Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo: Plot and Cast

This film will follow with utmost accuracy to the early issues of Sakai’s creation (the film will also either use very bleak colors or none at all, taking influence from the black-n’-white comics). Miyamoto Usagi was once a yojimbo (bodyguard) to his lord, Mifune. However, after a devastating battle, Mifune was killed and Usagi was left to wander the lands a ronin (a Samurai with no master). Upon encountering Tomoe Ame (the only surviving protector of the young Lord Noriyuki), Usagi finds purpose in helping the woman in her mission. This film will have to combine certain stories from various issues to make a complete two-hour movie. Thus, the film will include the character Murakami Gennosuke, a bounty hunter that has crossed paths with Usagi in the past; Gen (for short) is by no means fair and does what he can to cheat his own partners. The film will set up Gen’s character mirroring his second appearance in the original comic book (meaning that the story between Usagi and Gen from his first appearance in the comic book would have taken place before the film’s story). The film will be live action (albeit using motion capture and CGI), which would be interesting to see considering that all of the characters are anthropomorphic animals. In the end, one has to realize that the original comics never necessarily set up continuity to all of its stories (such as the stories involving Gen or other stories that simply involved the character and had no chronological involvement in his continuity). Therefore, the stories can be mixed up and put into a chronological order that satisfies a movie-going audience and, at the same time, the fans.

Cast:

Miyamoto Usagi (Voice) - Johnny Depp