Lots and lots of trailers linked by the fact that they are manga adaptations. This post was put together with a D’Espairs Ray, the Nico Nico Chorus as well as some Madoka Magica covers for background music.
The Japanese film charts look similar to previous weeks with A Ghost of a Chance and Kaiji 2 still in the top three but there is a new number 1 in the shape of Kaibutsu-Kun.
Kaibutsu-Kun The Movie
Release Date: 26th November 2011
Running Time: 103 min.
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Writer: Fujio A. Fujita (manga), Masafumi Nishida
Starring: Satoshi Ono, Umika Kawashima, Tatsuomi Hamada, Norito Yashima, Ryuhei Ueshima, Choi Hong-Man, Takeshi Kaga
Kaubutsu-kun (Satoshi Ono) is the prince of monster land. To prove that he is a worthy heir to his father’s (Takashi Kaga) throne he goes to earth accompanied by his friends Dracular (Norito Yashima), Wolfman (Ryuhei Ueshima) and Franken (Choi Hong-Man) to visit his friends Utako (Umika Kawashima) and Hiroshi (Tatsuomi Hamada)
This looks bad… but it’s in 3Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ai to Makoto (Love and Sincerity)
Release Date: 16th June, 2012
Running Time: N/A
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Ikki Kajiwara (manga)
Starring: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Emi Takei
Fresh from Phoenix Wright, Miike’s latest film is based on Ikki Kajiwara’s romance manga of the same name which ran in Shonen magazine from 1973 to 1976 with illustrations from Takumi Nagayasu. It received the live-action television treatment in 1974 and three films which makes Miike’s effort the fourth. It stars Satoshi Tumabuki (Villain) and Emi Takei who will be in the forthcoming Rouroni Kenshin live-action movie.
Troubled high school student Makoto Taiga (Satoshi Tsumabuki) meets the innocent student Ai Saotome (Emi Takei) in a love story.
The Parasite Doctor Suzune: Genesis × Evolution
Release Date: 26th November, 2011
Running Time: N/A
Director: Ryu Kaneda
Writer: Haruki (manga), Yoshinobu Fujioka
Starring: Rei Yoshii, Megumi Kagurazaka, Yukijiro Hotaru, Houka Kinoshita
This film was released last week and is based on a mobile phone manga by Haruki. Reading a synopsis I saw a sequel to David Cronenberg’s film Shivers.
A city is infested with parasites that infect humans and increase the power oand sexual desires of their hosts. Doctor Suzune (Rei Yoshii) is an expert who works to kill the parasites finds that the parasites were created by a demon organisation and that her missing father is connected.
Ranma ½
Release Date: 9th December, 2011
Running Time: N/A
Director: N/A
Writer: Rumiko Takahashi (manga), Yoshihiro Izumi
Starring: Yui Aragaki, Kento Kaku, Natsuna Watanabe, Katsuhisa Namase, Kento Kaku, Arata Furuta
NTV have created a live-action television series based on legendary manga-ka Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½, a gender-bending martial arts romantic-comedy. I get the feeling that this will be like Arakawa Under the Bridge – hilarious manga/anime whimsical as a live-action series that makes you wonder if it was really worth it and where all of the original ideas have gone.
Saotome Ranma (Kento Kaku) is due to inherit his father’s martial arts dojo and marry Akane (Yui Aragaki). Sounds nice but the two have a love hate relationship – specifically, she hates boys. Things get even worse after Ranma falls into a magical spring named The Spring of the Drowned Girl whilst training at a cursed training ground in China. He now changes into a cute red haired girl (Natsuna Watanabe) whenever cold water is splashed on him. Whenever warm water is splashed on him he reverts back to being male. Just as bad is the fact that his father Genma (Arata Furuta) also fell into a spring and changes into a panda bear. The two must find a secret spring that can cure their curse if they are to resume their lives but the female Ranma gains a series of admirers.
Detective Conan
The legendary diminutive detective must stop a mad bomber who threatens to blow up a soccer/football stadium hosting a match between Ganba Osaka and Tokyo Spirits. To do this he must decipher a series of coded messages.
Thermae Romae
Release Date: 28th April 2012
Running Time: N/A
Director: Hideki Takeuchi
Writer: Mari Yamazaki (manga), Shogo Muto
Starring: Hiroshi Abe, Aya Ueto, Masachika Ichimura, Kai Shishido, Kazuki Kitamura
The live-action adaptation of Mari Yamazaki’s manga of the same name sees Roman bath house architect Lucius (Hiroshi Abe) travel through time to modern day Japan where he meets an aspiring manga artist named Mami (Ueto) and takes inspiration from modern day Japanese baths. It was partly filmed in Cinecitta in Rome with Ichimura playing Emperor Hadrian (he of the wall fame) and Shishido as Antoninus the man who would succeed Hardrian as emperor. Sounds fun.
Genkinahito 