Samurai Jack
Series, 2001, The 2000s, Set in Aku's future
Samurai Jack is #8 of 18 in release order and #8 of 18 in chronological order in the Cartoon Network Classics.
The story
A great warrior is displaced to the distant future by the evil shape-shifting wizard Aku. The world has become a bleak place under the rule of Aku, segregated into fantastic tribes and ruled by Aku's evil robot warlords. Jack travels this foreign landscape in search of a time portal that can return him to his home time so he can "undo the future that is Aku!".
Samurai Jack recap
A young samurai prince is about to destroy Aku, a shapeshifting demon, when Aku throws him into a distant future where Aku rules the world. The people there call him Jack. Armed with a magic sword that can cut Aku, Jack travels through a world of robots, aliens and monsters, looking for a time portal to take him back to the past and undo Aku's rule. Each episode is mostly self-contained, often with little dialogue, and Aku keeps sending assassins and robots after him. Recurring allies include the Scotsman, a loud, red-bearded warrior. Seasons 1 to 4 run from 2001 to 2004 and end without Jack getting home. Season 5, on Adult Swim in 2017, picks up 50 years later. Jack has not aged, has lost his sword, and is haunted by visions. He is hunted by the Daughters of Aku, seven assassins raised by a cult, and one of them, Ashi, changes sides after learning the truth about Aku.
Samurai Jack ending explained
The original run stops in 2004 with no ending. Season 5 concludes it in 2017. Jack recovers his sword and falls in love with Ashi, who turns out to be Aku's daughter. Aku possesses her, but Jack frees her, and Ashi uses her inherited powers to take them back to the past, where Jack destroys Aku. As their wedding begins, Ashi fades away, since Aku's death means she was never born. Jack later finds peace in a forest of cherry blossoms.
Where to watch Samurai Jack
Samurai Jack is streaming on YouTube TV, Adult Swim, and Spectrum On Demand in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.5/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Courage the Cowardly Dog, before Time Squad.
- Chronological order: after Courage the Cowardly Dog, before Time Squad.
Cast
- Phil LaMarr as Samurai Jack (voice)
- Mako as Aku (voice)
- Grey DeLisle as The High Priestess (voice)
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Woolie (voice)
- Tara Strong as Little Girl / Lady #2 / Girl #1 (voice)
- Jeff Bennett as Alien / McDuffy / Dreyfuss / Leader / Dog (voice)
- Greg Baldwin as Aku (voice)
- Tom Kenny as Scaramouche (voice)
- Jennifer Hale as Girl (voice)
- John DiMaggio as The Scotsman (voice)
- Rob Paulsen as Cole Lampkin / Lizor / Rothchild (voice)
- Richard McGonagle as Villiage Leader / Water Creature (voice)
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky.