Typically, we don’t feature many anime films on this site. Why? Well, speaking for myself, at least, I’m not someone that has dove deep into the genre outside of the massive crossover hit films and series. But when you have a new anime series coming to Netflix, such as “Yasuke,” with a star like Lakeith Stanfield attached, you definitely have my attention.
As seen in the trailer for “Yasuke,” Stanfield provides the voice for the title character, a servant that is being trained as a samurai in feudal Japan. Well, this isn’t your typical feudal Japan as you might have read in your history books. No, in this reality, there is also plenty of mechs and magic because why not?
Joining Stanfield in the cast are Takehiro Hira, Maya Tanida, Ming-Na Wen, Paul Nakauchi, Darren Criss, Julie Marcus, William Christopher Stephens, Dia Frampton, Don Donahue, Amy Hill, and Noshi Dalal. The series comes from LeSean Thomas, who is probably best known for his Netflix series, “Cannon Busters.” He has previously worked on series such as “The Legend of Korra,” “Black Dynamite,” and “The Boondocks.”
Anime fans will be happy to know that the animation for “Yasuke” is being handled by MAPPA, the studio behind “Attack on Titan: The Final Season” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.” And music fans might be interested to know that Flying Lotus handles the music in the series.
“Yasuke” debuts on Netflix on April 29. You can watch the new trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
The tale is set in a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.