Animated Series Based On Stan Sakai’s ‘Usagi Yojimbo’ In the Works
80s comic book nerds can finally celebrate! A series based on the popular comic book Usagi Yojimbo is currently in development over at Netflix.
Stan Sakai, creator of Usagi Yojimbo, will serve as an executive producer for the new series. He’ll be joined by director James Wan, known for The Conjuring, Aquaman and the Fast and Furious franchise.
Sakai, a six-time Eisner Award winner, created the Usagi series back in 1984, but this will be the first show based on the popular comic book character.
Who is Usagi Yojimbo?
Usagi Yojimbo follows Miyamoto Usagi, a rabbit samurai determined to become a master swordsman. However, the Netflix series, to be titled, ‘Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles,’ will follow Yuichi, a descendent of Miyamoto.
The new series is set to be CGI and will be animated by Mumbai-based studio, 88 Pictures.
Usagi has a long history spanning over three decades, and has even had run-ins with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
“It is a pleasure working with Gaumont and Netflix. I am involved in each step of the production and am enthusiastic with the direction we are going into,” says creator Stan Sakai.
“It is wonderful to expand the Usagi universe by collaborating with so many talented people. I am working with an awesome team and I’m looking forward to finally seeing an Usagi series on the screen! I thank my wonderful fans, friends and family for their support and encouragement over the last 35+ years.”
Netflix’s description for Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles reads:
“The series takes place in the far future, set in a world that mixes modern high-tech images with classic Japanese references.
It follows the teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendent of the great warrior Miyamoto Usagi, on his epic quest to become a true samurai.
But he isn’t alone! He leads a ragtag team of misfit heroes – including a roguish bounty hunter, a cunning ninja, an acrobatic pickpocket and a faithful pet lizard – as he battles depth-charging moles, metal-tipped winged bats, and monsters from another dimension, all in the pursuit to become the best samurai Usagi!”
We hope to a lot more comic book characters making their way to larger audiences in the future!
