Even in a series built on nostalgia and legacy, Cobra Kai saved one of its most delicate creative choices for the end: bringing Mr. Miyagi back on screen in a way that could resonate emotionally without feeling like a gimmick.
Mr. Miyagi’s on-screen return in Cobra Kai Season 6
In the final season of Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Mr. Miyagi reappears in a key dream sequence involving Daniel LaRusso—an emotional beat meant to reconnect Daniel with the philosophy that has guided him since The Karate Kid.
Because Pat Morita passed away in 2005, the series couldn’t bring the character back through a traditional performance, so the creative team built the moment using a carefully controlled production-and-post process.
According to the show’s creators, the sequence was assembled through a combination of techniques rather than relying on a single tool. They used a body double for physical presence and blocking, paired with a voice soundalike and AI-assisted voice work incorporating Morita’s existing recordings to better match the tone and cadence audiences associate with Mr. Miyagi.
The team has said they went through extensive refinement—multiple versions and adjustments—before landing on a final result that felt respectful and emotionally credible.
Why the creators chose this approach
The showrunners have emphasized that the decision wasn’t made as a novelty or a “gotcha” cameo. They framed it as a story-driven choice: a way to give Daniel a meaningful internal moment at the end of the series, not to rewrite canon or treat Miyagi as a plot device.
They also acknowledged the ethical considerations that come with recreating a late actor’s likeness and voice. The creators have said they sought permission through Morita’s representatives/estate and approached the sequence with extra caution, noting that industry standards around AI and digital likeness are evolving quickly.
In their telling, the goal was to honor Morita’s legacy—using modern production tools only insofar as they served the story and preserved the dignity of the character.
