Overview
- Blue Eye Samurai is a new animated series on Netflix, highly praised for its storytelling and stunning visuals reflecting Japanese culture. The series is created by husband-and-wife duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi
- The series carries a deeply personal touch, inspired by a moment in Noizumi’s life that led her to question cultural expectations and biases. The story revolves around a mixed-race woman named Mizu who hides her biracial identity and gender to survive in the world.
- Overall, the narrative of Blue Eye Samurai addresses complex themes such as race, gender, and power with a predominantly Asian cast. The carefully crafted characters and their intertwined storyline further illustrate these themes and drive the overarching narrative examining Japan's isolationism and Western influence.
- Notably, the show also pushes the boundaries of animation, benefiting from the versatility of the medium to create a breathtaking visual experience. It features distinct character designs and spectacular fight sequences, showcasing a unique blend of 2D-3D animation with a soft painterly quality that enhances the storytelling.
- In creating the series, the team demonstrated significant care and commitment to cultural representation, both in front of and behind the scenes. Jane Wu, the supervising director and producer, used her experiences and understanding of Asian culture and history to design the show and ensure it authentically represented Asian history and culture.