USAGI YOJIMBO: THE LAST REQUEST PREVIEW

The best thing about our job is we get to be on th lookout for a variety of really exciting things. The interesting trend that we've seen is that fashion fads come and go, designers come and go, reality celebrities and even musicians and performers do the same, but animated heroes lilke legends in all industries withstand the test of time. Marvel comics, Pixar and certainly Disney have all enjoyed this phenomenon. From Iron Man to Spider Man, Wonder Woman and Captain America, to the Man of Steel, the Fantastic Four and the Transformers, it seems our heroes are preciously being passed on from one generation to the next. They are reimagined, perhaps, but their spirits live on.

Just a week or so ago, we've had the latest reincarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (you know you're getting old when you ask, "Too soon?"). Although separately conceived, appearing a couple of times with them (and vice versa) is Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo (Miyamoto Usagi), a rabbit swordsman/bodyguard whose life loosely references that of a real historical one, Miyamoto Musashi of the Japanese Edo period.

The comic book series has enjoyed a cult-like global following since 1984 and has won the "Parents Choice" Award for its prudent historical and moral propensity. In mid summer 2014, Usagi Yojimbo fans received news that plans are underway to bring the character once again to life, this time in a stop-motion featurette. Slashfilms reports that Sakai has granted Lintika films screen rights to the series. Directed by Roel Robles and produced by Noel Madrid, a trailer for The Last Request was produced in time for this year's International Comic Con in San Diego, CA. Work towards a full feature short film for DVD is well underway, says Robles. Here's the latest video installment to wet fans' appetites. View and comment on their YouTube to show your support and LIKE their Facebook page to get progress updates and behind-the-scenes stories.