Cobra Kai creators explain that the Legacy character reports: “We are paying homage to a hero”

The final season of Cobra Kai It offers a sincere surprise for a long time Karate Kid Fans, a special apparition of Mr. Miyagi, who also appeared in the previous season.

Since the legendary Pat Morita They died over two decades ago, many spectators could wonder how the series managed to bring it back. Now, creators Josh Heald AND Jon Hurwitz They revealed the process behind this emotional tribute.

Rather than relying entirely on CGI, the team used Cobra KaiCombat choreographer Don Lee like a double body. His movements and build Morita closely, making the physicality of the performance authentic.

“It was built similarly to Pat Morita,” Hurwitz said in Variety. “It was Don’s greatest honor to be able to interpret one of his greatest heroes.”

To recreate Miyagi’s face, the team avoided archival movies and instead used Deepfake technology with the help of an VFX company.

Heald explained: “They start producing and we give many notes. We have gone through 50 iterations and then we bring an actor of the vocal sounalike to deliver the lines … then apply a filter to which uses the archival audio from Pat Morita to make that item as close as possible.

Despite the technological approach, Heald stressed that it was not a question of recreating death, but rather honoring his inheritance.

“We are paying homage to a hero,” he said. The scene itself has a significant purpose: to allow Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) to find the closure and finally greet his beloved mentor.

Hurwitz added: “Ralph has loved the idea that he and Pat share the time of the screen together with the new technologies we have. We loved the idea that Daniel needed his last lesson from Miyagi.”

After six seasons and 65 episodes, Cobra Kai has reached its conclusion, bringing the Karate Kid Full circle saga.

Cobra Kai Season 6, part 3 is now streaming on Netflix. What did you think of Mr. Miyagi’s return?