Samuel L. Jackson, the acclaimed American actor known for his extensive work in film, has a notable but selective history as a voice actor within the anime genre. His entry into anime voice work is deeply connected to his role as an executive producer, demonstrating a level of creative involvement beyond simply providing voice talent.

Jackson is best known in the anime sphere for his dual role in the series Afro Samurai. Produced by the Japanese studio Gonzo, the series premiered in 2007 on Spike TV in the United States before airing in Japan. In this adult-oriented action series, Jackson voiced the title character, Afro, a Black samurai on a path of revenge in a futuristic yet feudal Japan. Simultaneously, he provided the voice for Ninja Ninja, Afro's comedic and loquacious imaginary partner who serves as a stark contrast to the protagonist's stoic silence. Jackson reprised both of these roles for the 2009 television film Afro Samurai: Resurrection. The project was a direct collaboration between Jackson, the original manga creator Takashi Okazaki, and Gonzo, with The RZA composing the original soundtrack.

Another entry in Jackson's anime-related filmography is the 2014 film Kite. This live-action adaptation of Yasuomi Umetsu's cult classic anime of the same name features Jackson in the role of Karl Aker. In the film, Aker is a corrupt police officer and ex-partner of a murdered policeman who helps a young woman, Sawa, pursue the criminals responsible for her parents' deaths. While this is not a voice role in a traditional animated series, it represents his participation in a project based on an established anime property.

His recurring collaboration with original creator Takashi Okazaki on the Afro Samurai franchise remains his most significant contribution to the genre. Beyond performing the lead roles, his service as an executive producer on the series marks a notable achievement, helping bring a distinctively stylized and internationally co-produced anime to a mainstream Western audience.