With a name like "Afro Samurai" and a near-camp star like Samuel L. Jackson giving voice to the lead character, it's not a big leap to envision a kung-fu spoof in the vein of Undercover Brother. Then the first spurt of arterial spray crosses the screen in the middle of a sword vs. arsenal showdown, and you realize, this show is deadly serious. "When I discovered Afro Samurai in Japan, I had the same reaction," said associate producer Eric Calderon. "It was kind of a comedic looking character design, but after meeting creator Takashi Okazaki, I found out it was quite serious." Despite the title, and the involvement of one bad mother f'er, the origin of Sword Brother No. 1, who makes his DVD debut on May 22, is far east of any of the Afro hairstyle's traditional haunts. Originally created by amateur artist Takashi "Bob" Okazaki for a self-published short-run Japanese manga magazine in 1998, the concept, in the form of a toy sitting on a shelf, caught Calderon's eye. Formerly the development head at MTV Animation, Calderon brought the idea to Studio Gonzo, an animation studio that's part of an effort to make anime that will appeal to a worldwide audience.More...
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