Time will tell what lies next for anime with an American flair. In the meantime, let Yasuke's futuristic soundtrack, beautiful visuals, and fantastical story present a portrait of a time where a Black samurai existed.
LaKeith Stanfield is good in the title role, even if he doesn't get to do a whole lot... If only it were as easy to feel drawn to the rest of the show around him.
The standout element is the Flying Lotus produced soundtrack... a fluttery, genre-bending embodiment of the clash between past and present that mixes traditional Japanese instruments with staccato drum machines and spaced-out synths.
There's a unique world within Yasuke's universe as it blends history with fantasy, and this team really needs to all work together again. If this is it, however, then it's still worth the trip.
If you're critical of the story, there's still plenty to enjoy about the surface-level dynamics, journeys, and striking symbolic imagery. When Yasuke occupies itself in its twistedly bizarre feudal setting, it indulges in some real fun weirdness.
Yasuke's fantasy story ultimately sticks the landing with an exciting final battle and a conclusion that brings the focus back to its hero's journey, but it's inconsistent getting there.
To the tune of six brisk half-hour length episodes, Thomas' Yasuke hits the spot for any anime lover while offering new subversions to the samurai genre.