SAMURAI 7 is set in a futuristic alternate Japan where poor villages are being menaced by Nobuseri bandits. When they arrive early looking for crops, the bandits threatened to destroy their whole community. Out of desperation a trio of farmers decide to go find and hire a group of Samurai to help them fight off the evil bandits.

SAMURAI 7 (2004) is an anime re-imagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic SEVEN SAMURAI (1954) that adds robots, space ships, and hours of melodrama over the course of its 26 episodes run. Kurosawa’s film has gone on to inspire many action films and remakes. One of the most famous being John Sturges’ THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960), and it’s endless remakes, TV series, and sequels. For this anime version by writer Atsuhiro Tomioka and director Toshifumi Takizawa, they went for a more traditional cartoon feel and added all the futuristic elements. But the shifts in tone and style left me baffled.

The slower samurai moments and musical score by Kaoru Wada and Eitetsu Hayashi feel like Kurosawa’s classic. Moody and thoughtful. But once the futuristic elements creep in the story starts to fall part. The bandits now feel flat and lifeless. Turning the story into a 26-episode series also adds unnecessary and uninteresting subplots. If the story was stripped down to a two-part film, I could see the elements fit into place.

The animation style is also choppy and uneven. The fight scenes and locations look great but once in motion get blurry. The editing also destroys any chance of build up with rapid speed ups. The character designs are also flat with the worst examples being the robots and the mech material on the bandits. The colors are also muted and lack contrast. It’s all foggy and grey.

SEVEN SAMURAI is a rich story that is also a simple universal one. But this anime adaptation is too top heavy and slow moving to keep my attention. For a better example of the 1954 film’s influence check out Takashi Miike’s 2010 remake of 13 ASSASSINS.

The Japanese 5.1 Dolby True HD audio is smooth and highlights the impressive sound design. There is no hiss or pops. The English 5.1 Dolby True HD mix is also well handled. The English dub has some good performances, I just usually stick with original language whenever possible. English Subtitles are included.

There is a Promotional video, Textless songs, Commentary tracks on Episodes 1 & 14, and a trailer gallery.

SAMURAI 7 is an unusual update of The Kurosawa classic. But the future elements don’t stick together long enough to be compelling. Recommended only to die anime fans.