‘Blue Eye Samurai’ took inspiration from Bunraku dolls and woodblock prints

“Blue Eye Samurai” is expected to win three jury-judged awards for its achievements in animation – for character design, production design and storyboard – and will also compete for two competitive awards, including for animated program, at the upcoming Creative Arts Emmys.

The stylized Netflix series follows Mizu (Maya Erskine), a mixed-race vigilante with piercing blue eyes who lives in disguise while seeking revenge in Edo-period Japan. “We really had to try to make this animation stand out from the show,” says director and executive producer Jane Wu, adding that she looked for inspiration in “what touched me (in a) magical way … because there is magic in animation.”

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This included drawing inspiration from the distinctive Japanese Bunraku puppets, which have sculpted heads and hands with elaborate costumes, and were operated by a trio of puppeteers dressed in black. Wu says she was drawn to them because of “the stylization in their movements, and how incredibly emotional that was.”

She adds that they wanted to create an “East Meets West” composition and look, and also drew inspiration from artist Hiroshi Yoshida, known for his paintings and woodblock prints. “He was a Japanese artist who was trained in the West, and so he really had that fusion that we were looking for in the show,” Wu explains. “It’s just very culturally based materials that we were inspired by.”

The Mizu character was designed with a strong body, reflecting her warrior training. And her face, according to Amber Noizumi, who created and executive produced the series with Michael Green, “wouldn’t be monstrous like she thinks she is, nor would it be overly beautiful. She would just be her own unique person, just trying to exist in this world that oppresses and rejects her.”

A second season has been announced.

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