Showing posts with label Usagi Yojimbo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Usagi Yojimbo. Show all posts
4/20/14
Happy Easter from Every-Bunny at Toyriffic!
9/9/09
Then Usagi her face, now I'm a believer!
Following up on my last post, this is the original Playmates Usagi Yojimbo action figure from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, first released in 1989.
I recently acquired this guy for my collection, having previous to now only owned the more modern (and more Sakai accurate) TMNT Usagi Yojimbo.
This version of Usagi is pretty far off from Stan Sakai's art; I think he actually appeared in the old TMNT cartoon looking like this.
Still, an angry rabbit with Samurai swords is an impressive sight.
I do like the Samurai armor this Usagi Yojimbo is sporting, which looks a lot like the cover of Usagi Yojimbo Book 1. A neat custom which I'm sure someone has already done somewhere in the world would be this body with the more recent action figure's head. But it won't be done by me, I only have one of each!
On his butt it says "1989 Stan Sakai Playmates Toys" which is awesome because it gives creator credit right there on the toy! No mistaking who created this wabbit - WTG Stan!
I recently acquired this guy for my collection, having previous to now only owned the more modern (and more Sakai accurate) TMNT Usagi Yojimbo.
This version of Usagi is pretty far off from Stan Sakai's art; I think he actually appeared in the old TMNT cartoon looking like this.
Still, an angry rabbit with Samurai swords is an impressive sight.
I do like the Samurai armor this Usagi Yojimbo is sporting, which looks a lot like the cover of Usagi Yojimbo Book 1. A neat custom which I'm sure someone has already done somewhere in the world would be this body with the more recent action figure's head. But it won't be done by me, I only have one of each!
On his butt it says "1989 Stan Sakai Playmates Toys" which is awesome because it gives creator credit right there on the toy! No mistaking who created this wabbit - WTG Stan!
Wake me up, before Yojimbo
I'm decades behind the curve on this one, but thanks to the local library I am FINALLY reading Stan Sakai's original Usagi Yojimbo works, starting with Book 1:
I'm about halfway through and it's great. I love Sakai's cartoony animal character designs, his art is deceivingly simple yet complex, and the storytelling is top notch. It's a wonder and a shame that there has never been a full blown Usagi Yojimbo animated film.
Usagi Yojimbo has always been a favorite character form a design standpoint, and now I am glad to actually be adding some real story to my understanding of the rabbit bodyguard.
I'm about halfway through and it's great. I love Sakai's cartoony animal character designs, his art is deceivingly simple yet complex, and the storytelling is top notch. It's a wonder and a shame that there has never been a full blown Usagi Yojimbo animated film.
Usagi Yojimbo has always been a favorite character form a design standpoint, and now I am glad to actually be adding some real story to my understanding of the rabbit bodyguard.
12/29/08
Won't Usagi, Even in Milk!
A few years back Playmates released this Usagi Yojimbo figure as part of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line. I remember him being pretty hard to find, and I don't think I saw him on the shelves more than once or twice.
Usagi Yojimbo (which literally translates as "Rabbit Bodyguard,") is a Samurai rabbit who was created by Stan Sakai and first appeared in comic books before getting some exposure in the original and recent TMNT cartoons.
I've never read a Usagi Yojimbo comic and I don't recall seeing any of his appearances on TMNT, but there's just something irresistable about a Samurai Rabbit.
This figure is sculpted very closely to his comic book look, which is just awesome. He has such a great design and the character is a really fun concept.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your personal preferences,) Usagi Yojimbo has extremely limited articulation. He's pretty much stuck in one position due to the leg stance. You can turn his head and you can rotate his forearms, but that's about it.
He does have an "action feature" which is pretty cool - his waist turns and locks, and a button gives him a quick sword-slashing action.
WHA-CHA!
"Deny me a bowl of Trix. I dare you."
Usagi Yojimbo came with four swords, two short and two long. They can be placed in a pair of sheaths attached to his belt, but if the swords are sheathed he can't do his action twist because the hilts block his momentum. Then again if his swords are sheathed his action twist is pointless anyways.
It would have been better is Usagi Yojimbo were sculpted in a more standardized pose, but I still think this figure is tops due to the excellent likeness of the character.
Usagi Yojimbo (which literally translates as "Rabbit Bodyguard,") is a Samurai rabbit who was created by Stan Sakai and first appeared in comic books before getting some exposure in the original and recent TMNT cartoons.
I've never read a Usagi Yojimbo comic and I don't recall seeing any of his appearances on TMNT, but there's just something irresistable about a Samurai Rabbit.
This figure is sculpted very closely to his comic book look, which is just awesome. He has such a great design and the character is a really fun concept.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your personal preferences,) Usagi Yojimbo has extremely limited articulation. He's pretty much stuck in one position due to the leg stance. You can turn his head and you can rotate his forearms, but that's about it.
He does have an "action feature" which is pretty cool - his waist turns and locks, and a button gives him a quick sword-slashing action.
WHA-CHA!
"Deny me a bowl of Trix. I dare you."
Usagi Yojimbo came with four swords, two short and two long. They can be placed in a pair of sheaths attached to his belt, but if the swords are sheathed he can't do his action twist because the hilts block his momentum. Then again if his swords are sheathed his action twist is pointless anyways.
It would have been better is Usagi Yojimbo were sculpted in a more standardized pose, but I still think this figure is tops due to the excellent likeness of the character.
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