The Journey of Samurai Jack

The television series “Samurai Jack” was animated in result of the creator, being inspired by shows that he had watched as a child. The series not only provides entertainment but also promotes the elements of the hero’s journey through Samurai Jacks series of adventures.
In the first episode of the series Samurai Jack, the arch nemesis of Jacks father the emperor, Aku makes an unexpected appearance to the village. Aku is shown as red and black, these colours represent chaos, mystery, evil,violence, and darkness. In result of his arrival, Jack is forced to escape destruction and leave his village along with leaving his father behind to begin his journey. The departure begins when Jack was taken away in a boat which can be classified as an archetype, because the boat symbolizes safe passage. Being taken away from home, Jack is now the responsibility of his mentors for many years so they can protect him from Aku. As Jacks journey begins, Jack is trained by many mentors to become a legendary samurai which is the initiation. These mentors are willing to teach him all he needs to know by developing his mind and body until he is old enough to defeat the evil demon Aku, that has imprisoned his father and taken over his village. Jacks environment while being trained is surrounded by trees in many scenes, trees symbolize knowledge, and where we learn. Jack hopes to return back to his land and bring peace to his fellow villagers and to overpower and destroy the evil Aku. Gaining the right skills and techniques over time, Jack was finally ready to take on the challenge of demolishing the antagonist Aku. The road of trials begins when Jack is reunited with his mother and he received his fathers sword that will help him during the battle. when he returns he challenges Aku to a duel, when he is faced with the innermost cave. Jack is not successful in his attempt to defeat the demon, resulting from Aku sending Jack the protagonist to the future. When Jack is sent to the future he travels through a black and white tunnel which symbolizes mystery and the unknown.

The Lightning Thief, a film based on the novel Percy Jackson &the Olympians: The Lightning Thief has a similar plot to samurai jack. This film has many elements that are also in Samurai Jack. Percy finding out he is the son of the greek god Poseidon, he travels to Camp Half-Blood since he was wanted killed by the Furriers. Camp Half-Blood was a camp for demigods so that they could be trained, this is similar to Jack leaving his village to train to battle Aku. Both protagonists, Jack and Percy are needed to train in order to pursue their challenge or mission.

The Hero’s Journey is usually the foundation in many stories and movies. Many people find interest in things that are beyond the normal range of accomplishment and experience. This type of plot is appealing to a variety of people. Though it is easy to predict what may happen in these films, shows or stories, the hero's journey still continues to attract viewers. People are interested in these type of plots because they want too watch the hero go through difficult tasks, and end up succeeding in the end.

My Best Entry

From the 3 archetype analysis posts on my blog, my best entry would have to be Hansel and Gretel. On this post I was able to vividly analyzing the archetypes that were in the text more clearly then the other 2 posts. The same amount of effort was put into all three of my posts, but Hansel and Gretel was the one that I was able to make clearer descriptions in.

'Hansel and Gretel' Archetype Analysis

Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm is a very well known fairytale that is entertaining, but also teaches many lessons from both of the protagonists experiences. There are several archetypes presented throughout the popular fairytale. Lessons that are clearly portrayed in the story are not be greedy and take things for granted, another lesson could be to be careful of who you trust, and your first instinct is not always true.

The story starts off with the reader being introduced to the forest immediately, which can be symbolized as evil, lost and fear. This indicates that at some point in the story there will be an interaction with evil and conflict will occur. Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor wood-cutter that lives near the forest. Not being able to provide for his family, the father of the children vents to his wife about the unfortunate issue to somehow find an answer. The wife responds negatively by suggesting to get rid of the children by abandoning them in the forest nearby expecting them to not find their way back. Disagreeing with the wife’s plan, the wood-cutter argues with her about not leaving his children in the forest alone. Hansel and Gretel had overheard the two discussing the plan while the father had finally gave in to the evil step mothers plan.

The father is presented as being wise and gentle which can be compared to a king that is a character in many fairytale’s. Hansel is shown as brave and courageous, while Gretel is innocent and worried which can be compared to a prince and princess. The step mother however does not have good traits, but rather bad ones like being selfish and greedy.

Hansel being less afraid then Gretel comforts her and informs her “find a way to help [them]”. Preparing himself for what was to happen the next morning, Hansel left the house after the old folks had fallen asleep. He gathered up as many white pebbles as he could, which lay in front of the house and returned back to bed. The initiation occurs when the stepmother leads the children into the forest and abandons them while they rest by the fire. Fire can be classified as an archetype since it symbolizes control, god and love. While traveling to the forest Hansel made a trail of pebbles which helped the two siblings escape and return home. Hansel comforted Gretel and told her to wait for the moon to rise which can symbolize guidance.The road of trial is introduced when Hansel and Gretel are unable to escape the forest for the second time in result of the trail being made with bread which was eaten by the birds. The children would always be woken when it was dark which represents chaos, mystery, and the unknown. While wandering the unfamiliar forest they had encountered a white bird that they had followed until they reached a little house. The bird being white can be distinguished as an archetype because it symbolizes innocence, goodness and purity, but the children were yet to learn that the bird was none of those things, but rather the opposite. Being attracted to the house made of bread and cakes like any child would be, Hansel and Gretel began to eat, letting their hunger get the best of them. Being invited in by the witch that was pretending to be a kind lady, the children did not think anything of it and helped themselves to the all the food she had offered them. This is when Hansel and Gretel encounter the innermost cave being trapped in the wicked witches house.“Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far”, red represents violent passion, and death. Gretel fooling the witch to enter the oven and being killed, allows her to escape with Hansel. Leaving the forest with some of the witches jewels and pearls, the siblings come across a stretch of water which is an archetype, symbolizing life force. Hansel and Gretel were crossed safely on a white duck which indicated purity and peace. Return and reintegration occurs for Hansel and Gretel when they arrive back home to their father and realizing that the women was dead. Having the jewels and pearls from the witches house assured the family of three to live in happiness.
Throughout this fairytale many symbols and archetypes were presented, along with the plot being a battle between good and evil. Hansel and Gretel against the wicked witch and the evil step mother. At the end of the fairytale both of the characters that represented evil had died an the characters that symbolized good lived happily ever after.

"Sucker Punch" Archetype Analysis

The film Sucker Punch is based on a Proto-Feminist Hero who has lost a family member, which is shown at the very beginning of the trailer. In result of the death she is forced into an asylum known as the Lennox House for the mentally insane. As the protagonist arrives to the asylum, she is forcefully assisted out of the car by men dressed in all white. This is an unusual colour for the men to wear since they do not represent innocence,goodness and purity.
The character befriends a couple of girls, and lets them know that she needs to escape the torturous prison she is admitted in. She will do anything to escape the asylum, that many would consider hell on earth. The mental institute is presented in dull colours such as black which represent evil,death, mystery and chaos. While the lady that appears to be a dance instructor, but is also be classified as the characters mentor, gives the protagonist a few wise words, the beginning of the scene is shown as her sitting in a dark room which can symbolize the unknown, with lightning in the background which represents inspiration. The character is told that “What [she] is imagining right now, [she] can control this world”. The protagonist along with her accomplices are willing to do everything in their power to escape and fight for their freedom.
The imaginary world the group of girls fantasize about, helps them escape their reality which is a prison, this is the initiation because they cross into a more dangerous world. The hero can be classified as the outcast for many reasons.The introduction to the road of trials is when the character interacts with an intellegent man, he lets the character know that she will need five items, a map, fire, a knife, a key, and the fifth object is a mystery. The objects are needed in order for the female hero to begin her journey and are faced with the innermost cave that will finally set her free. Each item that the protagonist needs has a significant meaning to it. Fire can be symbolized for control and the ability to transform, and the map represents direction. A key indicates freedom, and the knife can signify protection for the upcoming obstacles the character will face.

Will these five items be the reason the girls escape?