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, Atsuro Watabe

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shô Aikawa	...	Shin'ichi Ichikawa / Zeburâman
Kyôka Suzuki	...	Kana Asano
Atsuro 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

non comic book superhero | teacher | superhero | school | loss of father | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 August 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Человек-зебра

Filming Locations:

Mitsukaido City, Ibaraki, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

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

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".

---

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).

---

Quotes

Shin'ichi Ichikawa: Striping evil!

---

Connections

Followed by Zeburâman: Zebura Shiti no gyakushû (2010)

User Reviews

Fun Miike comedy with good special effects

Well, you probably know by now whether you like Takashi Miike or not, so that's probably the first thing to consider. If you do, Zebraman is sure to please, being a very fun yet dark spoof of superhero films with high production values and the ever-wonderful Sho Aikawa.

There's nothing in Zebraman that would class as particularly shocking or offensive, if you've only seen ICHI THE KILLER or VISITOR Q before and that's your only objection to Miike, but the mix of dark, deadpan humour and absurd silliness probably aren't going to win any new converts. It's a very Japanese film in style and tone, and though still doubtless low budget by Hollywood standards, has impressive special effects and a good feeling of quality. Except when it doesn't want to :)

If you're an undecided, Zebraman may well be one of the best Miike films to sample to help make that decision :)