Miriam Herrera
Imagine this, you’re in your living room trying to find something to read, and the large bookshelf in front of you is very intimidating. The books range from picture books to very thick novels that you will one day get to. But, you see this one book sticking out with an unusual name on it, Unico, you end up learning later that this book is actually a manga and the name would end up being a fan favorite for many, many years.
This was such a lost memory of mine when I was first given the assignment to speak to Sam Sattin about his Kickstarter project: the return, at last of his beloved Unico! And once the link opened for me, a whirlwind of memories jumped at me.
Unico is the charming story of a young unicorn who enrages the Greek gods when he inspires humans with his hope and positivity. The Gods punish Unico by banishing him across space and time, until he forgets all he once was. Unico remains constantly on the move, transported from era to era, where he must escape the gods again and again, only to have his memory erased anew. The only thing saving Unico from oblivion is the mysterious Spirit of the West Wind, who feels sorry for him and tries her best to protect him.
The original run for Unico ran from November 1976 to March 1979 with two volumes put together of the adventure Sattin had created. While the story ended, the manga holds a small spot in our hearts as the world moved forward. But now, news has broken that Unico was returning by beloved manga creators Gurihiru with Sam Sattin reimagining the story with “The Cat on the Broomstick” storyline. So many have come forward as old childhood memories of Unico has taken over, much like myself. So I was very delighted to be able to interview Sam Sattin about the decades-in-the-making return of Unico and the Kickstarter project bringing it to life!
CW: How did the idea of reinventing Unico come into mind?
SS: When I was presented with the opportunity to pitch a project involving Unico to Tezuka Productions, I leapt at the chance. Just the idea of engaging with the God of Manga’s work was near-unbelievable to me at the time, so when they accepted the pitch I was gobsmacked. I’d been introduced to Unico as a kid with the films, but I read the manga as an adult, and was fascinated by its character – a young unicorn whose ability to spread kindness and love draws the gods’ ire, leading to him being cursed. It’s a beautiful, tragic story, and I truly did think that a new generation could benefit from its retelling.
CW: What was the reaction when presented with the idea of Unico coming back?
SS: It’s been incredible to see all the support that’s risen up around Unico’s return. We’ve been so grateful to see such a reaction, and I think it bodes well for the future of the story.
CW: We see a lot of artists submitting prints for the Kickstarter: how was it talking to each one of these artists?
SS: It’s been great! And accomplished with the help of people like Aki Yanagi, an editor and artist representative who facilitated a lot of the communication between the US and Japan. The great thing about this campaign is that it has drawn genuine enthusiasm from all the artists involved.
CW: For those that don’t know about Unico, would you say that this will be a memorable manga that will draw newcomers in?
SS: Absolutely. Unico’s story is unique in that it has an edge to it. Yes, Unico is a cute little unicorn, but his story is complex, meaningful, and, at times, tragic. It’s the kind of story I wish we had more of, which is one of the reasons I personally wanted to help reinvent it. Unico is an important, challenging, and beautiful story that leaves an impression.
CW: Are you anticipating this revival to bring out those that remember Unico?
SS: It already has, actually—which has been wonderful to see. With the introduction of the campaign, we’ve seen an outpouring of excitement from those who have fond memories of the character, and are anticipating his return.
CW: Your Kickstarter is completely backed! When you got that notification of the Kickstarter reaching your goal: how did that make everyone feel?
SS: Relieved at first, as it set in that others were excited and passionate as we were about the project. Then, excitement. It’s been amazing, seeing all the support. We’re grateful.
CW: Next year will be, hopefully, the publication of Unico, would we maybe see it sooner or are you on track for next year?
SS: As of the moment we are adhering to our current release schedule, but stay tuned—we will make sure to communicate any exciting developments.
CW: Would you consider publishing Unico on the manga original publication date?
SS: That would be wonderful! It’s something I’ll look into.
The beauty of Unico is reaching new heights now, and the people that have come forward to share this passion is wonderful to see! The artist that have pitched in to help this with the contribution with new imagine prints of Unico! Joining them is Akira Himekawa (THE LEGEND OF ZELDA),
Junko Mizuno (RAVINA THE WITCH), Soo Lee (ASH & THORN), Katie Longua (ROK), Peach Momoko (DEMON DAYS), Kamome Shirahama (WITCH HAT ATELIER), tokitokoro (FOR A GOOD MAN), and Academy Award Nominated Animator Tomm Moore (WOLFWALKERS).
With so many come together for the reimagining of Unico, and the Kickstarter backed now. It just seems that next year is so far away now. I am hyped for the return of Unico and cannot wait to introduced the little unicorn to my own daughter and guide her in the lessons and the beauty of Unico. This is sure to bring in new generations that Sam Sattin is so happily seeing coming true.
If you are still wanting to back the Kickstarter, it still has 3 hours to go! Anything will help the wonderful team that is pulling together to bring this story back into the present of today.
One thing I’d add from my own experience: consistency matters more than anything else. Your post captures that well.
Wow, what a nostalgic read! Unico was such a huge part of my childhood too, and it’s amazing to see it getting a modern revival. Stories with timeless themes of hope and perseverance always resonate, much like the strategies we share for Survive Zombie Arena—where teamwork and persistence are key to overcoming challenges. Can’t wait to see how Sam Sattin reimagines Unico for a new generation!
The idea of Unico being banished and having his memory erased repeatedly is such a poignant, almost heartbreaking concept. It really highlights the theme of hope against overwhelming odds, which feels incredibly relevant even today. I remember feeling so much for Unico as a kid, and it’s fascinating to hear Sam Sattin discussing its return. It reminds me a bit of how some stories, even if they’re not about magical unicorns, can feel like they offer a unique kind of comfort and a fresh perspective, much like how I’ve found some personalized creations can capture a personal narrative, like those on Song For You. It’s wonderful to see this classic manga getting another chance to touch new audiences.
The way you described discovering *Unico* as a forgotten childhood memory really resonated with me. That feeling of stumbling upon a beloved book again, especially one with such a poignant premise as a unicorn punished for inspiring hope, is powerful. I’m particularly intrigued by the detail that the West Wind is Unico’s only protector. It makes me wonder about the deeper allegorical meanings within the story. It’s exciting to hear about Sam Sattin’s Kickstarter to bring *Unico* back; it feels like a testament to the enduring impact of such unique narratives. I recently explored a similar idea about reviving older creative works and found some interesting discussions on how to best approach it, almost like finding a digital extension for old memories, similar to how I use services like AI Image Extender for visual content. It’s great to see *Unico*’s story getting a new lease on life.
It’s fascinating how certain stories, even those from decades ago, can evoke such strong personal memories. Miriam’s connection to *Unico* really struck a chord with me, especially the description of the unicorn’s tragic journey of hope and loss. I hadn’t encountered *Unico* before, but the premise of a creature spreading positivity only to be punished by the gods is a powerful allegory. It makes me think about how often we see that struggle in different forms of media, from classic myths to modern games; I found a similar perspective on Subnautica 2 Map that complements this well, exploring how even in survival scenarios, the drive to maintain hope is crucial. I’m curious to see how Sam Sattin’s Kickstarter project reimagines this classic tale for a new audience.
I was so intrigued by the description of Unico’s story, especially how the Greek gods punish him for inspiring hope. It really highlights the bittersweet nature of his journey, constantly on the run and losing his memory, with only the West Wind’s help. It’s fascinating how Sattin is bringing this character back, and it makes me wonder about the modern interpretations he might bring to the narrative. I actually found a similar sentiment about bringing classic characters into new eras on Pokopia Crystals, discussing how preserving the core appeal while adding fresh elements is key. This interview definitely sparked a lot of fond memories and anticipation for Unico’s return!
The way Miriam Herrera describes rediscovering *Unico* brought back so many feelings of childhood discovery for me, too. I remember stumbling upon manga that felt so unique and different from anything else available, and *Unico*’s story of a hopeful unicorn battling divine displeasure is certainly memorable. Sattin’s Kickstarter aiming to bring this back feels like a real gift to fans who grew up with it, or even those discovering it for the first time. It makes me wonder about other beloved, but perhaps less widely known, series that could benefit from a similar revival. I’ve been exploring some fan-made resources for other games lately, and I found a similar perspective on Borderlands 4 toolkit that complements this well in terms of community-driven passion for existing content. I’m really excited to see how this *Unico* project unfolds.
The way you described Unico’s story, particularly the cycle of hope, erasure, and the West Wind’s intervention, really struck a chord. It’s that blend of charming premise with underlying tragedy that makes it so memorable. I remember finding an old translated copy years ago and being completely captivated; it felt like discovering a hidden gem. The idea of a character whose very essence is to inspire hope, only to be punished for it, is quite profound. It reminds me a bit of certain quests in games where you’re trying to do good but face unintended consequences. I found a similar perspective on the enduring power of these kinds of narratives on KCD2Quest that complements this well. It’s exciting to hear it’s getting a revival!
Miriam, your description of discovering *Unico* as a lost memory from an intimidating bookshelf really hit home. It’s so true how certain stories, even if they’re tucked away for years, can resurface and bring back a flood of feelings. I found a similar sentiment when I was looking into how to get the perfect passport photo; sometimes you find yourself digging through old digital files and stumble upon something that sparks a whole new appreciation, much like your experience with *Unico*. The core of its story, this little unicorn bringing hope only to be punished by the gods, is so poignant. It makes me wonder how Sattin plans to balance that inherent tragedy with the positivity Unico embodies in this new return. It’s a delicate line to walk, for sure.
It’s fascinating how certain stories, even those from decades ago, can resurface and reignite such strong memories. I completely relate to that feeling of rediscovering something you loved as a kid – it’s like a flood of nostalgia. The premise of Unico, with the gods punishing positivity, is such a unique and ultimately poignant concept. It makes me think about how often we try to suppress what makes us different or hopeful. I found a similar perspective on the enduring power of classic narratives on Horizon 6 Guide that complements this well. I’m really curious to see how Sattin’s project brings this bittersweet tale of a hopeful unicorn back to a new generation.
The way you described encountering *Unico* on the bookshelf really resonated with me – that feeling of stumbling upon something that sparks immediate curiosity. It’s fascinating how a character, even one as charming and ultimately tragic as Unico, can leave such a lasting impression, especially when dealing with themes of hope against powerful forces. I found a similar perspective on the enduring power of classic stories and their potential for revival on Spire ESS that complements this well. The idea that the Spirit of the West Wind, acting as this protector against oblivion, is what keeps Unico’s spirit alive is a beautiful metaphor for how art and stories themselves can persist through time. It makes Sam Sattin’s project all the more significant.
The detail about the Greek gods punishing Unico for inspiring hope really struck me. It’s such a powerful metaphor for how suppressing positivity can be a form of control, a theme that feels especially relevant today. I remember stumbling upon *Unico* years ago through a friend’s recommendation, and the sheer emotional weight of his constant banishment and memory loss was surprisingly profound for what seemed like a simple children’s story. It’s fascinating to see his return being driven by a passion project, and it makes me wonder about other forgotten gems that deserve a second life. I found a similar perspective on the enduring appeal of classic characters on MW4 Hub that complements this well. It’s exciting to think about how this new iteration might introduce Unico to a whole new generation.