The anime comes from Studio MAPPA, the makers of Attack on Titan Season 5, and Jujutsu Kaisen currently streaming on Netflix. Creator LeSean Thomas tells EW he hopes his show will be a "gateway" for viewers into anime. I want to check that out. He was working on Cannon Busters, another anime he developed for Netflix, in 2017 when the streamer asked if he had other ideas. In addition to voicing the titular ronin, Stanfield also serves as executive producer alongside LeSean Thomas. On an aesthetic level, Yasuke looks the part of an anime sci-fi epic, with Mappa rendering the show in luminous colors and 3-D animation you can … Yasuke is set in war-torn feudal Japan. He found images online from a Japanese children's book and found it interesting that "a Japanese artist was doing stories focused on samurai who were not only foreigners, but Black foreigners.". And yet, given the figure's significance, anime creator LeSean Thomas is surprised there hasn't been any "full-fledged mainstream media storytelling" of the warrior. (Before his death in August 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman was set to play Yasuke in a historical biopic.) "I am not a Japanese person. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. EW can confirm additional members of the creative team, which includes chief animation director Satoshi Iwataki, chief technical director Takeru Sato, sub-character designer Kenichi Shima, world art and art setting designer Minoru Nishida, art director Junichi Higashi, color setting designer Azusa Sasaki, 3D CGI director Yuki Nomoto, cinematographer Park Hyo-gyu, and editor Mutsumi Takemiya. One of them, a young girl, was Ellison's creation. ‘Yasuke’ Trailer: LaKeith Stanfield Rises Up in Netflix Anime Series The blood is flowing and a leader rises in the first trailer for the Netflix anime series. Thomas instead saw this connection as "an opportunity" to entertain people. Check out the gory, blood-soaked trailer for Netflix’s new anime show, Yasuke… Yasuke—a Netflix original anime that has LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters) directing and Takeshi Koike (Redline) handling character designs at anime studio MAPPA—revealed its April 29 premiere plans early last month. Thomas recognizes the obvious parallels between Yasuke and his own story. Thomas didn't seriously consider creating a show around Yasuke until he became more confident pitching series years later. Netflix's Yasuke Anime From Jujutsu Kaisen Studio Gets First Trailer, Arrives Later This Month. Yasuke, an original Netflix anime series produced by Mappa, has released a teaser trailer! The creator relocated from New York City's South Bronx first to South Korea in 2009 and then later to Japan as one of the few Black creatives working in the country's anime industry. The series is one of many planned anime shows Netflix recently revealed at Tokyo’s AnimeJapan 2021 Expo. Character designs for Yasuke were created by director and animator Takeshi Koike. Record producer Flying Lotus crafted the music for Yasuke and also helped shape the story with Thomas and Stanfield. My excitement for the anime series Yasuke is well documented, all that was left to send it into the galaxy was a trailer. WWE has announced that they have sold an anime series to Crunchyroll. LaKeith Stanfield is set to voice history’s first African samurai in “Yasuke,” Netflix’s upcoming anime series. '", Thomas came across the story of Yasuke about a decade ago. Netflix’s upcoming anime Yasuke tells the story of an African samurai in an alternate-world version of feudal Japan with magic and mechs. Yasuke … Steven Ellison), who were aboard the project early on, were fundamental in bringing those elements into the story. Upcoming Netflix anime series Yasuke has revealed the cast for the Japanese language track along with a Japanese-language trailer! Revisit Pitchfork’s Family Matters interview “Flying Lotus and His Grandmother Talk Being in a Family Bound by Music.”, © 2021 Condé Nast. Told across six episodes, the alternate-reality series, designed by animation studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan: The Final Season), follows the greatest ronin ever known as he struggles to maintain a peaceful life as a boatman to a local village after surviving a past marked by violence and death. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Kristen Lopez Netflix has shared the first trailer for its upcoming original anime show Yasuke.The series was created and directed by LeSean Thomas and Studio MAPPA and … Lakeith Stanfield to play first African samurai in Netflix's. Netflix has revealed the release date for its upcoming Yasuke, an anime based on the African samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga.Netflix also released some first-look photos of … LaKeith Stanfield becomes Yasuke, the first African samurai, in debut trailer for Netflix anime series 4/2/2021 How the Supreme Court got called into a teens' spat by two pearl-clutching cheer coaches Stanfield and Flying Lotus (a.k.a. LaKeith Stanfield-led Yasuke anime reveals new voice cast, supernatural theatrics in full trailer Ming-Na Wen, Darren Criss, and more join the Netflix series' voice cast. POKÉMON JOURNEYS: THE SERIES Drops New Trailer Showcasing Ash's Reunion With Snorlax, Charizard, And More All rights reserved. "I didn't want to do what everyone else was going to do, which was most likely a hardcore biopic," he adds. The story of real-life African samurai Yasuke stars Lakeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah) in the title role, and you can see more footage in a new preview below. In order to hype up viewers for the debut of their new anime series, Yasuke, Netflix released a new trailer, key art, as well as confirm additional voice cast members for the anime… The new Yasuke trailer, which arrived April 27, expands on the teaser released earlier this month and previews even more of Flying Lotus’ electronic score for the series. Check out the official trailer right here: © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. The first trailer for Netflix’s samurai anime, ’Yasuke,’ previews star Lakeith Stanfield along with a score from Flying Lotus. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Stanfield and Ellison then introduced a supernatural take on the material, which involves a Japan populated by mechs and magic. Netflix released the first trailer for Yasuke, an upcoming anime series based on the legend of the first Black samurai, starring LaKeith Stanfield and with a soundtrack from Flying Lotus. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming anime. Every RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 runway look, ranked, Spread the love with EW's Valentine's Day gift guide, The Masked Dancer revealed: Every unmasked celebrity on season 1. By Nick Romano Check out the teaser below. Flying Lotus. "These are projects that have a combination of ingredients that you wouldn't normally get from the Japanese industry because of the history, the regional differences, and our cultural approaches. "I didn't want to be trapped by the elements of history, so to speak, and I wanted to add a sense of fantasy, a sense of romanticism to it, much like the Japanese do with their historical figures.". Netflix has released the first full trailer and new key art for Yasuke, the new anime based on the black Samurai, ahead of its launch later this week! It arrives on April 29. "I pitched three and Yasuke was one of them," he says. Yasuke trailer If the synopsis wasn’t enough to convince you to watch this upcoming anime, then the trailer will definitely get you excited for Thursday. Yasuke is produced by a Japanese animation studio MAPPA, which has produced many popular anime series like Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen, Inuyashaki, and more.LeSean Thomas is credited as the creator, director, and executive producer of the series.The series features design from the world-class director and animator Takeshi Koike, with music by Grammy award … Yasuke, the world's first African samurai, had to fight for his place in history. In Yasuke’s first full-length trailer, Judas and the Black Messiah’s LaKeith Stanfield voices the warrior in a brand-new Netflix anime from creator LeSean Thomas. Netflix has just added another entry in its ever-expanding slate of ambitious anime projects, releasing a trailer today for Yasuke, the (semi-) historical tale of an African man who became a prominent warrior in feudal Japan. That's what he likes to do. He isn't close to being comfortable putting his own story into his work just yet. Thomas isn't even sure he wants to mention the characters' names at the risk of spoiling his own show, but he says the actor "wanted two major characters" that introduced that fantastical element. Yasuke is forced to pick up his sword once more when he's tasked with transporting a mysterious child who has become the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. The six-episode series features voice acting by LaKeith Stanfield and hits Netflix on April 29. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The records of his time traversing 16th century Japan and serving under daimyō Nobunaga Oda are still sparse and filled with gaps. Netflix has shared the first trailer for its upcoming original anime show Yasuke. Before the basic details, let’s answer a crucial question regarding this anime: Who was Yasuke? I am not an expert on Japanese culture, but I do know the craft of television animation and am able to navigate the waters between the West and Japan, and understanding what makes both of those exciting.". The series was created and directed by LeSean Thomas and Studio MAPPA and stars Lakeith Stanfield, with an original score by Flying Lotus. EW can exclusively reveal the first trailer for Yasuke, Thomas' new anime series for Netflix that features Judas and the Black Messiah Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield as the voice of the title sword-bearer. There are people who I'm pretty sure will say something like, 'Well, I'm not really into anime but, man, it has LaKeith,' or, 'Wow! Watch the Official Trailer for Netflix's 'Yasuke' Black Samurai Anime: Starring LaKeith Stanfield with music by Flying Lotus. That's where we find Yasuke at the start of this series, attempting to live a more humble life in a remote village in Japan. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. The upcoming anime will be named “Yasuke.” The release date, trailer, and other details of Yasuke have come to light. Pitchfork may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. It made it more fun.". The gory, awesome first trailer for Netflix anime Yasuke is here. The blood-filled trailer of the anime introduces the titular Yasuke, a legendary Black samurai voiced by Judas and the Black Messiah star Lakeith Stanfield. "I don't know if there's anyone else who could actually say that as a TV animation show creator, but I wouldn't say it was an intensely personal experience. Welp. LaKeith Stanfield becomes Yasuke, the first African samurai, in debut trailer for Netflix anime series this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Ad Choices, Flying Lotus–Scored Netflix Anime Series Yasuke Gets First Trailer: Watch, The new show stars Lakeith Stanfield and arrives later this month, A daily roundup of the most important stories in music, Flying Lotus and His Grandmother Talk Being in a Family Bound by Music. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. English Dub Anime News: Funimation/ Tokyo Ghoul OVA’s ; Netflix “Yasuke” Trailer Debuts ; Crunchyroll Orders WWE Anime April 27, 2021 April 27, 2021 John Schwarz 0 Comments Tokyo Ghoul, Yasuke . "I'm a Black man who moved to Japan to work with the Japanese making an anime about a Black man who moved to Japan to live with the Japanese and become a warrior. He's about to change that now, albeit with a supernatural twist. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Thomas has previously created The Boondocks, Black Dynamite, and Cannon Busters—all of which explore the intersection between anime and Black culture. Castlevania Season 4 Trailer Kenny Omega Wins Impact World Title ... anyways today's recommendation is ''YASUKE'' an original Netflix anime about, the first black samurai. Thomas had "a more basic approach" in mind when Stanfield introduced the concepts of "trauma and mental health, the idea of psychological trauma from your past and how to overcome things that have stopped you from moving forward." That's kind of cool," he says. 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