 |
TV and Film
|
|
|
|
Shiina Ringo sells us gum; does moonwalk by Tim Sheehy, 11/17/2009 #TV and Film: With Michael Jackson's This Is It taking in nearly $200 million world-wide, it's no surprise to me that people are continuing to pay homage to the man, despite his odd behavior in recen... |
 |
6 comments
|
The Japanese Simpsons sell lemonade by Dale North, 11/17/2009 #TV and Film: The Simpsons. You'd know the voices of this famous yellow family anywhere, right?Well, try this Japanese commercial for Kirin's lemon-y and vitamin-y beverage C.C. Lemon on for size. How crazy do... |
|
|
Check out the trailer for horror flick Higanjima by Colette Bennett, 11/16/2009 #TV and Film: Mmm, me and my Asian horror films, You already know I can't get enough of them, and when I heard Koji Matsumoto's manga Higanjima was to get the live action treatment I was pretty psyched as I al... |
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 11/07 - 11/13 by Brad Rice, 11/16/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome faithful readers, to the latest edition of Rock the Charts, where we let you know the goings on of the Japanese box office. This week, we're seeing foreign films poke their heads into the... |
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's box office numbers 10/31 - 11/06 by Brad Rice, 11/11/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome once again to Rock the Charts, where we give you the latest and greatest films over at the Japanese box office. This week, it's no surprise that Michael Jackson topped the charts, s... |
|
|
Spielberg and Smith's Oldboy dead, otaku relieved by Ben Huber, 11/10/2009 #TV and Film: Around the world, a collective sigh of relief is breathed by otaku everywhere. Steven Spielberg and Will Smith had been conspiring to remake the Korean film Oldboy (which was based on a Japanese ... |
|
|
Tokujō Kabachi!! Kabachitare! 2 gets a drama adaption by Colette Bennett, 11/10/2009 #TV and Film: I have such a girl-crush on Maki Horikita. She's literally so cute I can hardly stand it (plus she was in the first j-drama I ever watched, so I've had a soft spot for her ever since). I was thri... |
|
|
Mamoru Oshii's new film opening in San Francisco by Josh Tolentino, 11/07/2009 #TV and Film: Musashi Miyamoto is the original dual-wielder. Founding the Hyoho Niten Ichiryu swordsmanship style and writing the strategy treatise Book of the Five Rings, Musashi is one of the classic great w... |
|
|
Yasai no Yosei: N.Y. Salad to get a 3d feature film by Tim Sheehy, 11/06/2009 #TV and Film: Yoshitaka Amano's Toy Story-esque story about the secret life of vegetables in a New York kitchen will be making its way to the big screen. This is actually the first I'm hearing about ... |
|
|
Check out this delicious Liar Game: The Final Stage trailer by Colette Bennett, 11/06/2009 #TV and Film: You know how I am about anything that features Matsuda Shota -- I'm there before you can even finish saying his name. Because of this little obsession, I've brought you any and all news on the ne... |
|
|
HBO bringing Band of Brothers to The Pacific by Josh Tolentino, 11/04/2009 #TV and Film: If you're into games and shows based on World War II, but are tired of storming the beaches of Normandy, HBO seems to be inviting folks to storm the beaches of Okinawa. Its new miniseries The P... |
|
|
|
Quack! Aflac commercial gets CD single release by Dale North, 11/03/2009 #TV and Film: We've been obsessed with Aflac Japan's strange commercial and music for some time now. While Aflac USA has cute advertisements, they can't beat a duck in a cat suit dancing and singing. "Ny... |
|
|
Ponyo comes to DVD next March by Colette Bennett, 11/02/2009 #TV and Film: Ponyo! Just the sight of her little face makes me feel happy. Soon, I can get all of it I like, because the film is coming to DVD next March. The Ghibliwiki reports that the regular DVD will be $... |
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 10/24 - 10/30 by Brad Rice, 11/02/2009 #videos: Welcome once again, faithful readers, to another rendition of Rock the Charts, where we highlight the latest and greatest films in the Japanese box office. This week, we've got a couple of new fi... |
|
|
JapanaTen: The top ten Asian-horror flicks to watch at Halloween by Colette Bennett, 10/30/2009 #TV and Film: The first hint of J-horror that ever crept into my life was a remake: the American version of Ringu, called The Ring. While a lot of fans of the source film turned up their nose at the project, t... |
|
|
Some very good reasons to watch Japanese television by Dale North, 10/30/2009 #TV and Film: Idols are one thing (that I love), but Japanese television is filled with beautiful faces. The talent, or as they say it, tarento, is something I never grow tired of looking at. And seeing as how... |
|
|
Toho Cinemas says: Hate Inglourious Basterds, get your money back by Colette Bennett, 10/28/2009 #TV and Film: I didn't go see Quentin Tarentino's latest ode to cinema for a simple and possibly insane reason: the purposeful misspelling in the title drives me absolutely crazy, and even Brad Pitt's handsome... |
|
|
|
Meet Dr. Nakamats, the world's oldest Japanese inventor by Colette Bennett, 10/27/2009 #TV and Film: I am sure there is many a wacky scientist in the world, but Dr. Nakamats is certainly in a league of his own. He speaks very calmly, so when he says he's 144 years old, well, it's a little ... |
|
|
First Impressions: Tokyo Dogs by Colette Bennett, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: Summary: Two very different cops are challenged to solve the mystery of the appearance of a young girl with no memory ... but they both have their own baggage to deal with too. The funny thing ab... |
|
|
Madhouse's Mai Mai Miracle is a gorgeous trip into fantasy by Colette Bennett, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: If you're even remotely familiar with the works of Studio Ghibli, you're already looking at these photos and thinking "Looks like Ghibli". There may be a reason for that: the film, call... |
|
|
|
Dog crazy! Inubaka manga gets a live-action movie by Dale North, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: My dreams have come true. Well, kind of. Inubaka (Crazy for Dogs) is my favorite manga. Hands down. No contest. It meets all the Dale criteria: It's kind of silly, romantic, sometimes... |
|
|
Ponyo passes the $15 million mark, proves to be highest-grossing Miyazaki work in the US by Brad Rice, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: We're talking a lot about box offices today, aren't we? Well, over the weekend word came in that Ponyo hit the $15 million mark in US theatres, pulling itself above Spirited Away's $10 million gr... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 10/17 - 10/23 by Brad Rice, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome once again, faithful readers, to Rock the Charts, where we put on a show of Japan's top-grossing movies for the week. This week, we're seeing the debut of The Rebirth of Buddha, the Happi... |
|
|
Astro Boy debuts at #6 at the box office, not looking too hot by Brad Rice, 10/26/2009 #TV and Film: Well, it looks like Astro Boy has shown his true colors, coming in at #6 on its opening weekend, with $7 million. Also debuting over the weekend was Saw VI, which grossed $14 million, along with ... |
|
|
|
Kazuo Umezu gets his own documentary by Brad Rice, 10/26/2009 #videos: Kazuo Umezu, one of the elder statesmen of the Japanese horror manga scene, is getting his own documentary. The man is something of a fascinating subject to me. I repeatedly read about him over a... |
|
|
Hey New Yorkers, watch Oblivion Island October 30th by Josh Tolentino, 10/25/2009 #TV and Film: Looking for something to do around Halloween, but too far away from the Yokai lecture at New People in San Francisco? How about watching Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, a movie that... |
|
|
Ghost in the Shell live-action film gets a screenwriter by Josh Tolentino, 10/23/2009 #TV and Film: Given that the mainstream movie world's latest objective has been to butcher your childhood of late, it's not surprising to know that there's a Ghost in the Shell live-action adaptation in the wo... |
|
|
Assault Girls already being eyed for a US remake by Colette Bennett, 10/20/2009 #TV and Film: I know what you're thinking: "US remake already? Didn't I just see trailers for this movie?" Yeah, you did. I guess Hollywood's eagle eye is sharper than ever. Twitchfilm is reporting t... |
|
|
|
Worse than blackface: Trickster blackmask Japanese singer by Dale North, 10/20/2009 #TV and Film: There's no way I could condense the content into a headline. And singer Aki Yashiro being in blackface (well, blackmask) isn't even the point. It's that Japan is obsessed with painting their fac... |
|
|
Man plays Ponyo theme song on his hand flute for the peoples' enjoyment by Brad Rice, 10/20/2009 #weird news: Damn, why can't I be like this guy? I bet he gets all the ladies with his anime hand-flute performances. [Via Japan Probe] |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 10/10 - 10/16 by Brad Rice, 10/19/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome once again, faithful readers, to another edition of Rock the Charts! This week, we've finally got seven films debuting at once in Japan. Wait wait wait. Seven? Really? After several weeks... |
|
|
Dramataku: Majo Saiban by Colette Bennett, 10/15/2009 #TV and Film: While we wait it out for those sexy-sounding new dramas that are coming this Winter, we need some older stuff to watch to keep us busy. Or at least, I know I do. I'm still playing catch up with t... |
|
|
J-drama Buzzer Beat sweeps Drama Grand Prix Awards by Colette Bennett, 10/15/2009 #TV and Film: Yes, J-drama fans, Japanator told you Buzzer Beat was a must-watch while it was still airing this season. It was a perfect mix of light hearted romance, just enough sports not to be a total bore,... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 10/03 - 10/09 by Brad Rice, 10/12/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome once again, faithful readers, as we explore what's hip and new at the Japanese box office. This week, the Japanese charts aren't looking so hot. There's been no strong film to debut in th... |
|
|
|
Lock and load: time for the full Assault Girls trailer by Brad Rice, 10/10/2009 #videos: While you're sitting back and relaxing during this rainy weekend, why not watch two minutes worth of beautiful girls with guns shoot down sand whales? Written and directed by Mamoru Oshii, the ma... |
|
|
The top ten most anticipated Fall dramas are... by Colette Bennett, 10/09/2009 #TV and Film: Well, you know I get worked up every time a new season of drama is on the way -- there's so much to look forward to! Oricon asked people which ones they were looking most forward to this Fall, an... |
|
|
|
Funky Forest, Yoshino's home room by Tim Sheehy, 10/09/2009 #weird news: Funky Forest ~The First Contact~ is a rather unique film in that it actually has three directors and consists of a 21 short episodes that intersect,&n... |
|
|
Watercooler talk: Has a script for the live-action Death Note film been leaked? by Brad Rice, 10/08/2009 #ZOMGWTFBBQ: I know you've got a minute. Work's just getting out, so why not catch this rumor on the way out, so you can talk about it over dinner with the wife. Unless you're just hiding out in the basement ... |
|
|
Gantz live-action stars Arashi's Nino and Death Note's L by Dale North, 10/08/2009 #TV and Film: Gantz, one of the most bad-assed things ever put to paper (anime was okay) is going live-action, and it seems that they've roped in some high-profile Japanese talent to star in the movie.First of... |
|
|
Weekly Otaku Debate: Nodame Cantabile vs Hana Yori Dango by Tim Sheehy, 10/07/2009 #TV and Film: Considering the scope of the last debate, I thought it'd be fair to give it a bit extra time. After all, I felt it'd be pretty tough to choose just one of Miyazaki's masterpieces. Sure enough, so... |
|
|
|
Daisuke Miura's 'Boys on the Run' looks awkwardly hilarious by Colette Bennett, 10/07/2009 #TV and Film: Boys on the Run originates from a manga from Hanazawa Kengo about a twenty nine year old virgin who works as a vending machine prize salesman and spends most of his free time obsessing over... |
|
|
|
Happiness Realization Party gets its own anime film by Brad Rice, 10/07/2009 #videos: Oh my stars and bars.Do you remember the Happiness Realization Party? Well, their main religious branch has its own anime film going on a roadshow on October 17th. The film, The Rebirth of Buddha... |
|
|
Leah Dizon makes her acting debut in EXILE's newest project by Colette Bennett, 10/06/2009 #TV and Film: I can't believe that I'm writing up a piece of news about Leah Dizon instead of our own Dale North, considering the hardon he has for her, but hey, I don't mind. If he sees it later and faps to t... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 9/26 - 10/02 by Brad Rice, 10/06/2009 #TV and Film: Welcome, faithful readers, to another rendition of Rock the Charts. This week, we're seeing a lot of titles hold steady, as nothing new has really debuted in Japan in the past week. Instead, 20th... |
|
|
Cast announced for live-action Space Battleship Yamato by Tim Sheehy, 10/05/2009 #TV and Film: It seems we have a few new details regarding the upcoming live-action adaptation of the classic anime Space Battleship Yamato. While it was previously announced that actor and SMAP member, Takuya... |
|
|
Ryuhei Kitamura's Versus to get a blu-ray release--really? by Tim Sheehy, 10/05/2009 #TV and Film: It seems as though Ryuhei Kitamura's Versus will be getting a blu-ray release. I'm not even sure why this is happening, but it is. Then again, someone thought giving Street Fi... |
|
|
|
LOTTE's new Fit CM is too adorable for words by Colette Bennett, 10/05/2009 #TV and Film: Seriously ... I want to watch it all day long. And learn the dance. |
|
|
Winter drama rumors include Gokusen 4, Code Blue 2 and more by Colette Bennett, 10/03/2009 #TV and Film: Having just watched the finale of my favorite drama this season, Buzzer Beat, I feel a little empty. Maybe it's because it's always hard to see the shows end that you love the most, but hey, ther... |
|
|
Haruhi/Lucky Star director Yamakan taking on a live action pic by Brad Rice, 10/02/2009 #TV and Film: It looks like Yutaka Yamamoto, the director best known for making Lucky Star funny and dazzling us with The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi -- oh, and don't forget Kannagi -- will be tackling a liv... |
|
|
Studio Ghibli announces new project, Taketori Monogatari by Colette Bennett, 09/30/2009 #TV and Film: If you live in the US, you may have gotten your last Studio Ghibli fix as recently as Ponyo was just in theatres, but already something new has cropped up on the horizon for you to look forward t... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekly box office numbers for 9/19-9/25 by Brad Rice, 09/28/2009 #videos: Welcome once again, faithful readers, to the latest charts of the Japanese box office! This week, we're seeing 20th Century Boys hold onto the top slot with a death-like grip, despite a 28% drop ... |
|
|
|
New trailer for First Squad really makes me yearn for more World War II anime by Brad Rice, 09/24/2009 #videos: Man, Studio 4C gets around. We've talked about First Squad before, and how batshit insane it is for its zombies and Nazi crusaders packed into a World War II epic. Now that the film's Russian rel... |
|
|
|
Ghost in the Shell 2.0 to get a theatrical release in the UK by Brad Rice, 09/24/2009 #TV and Film: Lucky Brits!In all fairness, our European compatriots often get the short end of the stick when it comes to anime and videogame releases, so it's great to hear that they'll be getting a theatrica... |
|
|
Cowboy Bebop script in rewrite phase, could've cost $500 million to make by Brad Rice, 09/24/2009 #TV and Film: Well, at least screenwriter Peter Craig spared no part of his imagination when it came to writing the Cowboy Bebop script. According to MTV, he recently handed in the script, which Keanu and the ... |
|
|
|
More sexy Cup Noodle ramen commercials by Tim Sheehy, 09/21/2009 #videos: It seems that with Dale and Colette on their way to Tokyo, the site has been seriously lacking some sexy today. So, I'm going to bring that back with a couple more commercials from the latest ser... |
|
|
Arashi to take over NTV for an entire week by Tim Sheehy, 09/21/2009 #TV and Film: A few months back, I talked about Arashi's recent 10 year anniversary "best of" album. With the actual anniversary of their debut album coming up, the idol group is set to storm the air... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekend box office numbers for 9/12-9/18 by Brad Rice, 09/21/2009 #TV and Film: My subscription to Variety seems to be lagging behind more and more. It's like the mailman has gone ahead and stolen it, then slipped it back into my box a few days later when he's done reading i... |
|
|
|
Get a peek at the first CM for upcoming drama Tokyo Dogs by Colette Bennett, 09/20/2009 #TV and Film: About a month ago, I heard news of a new Fuji TV drama coming this winter featuring two of my favorite boys, Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro, alongside the beautiful Yoshitaka Yuriko. Called ... |
|
|
|
Foreigners discuss the problems they have with Japan by Brad Rice, 09/18/2009 #videos: I'm really used to foreigners being shown as fools on Japanese TV. There are the small groups of foreigners who make the rounds on the Japanese TV circuit and speak for all of Western civilizatio... |
|
|
A farewell to manhood: Half of Japanese men sit down to pee by Josh Tolentino, 09/18/2009 #weird news: It truly seems to be a poor season for manliness in Japan, as informal surveys revealed that nearly half of Japanese men have admitted to sitting down to do Number One.While in principle I oppose... |
|
|
|
I've got to get some of this facewash! by Dale North, 09/18/2009 #TV and Film: I'd imagine that if you spend enough, you can get some pretty good facial cleansers out there that do all manner of things to your skin. Some make you look younger. Some make your skin clearer. ... |
|
|
|
Damn, let the poor girl talk (Noriko Sakai) by Dale North, 09/18/2009 #TV and Film: You know what happened, right? Drug charges for possession, a massive scandal surrounding the Japanese singer and actress. Now she apologizes in front of the press. How do you know this is big n... |
|
|
|
I want these slippers by Dale North, 09/17/2009 #TV and Film: I swear to God; I would never take them off. In other news, it looks like Otousan is doing fine after his accident. |
|
|
Ryuhei Kitamura to tackle Stephen King next? by Brad Rice, 09/17/2009 #TV and Film: Some of you may know Ryuhei Kitamura from his debut work, Versus, or perhaps from his work as director of Godzilla: Final Wars (a true masterpiece). The man's films are about straightforward acti... |
|
|
'Footage has been seen' for Cameron's Battle Angel Alita project by Brad Rice, 09/17/2009 #ZOMGWTFBBQ: I have this inherent belief that Hollywood can make good adaptations of some of my favorite properties in the game, anime and manga world -- it's just that the wrong people get to the projects fi... |
|
|
Japanator Promoted Story: My First Time: Nodame Cantibile by Brad Rice, 09/16/2009 #TV and Film: [Rewarp tackled our Monthly Musing topic with a J-drama, joining Colette in the ranks of understanding their transformative power. Now, enjoy the story and the overbearing need to watch the show ... |
|
|
|
Learn about medieval Japanese hygiene vicariously with SMAP by Josh Tolentino, 09/15/2009 #weird news: Those who yearn for the "good old days" may best remember what it was like way back then, as SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi demonstrated, reenacting medieval Japanese bathing practices... |
|
|
|
Aki Hoshino's screams of ecstasy over health drink by Dale North, 09/15/2009 #TV and Film: If you want someone to push your product in Japan, mega idol Aki Hoshino is always a good choice. Her emotive face and her...other assets are sure to draw attention. She's still the top-rated id... |
|
|
X-Men Origins: Wolverine premieres in Japan; now it can suck in Japanese too by Tim Sheehy, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: So X-men Origins: Wolverine recently premiered in Japan, where I'm sure everyone absolutely loved it because of the tall gaijin who starred in it. I've heard so many bad things about it, that I'v... |
|
|
Beat Takeshi returns to direct a new Yakuza film; promises not to include an obstacle course by Tim Sheehy, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: Takeshi Kitano is, to put it simply, the man. He's done pretty much everything over the years, from painting, and writing, to acting, directing, and even developing games. His last major success ... |
|
|
|
Japanese Jackson fans compete for the moonwalking speed record, fail to make blackface fashionable by Josh Tolentino, 09/14/2009 #weird news: After viewing the above video, I think that it's a good thing the show Champions isn't based in the US, else it might have caught a lot of flak for its recent celebration of Michael Jackson's l... |
|
|
Japanese TV bondage knot demonstration is sexy, strange by Dale North, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: The folks at Sankaku Complex were kind enough to share with us the above images of bondage knot tying from Japanese TV. Thanks for that. But they didn't share with you the rest of the important d... |
|
|
|
Never has Cup Noodle seemed so sexy by Dale North, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: Cup Noodle is yummy, but it's more of a snack for me, and less of an object of desire. Now? Never have I been attracted to a Cup Noodle until now. The adorable Erika Toda (Death Note, Liar Game, ... |
|
|
|
Rock the charts: Japan's weekend box office numbers for 8/28 - 8/30 by Brad Rice, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: Japan is one of the many countries that readily eat up Hollywood's exports, in part because Japanese films often fall towards the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to Asian cinema. So, it al... |
|
|
|
Live From Tokyo explores the local music scene of Tokyo by Brad Rice, 09/14/2009 #TV and Film: A lot of interesting music comes out of Japan, in case you haven't noticed already. But how does it get made? Well, Jean Snow pointed out a new documentary called Live From Tokyo, which takes a l... |
|
