Netflix isn’t the only hub for engaging, adult-oriented animation, but it’s a great place to look for it. Netflix Animation isn’t a traditional studio, but it has its name on some of the most fascinating projects of the past few years. From whimsical comedies likeThe Monkey Kingto incredible fantasies likeGuillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the company has an eye for quality.Blue Eye Samuraiis no exception, an exhilarating revenge quest with some of the finest 3D-animated action on the market.
Netflix’s latest comes from the married creative duo of Michael Green and Amber Noizumi. The series is Noizumi’s first credit, but Green is a celebrated screenwriterbehind projects likeLogan, Blade Runner 2049,and the upcomingBioShockmovie. They’ve spoken publicly about their own blue-eyed mixed-race child as an inspiration for the show.
The titularBlue Eye Samuraiis an unstoppable warrior named Mizu. Mizu was born to an unknown white father and a Japanese mother, resulting in a life of discrimination and abuse. She must hide her race and her gender to pass without a trace. Mizu’s young life was difficult, but a twist of fate placed her in the care of a blind swordsmith. Learning the craft and growing up around killers rubs off on her until she’s ready to go off on a new quest. Mizu has narrowed her birth father down to the only four white men on the island at the time. Shepicks out a sword, dons a pair of glasses to hide her irises, and travels the country looking for her potential fathers. Along the way, she befriends a disabled chef with dreams of becoming a samurai and a celebrated warrior seeking to avenge a humiliating loss. The show finds countless ways to keep combat exciting as Mizu struggles with the moral ambiguity of her actions.
The draw ofBlue Eye Samuraiis unmistakable. It’s fast-paced samurai action in the vein ofSamurai Champloo. Kurosawa-inspiredjidaigekihave come back in a big way over the past few years. Games likeGhost of TsushimaandLike a Dragon: Ishinlet fans experience the genre in an interactive medium.Star Warshas always drawn heavily from Kurosawa, but recent outings likeAhsokalean into the references aggressively. This sharp rise in popularity could come from anywhere, butBlue Eye Samuraiis among its finest results. It’s more grounded than the average anime project but fanciful enough to keep things engaging. Days ago, Netflixdropped theirOnimushaadaptation, and it’s visibly inferior toBlue Eye Samurai. The distinction is pure action direction.Blue Eye Samuraikeeps evolving in exciting directions. The escalation is palpable without ever crossing into anything unbelievable. This is a must-see for anyone who loves clashing katana and sprays of blood on snow.
Aside from the excellent action scenes, the characters offer a lot to like. Mizu is the typical strong and silent type at first. Her introduction in the opening scene feels borrowed without adjustment from a dozen other features,both Western and samurai.Blue Eye Samuraiasks the audience to spend time with Mizu to learn who she is. The reveal of her gender is a minor spoiler, though one done away with in the first episode. She stays at arms-length until ever-escalating circumstances force her to divulge her identity. Her dreams, drive, and even her capacity for mercy are behind walls and only revealed once violence has broken them down. Ringo, the chef she picks up as an unwanted apprentice, serves as a partial point-of-view character. He’s the comic relief character, but his earnest desire to be useful keeps him from feeling like a burden. Mizu’s rival, noble samurai Taigen, wavers violently between decency and cartoon villainy but remains sympathetic most of the time. It’s a compelling ragtag band with plenty of sharp edges.
Blue Eye Samuraibrings a fascinating voice cast. Maya Erskine takes the lead role in a unique choice for the performer. Erskine is probably best knownfor her comedy seriesPEN15, but she’s excellent in this quiet, understated role. Masi Oka ofHeroesfame portrays Ringo with just enough charm to avoid annoying the audience. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is endlessly compelling as the unnamed swordmaker. Darren Barnet conveys Taigen’s quiet nobility and his crippling inferiority complex to create a varied character.Kenneth Branagh appears asthe English villain, though he’s hard to recognize from his voice alone. He’s probably the biggest name in the bunch, but he disappears into the part. It’s a great cast overall.
Blue Eye Samuraiisn’t perfect, but it is extremely entertaining. Some strange supernatural elements go unexplained, and it ends onthe ever-disappointing Netflix cliffhanger. There are a few unusual creative choices near the end, but nothing that sinks the series. Those odd moments aside,Blue Eye Samuraiis one of the most compelling action series of the year. Fans of samurai movies can’t afford to miss this one. It’s everything one would expect from good anime and more.Blue Eye Samuraiclaims its success through blood and skill, like the hero it’s named after.
