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[AfricanKing]

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.

Yasuke | Rotten Tomatoes

In feudal Japan, a samurai warrior of African descent must return to his life of sword and violence in order to protect a mysterious girl from dark forces.

www.rottentomatoes.com

Reviews :


Rogerebert - https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/netflixs-yasuke-is-a-bloody-history-trip

In 1579, a Black slave arrived in Japan with an Italian Jesuit missionary. Awestruck by his black skin, daimyō Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese feudal lord, acquired him as a servant under the belief ink covered his body. The two formed a quick bond, and Nobunaga bestowed the name “Yasuke” to him. Yasuke rose from servant to nobleman to samurai. Through a series of gruesome campaigns, which witnessed untold slaughter, Nobunaga worked to unite Japan. The 6’ 2” Yasuke accompanied Nobunaga on his travels, but following the feudal lord’s suicide, a death precipitated by a coup, Yasuke disappeared from the history books.

New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/arts/television/yasuke-review-netflix.html

A partial list of the marvels in Netflix’s samurai anime series “Yasuke” includes sorcerers, a shape-shifting woman-bear, astral-plane duels and giant robots in feudal-era Japan. But the novelty that its characters are most surprised to encounter is a Black man who speaks Japanese.

Yasuke (Lakeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”) is a real-life figure, an African who in the 1500s served under the shogun Nobunaga Oda (Takehiro Hira), who came close to unifying Japan under his rule. (On their first meeting, Nobunaga assumes that the hue of the man’s skin must be inked on.)

“Yasuke,” whose six-episode first season arrives Thursday, is loosely based in its title character’s history. (Very loosely based; I refer you again to the giant robots.) But if you are expecting a sober historical drama, this artful genre mash-up from LeSean Thomas (“Cannon Busters”) offers both less than that and an eye-popping amount more.
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Netflix Link

 

[EviLore]

Animation looks a little rough on the framerate, but otherwise not bad. Flying Lotus soundtrack is a nice plus.

I've read a bit of the Yasuke story before. Wikipedia has an extensive background:

Yasuke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

More historical drama would've been cool on this one instead of magic and mechs, but it's anime so yeah.

 

[AfricanKing]

Animation looks a little rough on the framerate, but otherwise not bad. Flying Lotus soundtrack is a nice plus.

I've read a bit of the Yasuke story before. Wikipedia has an extensive background:

Yasuke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

More historical drama would've been cool on this one instead of magic and mechs, but it's anime so yeah.

Yeah I was hoping for a Vinland Saga type show with less magic and fantasy but it seems good so far.

 

[AJUMP23]

Some real history and then fantasy I may have been sold. I would probably have preferred just a total real history anime.

 

[Fbh]

Would have preferred if it was more grounded in reality and told a story based on the actual historical records of him serving under Nobunaga.
But the trailer makes it look like the show actually starts with Nobunaga dying and its all just going to be some made up fantasy show.

I'll give it a chance but seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity given the concept

 

[TaylorSwiftFan]

I expect this to be as good as a Netflix anime can be. That is not very.

 

[showernota]

Is there a Netflix anime that doesn't have mumbly muddled VOs?

I think Castlevania was when it started. Everyone sounds like they're speaking while exhaling a suppressed burp.

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

Is there a Netflix anime that doesn't have mumbly muddled VOs?

I think Castlevania was when it started. Everyone sounds like they're speaking while exhaling a suppressed burp.

I think this is a voice direction problem. I know for sure that Lakeith is capable of way more and better from his past work, but he must have been directed to voice act in this half-asleep manner.

 

[SF Kosmo]

I would have dug this if it was more grounded. I get you need to fictionalize and dramatize to fill in the gaps but giant robots and magic powers feel at odds with the historical bits and the Yasuke character.

Plus there's so much good drama to be mined from the real history, not just Yasuke's life but the rise of Nobunaga and fallout of his death. That would have been so much more interesting

 

[DeafTourette]

Why did i not know about this until tonight?! I will be watching this this Weekend!

 

[Dynomite]

Why did i not know about this until tonight?! I will be watching this this Weekend!

It's bad. It is nothing like you probably think. Such wasted potential.

 

[DeafTourette]

It's bad. It is nothing like you probably think. Such wasted potential.

Man! *Sigh* i hope they do the live action version Chadwick was supposed to be in ... Just film it with Someone like Michael B Jordan or maybe Chiwetel Ejiofor.

 

[Dynomite]

Man! *Sigh* i hope they do the live action version Chadwick was supposed to be in ... Just film it with Someone like Michael B Jordan or maybe Chiwetel Ejiofor.

It would totally work if they stick to one far out aspect like supernatural, or magic girl. But they cant toss everything together like the anime.