Usagi Yojimbo MOVIE UPDATE

[roel]

Hi all,

I just wanted to submit this post expressing my gratitude for the constant support you've all provided with all of my Usagi Yojimbo projects. As a fan, I've always dreamed of taking on these projects and I feel extremely fortunate for having had the opportunity to bring Usagi to life - first, with the RokuToys "Usagi Yojimbo" statues; second, with the creation of the "Usagi Yojimbo - The Last Request" stop-motion short film.

With regards to the statues, I never planned to start a small toy company in order to create my own statues. I simply wanted to purchase some quality Usagi Yojimbo figurines and toys. However, I was always disappointed by the quality of the Usagi Yojimbo merchandise available in the market. Consequently, I created a maquette which I felt captured the look and feel of Usagi. After creating a final version of the first Usagi maquette, I presented it to Stan who provided me with his overwhelming approval to move forward with obtaining the license that would allow me to create a series of Usagi Yojimbo statues. It was from these beginnings that I created RokuToys as a company with the primary goal of producing a line of high quality Usagi Yojimbo statues and related collectibles.

The Usagi community provided extremely positive feedback for the Usagi Yojimbo "Series One" and "Series Two" sets of statues. As a result, I made plans to create a "Series Three" collection of statues. In addition, I spoke with Sergio Aragones to create a high-end line of "Groo the Wanderer" statues. Unfortunately, the profits from the RokuToys endeavors were, at best, slim. Proceeding with another round of manufacturing a completely new series of statues required an even more significant capital investment and RokuToys was strapped for funds and workforce resources. Without additional exposure of Usagi Yojimbo via a film or some other visual medium that would provide much-needed exposure to a broader audience, it became readily apparent that only the small community of die-hard Usagi fans would be making purchases and that obtaining the much needed financial support to fund another mass production run of statues would no longer be feasible.

As an Usagi Yojimbo fan since 1984, I'd been waiting for the creation of a captivating film. The handful of Usagi appearances on a handful of TV programs were entertaining enough. However, I never really felt that these depictions of Usagi captured the true essence of Stan's work with the comic book series.

Having worked in the film industry with luminaries such as George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis, I felt that I had the requisite experience to take a shot at obtaining the rights to make an Usagi Yojimbo movie. As an independent filmmaker, it was a daunting challenge to obtain these rights. For years I followed up with Stan's representative in these matters and I found no success. Despite the numerous rejections to my requests, I decided to move forward with a plan to create something that wold support my request to create a full-feature film.

With Stan's approval, I recruited film industry colleagues, college interns, and even family members to create and direct a proof-of-concept, stop-motion film. The decision to use the stop-motion format was primarily driven by my desire to create a film that was a tribute to my fondness for stop-motion films such as "Nightmare Before Christmas" and stop-motion programs such as the Rankin Bass Christmas specials. With a shoestring budget and the sweat equity provided by myself and ragtag crew of seasoned film veterans, helpful interns, and supportive family members, we managed to create a stop-motion film that met with Stan's approval.

After creating the proof-of-concept, stop-motion film and presenting it at San Diego Comic Con, I was able to obtain the rights to produce a full-length feature film. Within a few weeks of debuting the film, I received offers from various studios and major producers. Given that it would be difficult to find a backer/partner who shared my ideas and vision for Usagi Yojimbo, I decided to "hold out" and not accept offers from the early studios that expressed interest in making an animated film.

From a personal standpoint, I wanted to create a film that depicted Stan's stories with the grit and feel of an Akira Kurosawa film set during the feudal period of Japanese history. I am not a screenwriter by trade but I put forth my best efforts to transferring my ideas to paper and working with a handful of co-writers. Unfortunately, we ran into several setbacks due to my co-writers work and project schedules. Despite these setbacks, I plowed through numerous "writer's block" sessions and, after several months, I finally had a script that I could present to Stan.

During the Thanksgiving timeframe last year, Stan approved of the script. However, I mentioned to him that I would not be able to start anything until after the holidays. Unfortunately, my contract expired at the end of the year and it was not renewed. Despite this fact, Stan and his representative encouraged me to move forward with efforts to obtain funding for production of a full-length feature film.

Earlier this year, during the February time-frame, I found a studio that was willing to provide 100% support of my vision to create a full-length feature film. After speaking with them, another studio called to let me know that they wanted to invest up to $30 million for the project as well. I presented these offers to Stan's agent but, after numerous emails, we could not come to an agreement as he wanted to "go in a different direction."

With that said, I found it very difficult to end the pursuit with the knowledge that I had a great team lined up to help create a full-length feature film. I envisioned the fight choreography and SFX to be of the highest quality given that I had plans to bring on writers that could enhance and even re-write major portions of the preliminary script that I submitted. The full story I wanted to tell would have been a fun, action-packed CG animated film capturing the full essence of Stan's stories in the comic book series.

I spent many years trying to bring Usagi to the big screen. When I thought the opportunity to do so was within my grasp, circumstances beyond my control prevented me from moving forward. I'm saddened to see my vision not come to fruition but I want you all to know that I gave it a valiant effort. Nonetheless, it's been an interesting journey and quite an experience.

Thank you Usagi fans and especially to Stan for his support throughout the process. Good luck and I look forward to see what the future holds for Usagi.

Happy Holidays.

Roel

[jabba359]

Sorry to hear that the movie didn't pan out as you had hoped. I enjoyed your short film and would have loved to see more stop motion Usagi adventures.

Thanks for the Roku Toys statue lineup. They are awesome quality and I love the ones I managed to acquire.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavors. I wish you much success in whatever you do.

[Maka]

Dear Roel,

I love this post. Thank you for letting new and old fans into the inside baseball, behind the scenes of all your amazing work to bring Usagi statues (and don't forget the awesome T-shirt), and film to the world. You used your talents, connections, and even family to contribute to the Usagi Yojimbo universe. You have made our Stan sakai and Usagi Yojimbo fans' world bigger and brighter. What a journey of ups and downs. No doubt your relationship with stan and the fans here is stronger and you have my deepest respect and gratitude. Thank you. Happy thanksgiving to you and your love ones. Peace, maka

[maichan]

Wow, I am at a loss for words.

Thank you for all you've done for the Usagi universe. I am happy to have acquired series one of the Roku Toys statues, and will cherish them as long as I live.

It's too bad things didn't work out as hoped for in regards to the film, especially after so much effort.

I too wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and that you and your's have a Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

[Steve Hubbell]

Roel,
I have to admit to being saddened to learn of the outcome of the stop-motion animated film project, it was something that I was really looking forward to seeing. Considering the fact that I have probably watch less than a half dozen films in the theater in the past 20 years, your Usagi film would have had me in a theater seat for numerous showings of the film. And the DVD version would have been pre-ordered as soon as it became available. I really doubt that some flashy CG / video game influenced animated film will be nearly as appealing as what you were able to accomplish with the stop-motion.

If you ever decide to do more Usagi statues, whether as a full series 3 set or as limited edition single pieces, I would be more than happy to pre-order them since there are so many characters I would love to see you do....

Best wishes for your Thanksgiving!

- Steve

[Mayhem]

I'm sad to read this, but at the same time, knowing a few ins and outs of the movie world, it isn't utterly unsurprising either. Hopefully somewhere in the future, we can have an animated Usagi story true to the comics.

[roel]

I'm sad to read this, but at the same time, knowing a few ins and outs of the movie world, it isn't utterly unsurprising either. Hopefully somewhere in the future, we can have an animated Usagi story true to the comics.

Yes Mayhem, I was pretty disappointed when it didn't go through. I wanted to post this sooner when it happened but I needed to step away for a little bit and let it go. The team I assembled had worked on major blockbuster films and were ready to leave their current jobs to work with me.

My expertise is in the art department creating storyboards, concept designs and art directing but I've also choreographed fight sequences before. For this movie I wanted to bring on an expert. I've worked with Donnie Yen before and had talked to his team to come on board. Once the script was approved it took me one month to find a studio that would give me 30 million for an animated movie. A week later, another studio who has been wanting to work with me offered 30 mil as well. You would be surprised what my team and I could have done with 30 mil. It would have looked just as good if not better then things out there right now. The key was bringing on a great script writer to deliver a great story and my producer had writers in mind that would have wanted to work on the film.

It's tough, that the two years of hard work went to nothing. I guess it was just not meant to be. My producers are trying to get funding for me to direct a live action film now so hopefully that will go through. Happy Thanksgiving all.

[Eltanin]

Sorry to hear the project didn't go through. I would have loved to see an Usagi movie directed by someone obviously passionate and fan of the character.

Best wishes for your future projects.

[roel]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Usagi friends. Here's the link to the Usagi short we did a couple of years ago. Sorry that I won't e able to make this a reality.

This is not the one that Skywalker Sound did for me. If people are interested I might release it sometime and may also release the japanese version with english subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxnmeHHEGeQ

[jabba359]

This is not the one that Skywalker Sound did for me. If people are interested I might release it sometime and may also release the japanese version with enflush subtitles.

If we're interested? Of course we're interested!!!

[maichan]

This is not the one that Skywalker Sound did for me. If people are interested I might release it sometime and may also release the japanese version with enflush subtitles.

If we're interested? Of course we're interested!!!

I agree. I think we are all interested... always!

[Maka]

That was fun to watch again. "You're not much of a talker. Me neither." Ha!

I would be interest too! Always interested.

Peace, Maka