For more than a decade, rumors have swirled about a planned anime series called Furiosa, a companion to the iconic film “Mad Max: Fury Road.” What's interesting is that this anime idea was made in conjunction with the development of Fury Road, led by director George Miller and writer Mahiro Maeda.
Recently, during a Q&A session following a screening of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga at IMAX headquarters near Los Angeles, Miller shed light on the project's development process.
He revealed that while the anime was adapted into a live-action film, small fragments from its early stages still exist. This remnant comes from a character sketch by Maeda, a famous anime artist and creator of the Fury Road concept.
Miller explained that the script for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was completed even before filming on Fury Road began. The prequel tells Furiosa's backstory, chronicling her journey from childhood captivity to becoming the formidable Governor Furiosa.
The cast and crew received this detailed script to ensure continuity and coherence in the storytelling.
Surprisingly, the only element retained from the anime concept found its place in the final Furiosa movie: a special accessory sported by Chris Hemsworth's villain, Dementus. Dementus, a menacing wasteland lord, adorns himself with a teddy bear chained to his body.
This weathered bear, a testament to its survival in the harsh wasteland, is important in the story. Its placement on Dementus's vehicle panel hints at its importance, making the audience curious about its origin and meaning, which is best understood when viewing Furiosa.