[merylsilverburg]

Yes, I've heard about it a while back and been very excited to see it! I saw the trailer as well and it was fantastic! Very gorgeous character design (I've seen some in the Japanese magazines, "Animage" and "Newtype") and very creative details (such as Fuu's cell-phone charm at the end of her sword ). This is just one of the few series that really interested me.

I just hope that the storyline isn't going to be exactly like Bebop. I mean, I hate to be disrespectful, but while Bebop was good, Watanabe shouldn't really try to direct another series that's similar to his previous work. Otherwise, it just gets boring (kinda similar to the mangaka Watase, Yuu...her main hit was Fushigi Yuugi and while her latest one Ayashi no Ceres is different in some aspects, it remains somewhat similar. It was pretty dull). I also hope the characters are likable and there wouldn't be another "Spike" factor (his whole "I-don't-give-a-flying-f*ck-about-the-world" attitude). I just hope Mugen, Jin, and Fuu are all very different.

BTW, completely off-subject but regarding samurai...Reid, have you seen the first episode of "Samurai7"? It's the one based of of Kurosawa, Akira's "Seven Samurai" except the anime version is more "updated" and involves more mecha and probably a different story. I thought this one looks interesting (not so much as Champloo) but good enough. If so, could you please tell me your impressions via PM or on here? Thanks!