Afro Samurai author Takashi Okazaki talks about creating the series, how it became a multimedia franchise, and how Samuel L. Jackson got involved. Also includes comments by director Fuminori Kizaki.
The story of how the anime got started because of a toy on a producer’s desk seems like another silly gonzo story from an ever-growing pile, but it’s likely not the only reason. Still, it is an interesting starting point.