Netflix has revealed the release date of its next
Yasuke, an anime based on the African samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga. Netflix has also released some first glance photos from the series.
revealed he was working on a Yasuke anime in 2018 and now, almost three years later, the series has a release date of April 29, 2021. The six-episode series will center around Yasuke, the greatest ronin ever known, in war-torn feudal Japan. and filled with mechs, magic, and more, trying to live his final days in peace, according to
Netflix. Yasuke’s peaceful days do not last, however, as he is forced to take up the sword again.
“[When] a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take his sword and carry a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords, “Netflix’s
blog post The series is produced and directed by LeSean Thomas (
Cannon Busters) and led by MAPPA (
Attack on Titan: The Final Season,
Jujutsu kaisen). The character designs for the anime come from director and animator, Takeshi Koike (
Lupine the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine) and Yasuke will be voiced by LaKeith Stanfield (
sorry to disturb you,
Judas and the black Messiah). Grammy-nominated artist Flying Lotus is the originator of the music for the series.
“There is a fortuitous nature about this project, how an African American man goes to Japan to live and work among the best of Japanese anime to create an anime about an African who goes to Japan to live among the Japanese elite and become a warrior, ”Thomas says in the Netflix blog post. “A part of me deep inside feels like I had to create this series of adventures with MAPPA, Flying Lotus, LaKeith and the rest of this talented team.”
Thomas said he remembered reading the children’s book, Kuro-suke by Kurusu Yoshio, and the excitement he felt when he learned that Yasuke was not just a fictional character, but a real person. .
“I am delighted that longtime fans and newcomers alike are enjoying our reimagined take on this historic figure,” he continued.
Yasuke from Netflix, Photo credit: Netflix
While waiting for Yasuke to release on April 29, check out IGN’s thoughts on Yasuke director’s previous Netflix project in our Cannon Busters live review then read our list of the top 25 best animated series of all time. Check out this story on the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners after.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance writer and guide for the IGN. You can follow it on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
