Netflix reveals first look at new African samurai anime from MAPPA

Source: Polygon

Yasuke is the newest anime coming to Netflix, and on Monday, the streaming service released the first few images from the show. Along with a few teaser images and a preview of the story, Netlfix also revealed that the anime will have six episodes and is set to release on April 29.

In the real world, Yasuke was the first African samurai warrior. While Yasuke is a real person, the story of the anime series will be set in an alternate and fantastical version of feudal Japan. The anime will follow Yasuke as he’s pulled back into his violent samurai past, in order to protect a mysterious girl from some kind of evil forces.

Helping bring this story to viewers is a star studded creative team that comes from all around the world. The show is created by LeSean Thomas (Black Dynamite, The Boondocks) and has been animated by MAPPA, a premier anime studio whose most recent work includes Jujutsu Kaisen. With the images and release date out in the world, Thomas took a second to reflect on the show in a statement.

There is a serendipitous nature about this project, how an African-American man goes to Japan to live and work amongst the very best in Japanese anime to create an anime about an African who goes to Japan to live amongst the Japanese elite and become a warrior. Part of me deep down feels I was meant to create this adventure series with MAPPA, Flying Lotus, LaKeith & the rest of this talented team.

Yasuke is a fascinating, mysterious figure in Japanese history that’s drawn a growing interest in today’s media over the decades. I first learned of Yasuke’s role in Japanese history over a decade or so. The children’s book, Kuro-suke by Kurusu Yoshio, featured images that piqued my curiosity. To eventually learn that he wasn’t just a fictional character, but a real person, was exciting material for an adventure story.

I’m so excited for both longtime fans and newcomers to enjoy our reimagined take on this historical figure.

Also working on the show is director Takeshi Koike (Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine), and LaKeith Stanfield (Get Out, Atlanta, Sorry to Bother You) who will provide the voice of Yasuke. Finally, the series’ music will be provided by musician and producer Flying Lotus.

Yasuke will debut on Netflix on April 29.

Who was the real Yasuke?

According to historical records, Yasuke was the only known Black Samurai of Japan’s feudal era. He was also acknowledged as the only known non-Japanese retainer to serve daimyō Oda Nobunaga.

His origin is wildly debated, but Yasuke first came to Japan under the service of Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Upon meeting Oda Nobunaga, the daimyō was fascinated by Yasuke’s skin and was convinced he was covered in black ink.

Yasuke would eventually come into the service of Oda Nobunaga and accompanied him on his conquest to unify Japan. His service to Nobunaga ended after the Honnō-ji incident, which resulted in the death of Nobunaga. The warrior had been present at the battle and tried in vain to stop the attackers.

He would immediately join the service of Oda Nobunaga’s son, Oda Nobutada. Yasuke was soon captured while fighting for the Nobutada forces and was presented to Akechi, the man responsible for Nobunaga’s death.

According to historical records, Yasuke was given to the Christian church in Kyoto but historians often doubt the credibility of this. After his capture, no further records or writing of Yasuke exist.

Source: What's on Netflix