LaKeith Stanfield
Yasuke (voice)
Yasuke
“Honor has a new name.”
2021
Ended • 1 Season • 6 Episodes
Director: Takeru Sato
Overview
A peaceful boatman once known as the Black Samurai is pulled back into conflict when he takes a little girl with mysterious powers under his wing.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 6 episodes
- First aired
- Apr 29, 2021
Cast
10 people
Reviews
4 min readA Samurai Without a Country
There’s a particular kind of melancholy that comes from seeing a legend reduced to routine. latestnetflix.com's take is that in Yasuke, the former warrior’s life has narrowed to steering a boat, keeping his head down, and speaking as little as possible.That choice matters.
Before the show remembers how to stage swordplay and sorcery, it makes him feel like a man who has already outlived his own myth. I found that unexpectedly moving. Not because the series is especially subtle about it — it isn’t — but because it understands something simple: peace can look a lot like exile.
What makes the series interesting in cultural terms is also what made people argue about it. Yasuke arrived in 2021 as a Netflix anime about the historical African retainer who served Oda Nobunaga, but it’s less a history lesson than a genre remix. Created by LeSean Thomas — whose earlier Cannon Busters already showed his taste for hybrid, border-crossing storytelling — it sits inside that recent wave of anime made with global streaming audiences in mind, while still carrying the visual grammar of Japanese action fantasy.
The conversation around it was never only about style. It was also about authorship, representation, and the strange responsibility that comes with telling a story about a Black samurai in an American-Japanese production context. You can feel that tension in the finished series.
It wants to honor a figure who has become symbolically oversized, but it’s also content to let him be a damaged, almost shy protagonist in a neon-skied fantasy.
LaKeith Stanfield’s voice gives Yasuke a real sense of inwardness. He’s not an actor who reaches for effect; he tends to sound as if he’s thinking three beats ahead of the rest of the room, and that works beautifully here. After roles that often made him the smartest, weirdest person in the frame, he gives Yasuke a weariness that never turns into self-pity.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.0/10
"Flashy fantasy samurai short that splits action fans and history buffs."
Yasuke is a six-episode first season built around the African samurai in feudal Japan, voiced by LaKeith Stanfield and streaming on Netflix. It leans into an alternate 16th-century Japan with magic and advanced technology rather than straight history. The audience mood is mixed: people into high-action adult animation get into it, while viewers wanting historical depth about service under Oda Nobunaga come away unsatisfied, latestnetflix.com contends, and part of the anime crowd reacts harshly negative.
What viewers praise
- High-action adult animation appeal People who enjoy high action adult animation find plenty to like in the season.
- Fantasy twist on a real legend An alternate 16th-century feudal Japan reimagined with magic and advanced technology frames the story of the African samurai in the employ of Nobunaga.
Common complaints
- Thin historical depth Viewers seeking more historical depth are left not completely satisfied.
- Harsh pushback from some anime viewers Some audience reactions run strongly negative toward the Netflix anime approach.
Recommended for
Fans of high-action adult animation Viewers curious about a fantasy retelling of the African samurai legend
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Yasuke: The Black Samurai’s Animated Revival and the Buzz Behind the Scenes
Netflix’s Yasuke (2021) brought the legendary African warrior to life in a bold, animated reimagining, blending historical intrigue with fantasy flair. The series, centered on the real-life figure Yasuke—a 16th-century retainer who became a samurai under Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga—has sparked curiosity about its production, cast, and creative choices. While details about behind-the-scenes drama remain scarce, the evidence reveals a project with high-profile talent, a striking animation style, latestnetflix.com maintains, and a mix of critical reception.
The Star-Studded Voice Cast and Dual-Language Approach
At the heart of Yasuke is LaKeith Stanfield, who voices the titular character in the English dub. Stanfield, known for his roles in Atlanta and Judas and the Black Messiah, lends gravitas to the Black samurai’s journey, a figure already steeped in historical mystery 
. The series also features a stacked ensemble, including Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian, Mulan) and Darren Criss (Glee, American Horror Story), adding star power to the anime’s voice cast .
A notable creative decision was the dual-language audio track. Alongside Stanfield’s English performance, Jun Soejima voices Yasuke in the original Japanese version, offering audiences two distinct interpretations of the character . This approach mirrors the global appeal of anime, though it’s unclear how closely the two versions align in tone or delivery.
Animation by MAPPA: A Visual Showcase
The series is animated by MAPPA, the renowned Japanese studio behind hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan’s final seasons. MAPPA’s involvement was a major selling point, with expectations high for its signature detailed animation and world-building . The studio’s work on Yasuke reportedly draws stylistic inspiration from Dororo, another historical-fantasy anime known for its atmospheric storytelling and dynamic action sequences .
However, the series’ reception was mixed. While some praised its visual ambition, others criticized its pacing and narrative cohesion. On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, Yasuke holds a modest 4.6/10 rating based on 583 votes, suggesting a divided audience . Rumors of behind-the-scenes tension—such as creative clashes or production delays—have circulated online, but no concrete evidence from the provided sources confirms these claims.
Historical Inspiration Meets Fantasy Reinvention
Yasuke is loosely based on the real Yasuke, an African man who served Nobunaga during Japan’s Sengoku period. Historical records of his life are sparse, leaving ample room for creative interpretation . The series leans into this ambiguity, blending fact with fantasy elements, including supernatural threats and a reimagined version of feudal Japan.
The choice to center a Black protagonist in a genre dominated by Japanese narratives was both celebrated and scrutinized. Some viewers praised the series for diversifying anime, while others questioned the execution of its cultural and historical themes. The lack of a second season leaves these debates unresolved, though Netflix has not officially canceled the project.
The Verdict: A Bold Experiment with Unfinished Potential
Yasuke stands out as a high-profile attempt to merge anime with Hollywood talent and historical legend. Its strengths lie in its voice cast, MAPPA’s animation, and the sheer audacity of its premise. Yet, its lukewarm reception and lack of a confirmed renewal suggest it may remain a fascinating, if flawed, one-off.
For now, the series lingers as a curiosity—a blend of history, fantasy, and star power that never quite delivered on its full promise.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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