Samurai Gun - The Complete Collection (DVD, 2008, 3-Disc Set)

Based on a manga by Kazuhiro Kumagai, the extremely violent and strangely anachronistic anime series SAMURAI GUN reimagines the pivotal moment when ancient Japan first confronted the changing winds of Western modernity. In the mid-19th century, Japan is still awash in its feudal customs, with lawless and corrupt samurai marauders roaming the nocturnal countryside, brutally slaughtering innocent (and mostly female) victims with traditional swords and spears. Enter lone wolf Ichimatsu, a moody young man who decides to battle the evil shogunate with a newly invented weapon: guns. The ensuing gunfight action sequences play out against a dusty backdrop of saloons and brothels for a decidedly spaghetti Western-like feel--albeit one with copious amounts of graphic violence and sadism toward women. The 13-part series is presented in its entirety with this collection of episodes.