We can’t stress enough that one of Netflix’s major commitments is to be the home of quality anime. They are producing a lot of anime that wouldn’t be made in any other way, and even if many people don’t like the idea, they are encouraging the creation of different things. That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that they have announced another series with high production values, huge ambition, and a promise, as it couldn’t be otherwise, to be the great revolution of the genre.
In this case, we’re talking about a series called “Blue Eye Samurai.” Set in 17th century Japan, its creators have described it as “a mix of Kill Bill and Yentl.” The series itself follows the story of Mizu, a mixed-race sword master who assumes a false identity to seek revenge.
What’s most peculiar about all of this is that the showrunners in charge of the series are a husband and wife team: Amber Noizumi and Michael Green. Furthermore, they don’t deny their influences or the ambition they’ve put into the series. In fact, when it comes to “Blue Eye Samurai,” Michael Green says, “If you like The Witcher, if you like animation, if you like Game of Thrones, if you like The Crown, if you like historical dramas, if you like Shakespeare in Love, if you like Tarantino movies, there’s something in Blue Eye Samurai for you.”
Another peculiar aspect is that Netflix has decided to release the first episode of the series completely for free on YouTube, so that anyone can watch it. This allows us to appreciate the spectacular animation, a blend of 2D and 3D that always feels artisanal, during the one-hour duration of its first episode.
The rest of the “Blue Eye Samurai” series is already available on Netflix. If it’s as interesting as what we’ve seen on YouTube, it’s certainly a good reason to stay subscribed or subscribe if we aren’t already.
