IFC and ANIMANIA HD introduce the Japanese anime series, 'Samurai 7', to US audiences, in 26 mind-blowing episodes. Filmed in High Definition with stunning production values, 'Samurai 7' is loyal to the plot and characters of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954), but has a sci-fi twist.

This series promises to be an anime classic.

IFC will air the 26 episodes of 'Samurai 7' at 10:30pm/ 7:30pm PT, beginning April 1, following the re-launch of “The Henry Rollins Show” (previously “Henry’s Film Corner”) hosted by IFC’s own samurai!

'Samurai 7' builds upon the theme of IFC’s highly successful and longest-running film strand, “Samurai Saturdays.” Throughout the year, this evergreen, weekly presentation of classic, Japanese Samurai movies airs 8am ET/ 5am PT and re-airs in the afternoon (times vary, see upcoming titles at ifc.com).

Set in a feudal, futuristic world that has just witnessed the end of a massive war, scores of villages are terrorized by Nobuseri bandits. But the Nobuseri are no ordinary bandits. They were once Samurai, who during the war integrated their living cells with machines to become dangerous weapons, now appearing more machine than man. Absolute power corrupts, and their reign of terror is increasing its hold on the countryside.

But one group of villagers has had enough. Facing starvation, a young water priestess, Kirara sets out to the city with her little sister, Komachi and fellow villager, Rikichi to recruit samurai (master swordsman, who adhere to the strict code of honor and loyalty, ‘bushido’) to defend them. With no pay to offer except rice, and knowing full well that only down-on-their-luck samurai would even consider accepting such a deal, the villagers can only hope that their saviors will appear before the Nobuseri return at harvest time.

One by one, Kirara encounters brave samurai that the war has left behind. These men of skill and valor are each unique and not without their quirks. But can they come together as one to defend the helpless village?

If you would like to win either a copy of 'Samurai 7 - Volume One' on DVD, just answer this easy question: Driven to desperation by bandits who steal their crops, the inhabitants of a small village try to hire unemployed samurai to defend them. With nothing to offer as wages but their precious rice, the villagers send a delegation to a nearby town to recruit warriors poor enough to accept the dishonor of working for peasants. Samurai 7 moves the story into the future: the bandits and some of the samurai are robots. The village delegation consists of Kirara, her loud-mouthed little sister Komachi, and diligent Rikichi ... but what is her nickname?

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these wonderful new DVDs! Just send us an e:mail here before May 15th with your answer and the subject title 'SAMURAI 7 DVDs' to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

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