Toshiro Mifune, the iconic actor who passed away at 77 in 1997 due to multiple organ failure, has found his way into the digital realm, thanks to Capcom’s latest endeavor. In their new game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, they’ve skillfully brought Mifune’s likeness back to life for a gripping gaming experience.
The official website of the game describes how its hero, a fierce young samurai, charges from one intense battle to the next. Capcom went above and beyond to capture the essence of a powerful samurai by enlisting the likeness of the legendary Japanese movie icon, Toshiro Mifune, to represent the game’s Miyamoto Musashi.
If you caught the Onimusha anime that hit Netflix in late 2023, this development shouldn’t come as a shock. Miyamoto Musashi made an appearance there too. The creators of the anime were equally thrilled about the technology that resurrected Mifune’s distinctive features, bringing him from the silver screen into the animated world.
Throughout its history, the Onimusha series has cleverly utilized both living and deceased actors as models for its characters. In Onimusha: Warlords, Takeshi Kaneshiro gave life to Samonosuke Akechi, while later editions featured Yūsaku Matsuda—who tragically passed away at 40—and Jean Reno as the faces of its protagonists.
For Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Mifune’s digital revival was made possible with the full backing of Mifune Productions, the company the actor founded in 1962, which now manages his likeness.
