Animating the Way of the Warrior: ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Review

Rating: 10/10 ⭐️ 🥷🏼

Netflix’s “Blue Eye Samurai” is a riveting combination of spectacular animation, a deep, engaging narrative coupled with breathtaking fight choreography and a compelling soundtrack. This is easily one of my favourite shows released last year.

The story of “Blue Eye Samurai” is about — identity, revenge, and the struggle against societal constraints. We follow Mizu, a blue-eyed samurai on a quest for vengeance in 17th-century Japan, a period in which Japan closed its doors to the outside and outsiders were discriminated. This makes Mizu’s journey all the more exciting as the story explores the themes of her complex identity and the motivations driving her relentless pursuit of six blue-eyed outsiders in Japan. We get acquainted with Mizu slowly with each episode peeling back layers of Mizu’s character, revealing the depth of her pain, resilience, determination and the lengths she is willing to go to achieve her objective.

The fight scenes in “Blue Eye Samurai” are nothing short of cinematic masterpieces. Each battle is choreographed with such precision and creativity that they stand as pivotal moments of character development and plot progression. The show excels in its portrayal of swordplay, seamlessly blending traditional samurai combat with fantastical elements that elevate the action to new heights. One scene that is seared to my brain is the Cliff showdown in which Mizu faces the formidable Four Fangs. It showcases not just her brute strength but also her strategic mind and resilience. The fight scenes are an absolute joy to watch, fast, fluid and brutal.

Check out how the fight scenes were choreographed

The soundtrack of “Blue Eye Samurai” is another masterful composition that enhances every aspect of the show. It is both subtle and impactful, weaving through the narrative to amplify the emotional stakes and heighten the tension of battle scenes. The ones that stand out are — Mizu’s Suite and Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls by Emi Meyer in Japanese making the fight scene so much more EPIC!!

Where this season ends is also pretty cool as it is the beginning of quite a few things. Mizu isn’t done yet and it should easily get another 2 or 3 more seasons. Whether you’re a fan of animation, samurai lore, or simply great storytelling, “Blue Eye Samurai” is a must-watch.