Afro Samurai: Resurrection

{{Infobox television

| image = Afro Samurai Resurrection poster.png

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption = Japanese film poster

| based_on = {{Based on|Afro Samurai|Takashi Okazaki}}

| writer =

| screenplay = {{ubl|Yasuyuki Mutō|Josh Fialkov|Eric Calderon}}

| story = {{ubl|Takashi Okazaki|Fuminori Kizaki}}

| director = Fuminori Kizaki

| starring = {{ubl|Samuel L. Jackson|Lucy Liu}}

| music = RZA

| country = Japan
United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Shinichiro Ishikawa|Leo Chu|Eric Garcia|Arthur Smith|Samuel L. Jackson}}

| producer = {{ubl|Hiroshi Kumada|Chris Carlisle|Eric Calderon}}

| editor = Kiyoshi Hirose

| budget = $5 million

| cinematography =

| released = {{Start date|2009|01|25}}

| runtime = 100 minutes

| company = Gonzo

| network = {{ubl|Fuji Television (Japan)|Spike (United States)}}

}}

{{nihongo|Afro Samurai: Resurrection|アフロサムライレザレクション|Afuro Samurai Rezarekushon}}, (stylized as ΛFΓO SΛMUΓΛI RESUΓΓECTIOΠ) is a 2009 English-language Japanese animated television film sequel to the anime series Afro Samurai, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Lucy Liu. It aired on Spike (now known as Paramount Network) on January 25, 2009.

Plot

Lacking any sense of purpose after taking revenge on Justice, the Number 1 headband bearer, Afro Samurai, spends his days making wooden sculptures of historical figures and has not fought a duel in years. Jinno, his adoptive brother who is now an emotionless cyborg, and his sister, Lady Sio, ambush and beat him severely, while stealing the headband and his deceased father Rokutaro's mandible. Sio tells Afro that they will resurrect Rokutaro and use him for vengeance, challenging Afro to find the Number 2 headband if he has the will to fight.

After getting his sword reforged, Afro goes to a gambling house, where the last surviving member of the Empty Seven Clan, Brother 3, challenges him to a dice game for the identity of the Number 2. Afro discovers Brother 3 cheating and forces him to reveal that the Number 2 belonged to the ronin Shichigoro. Afro unknowingly saves Shichigoro's adopted son Kotaro and later kills the latter, leaving Kotaro to swear revenge. Afro claims the Number 2 headband and goes on to destroy three cyborg warriors, who turn out to be Sio's foster brothers and sister. Sio uses forbidden science to resurrect Rokutaro, turning him into a soulless warrior.

With Afro injured by his previous fight, Rokutaro mortally wounds his son, choking him until he falls unconscious. The sight of Afro dying causes Jinno to remember the bond they once shared as brothers, and he attacks Rokutaro, who mutilates his body. Sio tries to save her brother, but Rokutaro impales her through Jinno's body. After they die, a spark from Jinno's body travels through Sio's spilled blood and revives Afro. He accepts that Rokutaro is not his real father and kills him. Afro retrieves the Number 1 headband and gives the Number 2 to Kotaro, telling him that he will be ready for when he wants to avenge Shichigoro. While Afro travels to Mount Shumi and searches for a challenger as the Number 1, his imaginary companion Ninja Ninja reappears before him, stating about the endless cycle of revenge and bloodshed.

=Difference between versions=

The ending differs between the DVD and television broadcast editions of the film. In the series, Afro reclaims the headband and runs into a masked man as the image of Justice appears for a split second. In the Director's Cut DVD edition, Afro reclaims the Number 1 headband. After the credits, Justice reappears.

Voice cast

Samuel L. Jackson – Afro / Ninja-Ninja
Phil LaMarr – Teen Afro
Lucy Liu – Lady Sio
Ariel Winter – Young Sio
Yuri Lowenthal – Jinnosuke (Kuma)
Mark Hamill – Bin
Jeff Bennett – Brother 3
S. Scott Bullock – Professor Dharman
Grey DeLisle – Tomoe
Greg Eagles – Rokutaro
Zachary Gordon – Kotaro
Liam O'Brien – Shichigoro
RZA – DJ

Music

Releases

The film aired for Paramount Network on January 25, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-02/afro-samurai/resurrection-u.s-tv-premiere-dated|title=Afro Samurai: Resurrection's U.S. TV Premiere Dated|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2 January 2009|access-date=12 September 2013}} It was released on DVD on February 3, 2009, and on PlayStation Store in May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-16/afro-samurai-sequel-sold-in-ps-store-and-air-master-streamed-online|title=Afro Samurai Sequel Sold in PS Store & Air Master Streamed Online|publisher=Anime News Network|date=16 May 2009|access-date=12 September 2013|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128202938/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-16/afro-samurai-sequel-sold-in-ps-store-and-air-master-streamed-online|url-status=live}} The film premiered at the San Diego Asian Film Festival in October 16, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.afrosamurai.com/news.aspx?id=597|title=Afro Samurai: Resurrection @ the San Diego Asian Film Festival|publisher=Afro Samurai.com|date=13 October 2009|access-date=12 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406115854/http://www.afrosamurai.com/news.aspx?id=597 |archive-date=6 April 2014}} It aired for Funimation's YouTube stream, from July 31 to August 5, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-05/north-american-stream-list/july-31-august-5|title=North American Stream List: July 31–August 5|publisher=Anime News Network|date=5 August 2011|access-date=12 September 2013|archive-date=31 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831210617/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-05/north-american-stream-list/july-31-august-5|url-status=live}} For the United Kingdom release on Netflix, the film was among one the initial titles for the January 2012 launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-05-02/more-anime-available-on-netflix-u.k|title=More Anime Available on Netflix U.K.|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2 May 2012|access-date=12 September 2013|archive-date=13 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013072018/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-05-02/more-anime-available-on-netflix-u.k|url-status=live}}

Reception

Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network stated about Afro Samurai: Resurrection that "it's a gorgeous film," with "incredible animation, spectacular action setpieces {{sic}} and a thumping score by Ghostface". Zac noted that the plot is just "window dressing" and that if it's about anything it's about "cool". Zac criticized that the film as just an excuse to string fight scenes together and that the farther it goes on it becomes clearer how "weak the writing is".{{cite web |first=Zac |last=Bertschy |title=Afro Samurai: Resurrection Director's Cut DVD |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/afro-samurai/resurrection/dub.dvd-uncut |publisher=Anime News Network |date=January 27, 2009 |access-date=October 29, 2009 |archive-date=September 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908223624/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/afro-samurai/resurrection/dub.dvd-uncut |url-status=live }}

Hyper commends the anime for its art, saying, "stylised poses and sharp, dynamic visuals have long been a trademark element of this series, and they hold true [in the anime]."{{cite journal|date=October 2009|title=Afro Samurai: Resurrection|journal=Hyper|publisher=Next Media|issue=192|pages=89|issn=1320-7458}} For the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program, the film lost to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-09-15/foster-home-wins-emmy-over-afro-samurai | title=Foster's Home Wins Emmy over Afro Samurai: Resurrection | publisher=Anime News Network | date=15 September 2009 | access-date=12 September 2013 | archive-date=5 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405214651/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-09-15/foster-home-wins-emmy-over-afro-samurai | url-status=live }} Though film's art director, Shigemi Ikeda, won a Primetime Emmy award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation".{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-27/afro-samurai/resurrection-shigemi-ikeda-wins-emmy | title=Afro Samurai: Resurrection's Shigemi Ikeda Wins Emmy (Updated) | publisher=Anime News Network | date=27 August 2009 | access-date=12 September 2013 | archive-date=4 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404172020/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-27/afro-samurai/resurrection-shigemi-ikeda-wins-emmy | url-status=live }}

References

External links

[http://www.afrosamurai.com/ Official website]
{{anime News Network|film|10181}}

Category:2000s Japanese films

Category:2009 anime films

Category:2009 television films

Category:2009 films

Category:Anime films based on manga

Category:Japanese martial arts films

Category:Funimation

Category:Gonzo (company)

Category:Films scored by RZA

Category:Resurrection in film

Category:Japanese sequel films

Category:Films directed by Fuminori Kizaki

Resurrection