Jun 4, 2024

Explore the unique production process of Netflix's stunning "Blue Eye Samurai" (exclusive video)

Cartoon Brew and Netflix recently partnered to host a special fyc screening of Burbank's Blue Eye Samurai.A conversation ensued between director and producer Jane Wu and production designer Toby Wilson, sharing behind-the-scenes details and explaining how the show's unique production process differs from other animated series.

Set in Edo-period Japan, the blue-eyed samurai follows Water, a mixed-race master of swords who lives a life in disguise in search of revenge rescue. The acclaimed series has won 6 Annie Awards and Ace Eddie Awards, and has also won 2 MPSE Golden Reel and Peabody Awards nominations.

jane Wu had a wealth of storyboards for multiple Marvel movies and live-action films and series, including Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, equating her vision for Blue Eye Samurai with the vision of a Fusion restaurant. "It's traditional," she said, "but since I've introduced new ingredients to it, there's a little new feeling about it, it's live-action.

The show's unique approach was to stage and shoot action-heavy sequences in live action. Wu says that stunt heavy sequences are often "stunt viz" in vfx-driven live-action films and series, and he wanted to apply this approach to animation because it not only gives credence to martial arts movements, but also reduces the workload of storyboard artists. For the project, Wu hired stunt choreographer Sunny Sun, who filmed all the stunt sequences in China and was reinterpreted by the animation team for the final production.

Production designer Toby Wilson described the Japanese visual impact of the series, particularly the work of woodcut craftsman and painter Hiroshi Yoshida, who was trained in the traditions of both ukiyo-e and Western painting. "His Ukiyo-e prints are hybrid," Wilson explained. "If you look at those compositions, they we see more today as Hollywood-style compositions they do not have a stylized perspective, but he utilizes all the principles of ukiyo-e-e-negative space, notan, which are concentrated contrast. That's what we built."

Wilson said, "We are creating shapes and designing those shapes using values, notan principles of light and darkness, we want you to look for a focus on those Heiko

Wu helped create the show's unconventional production pipeline, as well as netflix, creators Amber Noizumi and Michael Green." It is also a good idea to have a look at some of the things you can do to help you get the most out of your life. "I just got so much support to do something I've never done before, and it was an amazing feeling," he said.

Look at the entire above conversation with Wu and Wilson to learn more about how the productions came together.