An animated series based on Dark Horse's Usagi Yojimbo is coming to Netflix but there's a twist. Instead of following the comic's central protagonist Miyamoto Usagi aka Usagi Yojimbo (which translates as rabbit bodygard) during the Edo period, the animated series will be set in a distant future and follow Miyamoto's descendant, Yuichi, who is on a quest to become a great samurai like his ancestor.
In a press release, series creator Stan Sakai stated, "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. 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.”
Previously, Sakai teased on Twitter around this time last year that big things were in the works for the animated series and it seems he may have been referring to Netflix's acquisiton of the project.
Nicolas Atlan, President of Gaumont's U.S. divison added, "All of us at Gaumont were honored when Stan trusted us to develop his iconic property into an animated series. This is a first for Usagi Yojimbo. We are thrilled to have Netflix on board as our creative partner so we can together, with the combined artistic talent of Stan Sakai, Dark Horse Entertainment and Atomic Monster take this iconic brand to the next level."
The setting is 17th century Japan, when the age of civil wars has barely ended and the Shogun has established power. The samurai is the ruling class throughout the land, following a warrior's code of honor known as Bushido. Usagi Yojimbo chronicles this time of settling unrest and political intrigue, told through the story of a wandering and masterless samurai named Miyamoto Usagi, aka Usagi Yojimbo! One of the great classics of the last 20 years, perfect for all ages.