Samurai Jack

"'Ashi! I LOVE YOU!' - Jack’s words that touched Ashi’s heart and encouraged her to break free from Aku’s control."Samurai Jack, sometimes addressed as The Samurai or simply Jack, is a sobriquet adopted by the title character of the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim animated television series Samurai Jack (2001–2004, and 2017). He is voiced by Phil LaMarr and was created by Genndy Tartakovsky. Introduced as a Japanese prince raised since youth as a samurai warrior under numerous teachers in a variety of skills to destroy the demon Aku with his divinely crafted sword; seconds before he can kill Aku, he is sent eons into the future by Aku to where Aku's future self rules all of Earth unopposed; adopting the alias "Jack", Jack makes it his mission to find a way back to his time and prevent Aku's apocalyptic dystopia.

Why He Rocks

 * 1) Jack is a solid protagonist, being a very selfless person who always puts others over himself and always keeps a calm composure, but when angered becomes a serious menace.
 * 2) He has one of the most tragic backstories in Cartoon Network history, with Aku taking his father and ruling his land. But they planned him with years of training with teachers all over the world. Then he faced Aku only to be sent into the future, now he has to get back to the past while also dealing with future Aku.
 * 3) Jack always helps the innocent whenever they need it, like helping his friends, the Scotsman for example. His help impacted them so much that they returned the favor by helping him in the final fight against Aku.
 * 4) Phil LaMarr does a great job voicing him.
 * 5) He received great character development in Season 5 exploring the long term PTSD that his time in the future caused.
 * 6) His anger at Aku for destroying every time portal is understandable, which is why he lost his sword. But thanks to helping Ashi, she helped him back and he learned to clear his anger, which helped him get his sword back.
 * 7) Speaking of Ashi, he really did a great job showing her Aku is evil, and she became one of his best allies.
 * 8) His confession of his love for Ashi was heartwarming, and managed to encourage Ashi to break free of Aku’s powers and use her own powers to send her and Jack back to the past, to destroy Aku once and for all.
 * 9) He had a good ending where after he destroys Aku, he returns home and reunites with his family.
 * 10) His relationship with Ashi was awesome and cute.
 * 11) * In the series finale, Ashi being erased form existence was heartbreaking, but makes sense, with Jack knowing she will always be with him in spirit.
 * 12) * In the video game, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, the secret ending with Ashi not being erased from existence was satisfying, and it was heartwarming to see her and Jack lay under the tree.

The Only Bad Qualities

 * 1) His slow pacing can sometimes make him boring for some.
 * 2) In the fifth episode of season 5, he acts likes a complete moron into thinking that the children from one of the Aku's factories are dead (despite he didn't kill them). Thankfully, in the next episode, Ashi assured him they were alive, and that made him more clear on what happened.
 * 3) While his relationship with Ashi is good, it can be inappropriate for some people, due to the massive age difference.