One series that still holds up very well for me that I’m glad to see getting some additional distribution is the Samurai 7 anime series. The complete run has been brought over to Crunchyroll’s site in its original Japanese language with English subtitles thanks to the deal with Funimation. Availability for it is definitely limited since it was licensed quite some time ago originally and other distributors around the world have streaming rights, so it’s only available to viewers in the US and Canada.
FUNimation previously released the series in bilingual form on Blu-ray here back in 2009. Check out our Ten Years Later piece about the series as well.
Plot concept: 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?
