“Blue Eye Samurai” is an animated action television series created by wife-and-husband team Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, with supervising director Jane Wu. The first season premiered on Netflix on November 3, 2023, and was renewed for a second season in December 2023 with a 2026 release. Animated by French studio Blue Spirit, this groundbreaking series earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program along with three juried awards for character design, production design, and storyboard. Set in 17th-century Edo-period Japan, the show features stunning hybrid 2D/3D animation designed to “look like a moving painting” with inspiration from bunraku puppets, Kurosawa films, and characters like Zatoichi. Starring Maya Erskine and an incredible ensemble including Kenneth Branagh, George Takei, and Brenda Song, this TV-MA rated series received a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and became one of 2023’s most critically acclaimed shows, proving that sophisticated adult animation can deliver cinematic storytelling rivaling live-action prestige television.
Blue Eye Samurai: Release Date, Story, Plot, Episodes, Cast, Actors Salary, Actors Net Worth, Budget, OTT Response, Trailer, Songs, Awards, Review, Ratings & More
| Info | Blue Eye Samurai |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action Adult animation Adventure Drama |
| Language | English |
| Directed by | Jane Wu |
| Voices of | Maya Erskine George Takei Masi Oka Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Brenda Song Darren Barnet Randall Park Kenneth Branagh |
| Producers | Jane Wu Nick Read Nicholas Cofrancesco Haven Alexander Kevin Hart |
| Production companies | Blue Spirit Netflix Animation J.A. Green Construction Corp. 3 Arts Entertainment |
| Edited by | Yuka Shirasuna Brad Lee Zimmerman |
| Music by | Amie Doherty |
| Country | France United States |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | 3 November 2023 – Present |
| Running time | 35–62 minutes |
Table of Contents
Blue Eye Samurai Storyline
During Japan’s Edo period when borders are closed to the outside world, Mizu—a mixed-race warrior with piercing blue eyes, knows there were only four white men in Japan at the time of her birth. One of them is her father who made her a “creature of shame.” Mizu sets off to kill these men while disguising her gender as well as her blue eyes, since revenge is not an option for women. Joined by enthusiastic apprentice Ringo, pompous samurai Taigen whose rivalry becomes an uneasy alliance, and Princess Akemi whose gilded cage parallels Mizu’s struggles, she cuts a bloody path across Edo-period Japan confronting discrimination, dangerous enemies, and the violent truth about her origins.
Blue Eye Samurai Cast, Crew, Role, Salary, Remuneration & Net Worth
Here are the complete details of actors and actresses names in the Web Series.
1.Maya Erskine as Mizu
| Info | Mizu |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Maya Erskine |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
2.George Takei as Seki
| Info | Seki |
|---|---|
| Real Name | George Takei |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $14 million |
3.Masi Oka as Ringo
| Info | Ringo |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Masi Oka |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
4.Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Master Eiji
| Info | Master Eiji |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
5.Brenda Song as Princess Tokunobu Akemi
| Info | Princess Tokunobu Akemi |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Brenda Song |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $8 million |
6.Darren Barnet as Taigen
| Info | Taigen |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Darren Barnet |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
7.Randall Park as Heiji Shindo
| Info | Heiji Shindo |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Randall Park |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
8.Kenneth Branagh as Abijah Fowler
| Info | Abijah Fowler |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kenneth Branagh |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | $60 million |
9.Stephanie Hsu as Ise
| Info | Ise |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Stephanie Hsu |
| Salary Per Web Series | Not Known |
| Net Worth | Not Known |
10.Ming-Na Wen as Madame Kaji
| Info | Madame Kaji |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Ming-Na Wen |
| Salary Per Web Series | $10 million |
| Net Worth | $30,000 – $60,000 |
Blue Eye Samurai Web Series Awards
| Awards | Category | Recipients |
|---|---|---|
| NA | NA | NA |
Blue Eye Samurai Review
“Blue Eye Samurai” is an absolute masterpiece that transcends animation boundaries. Maya Erskine delivers a powerhouse vocal performance making Mizu complex, vulnerable, and fiercely compelling, while Kenneth Branagh creates a memorably menacing villain. The animation is breathtaking, every frame feels meticulously crafted with stunning fight choreography translated from live-action stunts. The series fearlessly tackles themes of identity, racism, gender, and revenge without becoming preachy, trusting viewers with mature storytelling. Episode five stands out as a devastating emotional gut-punch. Yes, violence is graphic and intense, earning its TV-MA rating completely. Some storylines feel slightly rushed given only eight episodes. However, the gorgeous visuals, sophisticated writing, phenomenal voice acting, and culturally respectful approach to Japanese history make this essential viewing. It’s Kill Bill meets prestige drama—adult animation finally receiving the cinematic treatment it deserves.
Disclaimer: The Data is collected from various sources and some from our own research. These data can be estimated and Primes World does not make any claims about the authenticity of the data.