Any opinions on Samurai Champloo?

[Khephra]

It's by the same people who did Cowboy Bebop. Personally, I enjoy Champloo a hell of a lot more than I did Cowboy.

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1. Love it a lot

In a generally thin period, Samurai Champloo is one of the few quality animes currently being produced.

[Khephra]

2. I guess the new episodes start next month

How long does it generally take before an anime is shown in Japan before the fansubbers get it and translate it? Do you know?

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3. I'm not sure there is a "generally"

My son's the one who does the downloading, and he's more up on the details than I am. The raw, unsubbed versions tend to be available in a day or two. My son says that the really big, popular shows -- the ones that are already running on American tv -- sometimes show up in crudely subbed versions almost that quickly. Other stuff tends to run more like a week or two. But it's almost all being done by college students in their spare time, so things can slow down radically during finals or vacations.

[Khephra]

4. Thanks!

I've only recently gotten back into anime after years of being out of it, so I wasn't sure.

[Az]

9. Depends on the group

Naruto is about 1 week behind the actual air dates in Japan. It really depends on the groups doing the work and the complexity of the dialog.

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5. Have you seen Gankutsuou/Count of Monte Cristo?

That's the other standout this season, as far as I'm concerned. Very strange and dark and compelling.

[Khephra]

6. Nope. I'll have to keep an eye out for it

I think they were from last season, but the other recent shows I've liked have been Parnoia Agent and Texhnolyze. (Don't spoil them if you've seen them all the way through...I tend to watch shows over a long period of time then all at once.)

[Az]

7. Stunning

Though the clothes can get to you after a while.

[Az]

8. I still prefer Bebop but

I am willing to let Champloo grow on me. Its very good though. Of course I have yet to see anime that doesn't beat out anything Prime Time in the US has to offer. And that includes Sexy Commando (I couldn't describe it if you asked me to).

[Chovexani]

10. I still haven't seen it.

Way too much on my plate as it is...I have entire series downloaded that I still haven't seen.

What's it about? (read: please pass the crack pipe) :P

[Az]

11. Bebop style spin on old Japanese Samurai serials(minor spoilers)

Three main characters. Two samurai, one a perfectionist, the other a master of chaos and makeshift attacks. It starts with them getting into a fight with each other to see who is superior only to be stopped by the third character a young Geisha/Bar worker with a vendeta. She tricks/forces them to put aside their fight and journey with her on her search for a particular samurai.