Toshiro Mifune, the legendary actor who passed away in 1997 at the age of 77 due to multiple organ failure, has remarkably been brought back to life in the digital realm by Capcom. This time, his iconic image is being used to grace Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
The game’s official website sets the scene by describing the lead character as a relentless young samurai, engaged in one intense and blood-soaked battle after another. To truly capture the essence of this striking warrior, Capcom has chosen none other than the late samurai film legend, Toshiro Mifune, to serve as the face model for this version of Miyamoto Musashi.
Fans of the Onimusha series might not find this development too shocking, especially if they caught the Onimusha anime on Netflix towards the end of 2023. The creators of the show proudly showcased their digital wizardry, bringing Mifune’s visage from the world of classic cinema into the realm of animation, as part of their pre-launch marketing efforts.
The Onimusha series has a history of leveraging the likenesses of well-known actors, living or deceased, for its leading roles. For instance, Takeshi Kaneshiro embodied Samonosuke Akechi in Onimusha: Warlords. Later games have drawn on the images of Yūsaku Matsuda, who passed away from bladder cancer in 1989 at the age of 40, as well as Jean Reno.
In crafting Mifune’s presence for Onimusha: Way of the Samurai, Capcom worked hand-in-hand with Mifune Productions. This company, established by the actor himself back in 1962, likely holds the rights to his likeness today.
