The dystopian anime will be airing on Adult Swim’s Toonami block.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the series will air on television, but it will be much more visible, with a wider potential to reach its core audience than when it aired on IFC six years ago. The last release of the DVD set was in 2009.
Originally released in Japan in 2004, Samurai 7 is basically a retelling of the classic 1950’s Japanese adventure film, Seven Samurai. The story takes place in a remote village of a Japan which has been devastated by war. The village is being set-upon by a despotic warlord who, if left unchecked, will starve the village to feed his men. The titular samurai come from diverse backgrounds – including a cyborg samurai in the anime – but must find a way to work together, so they might defend the village against the raiding bands.The anime serial takes the story and places it in a future dystopian setting.
Here’s a synopsis of the serial:
Set in a futuristic world that has just witnessed the end of a massive war, scores of villages are terrorized by Nobuseri bandits. But the Nobuseri are no normal bandits. They were once Samurai, who during the war integrated their living cells with machines to become dangerous weapons now appearing more machine than man. Absolute power corrupts, and their reign of terror is increasing its hold on the countryside.
But one group of villagers has had enough, deciding to hire samurai to protect their village. Kirara is a young priestess who travels to the city seeking out protection. One by one, she encounters brave samurai that the war has left behind. These men of skill and valor are each unique and not without their quirks. But can they come together as one to defend the helpless village?
Samuari 7 will be replacing Deadman Wonderland, which comes to a close this month. The first of 26 episodes will play on the morning of August 19th (evening of the 18th, more practically) at 12:30am on Adult Swim.
