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Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles: Netflix Circling Taika Waititi To Direct New Animated Series: Exclusive

Netflix is circling Taika Waititi to direct the new animated series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.
Samurai Rabbit Taika Waititi

Netflix is circling Taika Waititi to direct the new animated series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.

Netflix has a ton of exciting projects for fans to look forward to including a new take on a comic that has enthralled fans for over three decades. Netflix is bringing the world of Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo to life on screen although this is not a direct adaptation of the comics. Usagi, created by Stan Sakai, first appeared in Albedo Anthropomorphics in 1984 before starring in his own series, Usagi Yojimbo, in 1987. Sakai has been the writer and artist of the award winning Usagi Yojimbo series for over 35 years and he is serving as an executive prouder on the Netflix animated series.

The new animated series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles takes place long after the Usagi Yojimbo comics. The series is set 1,000 years in the future and follows a descendant of the famed rabbit Ronin Miyamoto Usagi, Yuichi Usagi (Darren Barnet) who dreams of becoming a master swordsman like his ancestor. We’ve been doing a bit of digging and found an intriguing piece of information about the new Netflix animated series.

Taika Waititi Samurai Rabbit

According to our sources Netflix is circling Taika Waititi to direct the animated series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. It’s unclear if Netflix is interested in Waititi to direct a single episode or multiple episodes. Taika Waititi seems like he has the perfect mentality to bring to Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. His ability to balance comedy and exciting action with deeply emotional stories seems like a perfect fit for Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.

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Should Taika Waititi become involved in Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles it would not be the first animated Netflix project that seems to be interested in Waititi’s touch. In 2020 it was announced that Taika Waititi is attached to executive produce, direct, and write two animated series based on Charlie And The Chocolate Factory one being an original take on the Oompa Loompas.

SAMURAI RABBIT: THE USAGI CHRONICLES OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

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The series takes place in the far future, set in a world that mixes modern high-tech images with classic Japanese references. It follows the teenage Rabbit Samurai Yuichi, descendent of the great warrior Miyamoto Usagi, on his epic quest to become a true samurai. But he isn’t alone! He leads a ragtag team of misfit heroes – including a roguish bounty hunter, a cunning ninja, an acrobatic pickpocket and a faithful pet lizard – as he battles depth-charging moles, metal-tipped winged bats, and monsters from another dimension, all in the pursuit to become the best samurai Usagi!

Interestingly Yuichi’s companions Gen (Aleks Le) a rhinoceros bounty hunter, Kitsune (Shelby Rabara) a fox street performer and thief, and Chizu (Mallory Low) a cat ninja are all based on characters from the comics. It will be interesting to see if these are modernized versions of their comic book counterparts or descendants of the original characters with the same names.

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If they are descendants in the same way that Yuichi Usagi is, they will have followed in their own ancestors footsteps much like the young rabbit is attempting to. And although this isn’t a direct adaptation fans of the original comics needn’t worry, during the 2021 Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles Comic Con @Home panel, Sakai assured fans that the original Usagi will be appearing in the new animated series but teased an exciting twist for fans to be on the lookout for.

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Are you looking forward to Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles? Are you a fan of the Usagi Yojimbo comics? Do you want Taika Waititi to direct any of the animated series? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more.

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Caitlin Tyrrell

Caitlin Tyrrell

Features Manager & Producer with The Illuminerdi. Caitlin has a deep love for storytelling of every kind. She is a huge fan of television, animation, and film, but Star Wars, the MCU, and Critical Role hold a special place in her heart.