Samurai Jack (TV series)
- This article is about the television series. For other uses, see Samurai Jack.
| Samurai Jack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Genndy Tartakovsky |
| Network | Cartoon Network Adult Swim (season 5) |
| Production company | Cartoon Network Studios Williams Street (S5) |
| Original release | August 10, 2001—September 25, 2004 (S1-4) March 11—May 20, 2017 (S5) |
| Run time | 22 minutes |
| Starring | Phil LaMarr Mako (S1-4) Greg Baldwin (S5) Tara Strong (S5) |
| Executive producer(s) | Genndy Tartakovsky Mike Lazzo Linda Simensky Brian A. Miller Jennifer Pelphrey Rob Sorcher Keith Crofford |
| Producer(s) | Genndy Tartakovsky |
| Music composition | will.i.am (theme music) George Pajon Jr. (theme music) Tyler Bates (theme music, S5) James L. Venable (S1-4) Joanne Higginbottom (S5) Dieter Hartmann (S5) |
| Director(s) | Genndy Tartakovsky Randy Myers Robert Alvarez Rob Renzetti Chris Savino |
| Second title card | |
 The Premiere Movie title card. | |
Samurai Jack is an American animated sci-fi action-adventure television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky. It was produced by Cartoon Network Studios for Cartoon Network during its first four seasons, followed up by a darker, more mature fifth season for Adult Swim with Williams Street assisting in production. It originally ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network, then in 2017 on Adult Swim, spanning 62 episodes that spanned five seasons.
Originally set in feudal Japan, the series focuses on a samurai prince who wields a powerful, mystic sword that cuts through anything. He was destined to free his kingdom from the shape-shifting demon known as Aku, but before he could land on his final blow, Aku sends the samurai into a portal to the future, where his tyranny reigns supreme. Adopting the name "Jack", the samurai seeks vengeance by returning to his own time and undo Aku's presence before he could take over the world.
Production
Development
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Music
The main title theme was composed by will.i.am and George Pajon, with the former performing the theme's lyrics. The episode scores for seasons 1 to 4 were composed by James L. Venable, while the ones for season 5 were done by Joanne Higginbottom and Dieter Hartmann. Additionally, Tyler Bates composed a different title theme for season 5.
- Theme song lyrics
Gotta get back
Back to the past
Samurai Jack
(Wa-watch)
Gotta get back
Back to the past
Samurai Jack
(W-watch out)
Gotta get back
(Jack Jack Jack)
Samurai Jack
(Wa-watch)
- Aku monologue
In the first four seasons, a monologue narration by Aku was used before the theme song plays.
Long ago in a distant land, I, Aku, the shape-shifting Master of Darkness, unleashed an unspeakable evil!
But, a foolish samurai warrior wielding a magic sword stepped forth to oppose me.
Before the final blow was struck, I tore open a portal in time, and flung him to the future, where my evil is law!
Now the fool seeks to return to the past, and undo the future that is Aku!
- Jack monologue
In season five, Jack instead provides a different narration. The theme song does not play in this season's intro, but still plays in the end credits.
Fifty years have passed, but... I do not age. Time has lost its effect on me.
Yet, the suffering continues. Aku's grasp chokes the past, present... and future. Hope is lost.
Got to get back — back to the past... Samurai Jack.
Episodes
| Title | Original air date |
|---|---|
| 1x01 | August 10, 2001 |
| 1x02 | August 10, 2001 |
| 1x03 | August 10, 2001 |
| 1x01 | August 13, 2001 |
| 1x05 | August 27, 2001 |
| 1x06 | November 19, 2001 |
| 1x07 | August 20, 2001 |
| 1x08 | October 15, 2001 |
| 1x09 | September 3, 2001 |
| 1x10 | October 12, 2001 |
| 1x11 | October 29, 2001 |
| 1x12 | November 26, 2001 |
| 1x13 | December 3, 2001 |
| 2x01 | March 1, 2002 |
| 2x02 | March 8, 2002 |
| 2x03 | March 15, 2002 |
| 2x04 | March 22, 2002 |
| 2x05 | March 29, 2002 |
| 2x06 | April 5, 2002 |
| 2x07 | April 12, 2002 |
| 2x08 | September 6, 2002 |
| 2x09 | September 13, 2002 |
| 2x10 | September 20, 2002 |
| 2x11 | September 27, 2002 |
| 2x12 | October 4, 2002 |
| 2x13 | October 11, 2002 |
| 3x01 | October 18, 2002 |
| 3x02 | November 1, 2002 |
| 3x03 | November 8, 2002 |
| 3x04 | October 25, 2002 |
| 3x05 | November 22, 2002 |
| 3x06 | April 26, 2003 |
| 3x07 | May 3, 2003 |
| 3x08 | May 10, 2003 |
| 3x09 | May 17, 2003 |
| 3x10 | May 31, 2003 |
| 3x11 | August 16, 2003 |
| 3x12 | August 16, 2003 |
| 3x13 | June 7, 2003 |
| 4x01 | June 14, 2003 |
| 4x02 | June 21, 2003 |
| 4x03 | June 28, 2003 |
| 4x04 | November 5, 2003 |
| 4x05 | November 12, 2003 |
| 4x06 | August 23, 2003 |
| 4x07 | August 23, 2003 |
| 4x08 | November 19, 2003 |
| 4x09 | November 24, 2003 |
| 4x10 | September 25, 2004 |
| 4x11 | September 25, 2004 |
| 4x12 | September 25, 2004 |
| 4x13 | September 25, 2004 |
| 5x01 | March 11, 2017 |
| 5x02 | March 18, 2017 |
| 5x03 | March 25, 2017 |
| 5x04 | April 8, 2017 |
| 5x05 | April 15, 2017 |
| 5x06 | April 22, 2017 |
| 5x07 | April 29, 2017 |
| 5x08 | May 6, 2017 |
| 5x09 | May 13, 2017 |
| 5x10 | May 20, 2017 |
Cast
- Phil LaMarr as Samurai Jack
- Mako (seasons 1-4) and Greg Baldwin (season 5) as Aku
- Tara Strong as Ashi
Legacy
In 2021, there was an episode of Rick and Morty called "Rickmurai Jack," which also aired on Adult Swim.
Merchandise
Home media
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Reading material
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Toys
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Video games
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