Yōkai Ningen Bem

Yōkai Ningen Bem
妖怪人間ベム
(Yōkai Ningen Bemu)
Genre Horror, Adventure
Anime television series
Directed by Noboru Ishiguro
Hideo Wakabayashi
Written by Akira Adachi
Studio Daichi Dōga
Original network Fuji TV
Original run 7 October 1968 – 31 March 1969
Episodes 26
Anime television series
Directed by Hiroshi Harada
Written by Junki Takegami
Studio Studio Comet, NAS, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Original network Animax
English network
Original run 1 April 2006 – 7 October 2006
Episodes 26
Television drama
Original network NTV
Original run October 22, 2011 – December 24, 2011
Episodes 10
Live-action film
Released December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15)

Yōkai Ningen Bem (妖怪人間ベム, Yōkai Ningen Bemu, translated officially as Humanoid Monster Bem) is a 26 episode Japanese anime television series, which first aired on Fuji TV between October 7, 1968 and March 31, 1969, on its 19:30–20:00 timeslot.

The series was later remade into a second anime television series, which premiered in April 2006 in Japan on Animax, featuring a new cast, with a total of 26 episodes also produced.[1] The remake was also later aired by Animax across its other international networks, including its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia, for which Animax produced an English dub under the title Humanoid Monster Bem.[1] This dub was later aired on Animax's United States web channel on Crackle.com.

A live action television drama adaptation premiered on NTV on October 22, 2011.[2] A film was released on December 15, 2012.[3]

Plot

The plot of the series revolves around three yōkai (supernatural creatures), Bem, Bera and Bero, who arrive at a large coastal city and come across an evil atmosphere, which was brought about by immoral behavior by humans and mischief caused by monsters and yōkai. They therefore decide to stay in the city, fighting against other monsters and yōkai which attack humans, making a few friends along the way. Even though the three yōkai are often abused and discriminated against by other human beings due to their appearance, they still strive in protecting the human populace of the city from other monsters, one day hoping to become human beings in return for their good actions.

Characters

Bem
Voiced by: Kiyoshi Kobayashi (1968 Series) Kazuhiko Inoue (2006 Series)
Played by: Kazuya Kamenashi
The oldest looking of the trio is the leader. He uses a walking stick as a weapon in human form.
Bera
Voiced by: Hiroko Mori (1968 Series) Kaori Yamagata (2006 Series)
Played by: Anne Watanabe
The only female in the group and the most bad-tempered of the trio. She uses a whip as a weapon in human form.
Bero
Voiced by: Mari Shimizu (1968 Series) Ai Horanai (2006 Series)
Played by: Fuku Suzuki
The youngest looking and the most naive of the trio. He is the only one that doesn't use a weapon in human form.

Staff

Original series

  • Original concept: Akira Adachi
  • Screenplay: Akira Adachi
  • Directors: Noburo Ishiguro, Tadao Wakabayashi
  • Art: Shin Morikawa
  • Production: Daichi Dōga (later incorporated into Asatsu DK)

Cast

Theme songs

  • Opening: "Yōkai Ningen Bemu" (妖怪人間ベム) (lyrics: Daichi Dōga, composition and arrangement: Seishi Tanaka, performance: Honey Nights)
  • Ending theme: "Barro wa Tomodachi" (ベロは友だち, Bero wa Tomodachi, lit. Bero is a Friend) (lyrics: Daichi Dōga Bungei-bu, composition and arrangement: Masahiro Uno, performance: Toshiko Yamada, Otowa Yurikago Kai, Gekidan Komadori)

2006 remake

  • Original concept: Asatsu DK
  • Director: Hiroshi Harada
  • Series composition: Junki Takegami
  • Character design: Kazuhiko Shibuya
  • Chief animation director: Takeshi Yamazaki
  • Yōkai design creator: Naoki Ogiwara
  • Art directors: Shō Tensui, Tsutomu Nishikura, Shinji Kawai
  • Primary background artist: Kazue Itō
  • Color settings: Miharu Sakai
  • Director of photography: Tomofumi Fujita
  • Editing: Yumiko Nakaba, Hideaki Murai (Okayasu Promotion)
  • Sound director: Fusanobu Fujiyama
  • Sound supervision: Takanori Ebina
  • Music: Takehiko Gokita
  • Animation production: Studio Comet
  • Production: NAS
  • Producers: NAS, Sony Pictures Entertainment, avex entertainment, Studio Comet

Cast

Theme songs

Opening
  • "Justice of darkness ~theme of Yōkai Ningen Bemu" (Justice of darkness ～妖怪人間ベムのテーマ, Justice of darkness ~ yōkai ningen bemu no tēma)
Performance: Hiroshi Kitadani (Bemu = Kazuhiko Inoue)
Ending
  • "Hachigatsu no Eien" (8月の永遠)
Performance: Minako Yoshida

Reception

The film grossed US$11.5 million in Japan.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Synopsis for HUMANOID MONSTER BEM - Animax Asia". Animax Asia. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  2. ↑ Shiso (October 11, 2011). "Kamenashi Kazuya, Anne, and Suzuki Fuku to sing the opening theme for 'Yokai Ningen Bem'". Tokyohive. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ Deljhp (2012-10-18). "HUMANOID MONSTER BEM goes feature length". 24framespersecond.net. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  4. ↑ Staff Reporter (16 May 2014). "The Asian films driving global box office". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
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