Toy News: NEW USAGI PLUSH TOY ARRIVES FROM DARK HORSE DELUXE!

THE RABBIT RONIN FINALLY GETS HIS OWN PLUSH TOY!

DARK HORSE DELUXE ANNOUNCES A NEW USAGI YOJIMBO PLUSH TOY
FOR RELEASE THIS SPRING

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.