Been looking at loads of samurai related information the last day or two and learned loads already! (not 3D yet)
I'm going for the mass market cutesy approach with a mix of manga thrown in.
Here's a rough sketch (photoshop on a bouncy train so apologies if its a bit all over):
https://www.flash-fx.net/images/3D/sa...concept_1a.gif
https://www.flash-fx.net/images/3D/sa...concept_1b.gif
depending on polycounts and time I might throw in a horse too and spend ages on textures to make it look more detailed...we'll see