As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for all things anime and comics, I can wholeheartedly affirm that Miyamoto Usagi is a character worth his weight in gold. This rabbit samurai has graced our screens since the ’80s, long before the Turtles even donned their ninja outfits!
In the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a variety of fascinating characters abound. The four main turtle brothers, each distinct and entertaining, seem to appeal to virtually every personality. They’ve encountered an impressive array of foes, such as Krang and The Shredder. Additionally, Master Splinter, their ninjustu and martial arts instructor, often serves as one of the most steadfast father figures in animated television. Let’s not forget April O’Neil, the Turtles’ determined ally who is often seen donning yellow clothing. However, there’s a cryptic character who continually reappears in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media, despite not originally belonging to the franchise.
Miyamoto Usagi, the lead character of “Usagi Yojimbo” (Rabbit Bodyguard), was developed by Stan Sakai and debuted in 1984 before launching his own series in 1987. The comic series centers around Usagi, a wandering ronin or masterless samurai, in Edo period Japan. Similar to Usagi, the other characters in “Usagi Yojimbo” are also anthropomorphic. Due to its predominantly episodic structure, it’s a long-lasting American comic that is accessible for new readers, although there are also multi-issue story arcs. Over the years, Sakai has been both the writer and one of the few artists who have worked on the series. Thanks to his ownership of the material, he’s been able to move Usagi between various publishers, such as Dogu Publishing in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics. Unique among comics, “Usagi Yojimbo” combines elements of buddy comedy, small dinosaur-like lizards called tokage, and humor, but it can also be quite serious and doesn’t shy away from addressing injustice. Despite its long-running status, the storylines remain consistently high quality, and it served as inspiration for Ghost of Tsushima.
Who is Miyamoto Usagi?
The rabbit character, named Usagi, is inspired by Musashi Miyamoto, a legendary swordsman, right down to his name. Originally serving under Lord Mifune, a nod to Akira Kurosawa’s frequent collaborator ToshirÅ Mifune, Usagi fulfilled one last duty to his lord when he buried his head after Mifune was killed in battle, ensuring it wouldn’t be disrespected by enemies. Usagi is an exceptionally skilled swordsman with a strong sense of justice and a knack for rectifying wrongs across towns. However, he occasionally reveals a playful side. Throughout his journey, Usagi has crossed paths with various supernatural beings including yokai and even gods. His adversaries are diverse; they include Jei, a wolf who interprets justice in a warped way, and Lord Hikiji, the primary antagonist of the series, ironically the only human character. Interestingly, it was Lord Hikiji who murdered Lord Mifune and left the scar on Usagi’s eye, distinct from the widely known DreamWorks eyebrow.
What is His Connection to the TMNT?
As a die-hard comic book enthusiast and gamer, I’ve got some exciting news to share! Back in the day, I was friends with the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. You see, around the same time their TMNT comics hit the scene in 1984, my own comic, Usagi Yojimbo, was also making waves. Both our works were black-and-white anthropomorphic animal stories with a strong Japanese influence.
Miyamoto’s Descendant Has His Own Netflix Show
1994 saw the creation of a sci-fi series centered around Usagi, but due to the poor performance of a previous space series featuring a rabbit protagonist named Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars!, it struggled to secure funding from toy manufacturers. However, the concept of the Usagi world in a future setting resurfaced in the 2022 Netflix series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Unlike the original, this version focused on one of Miyamoto Usagi’s descendants living in Neo Edo, named Yuichi, rather than Miyamoto himself. Although created under the supervision of Sakai, the show received mixed reviews from fans. Some appreciated its appeal to a younger audience, while others were disappointed by the creative choice to focus on a new character and maintain a lighter tone, instead of following Usagi Miyamoto or adopting a more mature narrative style.
It’s clear that the beloved characters known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t fading away anytime soon. With a rich history of critically praised productions behind them, such as last year’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” which boasts a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, fans can’t seem to get enough of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Given the popularity of these green heroes, it’s no wonder that Usagi has been featured in various Turtles media. His tale and persona are captivating, to say the least. With the recent surge of affection for the Turtles, there might be an opportunity for Usagi to receive more acknowledgment and, hopefully, another chance at a well-deserved animated series.
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2024-08-17 03:04