3.5/5
The First Samurai.
6 Episodes. Starring LaKeith Stanfield, Jun Soejima, Takehiro Hira, Maya Tanida, Kiko Tamura, Gwendoline Yeo, Rie Tanaka, Paul Nakauchi, Yu Kamio, Dia Frampton, Eri Kitamura, Darren Criss, Shunsuke Kubozuka, Fusako Urabe & Ming-Na Wen. Creator: LeSean Thomas.
Time for a black history lesson. 'Yasuke' is real. Late, great 'Black Panther' icon and biopic artist Chadwick Boseman ('42', 'Get On Up', 'Marshall') was meant to portray him in a feature length movie (now wouldn't that have been something). But now 'Atlanta', 'Get Out' and fellow Oscar nominated actor of 'Judas and the Black Messiah', LaKeith Stanfield voices the first black Samurai in Netflix's new six part anime series, streaming as we speak. Executive producing this passion project that takes him from the ATL to the Far East of Japan, this awesome animation is lovingly rendered in traditional texture like a Hokusai woodblock print. Whilst Grammy nominated musician Flying Lotus provides the self-titled soundtrack that scores with a 'Black Gold' royalty terrific theme from the titan Thundercat. 1579, Yasuke entered Japan in the service of Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit missionary. But that wasn't to be this man's fate. Yasuke after serving as a retainer under one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period in Japan (the daimyo and "great unifier" Oda Nobunaga) became one of the first noted samurais of African origin. And the rest really is history. Nobunaga took an interest in Yasuke after he thought he used ink to dye his skin black. He forced him to strip and scrub himself until he realised Yasuke was in fact black. After the indignity of this humiliating injustice the daimyo became a friend to this samurai to be, praising his strength and loyalty as the two made their way to Kyoto. 'The True Story of a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan' has been told by many like Geoffrey Girard and Thomas Lockley's 'African Samurai' book. Or Yoshio Kurusu's 1968 children's book, 'Kurosuke'. As well as scores of manga and period dramas. Well now animation meets TV series' in season with this acclaimed to be anime. Like the classic 'Afro Samurai' anime that was said to have been based on this legendary figure. But with the iconic 'Yasuke' on Netflix, this is as real as it gets for the original black superhero before Wakanda, before Shaft.
Well as real as it can get when this anime fantasy meets period piece features a talking android...although with quotes like "teamwork makes the dream a slightly greater statistical probability" this Haruto prototype is even more hilarious than TARS off 'Interstellar'. But the all too real racism is all too raw and an unnecessary, but still somewhat needed for some reminder to how similar its shades and reflections are in today's world watching this traditional one. Throughout the first episode Yasuke is referred to as "black boatsman" like alliteration can cover up all their ignorance (it could never). Yasuke was once called Eusebio Ibrahimo Baloi, but that was when he was a slave. He's a free man now. Given a voice by LaKeith Stanfield (Jun Soejima in the Japanese translation), who deserves more than a thoughtless, "thinking man's stoner" tag for his much more nuanced role hiding in plain sight in Donald Glover's 'Atlanta'. Just like the landmark show and best thing on television is much more than a comedy. All you have to do is see the 'Sorry To Bother You' icon who also starred in Netflix's live-action 'Death Note' anime adaptation in a 'Get Out' camera flash to see how he can change in a shutters instant and develop a depth of excruciating emotion that would take red room reels to see from others. LaKeith is a landmark talent that stands ahead of the field and here as he takes us down the river he offers us just a glimpse of his heartbreak and pain, before that restrained reflection heads downstream. Upriver, mercs with mouths, torture only just worse than hearing them talk and a malady of memories await. It sounds like this man and his new ward need to make an appointment with the doctor. And it's this penultimate prescription that is worth checking in for as a second season of this show is just what Netflix should order.
Harnessing all its fantastical, collective power, 'Yasuke' is more than just one man. Even if bucking the dictations of tradition he changed the world, or at least this land of the rising son. Theatrical, television and film actor Takehiro Hira is perfect in this as the figure of history and pivotol one here, Oda Nobunaga. Playing this warlord feels like Providence for the man who attended that high-school in Rhode Island like a Friar. Bridging the gap between the Japanese and original English language of this subtitled series. Whilst Maya Tanida and Kiki Tamura offer an inspired innocence and then coming of age held stage as Saki, the adopted daughter and catalyst of this combusting plot. Gwendoline Yeo and and Rie Tanaka give more than a voice to a beautiful singer that provides the bridge. Whilst Paul Nakauchi and Yu Kamio fill out the role of the good doctor with a clean bill of casting credits. It's Dia Frampton and Rie Kitamura though who really are a cut above the rest as a schyte wielding assassin, who knives out wants Yasuke to meet his maker with death waiting in the wings. Want me to lighten up? Even 'Glee'...and erm 'The Assassination Of Gianni Versace', Netflix miniseries 'Hollywood' star Darren Criss is on hand on this spectacle (with Japan's very own, Shunsuke Kubozuka) as that scene stealing scrap of metal. This quite possibly, may just be the BEST thing Criss has done and he was EVERYTHING (aside from Ricky Martin) about the Versace 'American Crime Story'. But it's 'Mulan', 'ER', 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D', 'The Mandalorian' and soon to be 'The Book Of Boba Fett' cult icon Ming-Na Wen and Fusako Urabe who are the soul of this story in forlorn flashback as Natsumaru. Tell me she isn't a legend...any of them. Just wait until we get deeper into the heart of this 16th century samurai story and the warriors way as you come out to play. Director, producer, animator and comic-book artist LaSean Thomas ('Black Dynamite' setting the fuse) based in Meguro, Tokyo (come say hello) has given us something to behold. Now we can't wait for the manga. Black power like this matters and means so much more than history. It's legacy. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Afro Samurai', 'The Last Samurai', '47 Ronin'.
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