Usagi Yojimbo - How Would You Make It Happen?

[erik]

I asked in a letter wether there was any chance Usagi Yojimbo might be able to appear in the current TV series. I later saw Stan Sakai in a video from Comic Con, where he was asked this, and said contracts (or some-such) prevented it from happening.

Still -- if the cosmic lawyers where to align someday, and Usagi was given a chance to appear in the new TV series, how would you go about it? How would Usagi appear? How would he act, and interact, in this new show?



My idea is that the Krang Dimensional Portals would be used - an accident, or something, could bring Usagi into this strange world and meet the Turtles. I would immediately say, he'd have to appear just like he does in the comics. As for his attitude, in this more wacky TMNT world -- I would play him up as the straight-man to the antic of the Turtles. He would probably get along famously with Splinter, though. They would have to fight against the Krang together, to get Usagi back to the portal and back home.



What does everyone else think? What would be you're ideas?



I do think it might not be likely, though, because a DVD is being worked on -- some Stop Motion Usagi project. (Does that need funding, though? It looked like it was on its way; but so far, only as a Youtube clip. It seems it has a lot of work ahead of them, if they are going to make a feature length film)

[Tazi]

Originally Posted by erik

I asked in a letter wether there was any chance Usagi Yojimbo might be able to appear in the current TV series.

Like Mikey keeping the comic book in his hands and reading it, or what?

[Shark_Blade]

Contracts?

First time I heard such thing. But surely he has authority over his creation and can make it happen anytime?

[pingclang]

I would love to see Usagi in the new series. I think I agree with you, he should be the straight-man, no nonsense, kinda guy. Maybe he existed in that Turtles` world in the past? That might be a new and fun idea.

[Shark_Blade]

I gotta say eventhough there's so many flaws in 2k3... one of the things they did right was Usagi Yojimbo.

His voice, his demeanor, his appearance was perfect. The best carnation of him so far. I would really love to see how he turns out in 2k12. Please Stan, make it happen!

[Tazi]

I have doubts about the Nick crew could handle Usagi Miyamoto well, so unless Stan Sakai supervises the whole thing I'd say: please, no.

I gotta say eventhough there's so many flaws in 2k3... one of the things they did right was Usagi Yojimbo.

Good job filling up every thread with 2k3 hatred.

[Bry]

Ideally? Make him the same "version" as in the 2003 show, except he's stumbled across a different world in the TMNT multiverse. Or at least allude to him meeting different versions of the Turtles, as Usagi has crossed over with the Turtles multiple times in the cartoons and comics. It'd be cool to kinda tie it together a bit and keep the ball rolling on the multiverse concept.

[erik]

Originally Posted by Tazi

Like Mikey keeping the comic book in his hands and reading it, or what?

What? I don't understand...

Edit: Wait, I think I get what you're saying. No -- I'm talking about an actual cross-over. Not just Mikey reading the comic. (Though that would be cool too!)

[Mutant Ninja Anole]

Gotta agree with other people that the 2k3 version of Usagi was so good I almost don't want another crossover. And I'm saying that as a person who loves the Usagi comics.

What I really want is a Usagi Yojimbo cartoon all to its own.

[erik]

Originally Posted by Mutant Ninja Anole

Gotta agree with other people that the 2k3 version of Usagi was so good I almost don't want another crossover. And I'm saying that as a person who loves the Usagi comics.

What I really want is a Usagi Yojimbo cartoon all to its own.

I say they should do that too -- PLUS, because of all the historical information, I might even count towards Network's Educational Programing Requirement.

Lets see if the Stop-Motion DVD movie comes out. Still wish they would be clearer, though, on what their plans are for the property. (Is it a full movie, short story, ect?)

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

I gotta say eventhough there's so many flaws in 2k3... one of the things they did right was Usagi Yojimbo.

His voice, his demeanor, his appearance was perfect. The best carnation of him so far. I would really love to see how he turns out in 2k12. Please Stan, make it happen!

There's not many flaws in 2k3 at all.

[Tazi]

Originally Posted by erik

What? I don't understand...

Edit: Wait, I think I get what you're saying. No -- I'm talking about an actual cross-over. Not just Mikey reading the comic. (Though that would be cool too!)

It was just a nod towards that the comic book is called Usagi Yojimbo aka Rabbit Bodyguard. The character is named Miyamoto Usagi, and named after the japanese swordsman called Miyamoto Musashi.

Now, i'm not pretending to be the a smartass here, and I know he was mistakenly named as Usagi Yojimbo by playmates before, but it still disturbs me, that after all those years, people still makes mistakes with the character's name, while they actually the fan of him, and want him back in the current gen TMNT series.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Tazi

I have doubts about the Nick crew could handle Usagi Miyamoto well, so unless Stan Sakai supervises the whole thing I'd say: please, no.

This is probably the contract Sakai wants, the one where he has sole control what happens with anything to do with Usagi, and the production crew with Nick probably don't like being told what to do, so it's their way or the highway. For now, it's the highway.

Good job filling up every thread with 2k3 hatred.

Eh, just ignore the little sh!ts. That person does that everytime there is a new incarnation coming out, feels like he has to dis the past ones to like the new one. When a new cartoon show is out and a new movie trilogy being groomed in 10 or 15 years from now, that same person will be here saying how 2012 nick toon sucked and the 2014 movie was trash.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

I think with all those portals the Turtles found that maybe Usagi could come from one of them the way they originally introduced him in the 87 series. He is one of my favorite characters so I would LOVE to see him if they would do him right. There have been some sweet action scenes in this series and he could be so dang cool. Plus I would like to have another Usagi figure as well. I have said that I would like for Mark Hamill to voice him.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

This is probably the contract Sakai wants, the one where he has sole control what happens with anything to do with Usagi, and the production crew with Nick probably don't like being told what to do, so it's their way or the highway. For now, it's the highway.

Yeah, He would want complete control of this because, Usagi Yojimbo is a property full of Japanese Culture and Mythology, They would probably end up modernizing it if they did.

If they were to go for a Modernized version, They should adapt Space Usagi, Which is the descendents of the characters, But set in the future.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Originally Posted by Tazi

It was just a nod towards that the comic book is called Usagi Yojimbo aka Rabbit Bodyguard. The character is named Miyamoto Usagi, and named after the japanese swordsman called Miyamoto Musashi.

Now, i'm not pretending to be the a smartass here, and I know he was mistakenly named as Usagi Yojimbo by playmates before, but it still disturbs me, that after all those years, people still makes mistakes with the character's name, while they actually the fan of him, and want him back in the current gen TMNT series.

It's like when people refer to Lynyrd Skynyrd as a "he".

[TigerClaw]

Fred Wolf at one time did a Pilot for a Space Usagi series.



This Project was canceled after the failure from Bucky O'Hare and The Toad Wars, Which also featured a Rabbit Space Hero.

[erik]

Originally Posted by Tazi

It was just a nod towards that the comic book is called Usagi Yojimbo aka Rabbit Bodyguard. The character is named Miyamoto Usagi, and named after the japanese swordsman called Miyamoto Musashi.

Now, i'm not pretending to be the a smartass here, and I know he was mistakenly named as Usagi Yojimbo by playmates before, but it still disturbs me, that after all those years, people still makes mistakes with the character's name, while they actually the fan of him, and want him back in the current gen TMNT series.

I know what his name is. Jeez, I made a mistake in how I said it. No very cool of you to drag it out, pretending you're the smart one of the class.

[victory_angel]

I see a tournament that is not unlike the Battle Nexus tournament.

The Turtles find themselves invited to join a tournament and to show they have no choice something of value is taken from them.

For the Turtles the thing or persons of value taken from them are "Splinter, April, Casey, and Karai" If they lose the tournament their loved ones will not only become trophies of the person running the tournament but the losers turn to stone and become prisoners of the person running the tournament.

This is how they meet Usagi, his master was taken prisoner and he becomes impressed by the way the Turtles rely on one another to get through each round. He admits to them in battles like this he has seen the most loving of brothers have turned on one another for the sake of victory. And like Casey he develops a different sort of friendship with each of them.

Leo and Usagi respect each other as swordsmen.
Raph and Usagi have a respect for each other as warriors
Donnie is mistrustful of Usagi at first but gradually begins to like him.
And Mikey likes him in general.

It's middle of the tournament when the Turtles start falling in battle. Typically Donnie would be the first to fall in a tournament battle, so to switch it up maybe Raph or Leo is the first to be turned to stone. Usagi tells them it feel like whoever was running the fight was trying to ensure they lose and he could feel great dishonor in battle. Eventually only Mikey is left and he actually wins his battle (honestly on his own strength not by convenient fluke as in the 2k3.) Mikey is told that his he can reclaim his valued item and he can have anything he desires as a prize. Mike states that he wants his brothers and all the other prisoners returned. The tournament owner doesn't want to lose his prisoners and tries to entice Mikey with various things. And Mikey rejects them all by saying they mean nothing to him without his family.

[marcelangelo]

Originally Posted by erik

I say they should do that too -- PLUS, because of all the historical information, I might even count towards Network's Educational Programing Requirement.

Lets see if the Stop-Motion DVD movie comes out. Still wish they would be clearer, though, on what their plans are for the property. (Is it a full movie, short story, ect?)

the team behind the stop motion animation short film of usagi named 'the last request' are all working in visual effects teams on movies for many years.many of them have worked on the last trilogy of the star wars episodes.
the director of this short film, roel, is a very nice gentleman who happens to be a member of the usagi yojimbo dojo (the official website).because of his posts and q and as there I know about this project and can share some of that information with you compadres...
so, this film is a personal project of him.he made this as his team has gotten the rights to do an usagi yojimbo FEATURE FILM.
these days roel is meeting with various possible investors and 'the last request' is shown to them to get them on board.
this 7 minute short film that you can watch on youtube is the result of a group of passionate people working with NO budget at all!so imagine what this feature film will look like possibly when they got financial backing!
I suggest to all who would wish to watch something like this come to fruition to go on youtube and share the link on social networks so we get more people to watch this and become aware of it!
leave comments if you will.thats always good for investors to see there are many people around the globe caring for this franchise.( in other words:realizing there is a market for this...)

um, the dvd of this short film is also going to be released.special features(making offs I think) will also be included on this of course.I don't think there is yet a fix release date but Ill share as soon as I learn about it.