Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

Theatrical release poster

***Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank*** is a 2022 computer-animated martial arts comedy film directed by Rob Minkoff, Mark Koetsier and Chris Bailey (in Koetsier and Bailey's feature directorial debut). A loose remake of the 1974 live-action film *Blazing Saddles*, it features the voices of Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh and Samuel L. Jackson. The film takes place in a world of anthropomorphic animals, in which a dog named Hank learns to become a samurai to save a cat village from a conniving landlord.

The project was first conceived by producer Yair Landau in 2010 as *Blazing Samurai* in response to the then-recent trend of westernizing Asian films. Its development continued through 2014 and 2016 with Mass Animation handling production and Open Road Films acquiring the United States distribution rights before dropping them in 2017. It was later re-announced in November 2019 after Aniventure joined as the new producing studio with a planned 2021 release. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the final animation was done remotely from the crew's homes as were some of the voice recordings.

*Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank* was scheduled to be released in 2017, but was delayed several times, mainly due to distributor changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. It eventually premiered in Los Angeles on July 10, 2022, and was released in the United States on July 15, by Paramount Pictures under the Nickelodeon Movies imprint, and in the United Kingdom on July 22, by Sky Cinema. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $42 million worldwide.

## Plot

In a land inspired by feudal Japan and entirely inhabited by cats, Ika Chu, a conniving high ranking official of the land's Shogun, desires to expand his giant palace. However, it resides right next to the impoverished village of Kakamucho. Hoping to get rid of it, Ika Chu plans to force Kakamucho's residents to abandon their town by sending a gang of thugs led by his second-in-hand Ohga to trash the town. The townspeople demand that the Shogun appoint a new samurai to protect them after the previous one flees. Ika Chu, hoping to offend the townspeople, decides to appoint Hank, a dog prisoner about to be executed, as Kakamucho's samurai.

After an initial hostile reception, Hank relies on the assistance of Jimbo, a catnip-addled samurai who reluctantly agrees to train him, in order to overcome the townspeople's hostility. While training, Hank subdues Sumo, an immensely strong henchman that Ika Chu sent to drive out the townspeople quicker, with the help of Jimbo. The townspeople start to see Hank as a hero, but his newfound popularity ends up going to Hank's head, and he neglects his training, which causes a fallout between him and Jimbo. Ika Chu takes Hank to a private nightclub, in order to distract him as his thugs trash Kakamucho. Hank returns to a devastated town and, after a heated argument with Jimbo, he decides to go home, but an origami figure of himself reminds him of his samurai oath.

Jimbo, meanwhile, attempts to storm Ika Chu's palace in hopes to free Sumo, who was captured by Ika Chu's henchmen. Hank returns in order to help him out. Upon hearing about Sumo's escape, Ika Chu recruits an army of thugs to get rid of Kakamucho for good. Hank returns to Kakamucho, and explains his plan to defeat Ika Chu's army. The townspeople then build a perfect paper copy of the town and themselves as a diversion. When the raiders attack the fake town and its population of dummies, which have been booby-trapped with dynamite, Hank ignites the bombs and the townspeople attack the thugs. The Shogun arrives, who questions the ruckus. Ohga accidentally exposes Ika Chu's plan to him, causing Ika Chu to flee. Hank then chases Ika Chu to his palace, where he fights him on his giant jade toilet, which overflows and threatens to flood the town. Hank warns the Kakamucho townspeople of the incoming flood, and leads them in the digging of a channel to safely divert the water around the town.

With Kakamucho saved, the impressed Shogun decides to appoint Jimbo as the new samurai, but he gives the position to Hank. Hank, however, feels that he is not entirely ready, so he ends up giving the position to Emiko, a kitten who also desires to be a samurai. Hank and Jimbo continue to train in their own time, with their relationship mended.

In a post-credits scene, a now imprisoned Ika Chu consoles himself that at least he will not have to partake in a sequel.

## Voice cast

* Michael Cera as Hank, a bumbling beagle who aspires to be a samurai, based on Sheriff Bart from *Blazing Saddles*.
* Samuel L. Jackson as Jimbo, Hank's reluctant tuxedo cat sensei who trains him to become a samurai, based on Jim the Waco Kid from *Blazing Saddles*.
* Ricky Gervais as Ika Chu, a conniving Somali cat landlord who wants to get rid of Kakamucho to perfect his palace, based on Hedley LaMarr from *Blazing Saddles*.
* Mel Brooks as Shogun Toshi, an empathetic British shorthair who is the shōgun of Kakamucho, based on Governor William J. Le Petomane from *Blazing Saddles*, whom Brooks also played.
* George Takei as Ohga, a muscular Manx cat who is the leader of Ika Chu's army, based on Taggart from *Blazing Saddles*.
* Aasif Mandvi as Ichiro, a slim tuxedo cat who usually hangs around with Chuck
* Gabriel Iglesias as Chuck, a calico cat who usually hangs around with Ichiro
* Djimon Hounsou as Sumo, a giant philosophical tabby cat, based on Mongo from *Blazing Saddles*.
* Michelle Yeoh as Yuki, a Persian cat who is Emiko's overprotective mother
* Kylie Kuioka as Emiko, a feisty young Persian cat who also wants to become a samurai
* Cathy Shim as Little Mama, the grand dame of Kakamucho