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While Cowboy Bebop often dominates discussions about the top anime ever made, its close relative, the iconic series, merits similar acclaim. The influence of this historical epic still resonates today, particularly in Sony's flagship Ghost line.

A Deeper Homage

This latest Ghost of Yotei, the successor to the original PlayStation 5 title, deepens its homage to samurai cinema with the return of Kurosawa Mode. This setting offers grayscale imagery, textured effects, and retro audio effects. Fresh features include Takashi Miike Mode, which sharpens the camera and amplifies gore and grime; and Shinichirō Watanabe Mode, featuring a chill beat soundtrack crafted under the filmmaker's guidance.

For those curious about the Watanabe mode, Watanabe is the visionary behind the jazz-infused Cowboy Bebop and the hip-hop-fueled Samurai Champloo, among other prominent anime.

Fusing Past and Present

Watanabe’s 2004 show Samurai Champloo blends Edo-period Japan with hip-hop culture and contemporary attitudes. It chronicles the improbable team of the wild swordsman, a reckless and spontaneous warrior; Jin, a stoic and principled wandering warrior; and the brave waitress, a brave young woman who hires them on her mission to find “the mysterious sunflower samurai.”

While the soundscape is ultimately his work, much of the series' music was inspired by legendary beatmaker Nujabes, who died in 2010 at the young age of 36. Nujabes merits his tribute alongside Watanabe when it comes to the sound the anime is known for and honors in the new game.

Cultural Fusion

Much of what made the series shine on the Adult Swim lineup was its smooth integration of hip-hop and Japanese heritage. That mix has been a staple in urban art since the classic album in 1993, which itself was inspired by an entire generation maturing on Kung Fu movies starring Bruce Lee and the iconic actor.

For many, the programming block and Samurai Champloo served as an introduction to underground music, with musicians like Nujabes, Shing02, and Flying Lotus, the last one of whom went on to create music for the Netflix anime the historical series.

Visual Flair

Stylized and symbolic, the series' opening introduces the protagonists through kindred animals in the background — the wild one struts like a rooster, while the disciplined one moves with the composed, fluid style of a colorful fish. Although the show's central characters are the highlight of the series, its side players are where the deep emotion of the anime lies.

There’s pickpocket the young character, who has a tragic tale of perseverance in one chapter, and another character named Yamane, whose encounters with Mugen impact him greatly that he ends up in his diaries years later. In the later chapter, “Gamblers and Gallantry,” Jin falls in love with a wedded lady sold into prostitution named Shino and assists her departure from a establishment.

A Unified Narrative

At the outset, the full season appears to tell a fragmented story of the characters' quest to finding the elusive figure, but as Samurai Champloo develops, events from previous episodes begin to interconnect to form a connected plot. Every interaction our heroes undergo along the way has an influence on both them and the overall narrative.

Historical Roots

The series also incorporates Edo-period history (the same era as Yotei), seen through Watanabe’s artistic lens. Incidents like the feudal conflict and locations such as the Hakone Checkpoint (which Yamane guards) are woven into the story.

In the beginning, woodblock printer Hishikawa Moronobu is featured and momentarily focuses on the female lead as his muse. After she rejects him, his work later ends up with the hands of the Dutch artist, who, in the series' alternate timeline, is influenced to create his renowned still-life pieces.

Enduring Impact

All of these components tie directly into Champloo’s score, giving this period drama the kind of unique character that other projects have long tried to emulate. Shows like Afro Samurai (featuring the renowned producer), Tokyo Tribe, and the Netflix original all tried to recreate its blend of style and sound, but with varying success.

Ghost of Yotei has the potential to take over from the classic anime ended, sparking a renewed interest of impact much like the anime once did. If you’re starting the game, it’s worth revisiting the series, because without it, there’d be no “the special setting,” no trend of beat-driven series, and no lasting legacy of Nujabes, from which the inspiration stems.