A meticulous restoration of Genndy Tartakovsky’s masterpiece
The series aired on TV at 480p, and the Blu-ray — the best copy to date — tops out at 1080p. This project restores each frame to a whopping 8K resolution, where they are manually curated before being encoded at high-bitrate 2160p (4K).
Each frame is meticulously graded to ensure color accuracy using professionally calibrated equipment for the highest quality. Optimized for modern devices — Tartakovsky’s beloved series the way it was meant to be seen.
A project born from love and admiration for the source material — by no means an attempt to discredit the original. An attempt to feed the flames that keep this series lit for years to come.
This project remasters every aspect of the show, one frame at a time. Environments, objects and articles of clothing are each handled with love and care, enhancing every element to bring out the best in each shot while staying true to the original artwork.
The original series aired in 2003. Most of us watched it on a CRT at 480p. Today’s displays allow for far more — yet the 1080p Blu-ray suffers from upscaling artifacts and odd color grading that leave much to be desired.
Each frame is sourced from both the original 480p footage and the 1080p Blu-ray, then upscaled to 4320p (8K) over several iterations. At that resolution every frame is curated and re-drawn against the 480p original to match its tone, color and artistic intent, then encoded at a high-bitrate (120 Mb/s) 2160p (4K).
Jack versus Aku — S01E01
Witness Jack and Aku’s first encounter like never before
This version includes interpolation for demo purposes. A version without will also be available for those who want to watch the series at its original frame rate.
This series was a staple of my childhood. I still remember the days when I would rush home from school, throw my snow boots off and toss my winter jacket to the side, only to hop in front of the television and watch my favorite show. Each and every episode lives rent free as vivid memories of a time spent captivated by a series unlike anything I had ever seen before.
Much time has passed since then, and a new Blu-ray release of the show was just on the horizon. I was thrilled to once more dive into Tartakovsky’s animated series, now with an entirely new appreciation and understanding of animation and storytelling. It was like I was transported back in time; an experience I am sure many fans of the series felt upon re-watching the show. But as time went on, some things did not fare as well over time.
A few more years have passed since the re-release of the series. I am now older, more perceptive and a bit more cynical. I am also a father – one that would love to share his love for this show with his son. Watching it for the first time with my boy, it was like looking into a timeless mirror. He reminded me of myself when I first watched ‘Samurai Jack’, on our old CRT, only something was different this time…
I developed a sense of melancholy, thinking about whether or not this show would still have the lasting impact it had on my generation. If this style of animation could compete against the more vivid, more aesthetically modern and dopamine-driven content that occupies the world of TV and streaming today. Could the series stand the flood of high-quality productions of tomorrow? Will it still have a place in its current state, or will it fade into obscurity the way the original series did before the Blu-ray release?
That question is what led me down this path. It is the reason why I am developing this project. I’m not remastering the series simply because I like it — I’m doing it because I believe that it deserves it.
Whether it reaches a fan and inspires a re-watch, or somehow catches the attention of someone new to the series, this is my way of fanning the flame that kept me warm through cold Scandinavian winters all those years ago; and perhaps I can contribute to providing the same experience to someone else in the future.