Samurai Champloo is a Japanese anime series that first aired in 2004, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and set in an alternate Edo-period Japan. The series became famous for pairing samurai action with hip-hop music and culture, a combination that made its soundtrack especially memorable. Composers including Nujabes helped shape that sound, and clips from the opening and score have circulated widely among anime fans online. The style still appears in edits and memes because it instantly signals cool, rebellious samurai energy without needing any explanation.