Usagi Yojimbo/Miyamoto animated series

[sdp]

After i saw the TMNT episode this week, i thought it would be really neat to see an animated form of him, i don't know why it hasn't been picked up yet either, even in the old series, i really liked his design from the old toon TMNT days, i always wanted to know a lot mroe about him, he seemed to have a lot of stories he could tell. I have bought some of his comics before and he could definately tell some interesting stories. it wouldn't be that hard to "tone" down, and while it'd be nice to see more connection to the TMNT universe, a stand alone series would be ok as well.

[CyberCubed]

The Usagi Yojimbo comics are amazing. They're far more better written and sophisticated than the TMNT comics. Stan Sakai (sp) is really an excellent writer, and I would love to see the Usagi Yojimbo comics adapted into animated form.

In fact, he's always wanted an Usagi Yojimbo cartoon too. This is why he allowed Usagi to appear on 2 episodes of the original TMNT cartoon (And Playmates made a toy of Usagi and Space Usagi), and allowed Usagi to appear on the new show as a major recurring character. (Along with an appearence in the TMNT 2 videogame and a new toy)

Peter Laird and Sakai share a strong friendship, and I'm sure Laird wouldn't hesitate to help push an Usagi cartoon.

I dunno if 4kids would consider it profitable however, which is why one probably hasn't been made yet. It would be a fantastic idea, the violence in the Usagi comics can be toned down as his sword kills enemies but never in a graphic way. In fact, the way Leo slashed the warthog enemy in the newest Usagi episode is a great example. Except with actual slashes but not graphic violence.

An Usagi cartoon made in the same manner as the current TMNT cartoon would be amazing. Especially if they adapt all the Usagi comics, then there would be no doubt in my mind that it would be an even better show than TMNT.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

An Usagi cartoon would be fantastic. Since 4kids is willing to blow so much money on various things I see no reason why they couldn't fund an Usagi series. It might actually fare better in ratings than TMNT is at the moment and I'm sure Playmates would be on the band wagon to make an Usagi toy line.

[Pc-Famicom64]

If Shigeru Miyamoto whats to Fix TNMT/Make a new vergin of TMNT,It will be just like The 1980's TMNT.

^_^

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

In the introduction to the Space Usagi TPB (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569712905/qid=1133980036/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-9364373-4074411?v=glance&s=books), Stan mentions that the concept was originally intended for an animated kids' TV show. Unfortunately, the whole thing got axed when some other show about a rabbit in space tanked, and all the geniuses in network programming decided that meant that kids didn't want to see rabbits in space rather than concluding that the other show just wasn't very good.

From what I understand, animating Usagi is something Stan wants to do eventually, but for the moment he'd rather focus on the comic. I don't much care about the violence in the comic staying or being toned down (most of it is pretty bloodless anyway), as long as they keep the little "death skull bubbles" when things die on-screen. It's not Usagi without those things :D. However, I think a totally "kid-safe" version would lose a good amount of the appeal.

Usagi Yojimbo totally rules. I have it on my "To Do" list to do a review of the comic for TZ News in conjunction with something to do with samurai, TMNT, or rabbits.

-- Ed/Ace

[CyberCubed]

If Shigeru Miyamoto whats to Fix TNMT/Make a new vergin of TMNT,It will be just like The 1980's TMNT.

^_^

Shigeru Miyamoto? What does the legendary Nintendo creator of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong have to do with TMNT?

[John Pannozzi]

FYI, an animated pilot episode of Space Usagi was made. Check out the IMDB's page for it at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251410/combined.

[sdp]

how reliable is that though?


i'm glad i'm not alone, the character has enough attitude to appeal to kids, hopefully we see it after the 03 cartoon has finished its run.

[judyindisguise]

After i saw the TMNT episode this week, i thought it would be really neat to see an animated form of him, i don't know why it hasn't been picked up yet either, even in the old series, i really liked his design from the old toon TMNT days, i always wanted to know a lot mroe about him, he seemed to have a lot of stories he could tell. I have bought some of his comics before and he could definately tell some interesting stories. it wouldn't be that hard to "tone" down, and while it'd be nice to see more connection to the TMNT universe, a stand alone series would be ok as well.
I'm down with that. I read the independent comic years ago, and Usagi is a great character. And an anthro-animal anime toon IMO would rock out loud!

[Pc-Famicom64]

Shigeru Miyamoto? What does the legendary Nintendo creator of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong have to do with TMNT?You say'd "If Usagi Yojimbo & Shigeru Miyamoto made a new Vergin of TMNT what will it be like?" and soforth.

P.S:You forgot Pikmin. , And why ar you talking about Usagi Yojimbo side of makeing,Why not Shigeru Miyamoto?

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,


Shigeru Miyamoto? What does the legendary Nintendo creator of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong have to do with TMNT?
I think this (and the following comments) are all from a misunderstanding of the thread title. The comic book is called Usagi Yojimbo ("Rabbit Bodyguard"), but the character's name is "Usagi Miyamoto," named and modeled after Musashi Miyamoto (http://www.samurai-archives.com/musashi.html), famed samurai of feudal Japan and author of A Book of Five Rings.

I believe the thread title was trying to capture that distinction, and wasn't meant to have anything to do with Miyamoto Shigeru, the video game designer. If I got their names right, "Miyamoto" is the Shigeru's family name, while it's the given name of Usagi and Musashi.

When I was talking to my brother about Usagi, he initially misheard , thinking I said "Unagi Yojimbo," which is "Eel Bodyguard." Actually, I think even more specifically, it may mean "Eel cooked in soy sauce Bodyguard" :p. Which has nothing to do with this thread, either, but it's a kinda funny story.

-- Ed/Ace

[Treadwell]

how reliable is that though? Completely, in this case. Very short clips of it can be viewed at usgaiyojimbo.com.

Anyway, I would love for this to happen. Ideally, he'd be treated a little more faithfully to the source. The TMNT version is a fun adaptation and nothing to sneeze at, but that Usagi isn't quite really Usagi.

Plus the artists need to be brought up to speed on his forehead scar. There is one, over his left eye. It is not an eyebrow line--which is how they've interpreted it (and duplicated on the right).

[Aztec]

I've been calling for this for a while now as well. It would be a perfect spin-off to TMNT and would be the 2nd good show on 4Kids. Make this happen people~

[NightwingAngelo]

I'm all for it. That's be awesome if it was done with about the same tone that TMNT is at right now... maybe a little bit darker though.

I wouldn't mind it running at the same time that this one is either... actually, I think it'd be great to have an Usagi/TMNT hour.

No embargo though, that'd kill everything.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

It would be a great show, but I don't know how a feudal Japan type of setting that the Usagi comic is set in would go over with 4kids's marketing staff. There's an itch, I'm sure, to transplant the character to a more "modern" setting so that kids can, in their minds, "relate" to the action. Ridiculous, but true.

I think if done right, at worst it could still be comparable to the Redwall cartoon, which was pretty good if a little too "cute" at times in the design work.

BTW--that space bunny show that tanked--Bucky O'Hare? :D Ahh, I dimly recall it. It was "the show I sat through while waiting for a better show to come on." I believe it was on UPN, though I might be wrong. Anyway, I was waiting for Teknoman, the only worthwhile cartoon UPN had on their kiddie lineup back then.

[Dark Fact]

I don't know. I think the failure of Bucky 'O' Hare was more of a blessing in disguise for Usagi Yojimbo. Had the show even got airtime back then, it wouldn't be very faithful to the original comics and nobody would take the character of Usagi seriously anymore. Times have changed, and now Stan can try pitching the idea again to 4Kids or any other kids television station to see if the show based on his original comic would work. I certainly hope so because the success of Usagi's appearance on TMNT shows that his character can work in his own show.

[DarthNuriko]

While I think an animated Usagi series would rock, I don't see one happening. Even though a lot of the violence is relatively toned down already from what I've seen in the comic, it still might be too much to attempt. It would be awesome if they did do one and I'd absolutely watch.

[Ebonyleopard]

Actually Usagi did almost get it's own show, at least the Space Usagi version like from the comics, during the 90s, but then Bucky O'Hare came out and it was scrapped. They had a 2 part pilot finished and it wasn't bad, animated in a similar style to the TMNT shows of that time.

Currently Stan Saki is a bit picky about what Usagi appears in. Many animation pitches have been made to him but none have caught his eye yet. Main reasong Usagi has appeared in TMNT so much is because the's good friends with Peter Laird (Found out all this info from conversations with him at a convention a year ago).

[Aztec]

Space Usagi is silly. It takes the whole essence of the character away. The idea is that he's supposed to be in an antrhopomorphic feudal Japan. It just seems lame to throw a samurai into space. :shrug:

I do hope that 4Kids does consider this as a realistic possibility. They need decent shows on that station in a bad way!