Metal Gear and Death Stranding’s Hideo Kojima says that “without a doubt,” Blue Eye Samurai is the anime of the year.
Kojima’s recommendations are often of great interest to fans because of his candor about what he is currently watching and enjoying. A look at his X page (formerly Twitter) reveals other critically acclaimed anime such as Blue Giant and Summertime Rendering. However, Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai tops them all. “Just finished watching all 8 episodes of BLUE EYE SAMURAI!” Kojima posted to X on November 23, 2023. “Wow, everything is great! Everything is beautiful! Without a doubt, this is the best anime of the year! It’s a visual work that surpasses the common sense of animation! The new generation of CG-based animation reached a turning point with “Spider-Man: Spider-Verse (2018)” and came of age with “Arcane (2021),” but this TV series has reached new heights !”
Kojima even gives a brief introduction for fans who are still unconvinced: “Is the Vengeance Demon a devil or a samurai? Is it really a monster?” The theme and message are simple. The story is set in 17th century Edo (Tokyo) but can also be applied to today’s world. The characters are also beautifully designed! At first, I wasn’t too sure about Ringo, Taigen and Akemi, I was like ‘let alone the main character, Mizu!’ But as I recounted their backgrounds, I felt more sympathetic and found them fascinating. Highly recommended! If you don’t watch it, you’re missing out????⚔️”
The transcendent visuals of Blue Eye Samurai were similarly captured in multiple CBR reviews, where the series was described as “a thrilling experience, stylishly presented and engaging.” It weaves a compelling samurai tale in the tradition of classic Japanese cinema.” An exclusive interview with showrunners Amber Noizumi and Michael Green focuses on the characters Ringo and Taigen and their importance to the cast. The lone wolf nature of main character Mizu, complemented by Taigen’s provocation and Ringo’s clingy personality, may suggest a fun time, but the film itself is a dark ride and compelling, and the animators were constantly under scrutiny for depicting excessive violence.
The film was a success with fans and critics alike, being certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 100% critic rating and 96% audience rating. There are growing calls for a Season 2 after Netflix dropped all eight episodes on November 3. Blue Eye Samurai is not on many people’s radar, especially with highly anticipated anime sequels like Spy x Family, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan and Bleach are airing around the same time. However, like the exciting action sequences in the series, Blue Eye Samurai seems to have appeared when least expected.
Netflix streams Blue Eye Samurai, described as: “Driven by a dream of revenge against those who made her an outcast in Edo-era Japan, a young warrior embarks on a bloody path toward destiny. my destiny.” The film stars Maya Erskine, Brenda Song, Kenneth Branagh and many others.
Source: Hideo Kojima via X (formerly Twitter)