May 3, 2005 -- Acclaimed actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson is set to voice and produce the highly anticipated animated action-adventure AFRO SAMURAI for Spike TV, with Japanese anime studio Gonzo and Japan's largest TV network, Fuji Television. The five episode series will premiere on Spike TV in 2006.
AFRO SAMURAI is the tale of a black samurai in futuristic, yet feudal Japan who is on a mission to avenge the wrongful death of his father. Samuel L. Jackson stars as "Afro," a warrior who travels a solitary path encountering a myriad of enemies, friends and challenges beyond imagination. The series, produced in Japanese animation, blends samurai style with hip-hop, creating a kind of action that American audiences have never seen before.
"With Samuel L. Jackson involved with this project combined with the talents of Gonzo, the leader in producing cutting-edge Japanese animation, and featuring a funky, hip-hop soundtrack -- this project was irresistible for us," says Kevin Kay, Executive Vice President of Development and Production for Spike TV. "Afro Samurai is already generating a great buzz for its animation and captivating storyline."
AFRO SAMURAI is a creative collaboration between Samuel L. Jackson, Takashi Okazaki and Japanese animation company Gonzo, a division of GDH, who is also acting as Series Producer. The concept of AFRO SAMURAI was created by graphic designer, illustrator and artist Takashi "Bob" Okazaki who has worked on the illustration versions of "Spiderman" for Sony and "Blade: Trinity" for New Line Cinema.
