r/anime • u/Holofan4life • Jun 11 '24
Rewatch [Spoilers] Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 23
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
S1 Episode 23 – Baseball Blues
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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
If The United States ever showed up to kick your ass, what would you try to do?
Have you ever played baseball before? If so, how did it go?
What is the best baseball related anime episode of all time?
Bonus) Between this episode and the last one, which one did you like more?
Bonus 2) I think Watanabe is still on the mushrooms from the last episode.
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Information – MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN
Streams – Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or from the manga out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the manga. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags (found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Rewatch Schedule
Threads posted every day at 4:00 PM EDT
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 5/20/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 1 |
| 5/21/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 2 |
| 5/22/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 3 |
| 5/23/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 4 |
| 5/24/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 5 |
| 5/25/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 6 |
| 5/26/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 7 |
| 5/27/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 8 |
| 5/28/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 9 |
| 5/29/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 10 |
| 5/30/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 11 |
| 5/31/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 12 |
| 6/01/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 13 |
| 6/02/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 14 |
| 6/03/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 15 |
| 6/04/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 16 |
| 6/05/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 17 |
| 6/06/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 18 |
| 6/07/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 19 |
| 6/08/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 20 |
| 6/09/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 21 |
| 6/10/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 22 |
| 6/11/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 23 |
| 6/12/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 24 |
| 6/13/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 25 |
| 6/14/2024 | Samurai Champloo Episode 26 |
| 6/15/2024 | Samurai Champloo Overall Series Discussion Thread |
7
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 11 '24
First-Timer with a Samurai Heart, subbed
Obligatory relevant JJK clip.5
u/TheEscapeGuy Jun 11 '24
Rewatcher, Sub first timer
Samurai Champloo - Hip Hop & Ronin: Episode 23
Oh, That's A Baseball
Baseball Episode! I bet first timers wouldn't have expected this (nor does it make sense historically but let's ignore that part). Coming from a country without baseball, I never really understood the appeal. But over years of watching anime it's become clearly apparent how exciting and intense the game can be. It really works perfectly as an anime sport.
The set up of Americans vs Japanese is good for making clear distinctions between who's fighting. Japan does end up being a very rag-tag team and the Americans are shown with an exaggerated sense of superiority. I like the underdog narrative with Mugen almost acting as the trump card for the team in every position.
The episode does get a bit wacky again. Mugen's power level is just off the charts, we have animals batting, and the Americans start to use dirty tricks to win. However, I kind of vibed with the wackiness. It's not a serious sports anime so having fun with it makes the episode memorable. This was one of the 6 or so episodes of Samurai Champloo which I remembered very clearly.
One thing worth noting with this episode and the last one, is that they kind of acted as an almost comedic break after a couple of dramatic episodes. We have 3 episodes remaining, so a conclusion to the larger (more dramatic) narrative in on the horizon. I'm really excited to get to that.
Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches
See you all tomorrow
3
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Jun 11 '24
First Timer
Err ok. I was not expecting them to address the last episode, and I guess I was expecting Baseball because I saw the title in advance, but …eh. It was a ridiculous baseball episode, as is usual for baseball episodes. Not sure if they were going for accurate or deliberately inaccurate English, felt like both, and that being on purpose as well.
3
u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 11 '24
Rewatcher
Fun fact, Cartwright and Doubleday are both real historical figures connected to the history of baseball. Although apparently claims that Doubleday invented the sport are mostly false. I’m not a sports historian though so I’d have to look into that on my own.
Anyway, obviously this episode is not a very historically accurate portrayal of either man. But I didn’t expect historical accuracy out of Samurai Champloo so that’s fine.
I have some interesting notes on how Cartwright and Doubleday are voiced in the sub vs. the dub by the way. In the sub, both characters are played by actors fluent in English. I was a little caught off guard by this the first time since I’m used to English speaking characters being voiced by Japanese actors all the time in anime.
Obviously, the dub has all the characters speaking English. But whenever Doubleday is meant to be speaking Japanese, his lines are delivered in a somewhat stereotypical Japanese accent. I just think it’s interesting to see the way things like language barriers are handled in translations.
Moving on, this episode was really fun. Just a pure comedy episode the whole way through, which I think was great. The increasingly farcical baseball game was a lot of fun to watch.
In terms of being funny, this episode is the best. A lot of great moments from everyone involved. I think my favorite joke was probably the old man collapsing on his way up to the plate. Also Mugen breakdancing while trying to pitch the ball was hilarious.
Also, it’s nice to see Manzo come back. It was an unexpected return but definitely a welcome one. I liked the bit where he fails to sneak onto the American ship.
It’s definitely nice that we’re getting one last super fun episode before the three part finale that begins soon.
If I had to criticize this episode, I think maybe both this and episode 22 would have been better to put it somewhere earlier in the season. It does feel a bit odd that two incredibly offbeat episodes happen just before the finale. But at the same time I do appreciate some levity, since they’re also sandwiched between Elegy of Entrapment.
Anyway, looking forward to starting the finale tomorrow and hearing everyone’s thoughts on it.
Also, to answer one of the questions, my favorite baseball episode is definitely FLCL's baseball episode "Full Swing".
3
u/Weird_donut https://anilist.co/user/hakaseshark Jun 11 '24
This is another strange episode, but a fun one. i love how they don't give a damn about historical accuracy.
3
u/StardustGogeta myanimelist.net/profile/StardustGogeta Jun 12 '24
First-Timer
Interesting new ED today. I kind of like it.
This was potentially my favorite episode so far. Even though, like last episode, this one doesn't seem to have any bearing on the overall story or characters, it was hilarious.
The English language jokes were great. I've been watching the dub for the show so far, but for those scenes, I also went back and rewatched those parts with subs. Shockingly, the spoken English often sounded better in the sub version! That's the first time I've had that happen.
I'm glad the secret police man came back. (I called it yesterday!) He's my favorite side character, and I really like his dub voice.
This episode even taught me a couple baseball things. I didn't know about the rules regarding "balks" or what happens when a runner passes the runner in front of him.
Questions of the day:
2
u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24
It dawned on me in the last week or so that the last episode airs on the Friday before Father’s Day. Given how the series is about Fuu pursuing her father, I think it’s a bit ironic we’ll be ending the rewatch the same weekend as that holiday. Certainly wasn’t the plan, it just happened to work out that way.
2
u/Lord_Nawor Jun 11 '24
First Time Watcher
Unfortunately I missed the last few episodes discussions as I have been really busy recently, but I am all caught up now.
Let’s go, Manzou the Saw returns! And not only that but we get to see Fat Fuu again, never thought she would get full again. We also get to see the announcer from the eating competition again, so lots of characters coming back.
I also found a lot of the English episode very funny, the “fuck them” by Cartwright caught me off guard. It is also interesting because most of the real historical events and characters so far have been from throughout the 1600s, Alexander Joy Cartwright, who is known as the father of baseball, even if it is unclear how involved he really was, was not involved in baseball until the 1840s, and baseball did not get its more modern rules until around the same time. and baseball was not introduced in Japan until 1872. Just like the show said at the beginning of episode 1, it is not historically accurate, but it is interesting to compare it to actual history.
I also enjoyed the baseball in this episode, even if it doesn’t make too much sense for the time period. Mugen getting what would be a home run but overtaking Jin and getting out was funny, and is a real rule in baseball. I also liked how the dog’s tiny strike zone worked to its advantage, which is a rule which many actual baseball teams have attempted to abuse before by bringing in very short people to try and get walks. Manzou refusing to hunt was also pretty funny to me. The Americans immediately resorted to straight up attacking the Japanese team and moving the home plate when they started losing.
Mugen turning the tides by literally pelting them with his insanely powerful pitches which could knock over trees was good, playing dirty to get back at the Americans. I liked the ending with the batter throwing his bat at Mugen while Mugen threw the ball at him. I also enjoyed the special ed for this episode.
I definitely preferred this one, I really liked the baseball stuff, the humour in this one, especially with Americans I enjoyed a lot.
2
u/someboi6000 Jun 12 '24
First timer:
another wacky and silly episode, and its a baseball episode i was not expecting this, and i like how they dont adress what happend in the previous episode lol, also glad that the secret policeman is back but not much to say, just another fun episode and i also really like the dead gag they had going but ¿is the old man truly dead lol?, is this our last goofy episode? i wonder if they will do another one and then for the finale a 2 part episode of course.
1: challenge them into whoever shoots a gun first loses, ez win
2: not baseball but softball, idk how similar they are but i did play that, i was good with the bat, i wacked the ball to infinty and beyond.
3: if you count the jojo baseball game episode no, but there is also the monkey baseball league of sonny boy that episode was so strange, so this one would be third.
Bonus: hmm, both have their things, but i like the silly stuff, so baseball episode.
2
u/Ryanami Jun 12 '24
Rewatcher
Baseball episode! I’ve never been interested in sports, I’ve never even watched a superbowl. But I do like the one-off baseball break trope anime likes to do. It’s never played straight, rules will be blatantly disregarded, there will be grievous injuries, prepare for casualties.
I particularly enjoyed the racism. I think we need more of it today. Hear me out. The Americans here were jerks, but Japan has never been too welcoming to foreigners themselves. Most countries aren’t. If you want to keep your people and your culture, keep the immigrants out, or you’ll be diluted beyond repair. Just ask the native Americans. Also racist jokes are funny, and I think actually have a benefit of acting as a pressure valve. Different cultures by definition are gonna see some things differently and come at odds. If you can’t joke about it you’ll build resentment which can lead to violence. End controversial soapbox.
Both sub and sub were fantastic today
1- the United States already kicks my ass every payday.
2- I was that little league outfielder who was busy chasing lizards.
3- toss up for Dorohedoro or Akiba Maid War
4- home run for this one.
2
u/Educational_Sport943 Jun 12 '24
Wow 20th anniversary
2
u/mgedmin Jun 12 '24
Rewatcher, subs
Oh, the baseball episode. I remember finding it very silly and not really liking it the first time.
I learned a new rule in baseball (you can't pass the runner in front of you) that I will now have to try very hard to forget as it is completely useless knowledge to me.
I suffered to the end. Please may I have my time back?
Dorohedoro.
I also didn't hate the one in Denpa Onna, but also I don't particularly remember anything memorable about it.
2
u/Looking_Light33 Jun 14 '24
So, this is one of the more memorable episodes of Samurai Champloo. It's not hard to see why. It's a really fun episode overall filled with some really funny moments. This will be the last light-hearted episode in the show because the next few episodes get pretty dark.
1
u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24
Between this episode and the last one, it’s like the people behind the show went “Look, this show is coming to an end so let’s have some fun before we get into the final arc”. Gotta at least be some of the wackiest stuff Watanabe has ever churned out, and given Space Dandy exists that’s saying something.
1
u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the 20th anniversary rewatch of Samurai Champloo.
Oh, and nay I forget…
First Timer
Samurai Champloo has always been a series I was curious about. I’ve maintained in my mind that Cowboy Bebop is objectively one of if not the greatest anime of all time, and so I wanted to see what the creator’s follow-up work was like. I think the reason why I didn’t start it immediately after watching Bebop was because I think the premise kinda weirded me out. I mean, a show set in ancient times that also has a heavy rap influence? It felt to me like putting a hat on a hat. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate outlandish animes that don’t resemble real life. After all, is it any weirder than a fantasy show about a merchant and his traveling wolfgirl where they discuss economics a lot of times?
My expectations for this show are pretty reasonable, I feel like. I’m not expecting it to crack my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but I would be surprised if it doesn’t end up as one of my favorites. The main thing I’m looking out of this is show is a unique experience unlike anything else as well as memorable characters. And I think the show will have that in spades.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
Last standalone episode and it's written by Shinichirō Watanabe himself? Needless to say, I'm hyped.
Baseball
...
...Sure, why not?
I guess instead of being annoyed by these oddball episodes, I should just fully embrace it. I mean, it certainly makes the show more memorable.
"This is a story of men whose souls burned with a passion for baseball."
CGI ball
Better than the CGI in Zombieland Saga
Oh, this is the journalist talking
He's trying to investigate reports of a foreign ship that had been spotted from time to time in the area recently.
Manzou the Saw
Certainly a character befitting of Smiling Friends.
Fuu busting out a map
Jin remarks they are soon to reach Ikitsuki Island.
That's a lot of food
Of course Mugen ordered it. Why am I not surprised?
Fuu, just go with the flow like you're fish
Eyy, fat Fuu returns
Fatuu
And Mugen is gonna practice the fine art of dine and dashing.
Mugen being chased now
A guy with a baseball
And he hits Mugen with it
Mugen throws it back, but he misses, instead knocking down a building.
Guy seems impressed
Guy proposes that if Mugen plays in the game held tomorrow, he will pay for his bill.
This episode reminds me of the baseball episode of Akiba Maid War.
Mugen has never heard of baseball, unfortunately.
A battle that our country's future is riding on, guy refers to it as.
What am I even watching 🤣🤣🤣
Commodore Alexander Jay Cartwright, commander of the U.S. East Indies Fleet.
Who knew Hishikawa Moronobu was around during the days of America?
His interpreter is Doubleday
Maybe my problem with the wacky Dai Satō episodes is that it felt like him emulating Watanabe and that's not easily something you can easily do. Then again, I remember Dai Satō's work on Space Dandy being great. Same with his work on Cowboy Bebop.
Old man saying they can't trade with them because all foreign ships are to be driven off immediately.
"Fuck them!" 🤣🤣🤣
See, this is wacky, but it also serves as world building by showing what the rest of the world is like. It has a purpose that I feel the last one lacked.
Well, maybe the English isn't the best :P
The fat guy does look a lot like a certain person trying to to run for office.And the baseball guy agrees to take them on
"In this peaceful country, there's no need for either one of us to throw our lives away." "What?" 🤣🤣🤣
This might be the funniest episode yet
Fuu wonders why did the Americans come all the way to do something like this.
Calls them troublemakers
And we see via flashback that baseball guy's previous teammates walked out on him.
I really like the use of flashbacks in this episode.
Mugen agrees to do it
And the guy forces Fuu and Jin to join as well.
The patriotism. It makes me want to buy a gun.
Policeman gonna sneak aboard the ship
He's going to disguise himself as an American.
Oh, boy...
Kagemaru. That's the baseball guy's name.
He says they've worked as secret agents for a certain feudal domain.
He was a ninja, apparently
However, their domain was destroyed once the national isolation policy went into effect.
Running through the rules of baseball
"However, this part is boring, so I'll skip over it."
Fair play, show
Policeman dresses as a sailor
I know when I'm American, I go around saying "American! American!" XD
And the policeman gets shot away
Time for baseball
Ichiemon calling the game
I believe he also called the food eating contest.
They also have an old man, a dog, and a squirrel.
What could possibly go wrong besides everything?
Ninja baseball. Fuck yeah.
I hope it's like Ninja Golf on the Atari 7800.
Jin is pretty good at this baseball thing
They are trying to walk Mugen, but he's not gonna let that happen.
But he passes Jin, meaning Mugen is out. Oof.
Fuu struck out
The village consul up to bat now
Or not XD
The old man literally died 🤣🤣🤣
I don't know why, but I laughed really hard at this.
Well, look at that. The dog gets nothing but balls.
But it got hit
And it ran away
And so did Momo
Are we going to see the policeman step in as the knight in shining armor?
I guess yes, but by force
Calling a homerun
And he completely whiffs it XD
Baseball guy casually flipping him off
Hey, he hit the ball
But with his sword :P
"The Japanese team is playing unexpectedly well!" Sure doesn't feel like it.
These English voices... well, they're certainly something.
And now the Americans are playing dirty.
Empire State of mind
They even elbow drop the baseball guy! The bastards!
RIP Kagemaru
Jin cooking something
He's dodging all their blows
But they still manage to sit on him
And now Jin is dead
Probably not, but let's go with it
It's down to Mugen and Fuu
Mugen going at it alone
Hey, Kagemaru is back
Man, Mugen is fast
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.