I absolutely loved Cowboy Bebop and the intertwining jazz music, which truly shone bright. So I fished for some more “stuff” from Mr. ShinichirÅ Watanabe. Coming across “Samurai Champloo” I thought of getting some info about the series before I start. This is what my friend had to say – “I don’t remember the series name but it involved 2 samurai’s. One was strict and the other was a total ruckus but they rocked the house and it was awesome!!”
I saw the first episode and I smiled. It was same with Bebop. The funky factor of the series was evident and the premise of the series was pretty simple – Finding a samurai who smells like sunflower! (Do sunflowers even smell??) So the affair started for 26 episodes and its memory still remains due to the impressive melodic (rap/R’n’B/Blue/hip-hop) background score. I am writing this piece while ear-geared on Champloo music. Lookout for the music in episode 18, the one with all the graffiti fight.
So what’s the stick you ask! A young girl named Fuu is the one who is looking for the samurai who smells like sunflower (evidently her father, oops). She is accompanied by two samurai’s who have a bloodlust for each other but in a very warrior-ish way. The disciplinarian young samurai (Ronin actually) is called Jin (“Jean”) and the carefree one is Mugen. These two promise to help Fuu as she helped save their lives. Now the trio have started their adventure without any clue about the samurai who…you know!!
As you watch, you will notice a lot of anachronistic examples spread across the series. A lot of places may also appear out of time (that’s what anachronism means). Hip=hop culture, rap music, gangsta styled bandits and my favourite – scratching DJ-style. Oh yeah, there are graffiti artists also. The main characters are pretty laid out including their history. Ofcourse this is revealed slowly with the flow of the series but the supporting cast doesn’t play much of a role. They come, they go. Through the journey you will meet few interesting characters such as graffiti brothers, blind musician and the warrior stag beetle. And man can Fuu eat, like hell she can.
Essentially the series get a little heavier towards the last few episodes but the gravity demanded the sacrifice. There are a few loose ends but common stop whining, nothing is perfect. The ending, for me, kind of choked me. I know we are suckers for happy ending especially when we have seen the protagonists go through a lot. But you can’t use that as a pretext and just show anything. Both – Jin and Mugen - get involved with heavy fighting that should have killed them. Alas, the happy ending (Phew). I guess the creator must have had an idea to create a sequel with the so-sequel-ish-obvious ending, but Champloo never got the publicity or rating or both for that to happen.
If you are looking for an anime which is simply chilled out to watch and with great music score– Champloo is your cup of tea else sorry about wasting your time with this. Champloo is about subtle human emotions which are endearing and believable.
To end this, you can watch this series with your kids (or abuse sensitive person) as there are lots of beeps at the right time.
I loved the movie "How to train Your Dragon". Quite a refreshing movie, it was.But please don't get confused with the movie. What I am about to write, and you read, is quite different. Literally.
This is all about, Monday. How hard we hate Monday. How we yearn that the Monday should never come. It’s not a person. It’s a demon re-incarnated to make your head go all dizzy. To make you believe in End-Of-Days. Monday Blues is a common trumpet and we all identify with it.
A Monday wouldn't be complete without the more-than-sober-screwed-up Sunday night. Realizing the event which will unleash in few hours, we try to be 'good'. Santa Claus will give you a gift only if you have behaved (sly smile). So it’s really a last minute effort and we know it ain’t good enough.
People will go on writing about how they hate Monday's and so on, sing about it, and write a poem about it (who does that???). My intentions are very pure and optimistic. I am going to tell you how exactly a Monday should be like, so that we don't find it ominous any more. And if you are a school/college goer, this doesn't regard you so get on with your life.
1. Office should start at 11AM. Atleast. There should be someone at the door to give you a drink (non-alcoholic, of course).
2. By the time you reach your sitting place, you are refreshed with your eyes as open as they can be.
3. You meet up with some people/Colleagues/Back stabbing ass's/Chai-waala (if you have) and take a quick look at the prettiest girl in the office, without making it obvious.
4. This might consume a lot of energy as you have just come back from a very busy-trying-to-relax weekend. You can't just start jumping around. Even monkeys don't do that (sigh).
5. So you need something to get back on your feet. Whatever it is, Get it or be nice to the one sitting next to you and ask him/her to get it for you.
6. Before you realize it, it’s almost noon. Time to start your long and slow walk, towards the canteen. On your way stop at every possible stop and ask people about their weekend. It will always bring a smile on their face. That might be because, after hearing how bitchy your weekend was, theirs wasn't so bad after all. Or they are just being polite and want you to move on.
7. Oh God!!! It’s almost 1:15. Have your Lunch and don't forget the paan/ice- cream/juice/tea/smoke.
8. The time has just crossed 2pm. You have met most of the people you were going to meet. Rest; anyways don't deserve your time.
9. Next 2 hours are very important. As people say, before gyming/playing you should do proper warm-up exercises, lest you pull a muscle or two. You will do some of the important tasks right now which will help you immensely by making you look occupied whenever your boss passes by (in the coming days).
10. Start your computer. (Everyone works on a computer is a general assumption. If by any ill-fate you don't fall into that category, go back for another round of ice-cream). Watch intently as the computer starts humming and gets a life (ya right?!!!).
11. Check your emails as they will determine the course of your destiny from now on.
12. Do a group-chat with all friends available, discussing all about the recent movies, the rumour going around and what not. Finally discuss something related to "Work". This is only like dusting your table. Nothing more. This will hardly take 15 minutes. Don't Panic and take a deep breath.
13. Now you have gotten through the "hard" part of the day. It’s all about planning isn't it? Open up that group chat window once again. Start the controversial topic...the headline that you saw on India TV yesterday night which made you ROFL.
14. Have you seen your watch?? Its 4pm. Time to visit the canteen again. To cry out your woes. To give shoulder to each other. To check what’s "new" around.
15. Well, what da ya know...its 5pm...And I gotta run.
See ya later fellas.!!!!!!
Have a Great Week.
:D
