YASUKE The African Samurai // Film

​​Yasuke The African Samurai tells the story of history's first foreign samurai, who lived and fought in 16th Century Japan. Uprooted from his home of Africa, Yasuke rose through the ranks of feudal Japan to become an elite soldier, and dear friend of a warlord. Using tactile and traditional animation, Yasuke uncovers a forgotten story.

Over the course of 2 years, I researched and consolidated the documented life of Yasuke into an animated film. Using traditional animated techniques with ink, charcoal, paint, and wrapped together with digital compositing, VFX, an original score, and real life artifacts from the time period, the world of 1500’s Japan was brought to life through animation.

I worked as the director, animator, and writer to tell the story through four acts, illustrating the 3 years of documented life history has of Yasuke. Premiering at New York’s very own Asia Society, and appearing in festivals like Raindance, Yasuke The African Samurai reaching international audiences and acclaim

Shown at: New York’s Asia Society, New York Indie Shorts Awards, Ridgewood Off-Kilter Film Festival, Chico Independent Film Festival, Walthamstow International Film Festival, Columbus International Film Festival, Hamilton Film Festival