Miyamoto Usagi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miyamoto Usagi
Cover art of Usagi Yojimbo Volume 3, Issue 93. Art by Stan Sakai.
Publication information
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
First appearance	Albedo Anthropomorphics Vol 1 #2: The Goblin of Adachigahara (1984)
Created by	Stan Sakai
Voiced by	Townsend Coleman (1987) Jason Griffith (2003) Yuki Matsuzaki (2012)
In-story information
Species	Rabbit
Place of origin	Earth (1987)
Partnerships	Leonardo (close friend) Raphael Donatello Michelangelo
Abilities	Expert swordsmanship (with a katana) Highly skilled in Bushido Stealth tactics Natural leadership skills

Miyamoto Usagi (Japanese: 宮本 兎) is a brave rabbit samurai from a comic book series called Usagi Yojimbo. This comic is published by Dark Horse Comics and was created by Stan Sakai.

Usagi is a special kind of rabbit. He acts like a human and lives in a world where animals have taken the place of people. His name, Usagi, actually means "rabbit" in Japanese. He is a ronin, which means he is a samurai warrior without a master. He travels on a musha shugyo, a journey to improve his warrior skills.

Miyamoto Usagi is very popular. He has often appeared alongside the famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In 2011, he was ranked among the top 100 comic book heroes by IGN. He also made it onto Empire magazine's list of the 50 greatest comic book characters.

How Usagi Was Created

Miyamoto Usagi is the main hero of the Usagi Yojimbo comics. His creator, Stan Sakai, was inspired by a real-life legendary Japanese swordsman named Miyamoto Musashi.

Originally, Usagi was meant to be a human character. However, Sakai had an idea while drawing. He drew a rabbit with its ears tied up like a samurai's topknot. This drawing made him decide to make Usagi a rabbit who acts like a human.

Usagi in Other Shows and Games

Usagi has appeared in many different shows and games, especially those related to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Usagi in Animated Shows

Usagi in the 1987 TMNT Series

Usagi appears several times in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. He is voiced by Townsend Coleman. In this show, Usagi lives in a version of Feudal Japan on a different Earth. On this Earth, animals, not humans, are the main species.

Usagi in the 2003 TMNT Series

Usagi first appears in the second season of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He is voiced by Jason Griffith. His first appearance is in an episode called "The Big Brawl, Part Two."

He helps Leonardo when shadow monsters attack the Turtle. Usagi calls Leonardo "kappa" and the two skilled swordsmen quickly become close friends. They later compete in a tournament called the Battle Nexus. Both fight with honor and a strong sense of right and wrong.

Usagi shows concern for Leonardo when he is poisoned by a dart. He asks Donatello to help him use his basic healing knowledge to fight the poison. The three of them then work together to protect the Daimoyo (a powerful leader) from assassins.

Usagi appears in other episodes too. He guides Leonardo when the Turtle accidentally travels to Usagi's world. He also attends the wedding of April O'Neil and Casey Jones.

Usagi in the 2012 TMNT Series

Usagi appears in the fifth and final season of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. He is voiced by Yuki Matsuzaki. The Turtles are brought to Usagi's world in three episodes: Yojimbo, Osoroshi no Tabi, and Kagayake! Kintaro.

Usagi becomes good friends with the Turtles, especially Leonardo. This is because both are calm, smart, and very skilled in "the ways of the sword."

In his home world, which is like an alternate Feudal Japan, Usagi often fights his enemy, the wolf-demon Jei. Jei escapes from Usagi again. Usagi finds a village that has been attacked and meets a special child named Kintaro. Usagi is tasked with protecting Kintaro from Jei. He must do this until Kintaro discovers his own amazing powers at the sacred Temple Palace.

While camping, Usagi is surprised by the Ninja Turtles. They are being controlled by Jei's evil magic after being brought from their own world. Usagi welcomes them and explains his history as a strong and skilled samurai. Usagi and the Turtles try to chase Jei's Sumo Kuma (a bear-like creature). But they are discovered and fall off a cliff.

In Osoroshi no Tabi, Usagi helps the Turtles in a haunted forest filled with yokai spirits. They fight off shapeshifting spirits that capture Michelangelo and Raphael. Usagi calms the spirits by offering a carrot. When they enter a cave full of giant spider webs, Usagi hears the voice of his friend Akemi, who turns out to be a spider.

In Kagayake! Kintaro, Usagi, the Turtles, and Kintaro continue their journey in the snowy mountains. They are ambushed by Jei's white ninjas. After defeating them, they reach the Temple Palace, only to find Jei waiting. Jei controls the Turtles again and captures Kintaro for a ritual. But the Turtles surprise Jei, and Kintaro breaks free by showing his great power. Usagi fights Jei and finally defeats him, throwing him into a deep hole. The Sumo Kuma is also freed from Jei's control and reveals himself as the head monk of the Temple. After Kintaro sends the Turtles back to their world, Usagi leaves to help other innocent people, knowing he will visit Kintaro again.

Upcoming CGI-Animated Series

A new Netflix CGI-animated series is coming soon, called Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. This show will be about a rabbit teenager named Yuichi, who is a descendant of Usagi. It will follow his adventures with his group of unique friends.

Usagi in Video Games

Miyamoto Usagi is also a character in the game Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo. His first appearance in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game was in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus. This game was based on his look in the 2003 animated series. He was a fighter in the game's Battle Nexus mode, but players could not choose him to play as.

See also

In Spanish: Miyamoto Usagi (personaje) para niños