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:

Show Aikawa, Kyôka Suzuki, Atsuro Watabe

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Show Aikawa	...	Shin'ichi Ichikawa / Zeburâman (as Shô Aikawa)
Kyôka Suzuki	...	Kana Asano / Zebra Nurse
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
Yoji 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 | character name as title | zebraman character | scene of the crime | teacher | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

---

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

Spoofs Kamen Rider (1971)

User Reviews

70 cult classic television, now a takashi miike film...

Zebraman is certainly not Takashi Miikes best film (the best is Dead or Alive 2) but it is still worth your time if you are a Miike fan. It is also a good choice for the classic 70's cult show Kikaiaduc(forgive me on my terrible spelling) which is well portrayed in the film. The film is about a struggling junior high teacher having problems at home. His only escape from reality is to imitate his favorite TV show from when he was a kid "Zebraman". Like all Miike films the costume design is excellent, so trust me on this you will love the zebraman costume. But alas the film lacks the trademark Miike feel. I'm not talking about the violence (which if your interested in i'de suggest anything but this one)but the film work. This film made me feel like I was watching a made for TV movie (stylistically)

But either way I'd suggest the film, just to say you saw it...

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

15 August 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zebraman

Filming Locations:

Mitsukaido City, Ibaraki, Japan

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,070,596

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