Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles[1] is an animated television series developed by Candie and Doug Langdale.[2] The show is loosely based on the Usagi Yojimbo comic books by Stan Sakai. Unlike its source material where the comics takes place in the past, the show takes place in the future and Miyamoto Usagi is not the lead protagonist, the character instead appearing in a minor role, with Yuki Matsuzaki reprising his role from the 2012 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
| Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles | |
|---|---|
 Season 1 promotional poster, featuring the lead protagonist: Yuichi Usagi | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai |
| Developed by |
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| Voices of |
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| Composer | Aiko Fukushima |
| Country of origin | United States France |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 24–26 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | April 28 – September 1, 2022 |
| Related | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | |
It was produced for Netflix Animation and Atomic Monster by Dark Horse Entertainment and Gaumont Animation, and premiered on Netflix on April 28, 2022.[3] The second and final season was released on September 1, 2022.[4][5]
Synopsis
editSamurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles takes place in Neo Edo and centers on rabbit teenager Yuichi, who is the descendant of Miyamoto Usagi, and his group of eccentric companions (Gen, Kitsune and Chizu) while defending Neo Edo from invading forces of the city from the menace of Kagehito and the Yokai.
Voice cast
editMain
edit- Darren Barnet as Yuichi Usagi[6] and Spot
- Aleks Le as Gen[6]
- Shelby Rabara as Kitsune[6]
- Mallory Low as Chizu[6]
Villains
edit- Eric Bauza as Kagehito, Admiral Nochi, Sakuran, Chikabuma, O-Dokuro
- Mela Lee as Lady Fuwa
- SungWon Cho as Lord Kogane
- Keone Young as Hakai
- Mela Lee as Warbotto
- Sumalee Montano as Karasu-Tengu
- Tsuchigumo a Spider Yokai
Supporting
edit- Aleks Le as Mogura, Newsbotto, Keisatsukan 3, Bat 2
- Shelby Rabara as Mayumi, Person 4, and Kiyoko
- Mallory Low as Jihanki, Shiba Inu 1, 2 & 3
- SungWon Cho as Warimashi, Shiba Inu 2, Bat One and Head Keisatsukan
- Eric Bauza as Mechabuma, Street Tough 2, and Yabushito
- Mela Lee as Kaiyo, Toshiko, Fumiko, Hana, Kana, Supreme Commander, and Sawaguchi
- Keone Young as Tetsujin,[7] Hakai, Bat 1, Person 2, and Keisatsu
- Sumalee Montano as Karasu-Tengu[7] and Person 3
Minor
edit- Sumalee Montano as Auntie and Mochi-Loving Ninja
- Eric Bauza as Hat Yokai and Stool-Yokai
- Stephanie Sheh as Snarky Ninja Kid and Spunky Ninja Kid
- Yuki Matsuzaki as Miyamoto Usagi[8]
Episodes
editSeries overview
editSeason 1 (2022)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Big City" | Derek Lee Thompson | Candie Kelty Langdale & Doug Langdale | April 28, 2022 |
| 2 | 2 | "Yokai" | Alfred Gimeno | Candie Kelty Langdale & Doug Langdale | April 28, 2022 |
| 3 | 3 | "Possessions" | Derek Lee Thompson | Candie Kelty Langdale & Doug Langdale | April 28, 2022 |
| 4 | 4 | "Run Rabbit Run" | Alfred Gimeno | Charlotte Wilson Langley | April 28, 2022 |
| 5 | 5 | "Common Sensei" | Derek Lee Thompson | Gene Grillo | April 28, 2022 |
| 6 | 6 | "Nobody Likes A Ninja" | Alfred Gimeno | Matt Wayne | April 28, 2022 |
| 7 | 7 | "Belly of the Beast" | Derek Lee Thompson | Jeffrey Reddick | April 28, 2022 |
| 8 | 8 | "Go" | Alfred Gimeno | Candie Kelty Langdale & Doug Langdale | April 28, 2022 |
| 9 | 9 | "Kagehito Unleashed" | Derek Lee Thompson | Gene Grillo | April 28, 2022 |
| 10 | 10 | "Soul Oath" | Alfred Gimeno | Charlotte Wilson Langley | April 28, 2022 |
Season 2 (2022)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Runaway Training" | Derek Lee Thompson | Candie Kelty Langdale & Doug Langdale | September 1, 2022 |
| 12 | 2 | "Game Dogs" | Alfred Gimeno | Chris Barger | September 1, 2022 |
| 13 | 3 | "The Fuzzy Pony" | Derek Lee Thompson | Matt Wayne | September 1, 2022 |
| 14 | 4 | "Adventures in Ninjasitting" | Alfred Gimeno | Jeffrey Reddick | September 1, 2022 |
| 15 | 5 | "Interdimensionals" | Derek Lee Thompson | Gene Grillo | September 1, 2022 |
| 16 | 6 | "Warbotto" | Alfred Gimeno | Charlotte Wilson Langley | September 1, 2022 |
| 17 | 7 | "Willow Branch" | Derek Lee Thompson | Atsuko Tsuji | September 1, 2022 |
| 18 | 8 | "The Chizu Stands Alone" | Alfred Gimeno | Matt Wayne | September 1, 2022 |
| 19 | 9 | "Eggs!" | Derek Lee Thompson | Chris Barger | September 1, 2022 |
| 20 | 10 | "Invasion!" | Alfred Gimeno | Jeffrey Reddick | September 1, 2022 |
Production
editThe series was first announced in February 2018 that a CGI adaptation of the comics is in the works from Gaumont Animation.[9] In mid-July 2020, Gaumont stated that the adaptation will be a series on Netflix under the title Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles,[10] in partnership with Netflix Animation.[1] Production companies Atomic Monster and Dark Horse Entertainment are also involved with the series, with Mumbai-based studio 88 Pictures handling the CGI animation. Khang Le serves as art director.
Doug and Candie Langdale serve as show-runners as well as executive producers.[2] At the virtual Comic-Con@Home event in July 2021, the show's main voice cast was revealed with Darren Barnet in the lead role of Yuichi Usagi.[6] In April 2022, Yuki Matsuzaki announced that he would be reprising his role as Miyamoto Usagi, after previously voicing the character in the 2012 iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series.[8]
Release
editSamurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles was released on April 28, 2022 on Netflix. A trailer was released on April 1.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Comic legend Stan Sakai and 'Usagi Yojimbo' embark on a new adventure with Netflix in an all-new animated kids series 'Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles'". Netflix Media Center (Press release). July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Pederson, Erik (July 15, 2020). "'Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles': Netflix Sets Toon Series Based On Stan Sakai's Comic Books". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ Dar, Taimur (March 23, 2022). "SAMURAI RABBIT: THE USAGI CHRONICLES animated series release details announced". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ "Kids and Family Summer Slate Highlights 2022" (Press release). Netflix. June 30, 2022. p. 3. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles". Netflix. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Shaunette, Morgan (July 24, 2021). "Netflix Debuts First Look at Usagi Yojimbo Series, Samurai Rabbit". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Harris, Jeff (April 8, 2022). "Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo Embarks on New Adventure with Netflix Series 'Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles'". The Illuminerdi. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Matsuzaki, Yuki [@Yuki_Mats] (April 1, 2022). "I am humbled and honored to announce that I will be reprising the role of Miyamoto Usagi in the new Netflix series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. I really can't wait!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "'Usagi Yojimbo' Optioned For Animated TV Series". ComicBook.com. February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (July 15, 2020). "Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo Embarks on New Adventure with Netflix Series 'Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ Egan, Toussaint (April 5, 2022). "Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles slashes its way to Netflix in April". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
