Zebraman (2004)

A down-and-out school teacher receives the calling to become the real life personification of an old television superhero, Zebraman.

Director:

Takashi Miike

Writer:

Kankurô Kudô (screenplay)

Stars:

Shô Aikawa, Kyôka Suzuki, Atsurô Watabe

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shô Aikawa	...	Shin'ichi Ichikawa / Zeburâman
Kyôka Suzuki	...	Kana Asano
Atsurô Watabe	...	Oikawa at the Defence Agency
Yui Ichikawa	...	Midori, Shin'ichi's daughter
Kôen Kondô	...	Segawa
Naoki Yasukôchi	...	Shinpei Asano
Makiko Watanabe
Keisuke Mishima
Yu Tokui
Yôji Tanaka
Arata Furuta	...	Owner of Candy Shop
Kumiko Asô	...	Newscaster
Akira Emoto	...	Kani-Otoko
Yoshihiko Hakamada
Ryô Iwamatsu	...	Kanda

Storyline

Being a failure as a teacher and a family man, Shinichi tries to escape everyday life by dressing up as "Zebraman", the superhero. Although the TV series was canceled after only 6 episodes, this cannot stop him from acting out his escape fantasy in a self made zebra-suit. He gets more then he could ever wish for when his black-and-white dressed alter-ego seems to be the only thing to stand between absolute (green) evil and a happy ending.

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | superhero | school | violent child | alien | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 August 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Mitsukaido City, Ibaraki, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$224,832 (Japan) (13 February 2004)

Gross:

$1,012,926 (Japan) (27 February 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bingo Y.K., DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the introductory section of the film, Shinichi Ichikawa/Zebraman, is watching a parody of Super Sentai/Power Rangers where the hero fights Sadako Yamamura from "The Ring". Ironically, this seems to predict the plot of the 2007 film, "Kamen Rider: The Next", which features a Sadako-like antagonist and a plot similar to "The Ring".

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, the Colonel (the military officer in charge of the task force that is investigating the alien invasion through out the movie) refers to President Bush in his phone call when the movie takes place in 2010 (two years after Bush's last term in office).

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Quotes

Shin'ichi Ichikawa: Striping evil!

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Connections

Spoofs Ring (1998)

User Reviews

ZEBRAMAN is brilliant.

I saw Zebraman for the first, but surely NOT the last time today. I had read that it was a "spoof of the super hero genre", but I strongly disagree; Zebraman IS a true superhero, and this film is not a spoof of any kind. Sure, there is very mild slapstick, but it works perfectly well. The heart of the film is tender and hopeful, and at the end I was left in that rare state in which I could deny no possibilities. I was laughing and crying at once, knowing no boundary between the two. I love this film. The message is a simple one, but given the age in which we live, vitally important: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. I will offer no details regarding the plot or the technical innovation of the work; I only hope that this wonderful film will be seen by all, with a truly open heart. Thank you Takashi Miike...