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“Right or wrong, I will finish this war.”

ODA NOBUHIRO AIDAN COLE 2 INTRODUCTION

Oda Nobuhiro is a historical fiction and character driven show about the survival of the Oda family during the Sengoku Period (meaning Country at War). Japan is a power vacuum, with samurai clans frantically establishing alliances, in a weak attempt to form their own independent governments. Oda Nobunaga was a great samurai, known for leading the war for the unification of Japan and ending the Sengoku Period. This series focuses on Oda Nobuhiro (Hiro), Nobunaga’s older, illegitimate brother, and their family as they lead the Oda Clan in the war effort. Standing in their way is Saito Yoshitatsu, (Lady Butterfly), a powerful and conniving samurai maiden who seeks revenge on the Oda Clan for the dishonor its Shugo (protector) cursed her with. It’s up to Hiro and Nobunaga to unify Japan before she builds a force strong enough to eliminate them. Hiro and Nobunaga will face all manner of dangers, such as the Ikko-ikki, a group of anarchists who want to destroy all forms of the samurai and organized government. They will face rival clans who want the Oda Clan destroyed. This series will blend the badass violence of samurai culture with the intriguing political planning of war. It will bring a magical element within the samurai religion and character drama as they make uncertain moral decisions with major consequences (good and bad). This series will explore the moral ambiguity that comes with fighting in a war. These characters will suffer as they are pushed to the breaking point, with every episode leaving you wanting more.

LOGLINES

SERIES Oda Nobuhiro, eldest of three siblings, must overcome the demon within him to help his clan unite Japan. PILOT Oda Nobuhiro must choose to either remain with the family he was raised with or abandon his clan and join a mysterious woman from his past. His choice will send him on a dangerous journey of self discovery. 3 CHARACTERS Oda Nobuhiro/Hiro

Eldest son of the Oda Family. Short tempered and sometimes cocky. Jealous of his brother, Nobunaga, for being his father’s favorite. His attempts to honor his father are always in vain. His father’s hatred of him has cursed him with a demon of self- hatred, causing him to act on emotion. After finding his true blood origin, he sets off on a journey to find purpose. Will he re-join his siblings in the fight to unify Japan, or will he stand against them? That’s a choice only he can make. Once freed of expectation, he is able to be himself: a strong honorable warrior, who fights for the innocent. He knows the world is cruel and believes the only person who can change it is himself. His drive to win is unmatched. His fear of failure is so great that for each one, he brandishes scars on his chest. The friends he makes throughout his journey will give him something he has never had and unknowingly longs for: faith in someone else. He learns that he is never alone in this world. His relationship with Nobunaga will change between loving brother to hateful adversary depending on their situation throughout the series. His greatest want is for his country and his family to be united. They both want peace, but differ in how it is achieved. “Honor isn’t something one can give to you, it’s something you earn by choosing to do what’s right.” “I will never fight as your ally, but I will fight as your brother. 4

Oda Nobunaga/Naga

Samurai prince and eventual leader of the Oda clan. Second oldest of four siblings. Cares deeply about his family and his clan. Wants his family united in these dark times of war. Is seen as unusual by his family because he is the only nobleman who actively socializes with the common folk, gaining their trust and respect over time. He’s quick to trust peopled because of his caring personality. His greatest desire is to fulfill his promise to his father: keep the family safe, and unite the country. His greatest fear is failing to protect his loved ones. Will sacrifice himself to save any Oda Clan member. “We are not losing this. Right or wrong, will finish this war.”

Oda Nobuhidé/Shugo

Head of the Oda clan and family. Shugo, meaning “Protector,” of the Owari Province. Will do anything to keep his family and clan safe. Trains his sons in preparation for the war they will inherit. Is a loving father to everyone except Hiro. Fearful that Hiro will follow the same path as his mother, Lady Butterfly, he alienates him, sealing both his and Hiro's fates. His time in war hardens him, but never forgets why he’s fighting: to protect his people. “If today I must draw my last breath, it will be at the sight of your corpse.”

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Saito Yoshitatsu/Lady Butterfly

A powerful daiymō (feudal lord) of the Saito Clan and Hiro's biological mother. Named Lady Butterfly for her skillful use of shurikens (ninja stars) in battle. Banished from the Owari Province and dishonored by Shugo for conspiring against him with rival clans and making deals with the Ikkō-ikki. Lady Butterfly wants revenge for the dishonor that Nobuhidé cursed her with, by destroying his family and the Oda Clan. She believes in taking what you can, when you can. She doesn’t care about making Japan a better place, as long as her family and the Saito Clan are in positions of power. She loves her children most of all, and hopes to convince Hiro to join her. “Revenge is the only thing left for me.”

Tsuchida Gozen

The Shugo's wife and Nobunaga’s mother. Well loved among the commoners because of her practices in medicine and healing rituals. What drives her is the love for her family. Like her husband, she will do anything to protect them, but does not share his hatred for Hiro. She tries her best to calm his anger to protect Hiro, but is also understanding of Shugo’s suffering. She is the moral center of the family. She inspires her children to be honorable warriors, not just for themselves, but for the entire nation. However, her love can be a flaw when it comes to being truthful. She will sometimes lie to her loved ones if she believes it will spare them pain, causing untold sorrow for them. “I won’t allow any barrier, not even blood, to withhold me from loving my son. 6

Hirate Masahíde/Master Masahíde

Sword master to the Oda children. Best friend to Shugo (saved his life in past battles). Well respected among the Oda clan. Like a second father to his students. He wants nothing more than to serve the Oda family and retire peacefully. The only samurai master who teaches the importance of standing down, making him a controversial one. He shares Masu’s desire to save life through forgiveness, but is never naive. He has a special gift of reading people; knowing their thoughts before they act on them, making him a strong ally to Shugo and the Oda Clan. If all hope is lost, he will perform seppuku, a suicide ritual. “I applaud anyone who has the courage to stand up and face their enemies. However, the samurai who are the most courageous, of those exceptional few, who know when to stand down.”

Oda Oichi/Shinobi Oichi/The Gentle Blade

Nobunaga’s younger and only sister. Earned her title, The Gentle Blade, by developing her own fighting style, meant to take down warriors ten times her size. Shinobi (ninjas) are covert agents or mercenaries. After demonstrating her stealth skills, Shugo made her Shinobi of the Owari Province. Wants this war to end, and to stop the suffering of the innocent. Hated Hiro growing up, but in young adulthood, loves him like her other brothers. Inherited her father’s stubbornness and her mother’s kindness. She makes sure her kills are swift and painless. She believes people want to be kind, but will be cruel if it suites them. Outside the Oda Clan, what makes her so dangerous is her acting ability. She acts as an important political figure when it comes to forming diplomatic relationships 7 with other clans. She will act as a loyal concubine or servant to lure enemies in a false sense of security. She is the best at infiltrating the enemy and gathering information. As a result she is not trusting of anyone outside the Oda Clan. While she is always honest and honorable around her family, enemies will fear the Shinobi of the Owari Province, The Gentle Blade. “Be careful who you trust. Honorable people are hard to find.”

Oda Nagamasu/Masu/John, The Loving Warrior

Youngest warrior in the Oda family. Conflicted within himself because his calm mind allows him to be the best archer in the clan, yet he hates killing. He will always save an enemy’s life if he believes he can without consequence. He is the only samurai who will spare a life on a battlefield. He meditates and loves writing poetry. His open heart allows him to speak directly to animals of all kinds, including spiritual ones. After an encounter with British Christian monks, he converts to Christianity, changing his name to John, dishonoring the family and the Samurai Spirit. He keeps a generally loving relationship with his family. His exposure to Christianity will send him on his own self-discovering journey in season 2, but he will always fight for his loved ones. Pulled between tradition and the new, he becomes the only Christian samurai. His newfound wisdom of loving everyone as thyself, will prove to the gods of his unquestionable honor, making him the first samurai blessed with his own spirit animal. After season 2 he earns the title, The Loving Warrior. “Father of our ancestors, please, bless me to always be on the side of life.” 8

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

The comic relief of the series and Nobunaga's childhood friend. Talented sword-smith, and armorer to the Oda clan. Skilled archer. Energetic and effective in battle. Like Hiro, he acts on emotion, but instead of anger or hatred, he acts on thrill. He mainly fights for the challenge, treating death like a visiting friend instead of an enemy to fear. He is easily seduced by women, usually getting him in trouble, but makes up for it by crafting the best weapons in Japan. He will always stand by his friends and loved ones. “Give me a good katana and a bow. I'll clean the battlefield.”

SETTING 16th Century Japan was one of the most GORGEOUS places in the world! Feudal Japan was also very dangerous. This show takes full advantage of this. Beautiful landscapes will become aftermaths of a bloody battle. Episodes will feature diverse environments with hostile communities. Nobunaga and Hiro must hunt for friendship in these clans if they are to convince them to unify Japan. The tone will change throughout the series. There will be moments of triumphant victory and moments despair and hopelessness. Some scenes will be tense and others will be serene and peaceful. Japan’s natural environment is treated as a character that will match the emotion each and every character. The show has room for romance arcs, if needed. The Oda Clan rules over the Owari Province. The Nagoya Kingdom is Shugo’s life’s work, and their home. 9 The War The story engine is THE WAR! After the fall of the Ashikaga Shogunate, the military government, Japan became a power vacuum. Every clan rushed to form their own governments, declaring control over their lands. Rival clans fought and invaded each other’s lands, creating a large wave of refugees. These refugees banded together to form the Ikko-ikki, a self-proclaimed group of anarchists who fight to destroy all samurai governments and traditions. There are various clans throughout feudal Japan, but in this series we focus on the Oda, Saito, Toyotomi, Hirata, and Tokugawa Clans. The Oda Clan leads the war to unify Japan and everyone else will either be an ally or an adversary. The Ikko-ikki will be everyone’s enemy. Clans must be careful, as each battle or invasion poses risk in attracting more refugees to join the Ikko-ikki. In Japanese culture, the zodiac animals promise good luck, and images of them can serve as prayers for good harvests and prosperity. Foxes, for instance, are believed to be close associates or divine servants and messengers of the gods. In the series, the gods are angered by the war that plagues Japan and will send zodiac animals to help those exceptional few samurai who prove to be idealists, with pure hearts and unquestionable honor. 10 STRUCTURE

Each episode will be sixty minutes long, with around seven to eight episodes per season. There will be stand alone episodes with Hiro and Nobunaga, since their relationship will drive the central conflicts throughout the series. The zodiac animals will add a small magical element to the show. The animals softly guide the characters where they need to be in season one. In season two, the animals will have a stronger presence, sending divine messages and helping the heroes fight in battle.

SEASON 1

Episode 1: Pilot The pilot will introduce us to all the main characters, and their relationships with one another. There will be some backstory on the Oda siblings and how they viewed each other as children. Shugo’s favoritism of Nobunaga, and Hiro’s jealousy of him as a result, will be established. Masu’s gift of communicating with animals is introduced through his wolf pack. During Shugo’s birthday celebration, Hiro presents the head of Master Kygo, the Shugo of the Hirata Clan. Shugo rejects his gift, as Master Kygo was once an ally of his. In his dishonor, Hiro scars himself and is captured by Lady Butterfly. She convinces him to turn against his family. Masu, Nobunaga, and Shugo find him, springing Lady Butterfly’s trap. They are flanked by members of the Saito Clan. Masu flees to the Nagoya Kingdom to get help. Shugo dies as the Oda Clan arrives. Lady Butterfly flees and Hiro almost kills himself, but his siblings are there to save him. In the end, Nobunaga takes up the role of Shugo and Hiro is banished from the Oda Clan. Nobunaga sets Hiro free to discover his purpose and where he belongs.

Episode 2: The Hirata Nomads This episode will focus on Hiro as he seeks redemption from the Hirata Clan for killing their Shugo, Master Kygo. Hiro sneaks in Hirata territory to meet with the new Shugo. They come to an agreement that if Hiro can single handedly take down a few Ikko-ikki camps within Hirata territory, Hiro will be forgiven for his crime. Hiro disguises himself as a refugee and makes friends with some Ikko-ikki members. He 11 learns their stories and how they became refugees. They were once Hirata Clan members, but were banished for not wanting to fight in the war. Hiro decides to spare them. After revealing his true identity to an Ikko friend named Lūi, Hiro returns to the Hirata Shugo. He reveals where the Ikko-ikki camps are, but refuses to kill them. Angry, Shugo imprisons Hiro and schedules his execution for the following morning. Right before Hiro is executed, the Ikko-ikki attack the Hirata Clan and free Hiro. The Hirata Clan falls and the Hirata Shugo is killed. Lūi says he wants Hiro to be their leader, but Hiro rejects the offer, claiming they are now free. He advises them to not attack other clans, or they will be destroyed. Become peaceful nomads who only seek to live freely. As long as they come in peace, no clan will harm them. The Ikko-ikki of the Hirata Clan become an independent people who decide to settle in the mountains. Hiro continues his journey.

Episode 3: The New Shugo Nobunaga has sent a message to all the clans asking for unity and peace. He rallies his forces, training the new generation of samurai. Master Masahíde says Nobunaga is not the new Shugo, yet. He says there’s one more lesson he needs to learn. Nobunaga, like all his siblings, looks up to Masahíde and wants to make him proud. He asks his master what he must do. Masahíde gives Nobunaga the same task his father did before he was named Shugo, to go up into the mountains and find the Shinobi of the Mist. Challenge him, and kill him. Nobunaga ventures into the mountain range. He meets the Hirata Nomads Hiro freed in the previous episode. They direct him toward a specific mountain. After killing a bear, Nobunaga reaches the top of the mountain. It’s foggy. He meets the Shinobi of the Mist, he is a strange warrior. His face is wrapped and he carries no weapon. Nobunaga challenges him, and they fight. The Shinobi surprises Nobunaga with the power to turn to mist. Nobunaga can’t land one strike. The Shinobi then emits a powerful wind, almost blowing Nobunaga off the mountain. He stabs the ground to stabilize himself. The Shinobi engulfs in fog and his eyes glow. Nobunaga, terrified, yields and accepts defeat. The wind stops and the Shinobi disappears. Master Masahíde appears behind Nobunaga. “A wise choice,” he says. Masahíde then says the line that I believe defines him as a character: “I applaud anyone who has the courage to stand up and face their enemies. However, the samurai who are the most courageous, of those exceptional few, who know when to stand down.” He teaches Nobunaga that there’s nothing wrong with 12 feeling fear, because without it we wouldn’t get to know our own weaknesses. “You need to know them in order to become a wiser and gentler person.” Masahíde then surprises Nobunaga by officially giving him the title of Master and Shugo. Nobunaga cries, feeling pride, but also missing his father.

Season 1 Arcs Hiro’s season redemption arc: Hiro will overcome his demon of self-hatred as he gains the respect of citizens in different clans. He goes from a depressed, angry, and lost man with a sword, to an honorable samurai who found his purpose. Nobunaga’s descent into hatred: Nobunaga’s heart is hardened by the war. He goes from being an honorable samurai who knows his destiny, to being a hardened samurai lord, showing no mercy. After reuniting with Hiro is when he returns to who he was before. The first season finale will be Hiro and Nobunaga’s reunion/battle for a powerful clan’s alliance. In the end, Hiro is welcomed back into the Oda Clan and Lady Butterfly is killed, revealing a more powerful villain that guided her in all.

SEASON 2

Season two will be split in three main stories: Hiro and Nobunaga, Oichi, and Masu’s story. The war still rages on but the Oda Clan has established itself as a powerful force, and the entire nation knows their message for unity. However, British settlers will make landfall and begin the early stages of colonizing Japan. They corrupt Masu into converting to Christianity and abandoning the samurai tradition, changing his name to John. Hiro and Nobunaga are forced to let him go. Oichi will be physically injured in battle and will have to make a grueling recovery, leaving Hiro and Nobunaga to lead the war. With their two younger siblings out of the fight, our two heroes will find it difficult to lead the war without them. This will be where the zodiac animals assist and help the Oda Clan win the war, defeating their most powerful foe yet.

SEASON 3

Season three will be split in two: The conclusion of the war and the emergence of a foreign enemy. Japan will finally reach unification and the Sakoku Period begins. 13

After uniting, Japan isolated themselves, limiting trade with foreign countries in an attempt to save the dying samurai tradition. The second half of the season will be the start of a new war with Britain as they attempt to formerly colonize Japan and destroy the samurai. Masu is revealed to be fighting for the British soldiers and is ordered by the crown, to assassinate Nobunaga and Hiro, the two feudal lords leading Japan. THE WORLD IN MY EYES

The diverse worlds in video games have a unique way of pulling the player in and never letting go. I’ve played video games since I was a child. I would go to bed thinking about what else the game was hiding from me. I see this world as similar to that of an open-world video game. On your journey, you can come across all sorts of wonders, depending on how hard you look. This world is meant to be inviting to audiences who crave badass sword fights in between moments of silent beauty, drama, and magic. The relationship between Hiro and Nobunaga will drive the plot. This show and this world has the potential to fit all audiences interested in anime, fantasy, war epics, drama, and nature. Not because it has certain elements that fit the genre, but instead implements them into the characters and the plot of every episode. There is a lot of room for a samurai show in western media. In a current world that seems like it’s falling apart, a show about unification and love, under a mask of awesome violence is what the world needs right now.