Back in September last year, we caught wind of Capcom and Netflix partnering up to bring the world of Onimusha: Warlords to a modern audience via an anime series, and now, the first-ever trailer has arrived packing the iconic Oni Gauntlet.
The hero in question is Miyamoto Musashi, who will be leading the fight against both humans and the demonic Genma who are threatening the peace. For those who have a liking for old, Japanese works, Musashi will be a familiar face, as he is modelled after the likeness of Toshiro Mifune, who passed in 1997.
The Onimusha anime on Netflix will follow the hero’s journey on a covert mission to deliver the Oni Gauntlet under a 33-day deadline, but it is not an easy one considering that the land is plunged into chaos as poverty reigns. There is also the impending threat of the demonic Genma, and a human antagonist hoping to exterminate all remaining samurai in Japan. Musashi will also meet a young girl along the way, with her safety being of paramount importance to the legendary swordsman and strategist.
While the details are light and the action heavy in this trailer, what is undeniable is how amazing the art and visuals look, especially with the hand-drawn backgrounds coupled with 3D CGI of the characters.
Depending on how things pan out, we might be able to see more of Musashi on other adventures. After all, the original video game series began in 2001 with Onimusha: Warlords, which was then followed up by three more mainline entries and other spinoffs. The decade-long dormancy of the franchise may just see more life if more interest is piqued following the anime adaptation.
Helmed by chief director Takashi Miike and director Shinya Sugai, with the help of animation Studio, Sublimation, the Netflix adaptation of Onimusha will start streaming this 2 November.