Usagi Yojimbo feeling plush

If you can name me any other sword-wielding, ronin rabbit besides Usagi Yojimbo I'll consider you a genius. I'm guessing you didn't come up with anything. Don't worry though, I won't let that affect your ability to be a genius. In any case, Dark Horse feels the need to give Usagi fans the chance to bring the rabbit home. The chance to bring the rabbit home is in the form of a fourteen inch tall plush doll based on Stan Sakai's beloved character. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of the character's creation and is something Sakai is very proud of. “I have always thought that a doll of this type would be an excellent presentation of Usagi,” Sakai remarked, “and have been happy to assist as the prototype evolved with commentary and revisions. I think he came out very well indeed.” The upcoming Usagi Yojimbo plush toy hits Diamond’s Previews this month, with an on-sale date of May 2010. Full press release after the jump. THE RABBIT RONIN FINALLY GETS HIS OWN PLUSH TOY! DARK HORSE DELUXE ANNOUNCES A NEW USAGI YOJIMBO PLUSH TOY FOR RELEASE THIS SPRING DECEMBER 30, MILWAUKIE, OR—In celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Stan Sakai’s best-loved character, Dark Horse brings this fluffy, badass bunny to life with an all-new plush toy, with art direction by the creator himself! Usagi Yojimbo is a long-running comic set in seventeenth-century Japan, with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, featuring the lovable rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who wanders the land as a shugyosha (student warrior on a pilgrimage), occasionally selling his services as a yojimbo (bodyguard). Usagi Yojimbo is one of the most celebrated ongoing comics, adored by critics and fans of all ages for the last twenty-five years. This new toy stands fourteen inches tall from his carefully detailed sandals to the tips of his movable ears. Stan Sakai, who provided extensive reference art for the project, oversaw every detail in the design process. “I have always thought that a doll of this type would be an excellent presentation of Usagi,” Sakai remarked, “and have been happy to assist as the prototype evolved with commentary and revisions. I think he came out very well indeed.” “We at Dark Horse couldn’t be prouder to be associated with one of comics’ most cherished characters and its creator,” product development head David Scroggy said, “and feel that this might just be the best 3-D way to present him. One thing’s for sure—it is by far the cutest presentation! We worked hard to get the nuances right, and I am happy to say that I think we nailed it.” The upcoming Usagi Yojimbo plush toy hits Diamond’s Previews this month, with an on-sale date of May 2010. About Dark Horse Comics Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and Serenity. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of licensed comics material.

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  1. Kenichi - The boyhood rival of Miyamoto Usagi, the two of them competed for everything. Kenichi was always resentful of Usagi for being better at seemingly everything, even if only fractionally so.

    Kenichi went to the Dogora fencing school while scorning Usagi for taking up with Katsuichi, the renegade sensei. Kenichi left the Dogora school after his tournament defeat at the hands of his old rival, and eventually returned to the village.

    There he stayed while Usagi went to serve Lord Mifune, taking the hand of Usagi's childhood sweetheart Mariko, even though she was with Usagi's child. He became the headman of the village when Usagi's father was killed by Lord Hikiji before the battle at Adachigahara. Kenichi has done well as the head of his village, fending off attacks from the Mogura Ninja, the bandits led by the demonic Jei, and numerous other threats, as well as raising the boy Jotaro as his own son.

    He still holds a grudge against Miyamoto Usagi, however he is, if nothing else, an honourable samurai.

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