Aku

Aku was the main antagonist of the series Samurai Jack. Born from a cosmic black mass of darkness, Aku was an evil, shapeshifting demon that has taken over the world and ruled it for countless eons. Throughout the series, he was voiced by Mako Iwamatsu in seasons 1-4, but due to his death in 2006, he was replaced by Greg Baldwin in Season 5.

Overview
In Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL, Aku is the last character on the roster menu, being an unlockable character available from the store for 1500 points. His in-game bio states Aku as a master of the air and very powerful.

Pros

 * Quick long ranged laser attack
 * So glitchy that it makes him more versatile than intended
 * Arguably the best recovery in the game
 * Multiple jumps gives him great aerial mobility
 * In addition Aku is the only character who can swap between fast falling and normal falling instantaneously giving him the best aerial control in the game.
 * Longest grab range in the game due to an oversight that places his grab hitbox further than his body
 * However as a result, most of the smaller characters like Dexter won't get grabbed if directly in front of Aku.

Cons

 * Overreliance on the same moves and can therefore have a predictable playstyle.
 * Low damage output on laser
 * Poor cube generation

Aku is most infamous for his neutral signature in air as it comes out instantaneously and reaches fairly far from Aku, allowing him to easily combo at a safe distance simply off of this move. Aku's up signature is a large attack that mows through other attacks and characters and allows Aku to reposition himself to laser again.

Aku also seems to be the glitchiest character in the game, all helping him even more in the long run. One noticeable glitch deals with the way Aku transforms into animals. As soon as Aku jumps he transforms into a bird-like creature. However, jumping and performing attacks at the same time can result in him doing grounded attacks in bird form, distorting his hitboxes and hurtbox. Aku's attack transformations also won't cancel properly if he is hit out of them, making him safe either way as any follow up against Aku risks the opponent getting hit. He can also abuse this fact to land faster out of up special, perform glitched lasers, and perform "Aku ladders."

In-game Stats
Speed: 1/5 Power: 4/5 Air: 5/5 Range: 3/5
 * Has all of Aku's melee moves in mind.
 * Many of Aku's attacks pack a punch with high knockback damage.
 * Aku has the best recovery in the game due to having multiple jumps, light weight in air, as well as his goat move being affected by side signature vertical influence. He also has the strongest up signature in the game that tears through most characters who may be trying to edgeguard him. Aku is also one of the best edgeguarders in the game himself. If that wasn't enough, Aku is the only character that has the ability to switch between normal falling speed and fast fall simply by alternating between holding down and releasing.
 * Has all of Aku's moves combined in mind. Aku has many range options even without his infamous laser, that can keep opponents spaced away.

Normal Attacks

 * Neutral: Aku attacks with his left arm twice each dealing 2% (the second hit has two hits for some reason), then swings down both arms dealing 4% and creating 1 power cube..
 * Running: Aku charges forward and reaches both arms to the ground. Deals 8% and creates 2 power cubes.
 * Oddly, the end of this move will change him into bird form for a very short time, even though he is on ground.
 * Up: Aku claps both arms upward. Deals 7% and creates 1 power cube.
 * Down: Aku swipes the ground with his right arm. Deals 8% and creates 2 power cubes.
 * Throw: Aku reaches out both arms. Due to Aku being a large character, the throw hitbox isn't directly in front of him. Deals 6% when thrown.

Knockout Attacks

 * Side: Aku breaths in, then breaths fire. Deals 13%~19% uncharged~charged. Creates 3 power cubes at 13% and 4 power cubes above 14%.
 * Up: Aku reaches both arms in the air. Deals 16%~23%. Creates 4 power cubes.
 * Down: Aku changes the dreads at his feet into spikes that stick up. Deals 14%~20%. Creates 4 power cubes.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral: Aku, in bird form, spins around horizontally hitting opponents with his wings. Deals 7% and creates 1 power cube.


 * Side: Aku, in bird form, swipes both of his wings forward. Deals about 9%. Creates 2 power cubes.


 * Up: Aku, in bird form, claps both of his wings upward. Deals 7% and creates 1 power cube.


 * Down: Aku, in bird form, swipes his right wing downward. Deals 10% and creates 2 power cubes.

Signature Attacks
Neutral: Laser Beam Side: Billy Goat Charge Up: Octopus Spin Down: Scorpion Sting
 * Aku shoots out a laser beam from his eyes, aiming at the ground in front of him. Deals 2~4% damage depending on the opponent. Does not create any power cubes.
 * When in air, Aku's laser will come out instantly reaching full range, and slightly further than his grounded variant.
 * There is a glitch where Aku may shoot the laser outside of the ring, or on the "z axis" in the background. This is performed by using laser as soon as you start a jump (or more specifically when in bird-state while on ground). Only done on ground.
 * Diagonal laser is another laser glitch. The currently known method is to short hop, fast fall, short hop/jump and laser quickly. Only done in air.
 * Vertical laser is performed by falling through a platform (using down left, or down right direction) after landing from air. Aku will enter grounded form while in air. While in this state, using laser will shoot above him. This state will end after a short time or when Aku lands. In addition, after falling through it is possible to jump again in order to reposition Aku and his laser. Jumping will reset the timer.
 * Launch laser is a rare occurrence when laser is used after or during being launched by an attack. Variants include flipping Aku upside down and activating laser, or "double direction" laser in which Aku will laser one direction and then another in the same move.
 * Laser can be used to perform a super-jump, a technique that will raise Aku a high distance similar to Samurai Jack's up signature. The currently known method is to dash jump, mash in the down, down-right, and down left directions (no specific order known) and laser.
 * Aku transforms into a goat of sorts.and charges forward slowly. Deals 10% per hit and creates 2 power cubes per hit
 * Due to the way Aku's transformations work, the goat transformation will stop only when the animation ends, meaning that even if Aku is hit/launched, the goat will stay out and occasionally may damage opponents nearby.
 * Aku's Goat form is affected by side signature vertical influence, meaning his direction upward or downward will be depended on his vertical velocity. Aku can jump and immediately use goat to go to extreme heights. Combining with the fact that Aku has 3 mid air jumps gives him the best recovery in the game. He can also use this to stall out opponents using Punch Time Explosions as an edge guard, such as Mac &amp; Bloo, or simply go over the Punch Time Explosion itself.
 * Aku transforms into an octopus and attacks around him with tentacles that spin around his body. Deals 13% and creates 3 power cubes.
 * Due to the way Aku's transformations work, the octopus transformation will stop only when the animation ends, meaning that even if Aku is hit/launched, the octopus will stay out and damage opponents nearby.
 * Aku transforms into a Scorpion and does three seperate attacks involving his claws and stinger. Deals 6%. Only the last hit creates 1 power cube.
 * Due to the way Aku's transformations work, the scorpion transformation will stop only when the animation ends, meaning that even if Aku is hit/launched, the scorpion will stay out and damage opponents nearby.

Punch Time Explosion: Dragon Aku
Aku transforms into a dragon and breathes fire in the direction you were facing, similar to when he is summoned in the 3DS version  Each hit deals 28% and creates 4 power cubes.

Synergy: Val Halen
Aku transforms into a guitar as Val Halen plays Aku sending dark electric blasts at opponents at a set range, dealing 33%, creating 4 power cubes.

Quotes

 * "Foolish warrior, you had no chance!"
 * "I am the master of masters, the deliverer of darkness, the shogun of sorrow!"
 * "Bow down to the future, that is Aku!"
 * "Acursed meddlers!"
 * "Back into the pit of hate!"
 * "It is I, Aku!"

Trivia

 * Coincidentally, it is possible for Aku to short hop double laser, a popular technique used by Fox McCloud in the Super Smash Brothers series.
 * Aku is one of the few characters to have a signature that functions differently depending on if it's used on the ground or in the air. In his case, his Neutral laser aims downwards in front of him before moving forwards when used on the ground, but fires straight ahead if used in the air.
 * Oddly, Aku is the only character who will stop fast falling once down is unpressed.
 * Oddly, Aku is the only character who will stop fast falling once down is unpressed.