Since 1984, writer and artist Stan Sakai has chronicled the adventures of his anthropomorphic rabbit warrior, Usagi Yojimbo. However, Usagi’s only animated appearances to date have been in three different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons. Now, it’s time for Usagi to star in his own animated series!
Via The Wrap, James Wan and Sakai are executive producing Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Candie and Doug Langdale will be the showrunners and executive producers as well. Gaumont, Dark Horse Entertainment, and Atomic Monster are co-producing the series.
“It is a pleasure working with Gaumont and Netflix,” Sakai said in a statement. “I am involved in each step of the production and am enthusiastic with the direction we are going into. 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.”
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According to Netflix, the series will follow a “teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendant 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!”
88 Pictures (Fast & Furious Spy Racers) will provide the animation for Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.
What do you want to see in the new Usagi Yojimbo animated series? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Usagi Yojimbo: Bunraku and Other Stories
