Usagi Yojimbo tv series!!

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by sdp

What were the prominent episodes Usagi appeared in 2k3? I know in the battle nexus he appeared constantly but wasn't he just a background character not doing much in most of them? What were the episodes he really was a part of the plot, even if the episode wasn't centered around him.

The Real World part 1 and Samurai Tourist are all about him.

[Mayhem]

Stan has had massive creative input into this series. He picked the animation company, has had to approve everything at every step. Sure there’s probably been some compromises to get this to screen as is. And definitely it’s not going to appeal to everyone who is a fan of Usagi. But this is a first step. If it tanks for whatever reason, then the main Usagi brand isn’t harmed. If it succeeds, then may pave the way for something more authentic to the comics.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Stan has had massive creative input into this series. He picked the animation company, has had to approve everything at every step. Sure there’s probably been some compromises to get this to screen as is. And definitely it’s not going to appeal to everyone who is a fan of Usagi. But this is a first step. If it tanks for whatever reason, then the main Usagi brand isn’t harmed. If it succeeds, then may pave the way for something more authentic to the comics.

It could gain new fans that will like this version of Usagi, and might pick up on reading the comics.

[CyberCubed]

The fact that this is on netflix proves it'll probably be canceled after 1 season, maybe 2 at most.

[Sumac]

Trailer, I assume.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by Sumac

Trailer, I assume.

Here it is on Youtube

[CyberCubed]

Honestly doesn't look too bad. Looks like it can be a fun kids show. I do like how they acknowledge this isn't Miyamoto Usagi but his descendant which explains why his face looks different. Hopefully the original Usagi can appear through time travel at some point

[Chaotix12345]

In a neat move, OG Usagi will be voiced by Yuki Matsuzaki, the same actor who portrayed him in TMNT 2012.

Only really familiar with Usagi's world through his appearances in the various Turtles shows, but I'll give this a shot. Always up for an interesting-looking new action cartoon and it definitely has potential.

[CyberCubed]

That's cool, so we will see the original Usagi in a decent role even if only through visions or such.

[Allio]

Still hoping that Sasuke and Jei comes in to ruin Yoichi’s life as they did Usagi’s all those life times ago.

[sdp]

I'm pretty excited for the show, I watched all the Usagi ninja turtles Episodes, I don't know much about Usagi outside of those crossovers, I'm a super casual so I wonder if we'll get any turtle references, I'm not expecting the TMNT to show up at all but I can see Usagi meeting an anthropomorphic turtle and saying something like "My great grandfather met some Kappas from another dimension once". Since it's the same VA I wonder if perhaps they can hint that Usagi is the same one as he one from the 2012 show. I think we'll be getting flashbacks of Miyamoto from time to time so it should be a fun show even if it gets cancelled quickly as Netflix shows do.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by sdp

Since it's the same VA I wonder if perhaps they can hint that Usagi is the same one as he one from the 2012 show.

Good question, I guess it will depend on the writing.

[IndigoErth]

Bump because is supposedly premiered today! Gonna go check it out in a few.

[Mayhem]

Won't have access to Netflix until over the weekend, but the first episode is on YouTube if you wish to at least check it out...

https://youtu.be/0QGARCMvXx4

[neatoman]

I'm three episodes in and the show is kind of... Stupid. It's very much a kids' show with lots of kids' show trappings and the glimpses of the real Usagi just reminds me of what we could have had instead. If you just want to watch a typical kids' cartoon and you don't care about it having anything to do with Usagi, it's fine. As for it being a "Children's introduction to Usagi", I don't think it's such a good idea to let kids watch this, it barely has anything to do with Usagi. If you want kids to get introduced to Usagi, just give them some Usagi comics that aren't too heavy, if they are little brats who refuse to read you are still better off just showing them the Usagi episodes of 4Kids TMNT.

I guess we might as well deal with the inevitable TMNT comparison here. The show's stylistic choices seem to be modeled on the 2012 TMNT show and when I say it's a stupid show, it is stupid in much the same way the 2012 TMNT is a stupid show. Basically, there are enough "serious" elements in the show for me to think people would think it takes itself more seriously than it really does, when it's actually 70-90% stupid. If the stupid in the 2012 TMNT show didn't bother you, I don't think it will bother you here either. For what it's worth, it doesn't seem to fall into the 2012 TMNT show's trap of doing stupid things solely for the purpose of doing stupid things, it's more concerned with doing stupid things for the sake of comedy. In terms of faithfulness to the source material, it lies somewhere between Fred Wolf and Rise, in the sense that it clearly doesn't care about what the source material was like beyond some character names.

[Allio]

Watched the first two episodes. Animation is definitely slow and stiff and the action is less than desirable. Comedy is more generic than what I expect of Usagi.

so far, definitely making me wish we had an actual adaptation of the books.

[Leo656]

I feel like the safest thing to do anymore is just look backwards when it comes to adaptations of things you liked as a kid. Completely ignore the new stuff, don't even pay it a second thought.

If the property is more than 20 years old, you were there for That and they do a new version of it Now... it's best to just ignore the new version, it absolutely isn't for you and will only make you mad. And if you don't love it and say so out loud, it will only invite a bunch of younger people insulting you and loudly reminding you that you're not the audience anyway, they are.

It's like how I'm just plain Out and Done with regard to TMNT. I'm never going to like another version of it, and that's entirely on purpose as per their design, so why would I even care or pay attention to any new cartoon or movie? All I'd get from it is heartburn. Likewise, people who are fans of "classic" Usagi who watch Stuff Like This are only setting themselves up for disappointment. Best to not even bother.

[IndigoErth]

Watched it all last night.

Overall it was relatively decent. Maybe a 6 out of 10. I could have done without some of the pointless dialogue and moments that kind of fell a bit flat. I guess that's supposed to make it feel like it's for kids or be funny to them (or the old make them immature so they show change later shtick), but... eh. A few jokes did make me laugh. Esp the "angriest balloon" comment.

For the most part, I don't mind the animation at all, including the action scenes, and feel that people are way too used to hyper visual spectacle in action scenes these days...but I appreciate when fights like this are not mostly just a blur on screen.

The animation (and design) that did bug me is the citizens of the city. I suppose it was probably budget decisions to not put as much time and effort into these background characters, but they ended up seeming a bit lifeless, robotic, and clone-like.

Cat Karai (Chizu) is easily my favorite. Also really liked the crow yokai, but her wings really could have used a flapping animation, at least a little.

Chizu's ninja master was to me definitely "Poof Ball-Head Cat Shredder." lol

Really though... no turtle people in the background just once, or with all those yokai not a single kappa conveniently designed to give a nod? Or at least art... I keep looking at art, signs, etc in the background for some Easter egg, but nothing. Not even the design on the sewer (or more-so just an underground area) lid. How rude...

Though when it went on to mention "the multiverse" it got my hopes up for at last a nod to them later if it continues.

Disappointed that when Usagi finally did get to train with his sensai...it was via one montage. Having him training to improve as a character, and maybe get a bit more humble, might have been nice as a drawn out thing that felt earned. If it continues I hope this does happen, because so far he's a bit annoying.

Oh, and the one mole can stop saying his own name like that all the time, that is so damn annoying. Took me a bit to determine that they were even moles.

[Allio]

Finished episode 5. Honestly just not for me. The only thing keeping my interest is the “treason” mystery; and even then it isn’t really worth the effort.

[CyberCubed]

Few questions:

1. Is the entire season up or only a few episodes?

2. With netflix recently saying they ended their animation division, is this show already canceled?