Without Aku, I would have never existed.

I made this piece of work at night, yesterday and now; on intervals of three hours per night. This is the outcome of that episode that open up controversy around the end of one of the greatest cartoon shows of the 21st Century. Not everyone agreed with this, but that was what Genndy Tartakovsky wanted. That is his creation, and wanted an ending worthy of a hero. Now, there's something to remember: Genndy has said that some possible alternate timelines can be explored around Samurai Jack, including spin-offs and reboots. Who knows if someone, in a couple of years, wants to bring back the adventures of Samurai Jack.

Also, the inspiration for this work is because of one person: Last friday, it was her birthday, and she posted something interesting on her Tumblr account. She wrote:

"Jack erased the future that is Aku and forgets everything; none of it ever happened because fuck you."

"Jack erased the future that is Aku, but remembers it; Jack is sad without Ashi, but realizes it's for the best; those who would suffered under  Aku's order will now live their lives outside of it (the ladybug)."

"Jack "undid" the future; Aku was destroyed but will be resurrected again; Aku creates the future Jack was sent to, stable time loop".

"Aku's future is a separate timeline, Aku and the others are not undone; Jack creates a new timeline that Ashi cannot exist in, but accepts it; Ashi is the only one that ceases to exist, sacrificing herself to allow Jack and Aku to be happy in the worlds that they created for themselves. Nothing of value was lost."

So, I have to assume that Ashi was the key to everything, to bring order out of chaos, and altering for ever the lives of these two antagonists.

Whatever the case, we must remember Ashi.  And yes, we can always make our own ideas about how it should be ended; because, face it, it isn't fair for Jack. He deserved to be happy, but fate play its last card; and that card was Aku. Still, we should embrace it, for it was faith that allow Samurai Jack to return to his past, and Ashi found the light and love that Jack gave. And yes, it could have opened a paradox of alternate timelines.

To this is my birthday gift.  For you.

(c) and Genndy Tartakovsky

In Memoriam: Mako Iwamatsu