Samurai Champloo anime premiered in Japan, introducing audiences to its unique blend of Edo period samurai culture and hip hop influences.
The final episode of Samurai Champloo aired, concluding the series.
Funimation acquired the rights to distribute Samurai Champloo in North America, bringing the show to a wider English-speaking audience.
Fuu, a young waitress, encounters the rebellious swordsman Mugen after he fights off some local thugs.
Fuu comes across Jin, a calm and skilled ronin swordsman, who defeats Mugen in a duel.
Fuu convinces Mugen and Jin to accompany her on a journey to find the mysterious 'samurai who smells of sunflowers' to honor her late father.
The trio confronts a corrupt local lord and his samurai forces at a tea house, showcasing their combined strength and resolve.
Mugen faces off against the fierce and relentless bounty hunter Kariya Kagetoki who seeks to capture Fuu and the group for his own motives.
The trio learns about Jin's background as a former member of a Shogun's retinue and the traumatic duel that led to his exile.
Flashbacks reveal Mugen's wild upbringing as a pirate and his skills developing on the southern seas, explaining his unconventional fighting style.
The trio's journey takes them across Japan as they encounter various people and challenges relating to Fuu's quest.
The group faces Kagetoki in a decisive and deadly duel, resulting in the climax of their ongoing conflict.
After fulfilling Fuu's quest, the trio parts ways, each continuing their own journey with newfound understanding and respect.
