The Art of Samurai Champloo’s Opening Credits (and Fuugen?!)
Samurai Champloo, has some very clear symbolic images shown in the opening credits in order to represent the three main protagonists.
But these are not merely just drawings made for the anime. These are actual paintings from the Tokugawa Era. I like that the characters found in the Edo Era, are being represented by actual Edo Era art.
Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) was a famous painter from the Tokugawa Era with Zen Buddhist philosophies. He was well known for paintings of nature and animals, particularly of birds. His art was so lifelike and so stylistic for the time period, it is clear he used actual live specimens for models in painting.
All of the Samurai Champloo “totems” that are shown of the characters are Ito Jakuchu’s work found in the collection of scrolls called 動植綵絵, Dōshoku Sai-e, “Pictures of the Colorful Realm of Living Beings”. However, the images have been rearranged, reversed, and recolored, with only parts of the paintings showing.
Here are some examples:
Mugen
“Roosters”
Roosters are considered holy in Japan, due to their association with dawn, the sun and Amaterasu. They are also considered courageous and protective, due to fending off other roosters to protect their mates. Because of their aggression towards other roosters, cockfights have been a blood sport for thousands of years. Ito Jakuchu also did paintings of roosters and hens circling one another in mating dances, so perhaps there is a romantic element to this.
We all know how many times Mugen saved Fuu…
”Nandina and Rooster”
The Nandina plant in Japanese culture is called “Sacred Bamboo” and is important to Shintoism, same as the rooster. Its Japanese name “Nanten” means “Southern Skies”, which to me, relates to Mugen in that he is from the far south of Japan in the Ryukyuan Islands. Nanten also has a double meaning in that it means “problems which turn for the better.” Mugen, whose life was full of conflict, was seemingly a wild and problematic bodyguard, but ended up taking his duty very seriously and aiding Fuu greatly.
What strikes me most about this, is the small orange bird above the rooster. Twice in the anime, Mugen is watched by a bird from above, both in episode 14 and also episode 26. The bird is also orange in color, which was Fuu’s original character design, and also the color of her kimono in the opening credits. This is just me overthinking it, though…
Jin
Jin’s association to water symbolizes serenity and peacefulness. It is then a funny irony that he himself is terrible at fishing, and could not even catch an eel in a bucket in episode 11 either, until Shino did for him. Shino also seemed to have association with water, due to her metaphor about “eels being like women” and holding them down, will only make them run away.
In Japanese culture, the octopus is a symbol of a heavy workload, and of someone who has too many things to do. Jin was indeed, very responsible when it came to making money for the group…
Fuu
“Vegetables and Insects”
The panning of vegetables and the butterfly can be found here.
The butterfly in Japanese culture, can represent a young girl spreading her wings, and entering womanhood, much as Fuu did with her journey.
“Rooster and Sunflowers”
This one specifically, really strikes me…
Fuu’s background image…comes from the picture of sunflowers and a rooster together. Combined with all the other insane amount of Fuugen stuff I’ve posted about, this one just makes me happy, whether it was intentional or not. It adds to everything else. I just couldn’t help the passing thought of “Was Fuugen there all along since the opening credits?”
Other Imagery
This lizard can be found in “Insects and Vegetables” just to the left of the butterfly.
“Insects by Pondside”
The butterfly here, could also be the butterfly shown with Fuu. Similar design.
