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Top notch anime with non-stop action comedy in hip-hop fashion.

Set in the romantic Edo period, Samurai Champloo tells the story of three companions as they make their way through Japan in search of the "sunflower samurai". All the while delivering, irreverent humor, storytelling and action.

The blending of hip-hop/rap culture with the unique feel of the Edo period puts this series on a class of its own. Personally, I'm not a fan of hip-hop but its integration into the genre was so well done, I'd almost want to go b-boying on the spot. It's not an exaggeration to say that what it achieved is a breakthrough ... among its contemporaries.

Aside from its unique style, there is an interesting story that is told along the way. The backdrop of old Japan has a distinct flavor to it, and although the series certainly contains a lot of anachronisms, the story never feels out of place. Those who enjoy period dramas will certainly not be disappointed.

The art was extremely well-made. This is where a lot of the Edo period flavor comes from. Each scene is highly detailed, and sharp, well-choreographed action compose the entire series. This is not one of your cheap shounen anime where a fight scene looks like it was made up of 3 frames.

Most of the music comes from the hip-hop/RnB/punk genre. I found myself enjoying most of the soundtrack even though I don't listen to ANY of those genres at all. At no point did the soundtrack hurt my uninitiated ears. The performance of Nakai Kazuya, who voices Mugen, has become one of my favorites. Whether its serious or funny, his rendition of a cheeky Okinawan ronin is simply excellent.

It's a great series that leaves no regrets and characters you'll remember. Yes, there's basically only 3, but those three are way more interesting that a lot of the moe hordes of today.

When it's being funny, you'll laugh, and when it's telling a story, you'll listen. But mostly, it's just one big whacked-out ride. Absolutely a must watch for anyone.

School Rumble Z is your dessert for the incredible School Rumble epic.

Needless to say, the original series is required reading for anyone wanting to read this series, since a lot of the humor is in the characters' personalities.

Although made up of the original characters, for the most part, the stories are unrelated to the main plot. Although some chapters might be considered canon without conflicting with the main story.

In particular, the last few chapters try to provide some closure to the story. Not to give anything away, but in my opinion, school rumble Z's ending is definitely more satisfying than how it ended ... in the main series.

If you've finished School Rumble and find yourself wanting more, this is definitely what you're looking for.

The short version: Your average run-of-the mill harem rom-com. What's the difference? Cats. That's about it.

The long(er) version: There's not much more to say besides that. Seriously, there must be a guidebook they all follow on how to make shounen harems.

As expected from your average harem. There's no story. No, there's none. Oh, the main protagonist gets cursed and has to help out cats lest he turn into one and die from his cat allergy, but mostly it's about the main characters' love misadventures.

The animation was OK, which is why I gave it a 7. An 8 would mean very good, which it was ... not.

The sound and music. Even less remarkable. I found myself skipping the OP and ending after the 2nd episode. SFX and soundtrack were... again, normal.

What characters can you expect from an average harem anime? You might experience feelings of nostalgia from watching the show. Why? Because you've SEEN THEM ALL BEFORE. The cats were cute, that's it.

Despite being a cookie-cutter harem, I did laugh at some bits. I guess there is some merit at following time and tested formulas then.

If you think you still want to watch this, I suggest you just read the manga. You won't miss the average animating and soundtrack, and the story develops more and is definitely funnier. There are WAY better rom-coms out there. Futsuuuu...

Good art, music, and easily likable characters make up for a weak story in this lighthearted comedy.

"Railgun" starts out as an easygong anime with little semblance of a plot. However, this was not a bad thing as each story is interesting on its own. Well drawn visuals and characters make it quite a good watch. Also, both ending and opening songs are worth listening to.

The problem starts when some story development starts, which could have been executed better. In fact it may have been better if it was left out and the anime had kept to its comedic style.

Despite its one major weakness, Railgun ... is enjoyable enough and I recommend this to anyone looking for some casual viewing.