Hmmm. Edo-period samurai action and hip-hop? For me, it started with “Samurai Champloo,” and that’s where I thought it began. I guess I was wrong! “Afro Samurai” was born about 15 years ago in Japan. Yes, he’s Japanese through and through. Who knew? Not me–until I watched the bonus features in the new DVD release of “Afro Samurai: Resurrection — Director’s Cut.”

Yes, I saw the first “Afro” on Spike a few years ago and was relatively uninterested. But spending some time listening to the author’s interview brought me to a new level of appreciation for the film. I respect authors who can create entire universes or mythologies. Anyone can write one story and take us on a journey, but dozens of characters inhabiting an endless living, breathing world is an amazing thing to create.

Here’s the gist of it: Afro (Samuel L. Jackson) has become a recluse after having won the No. 1 headband and avenged his father’s death. However, in becoming Number One, he has taken many lives and created many bitter enemies. The voluptuous Sio (Lucy Liu), had come up with a diabolical form of payback–steal the No. 1 headband, the Number One ranking and resurrect Afro’s own father to kick Afro’s samurai…um, posterior. Basically: revenge, revenge, revenge. Everybody wants some. There are new faces and a few returning characters from the first “Afro Samurai.”

There are things I like about “Afro Samurai” and things I just don’t. I’m sorry, but years of watching and reading (not just anime, but pop culture as a whole) will sharpen your eye and develop your palate. What jumped out at me was the color design, the lighting, the glowing aftereffects–all incredibly done. Obviously a lot of money was spent on this anime. You can see it onscreen. The music (by The RZA) and sound effects are great. The voice acting is on the money, employing big stars with big talent. The fictional concepts and technology presented also sucked me in. There is just something soooo cool about ninjas with night-vision goggles. In fact, all of the enemies that Afro faces here are just awesome. The villains definitely outshine the heroes–kind of like in “Ninja Scroll.”

So, what didn’t I like about “Afro”? Well, I guess I feel the character design is a little ugly. I find the way the hair or headbands constantly move really distracting. There is such a high degree of stylization and weird movement, but this is really a matter of taste and it’s not that bad. Sometimes the backgrounds appear to be a little cheap or hastily done. The use of 3-D graphics is sometimes a bit jarring and looks a bit out of place with the 2-D. Also, because the style is SO overwhelming at times, I got the impression that the filmmakers were just trying way too hard to dazzle. But don’t get me wrong, this is an impressive piece of animation.

This is definitely anime for guys. It doesn’t dwell on deep, philosophical questions or spend much time with hand-wringing angst. It comes at you full blast, 100%. Pure action is its raison d’être. It sets up a pretty thin plot and piles the fighting on high. If you’re looking for eye candy, then here is your Godiva chocolate, baby. It’s also intended for mature audiences, which is okay, but my inner 13-year-old liked it more than my adult self.

So, will “Afro Samurai” enter the pantheon of anime icons along with “Akira,” “Ghost In The Shell,” “Ninja Scroll” and “Cowboy Bebop“? I don’t know. It definitely feels as if the filmmakers are pushing hard to get there. Ultimately, though, it’s the audience that elevates the art to whatever height it can attain. All in all, “Afro Samurai” is a pretty cool way to spend an hour and a half, and I’d like to see more.