Wu-Tang Clan Almost Had Their Own Anime Show

Wu-Tang Clan may be one of the most merchandised music acts in the world this side of KISS. But for all the different ways we’ve seen the Wu brand themselves, the legendary Shaolin swordsmen have also turned down some fairly interesting projects. According to Lawrence Guinness, senior VP of popular manga distributor Manga Entertainment, the Wu almost their own official anime called The Imperial Warriorback in the 1990s.

Guinness shared the story in an interview with AnimEigo.

Around the 33:30 mark of the interview, Guinness says that he pitched the series to Island Records founder Chris Blackwell as Wu-Tang “challenging the forces of evil through music and martial arts skills." But some Wu members didn’t sign off on it. He says it was “the project I was proudest of that never happened.”

Guinness also revealed that Manga was developing a Spice Girls anime series, as well. Things had reportedly gotten to “very advanced talks” with the British pop quintet and Guinness says he was sure that teen girls, “might’ve gone to the cinema to see this. In fact, I think you would’ve stood in a line for a long time to get in to see this. This was the vision. Look, if that’s not girl power in action, I don’t know what is.”

Wu-Tang Clan recently wrapped what was billed as the legendary nine-man crew’s farewell tour. Dubbed Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber, the trek began June 6 in Baltimore and ended July 18 in Philadelphia. The group was on the road with Run the Jewels.