![]() Fans, and even the producers themselves, weren’t sold on the idea from the get-go but eventually, Batman Beyond overcame the odds and became a rich addition to the Batman mythology. It’s an approach not dissimilar to what Bruce Timm and company took with Batman Beyond when tasked by the network to create a new teenage Batman show in order to appeal to a younger demographic. While I’m sure most fans would have likely preferred a direct adaptation that is already ripe for the animation medium, Sakai not only approved this specific take pitched by Gaumont Animation but was very involved in every step of the process. Usagi Chronicles is a bit of a misnomer as this isn’t a straight adaptation of Sakai’s original comics but rather an original storyline that follows Usagi’s descendant in the far future of Neo Edo in a mix of sci-fi tech, magic, and classic Japanese culture. Let’s address the elephant (or your animal of choice) right off the bat. Though previously a guest star, this time around audiences will truly be able to dive into Sakai’s world albeit with a slight caveat. ![]() Given Sakai’s affiliation with the TMNT franchise, any comparisons to the terrapin warriors are completely understandable (as you’ll discover throughout this review). Obviously, this isn’t the anthropomorphic samurai rabbit’s first venture into the animation medium and I think it’s fair to assume that the majority of people (myself included) were likely first introduced to Miyamoto Usagi, through his guest appearances in the various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, including the recent 2012 CG-animated series from Nickelodeon. After nearly four decades in print across multiple publishers, comic creator Stan Sakai’s beloved Usagi Yojimbo series has finally received its own long overdue animated series with Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.
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