wanted to be a samurai but was not born as one. The triangle on his haori is also pulled from this film. And lastly, Mugen's feelings for Fuu, unlike Jin's, are heavily implied to be romantic. Most specifically, the episode with Sara highlights the theme of love. "It's as if you have never been loved by anyone." And then Fuu proceeds to throw herself in the way to save Mugen and prove Sara wrong. Mugen gives up his sword for Fuu in the same way Jin gave his swords to the brothel to rescue Shino. Shino and Fuu have other, numerous parallels, to how both men meet them and offer help despite help not being asked for, try to save them from brothels, the gambler, samurai and maiden in distress theme of episode 11, the color palette of Shino's pink brothel kimono and Jin's red umbrella etc. And more on the hero and his purpose, Mugen is called back from death (represented as the paantu of Miyakoan mythology) by Fuu's love for him. The scenes of episode 14 and 26 are strikingly similar. Jin never gets such intense scenes with Fuu in the whole series, as he was never designed to be the main character, and his relationship with Fuu is different. There are also interviews of Watanabe and Ayako Kawasumi and Ginpei Sato that confirm stronger feelings between Mugen and Fuu. I have always thought Jin's dynamic with Fuu is more traditionally "a lord worth serving", as well as he is a fatherly figure to her. He even gets her father's clothes in the last episode, and presumably his katana too. Conversely, Mugen gets a European bastard sword, which is typically associated with medieval knights. Almost as if he was finally "knighted" and given the accolades for all his rescuing of the maiden in distress.
Sorry it took so long to get to this, but this was a great comment and I wanted to make sure I read it all and gave it a worthy response. I like the way you look at the show and dynamics of the characters. I've never actually looked into Watanabe, or any of the the other people involved Champloo's creation interviews or explanations of the show. It's always been more fun for me to take my own meanings from everything. I don't doubt that everything you're saying about the impetus and motivation behind the characters' creation and roles in the story are true, but something about Mugen out right being the main character or main focus of the story has never sat right with me. Don't get me wrong, he's obviously meant to be a large focus of the show, but Jin and Fuu seem to be the one's who have backstories that actually move the story forward. And I think there's a solid argument to be made that Jin grows the most by the end of the story. Plot wise, he comes face to face with the man who caused his master to turn on him and begin his life of exile and defeats him (basically proving that he's the stronger swordsman between himself and Mugen in the process because Mariya was basically the final boss of Champloo.) He also goes from a shameful and sad loner who is unable to let any close to him, to a proud protector who can finally say he has people he cares about and who also care about him. Mugen's transformation always felt more to me like a selfish scumbag who cared about no one, no cares about two people lol. Which is still cool to see, but Jin's arc just felt bigger and more fleshed out. And regarding all the points about Mugen and Fuu's romance.... I don't see it. Yeah they implied it a few times, but they also implied Fuu and Jin having a deeper connection too. Jin was often the one consoling her and Fuu even said she thought he was cute (at first lol) but I legitimately don't think the romantic feelings are there for either couple. They're just friends, and thats okay. And lastly to your point about Robin. I'm pretty sure a ronin is just a wandering warrior/swordsman without a master. Jin wasformerly a samurai in training at least if not a full fledged one, but Mugen just being a crazy guy with a sword walking around Japan still constitutes him as a ronin in my eyes, mostly because I don't there's a better way to describe him. Seriously though, thanks for the discussion starter, It's been awhile since I got to gush about Champloo this much 🤙🏾
@@chillreview636 Starting with your comment about ronin, no ronin is not just a wandering swordsman. The very first line in the series even makes the distinction when Mugen and Jin are being executed: "Vagrant Mugen. And vagrant and ronin Jin." This is meant to clearly show the separation of class at the start. While the etymology may mean "wanderer", in the context of Tokugawa era Japan ronin were very specifically samurai who lost their master and were socially ostracized as a result. There was great shame in it, as samurai were expected to commit seppuku upon their master's death and were seldom every rehired by a new lord. Jin is a samurai automatically by birthright as a member of the Takeda clan and him "still in training" is not necessarily true, as the coming of age during the time period for samurai boys was between 13-17, and Jin is roughly 20. Him being in the dojo may simply be him practicing, or because he lives there since it's Mariya Enshirou who adopted him, and he was meant to inherit it. Saying Mugen is a ronin is the equivalent of saying a person who wears armor is a knight. It was a specific cast system and Mugen is so low on it, that he's not even legally a Japanese citizen since he hails from the Ryukyuan Kingdom. He also is from the bottom rung of the Ryukyuan cast too, being born on a penal colony in the "country bumpkin" Miyakoan Islands, likely Tarama Island. Being a foreigner aside, he's legally not supposed to be carrying a blade either, as only samurai class were allowed to carry swords (once again showing ronin were only samurai). Vagrant, vagabond, criminal, pirate, convicted thief shown by the ring tattoos, mercenary, sword for hire all work for Mugen. Ronin however, cannot be used and the anime makes that clear. The foreigner Isaac Titsingh however, refers to Mugen as a samurai in an ironic weaboo way, as he previously called Fuu a ninja, made the sign of the cross which is illegal, called wasabi wabisabi etc. So more evidence of Mugen being the main character (besides how the director said he is), the head writer of the show was Shinji Obara. However, most of the episodes have one-off main writers. The episodes that were specifically written by Shinji Obara himself (and are considered the main plot episodes) were 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 14, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 26. 2, 13, 14, 20, 21, 25, and 26 are all very specifically centered on Mugen.(And Fuu at the end.) In an interview with Ayako Kawasumi (Fuu), she even stated that the writers fake "killed off" Jin in the ending episodes because she stated she preferred Mugen over Jin. Ginpei Sato (Jin) also has said he was bummed out cause Jin gets stabbed in front of her, but she's "only worried about Mugen". These interviews can be found in the official Roman album. I will also have to disagree on Jin having the most development. All three characters were loners all their lives, and all three did develop and make friends. But Mugen is shown having the most painful upbringing of all, untrusting, growing up in a living hell filled with betrayals and Sara specifically mentions "it's as if you've never been loved by anyone". Fuu and Jin were always moral. Jin helped multiple people in the series, even in ep 1 before he meets Fuu just because he hates injustice. Mugen in contrast is shown only saving Fuu to get fed dango. In the last arc, Fuu even makes the comment "You know you're wasting your time. Mugen is the worst, the last thing he cares about is saving a hostage." She's surprised then, when he throws his sword, and gets tortured for her. All three characters face their pasts. Fuu forgives her father. Jin avenges his father figure and Fuu's father by killing Kariya. But Mugen is different: he faces himself and his own evils. Fuu being kidnapped and beaten by Umanosuke is solely to affect Mugen. He even says so. It's revenge. Fuu is also kidnapped because of Ryujiro's revenge on Mugen in Ep 2. Where Fuu and Jin seek revenge in their final confrontations, Mugen needs atonement in his. The black figures that come for Mugen are specifically known as Paantu: a Miyakoan diety. Their job? To chase away evil spirits. For them to come for Mugen twice, is a representation of destroying a sinful being. However, Fuu's voice in episode 26 chases them away, and she saves him in Ep 14. This is symbolic of him having redeemed himself of his sinful past since he's become Fuu's hero. His guilt and shame of his piracy is heavily implied in EP 13 when he is enraged by Mukuro's words to Fuu, to the point where he puts a blade to his neck to shut him up. "Do you have any idea the kinds of things this guy has done? That's a laughing riot...a guy like you protecting people." I also think you're overlooking something about the Kariya versus Jin scene. Yes, it shows Jin is skilled, but this shows much more of Mugen's emotional development. Mugen states whenever someone is stronger than him, he will not rest until he defeats them. When they find out Fuu is kidnapped, Jin tells Mugen "Go." Mugen refuses at first because of his pride and desire to defeat Kariya. But when Jin says "Take care of Fuu." Mugen pauses, the wind blows, music starts, and he runs to her rescue. He gives up his pride, even if it means admitting Jin is better than him because he can fight Kariya and he can't. All because, in that moment, something is more valuable to him now: Fuu. This is also not the first time characters "ruin" Mugen's chance to defeat someone he wants to kill, either. Jin kills Mukuro, stealing Mugen's chances for revenge, and the theme of letting Koza live in the end then becomes "letting anger from the past go." Sara is another opponent stronger than him that he couldn't defeat. She lets him win, and we are seen Mugen regretting killing for the very first time. So 100%, Mugen's obsession with growing stronger changes by the end, as does his selfishness turning to selflessness. And he, like Jin, finds friends.
@@ryukyuiansunflower all good points again. You said a lot, but I guess my major points of rebuttal would be that the evidence for Mugen being the main character is definitely there, but the show is way more interesting to see them all as equally important to the story, and maybe even Fuu or Jin being the true main character. It's also interesting to think that the main writers and creator envisioned Mugen as the main character, but the the 26 episodes we got seem to show something else (at least to me). Mugen's journey of redemption feels very isolated and almost secondary to everything else that's going on, and I never got the impression from the ending that Mugen was reformed or redeemed, he just found a girl and a guy he cared about and decided he liked them enough to protect them. I don't think that makes up for all the other horrible things he had done prior. If they were going for moral redemption, then that kind of fell flat. I also don't like discounting the other episodes not written by the head writer because those episodes help to paint a more detailed picture of who those characters were outside the main plot. A lot of the episodes not mentioned in your main list are some of the best in the series. Riskey Racket, Lethal Lunacy, and Gamblers and Gallantry not being canon is CRAZY!! In short - in my opinion, the show is much less interesting as a slightly twisted hero's journey about Mugen, where Fuu is his love interest, and Jin is his foil, because all of that isn't nearly as effectively communicated or paid off in the end as a story about 3 loners with traumatic pasts coming together for a journey of self discovery. I get the writers intended it to be the former, but based on what you've told me, it kind of sounds like the accidentally made it the ladder lol. But either way you look at it, Champloo is an amazing masterpiece and I know we both agree on that
@@treysavage4570 she definitely got highlights, but she only average like 2 cool moments per series 🤣🤣 and her low lights..... let's not even talk about em
Awesome video man keep it up! Also if you haven’t already you should read blade of the immortal it’s a manga kinda similar to champloo where a badass guy has to protect this girl and help her reach her Goal. The characters have great chemistry and is overall a good read so If you ever get the chance i recommend you check it out.
Men always have an urge to protect the woman they respect and love. Many woman didn't understand that. A woman worth fighting for.
This just came up in my feed. As an old-timer anime fan, this was a great take and a refreshing experience. Thank you.
Honestly didn't think about how good a character Fuu was. Especially near the end of the show her storyline was always the best of the 3 for me. Someone who went through so much only for the satisfaction of finding the samurai (spoiler things to happen), as well as how consistent of a character she is, she is always able to move on and she constantly helps others move on. All that said she is the only character I remembered the name of.
Yep. I love how bittersweet Fuu's story is. She accomplished and overcame so much only for her end goal to be taken from her before eight at the finish line.
Great vid, Fuu is one of my favorite female characters and its nice to see her get some spotlight and a great analysis like this.
Yep. Such an underrated character.
Love the profile pic btw
Thanks for watching 🤙🏾
@@chillreview636 thanks, and no problem man i really enjoy your content. Keep up the great work bro
Another incredible video my man, I can't stress it enough! I completely agree, looking back Fuu was always just that character anyone could appreciate. She's honestly like the glue Samurai Champloo, it just wouldn't be the same without her.
Keep up the great work king, can't wait to see you reach even greater heights! 🔥
Ayyye!! Thanks brotha.
You got me hyped to see your next video too lol
I'm sure it's gonna be a masterpiece 😎
Most Champloo reviews bash on fuu, thanks for showing some love to the great character that she is,
Side note: I always thougth about fuu being 19 and mugen & Jin 23
Never understood why people don't like her.
And yeah... it's crazy they made her so young lol
This guy's content is worth subscribing for
This is a great video. Fuu never annoyed me so I was shocked when I realized most people disliked her and I’ve even read that the show would be better without her. Thank you for just putting those thoughts I’ve had about fuu over the years in a single video ❤
I forgot. Congratulations on being here for a year. I support your video goals too. It's good when people with soul speak through the lens of their world.
Thanks so much!
I'm just happy you and other people are watching and enjoying the videos.
It's been awhile since I've watched the anime, this aspect never really crossed my mind but thanks for the insightful thought and video!
Thanks for watching!
Happy I could add some perspective .
Thank you for sharing this beautifully edited and written commentary. It's great you point that out, especially considering the other females in the story like Mugen's childhood friend and th blind assassin woman. It makes me wonder what I can incorporate into myself as a female too. Again, thank you for sharing this.
Great character analysis🔥 Hadn’t thought of it but if I had to say who the main character of Samurai Champloo was I’d probably say Fuu. The girl worth fight for, good shit💯
Nicely stated I like Fuu too. I’m going to be her at an upcoming Comicon if I can find/make her costume
That's dope! Haven't seen too many fuu cosplays. Hope you find what you need to make it work
What a fantastic analysis! You seriously spit some facts and wise insights about 'women' and their importance in a time where people are selfish due to social media influences and destructive values.
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Fuu has purpose in life. The boys just wander around reacting to life. Thats why the ending matters. If She hadnt been able to find her father, the guys wouldn't have faced their own pasts and grown. Handle your crap then keep on moving. Love this show!! Thanks for being a voice in support of the girl who made men out of boys without a certain kind of nasty!
Lol Well said. Your comment makes me think I could have put the make a man out of you song in the video too 😂😂
5:54
That genuinely made me chuckle a bit.
Great video and thank you.
Hahahaha I'm happy someone laughed
Great video! I agree with pretty much everything you said. Just recently finished watching the show again with some friends and I'm happy to say that it's one of their favorite anime (2nd after FMA 03/Brotherhood)! They're just getting into the medium so I've gotta show them the classics, you know? 👍
Keep it up!
You're doing God's work my friend. Keep it up 👍
Fuu is one of my favorite characters in the show she was awesome
PLEASE continue what your doing . idk if ur aware but many ppl such as me connect with the things u say
just subbed to ya channel man after watching the Boondocks Season 2 review and I saw you did videos on Champloo! Two of my favorite shows I watched back 2 back on adult swim. great werk homie, keep creating from ya heart. You are heard.
Thanks brotha! Always love to see people with similar tastes.
You worked to present subtle and little points that accumulated in to something really great
That's all that one can ask
Thanks
Also, been real at the end, well, that's what most of us are doing...nice to hear that
I'm glad you liked the video.
I really love to see comments like this. Thanks!
This video is amazing!. TH-cam did a good job for once and recommended me your channel. You got yourself a new subscriber big man 😁.
Many thanks my man!
More is coming soon
@@chillreview636 I hope so. This video is so well edited and voiced. You deserve more subscribers 🥰. Also, thank you for making me watch Samurai Champloo for like 10th time 😂.
finally, a video on my girl!!
Welp that was a great video and also taught me the term Down Ass Chick. Thanks for expanding my vocabulary have a like and subscribe.
😂😂 I live to teach
Thanks for watching my guy
Fuu is top 3 on my list of favorite female anime characters
I liked her most at the eating contest - her face, when she was focused on... killing that fly...
Lol fat Fuu is the best Fuu
Lullabies of the lost was a good one💯
quality content G💯👌
Love that episode! Appreciate the love homie 🙏
What kind of Body Wash does Jack uses to wash himself with ?.....
Samurai Champoo 🧴😉
YESS, thank you for making this beautiful video on this wonderful but unnecessarily hated character.
Awesome video. It's always a pleasure to listen to you.
Fu is great and so are you.
Thanks for watching!!
More than the mascot, the hidden gem and the heart and soul to describe Mugen, Fuu and Jin, I think a more accurate description is as follows:
Mugen- The fool on the hero's journey. The main character who needs purpose and motivation and develops chivalry because of a goal and purpose he values (Fuu). He changes the most by the end and almost all episodes center on him. Mugen is also the one who saves Fuu or attempts to save her in every episode. Jin only directly saves Fuu alone once in episode 26, when he avenges his master Mariya Enshirou. Otherwise, he's fucking off playing chess, dueling a firefly samurai, helping a gang leader's son, dead on a baseball field etc.
Fuu- The hero's purpose. The goal. The plot. Mugen doesn't care for anyone but himself until he meets Fuu and is pushed by her goal to find the sunflower samurai.
Jin- The rival and more specifically, the foil to the hero, as Watanabe stated that was actually why he was designed for the show to begin with. Jin challenges Mugen, forcing him to become better. Jin saves many other people besides Fuu, always attempting to help others, and even falls in love with a different woman, Shino. I also believe Jin represents the "theme" of the show, as he is the most historically accurate to the Tokugawa era, and holds the traditional values of bushido, challenging those who are more political than actual warriors anymore.
Couple other things that are really important. You descibe both Mugen and Jin as ronin. This is false. Ronin was a masterless samurai. Mugen is NOT a samurai. He's not even Japanese, as he hails from the Miyakoan Islands of the Ryukyuan Kingdom which was conquered by Satsuma domain. His sword is clearly not a katana and bears Ryukyuan design. He is very much based off of Kikuchiyo from the critically acclaimed movie Seven Samurai, who wanted to be a samurai but was not born as one. The triangle on his haori is also pulled from this film.
And lastly, Mugen's feelings for Fuu, unlike Jin's, are heavily implied to be romantic. Most specifically, the episode with Sara highlights the theme of love. "It's as if you have never been loved by anyone." And then Fuu proceeds to throw herself in the way to save Mugen and prove Sara wrong. Mugen gives up his sword for Fuu in the same way Jin gave his swords to the brothel to rescue Shino. Shino and Fuu have other, numerous parallels, to how both men meet them and offer help despite help not being asked for, try to save them from brothels, the gambler, samurai and maiden in distress theme of episode 11, the color palette of Shino's pink brothel kimono and Jin's red umbrella etc.
And more on the hero and his purpose, Mugen is called back from death (represented as the paantu of Miyakoan mythology) by Fuu's love for him. The scenes of episode 14 and 26 are strikingly similar. Jin never gets such intense scenes with Fuu in the whole series, as he was never designed to be the main character, and his relationship with Fuu is different.
There are also interviews of Watanabe and Ayako Kawasumi and Ginpei Sato that confirm stronger feelings between Mugen and Fuu.
I have always thought Jin's dynamic with Fuu is more traditionally "a lord worth serving", as well as he is a fatherly figure to her. He even gets her father's clothes in the last episode, and presumably his katana too. Conversely, Mugen gets a European bastard sword, which is typically associated with medieval knights. Almost as if he was finally "knighted" and given the accolades for all his rescuing of the maiden in distress.
Sorry it took so long to get to this, but this was a great comment and I wanted to make sure I read it all and gave it a worthy response.
I like the way you look at the show and dynamics of the characters. I've never actually looked into Watanabe, or any of the the other people involved Champloo's creation interviews or explanations of the show. It's always been more fun for me to take my own meanings from everything.
I don't doubt that everything you're saying about the impetus and motivation behind the characters' creation and roles in the story are true, but something about Mugen out right being the main character or main focus of the story has never sat right with me.
Don't get me wrong, he's obviously meant to be a large focus of the show, but Jin and Fuu seem to be the one's who have backstories that actually move the story forward.
And I think there's a solid argument to be made that Jin grows the most by the end of the story. Plot wise, he comes face to face with the man who caused his master to turn on him and begin his life of exile and defeats him (basically proving that he's the stronger swordsman between himself and Mugen in the process because Mariya was basically the final boss of Champloo.) He also goes from a shameful and sad loner who is unable to let any close to him, to a proud protector who can finally say he has people he cares about and who also care about him.
Mugen's transformation always felt more to me like a selfish scumbag who cared about no one, no cares about two people lol. Which is still cool to see, but Jin's arc just felt bigger and more fleshed out.
And regarding all the points about Mugen and Fuu's romance.... I don't see it. Yeah they implied it a few times, but they also implied Fuu and Jin having a deeper connection too. Jin was often the one consoling her and Fuu even said she thought he was cute (at first lol) but I legitimately don't think the romantic feelings are there for either couple. They're just friends, and thats okay.
And lastly to your point about Robin. I'm pretty sure a ronin is just a wandering warrior/swordsman without a master. Jin wasformerly a samurai in training at least if not a full fledged one, but Mugen just being a crazy guy with a sword walking around Japan still constitutes him as a ronin in my eyes, mostly because I don't there's a better way to describe him.
Seriously though, thanks for the discussion starter, It's been awhile since I got to gush about Champloo this much 🤙🏾
@@chillreview636 Starting with your comment about ronin, no ronin is not just a wandering swordsman. The very first line in the series even makes the distinction when Mugen and Jin are being executed: "Vagrant Mugen. And vagrant and ronin Jin." This is meant to clearly show the separation of class at the start. While the etymology may mean "wanderer", in the context of Tokugawa era Japan ronin were very specifically samurai who lost their master and were socially ostracized as a result. There was great shame in it, as samurai were expected to commit seppuku upon their master's death and were seldom every rehired by a new lord. Jin is a samurai automatically by birthright as a member of the Takeda clan and him "still in training" is not necessarily true, as the coming of age during the time period for samurai boys was between 13-17, and Jin is roughly 20. Him being in the dojo may simply be him practicing, or because he lives there since it's Mariya Enshirou who adopted him, and he was meant to inherit it. Saying Mugen is a ronin is the equivalent of saying a person who wears armor is a knight. It was a specific cast system and Mugen is so low on it, that he's not even legally a Japanese citizen since he hails from the Ryukyuan Kingdom. He also is from the bottom rung of the Ryukyuan cast too, being born on a penal colony in the "country bumpkin" Miyakoan Islands, likely Tarama Island. Being a foreigner aside, he's legally not supposed to be carrying a blade either, as only samurai class were allowed to carry swords (once again showing ronin were only samurai). Vagrant, vagabond, criminal, pirate, convicted thief shown by the ring tattoos, mercenary, sword for hire all work for Mugen. Ronin however, cannot be used and the anime makes that clear. The foreigner Isaac Titsingh however, refers to Mugen as a samurai in an ironic weaboo way, as he previously called Fuu a ninja, made the sign of the cross which is illegal, called wasabi wabisabi etc.
So more evidence of Mugen being the main character (besides how the director said he is), the head writer of the show was Shinji Obara. However, most of the episodes have one-off main writers. The episodes that were specifically written by Shinji Obara himself (and are considered the main plot episodes) were 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 14, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 26. 2, 13, 14, 20, 21, 25, and 26 are all very specifically centered on Mugen.(And Fuu at the end.) In an interview with Ayako Kawasumi (Fuu), she even stated that the writers fake "killed off" Jin in the ending episodes because she stated she preferred Mugen over Jin. Ginpei Sato (Jin) also has said he was bummed out cause Jin gets stabbed in front of her, but she's "only worried about Mugen". These interviews can be found in the official Roman album.
I will also have to disagree on Jin having the most development. All three characters were loners all their lives, and all three did develop and make friends. But Mugen is shown having the most painful upbringing of all, untrusting, growing up in a living hell filled with betrayals and Sara specifically mentions "it's as if you've never been loved by anyone".
Fuu and Jin were always moral. Jin helped multiple people in the series, even in ep 1 before he meets Fuu just because he hates injustice. Mugen in contrast is shown only saving Fuu to get fed dango. In the last arc, Fuu even makes the comment "You know you're wasting your time. Mugen is the worst, the last thing he cares about is saving a hostage." She's surprised then, when he throws his sword, and gets tortured for her.
All three characters face their pasts. Fuu forgives her father. Jin avenges his father figure and Fuu's father by killing Kariya. But Mugen is different: he faces himself and his own evils. Fuu being kidnapped and beaten by Umanosuke is solely to affect Mugen. He even says so. It's revenge. Fuu is also kidnapped because of Ryujiro's revenge on Mugen in Ep 2.
Where Fuu and Jin seek revenge in their final confrontations, Mugen needs atonement in his. The black figures that come for Mugen are specifically known as Paantu: a Miyakoan diety. Their job? To chase away evil spirits. For them to come for Mugen twice, is a representation of destroying a sinful being. However, Fuu's voice in episode 26 chases them away, and she saves him in Ep 14. This is symbolic of him having redeemed himself of his sinful past since he's become Fuu's hero.
His guilt and shame of his piracy is heavily implied in EP 13 when he is enraged by Mukuro's words to Fuu, to the point where he puts a blade to his neck to shut him up. "Do you have any idea the kinds of things this guy has done? That's a laughing riot...a guy like you protecting people."
I also think you're overlooking something about the Kariya versus Jin scene. Yes, it shows Jin is skilled, but this shows much more of Mugen's emotional development. Mugen states whenever someone is stronger than him, he will not rest until he defeats them. When they find out Fuu is kidnapped, Jin tells Mugen "Go." Mugen refuses at first because of his pride and desire to defeat Kariya.
But when Jin says "Take care of Fuu."
Mugen pauses, the wind blows, music starts, and he runs to her rescue. He gives up his pride, even if it means admitting Jin is better than him because he can fight Kariya and he can't. All because, in that moment, something is more valuable to him now: Fuu. This is also not the first time characters "ruin" Mugen's chance to defeat someone he wants to kill, either. Jin kills Mukuro, stealing Mugen's chances for revenge, and the theme of letting Koza live in the end then becomes "letting anger from the past go." Sara is another opponent stronger than him that he couldn't defeat. She lets him win, and we are seen Mugen regretting killing for the very first time. So 100%, Mugen's obsession with growing stronger changes by the end, as does his selfishness turning to selflessness. And he, like Jin, finds friends.
@@ryukyuiansunflower all good points again. You said a lot, but I guess my major points of rebuttal would be that the evidence for Mugen being the main character is definitely there, but the show is way more interesting to see them all as equally important to the story, and maybe even Fuu or Jin being the true main character.
It's also interesting to think that the main writers and creator envisioned Mugen as the main character, but the the 26 episodes we got seem to show something else (at least to me). Mugen's journey of redemption feels very isolated and almost secondary to everything else that's going on, and I never got the impression from the ending that Mugen was reformed or redeemed, he just found a girl and a guy he cared about and decided he liked them enough to protect them. I don't think that makes up for all the other horrible things he had done prior. If they were going for moral redemption, then that kind of fell flat.
I also don't like discounting the other episodes not written by the head writer because those episodes help to paint a more detailed picture of who those characters were outside the main plot. A lot of the episodes not mentioned in your main list are some of the best in the series. Riskey Racket, Lethal Lunacy, and Gamblers and Gallantry not being canon is CRAZY!!
In short - in my opinion, the show is much less interesting as a slightly twisted hero's journey about Mugen, where Fuu is his love interest, and Jin is his foil, because all of that isn't nearly as effectively communicated or paid off in the end as a story about 3 loners with traumatic pasts coming together for a journey of self discovery. I get the writers intended it to be the former, but based on what you've told me, it kind of sounds like the accidentally made it the ladder lol.
But either way you look at it, Champloo is an amazing masterpiece and I know we both agree on that
This was a great video! I loved it!!!
Thank you! Happy you found it
I never really cared for Cowboy Bebop however Samurai Champloo is my jam
I think they're both great, but Champloo is definitely more my speed as well.
Great video man I’ve genuinely liked all the ones I have watched on your channel, I fuk with your vibes heavy, got a sub from me
I appreciate it brotha. More vibes to come 😎
damn im loving every video sheesh , ya are damn good
Someone *cough* should make a video about why the Venn diagram of Boondocks fans and Champloo fans is actually just a circle
Lol I have noticed that since I started this channel. Might have to make a deep dive about that someday
I'm not afraid of a strong woman... as long as she's not mad at me.
Great vid :D
Very Good dude
Could you do a recap on the amazing Blind swordlady Sara
I'd I do, it will probably be in a bigger video talking about all of the villains of Champloo
Why Sakura catch that stray lmao 🤣. My dude said bad example lol 😆
All my homies hate Sakura mane 😂😂
@@chillreview636 lmao she is actually strong in Boruto. Her 1v1 with Shin Uchiha was definitely a highlight
@@treysavage4570 she definitely got highlights, but she only average like 2 cool moments per series 🤣🤣 and her low lights..... let's not even talk about em
Sakura's still not as bad as Jean Grey from the 1990s X-Men animated TV show.
It's been so long since I watched that X-men series. Was Jean really that bad? Lol
@@chillreview636 there's a compilation on TH-cam of all her fails. It's hilarious.
Awesome video man keep it up! Also if you haven’t already you should read blade of the immortal it’s a manga kinda similar to champloo where a badass guy has to protect this girl and help her reach her Goal. The characters have great chemistry and is overall a good read so If you ever get the chance i recommend you check it out.
Appreciate the recommendation!!
Definitely gonna check that out
Women make my pickle tickle 🥴
Don't worry. That just means you're becoming a man ✊
I’m glad you put Sakura as a bad example. She’s a stupid character.
Yeah she had potential early on but she was trash for most of Naruto unfortunately