is a 2004 Japanese

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, war, fantasy, or horror media featuring such technology but is som ...

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

superhero film A superhero film (or superhero movie) is a film that focuses on the actions of superheroes. Superheroes are individuals who possess superhuman abilities and are dedicated to protecting the public. These films typically feature action, advent ...

directed by

Takashi Miike is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over one hundred theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films run through a variety of different genres, and range from violent a ...

, written by

Kankurō Kudō is a Japanese screenwriter, dramatist, director, actor and member of the theater company ''Otona Keikaku''. He won the 'Best Screenplay' award at the 2002 Japanese Academy Awards for '' Go'', which explores problems faced by people of Korean-h ...

and stars Shō Aikawa as the main character, a superhero named "Zebraman". A 2010 sequel, titled '' Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City'', featured the addition of

Masahiro Inoue is a Japanese actor. He got his start in acting portraying Keigo Atobe in '' Musical: The Prince of Tennis: The Imperial Presence, Hyotei'' as part of the Hyoutei B Cast. In 2009, he portrayed the lead role in ''Kamen Rider Decade'', Tsukasa K ...

of ''

Kamen Rider Decade is the title of the first installment of the 2009 editions of the long-running Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu dramas. ''Decade'', as its title suggests, is the tenth of the Heisei Rider special anniversary Series, having begun with ''Kamen Rider ...

'' to the cast.

Plot

It is 2010. A failure as a 3rd grade teacher and a family man, Shinichi Ichikawa lives with his cheating wife, his teenage daughter who dates older men, and his son who is bullied because of his father's presence in the school. Escaping from everyday life, Shinichi secretly dresses up nightly as "Zebraman", the title character from an unpopular 1970's

TV series he watched as a child before it was canceled after the seventh episode. As a result of meeting a wheelchair-using transfer student named Shinpei Asano, also a fan of Zebraman, Shinichi not only regains his love for teaching but also develops feelings for the boy's mother. At the same time, a rash of strange crimes and murders have been occurring around the school at which Shinichi teaches. On his way to Shinpei's house in his costume to give him a surprise, Shinichi fights a crab-masked serial killer whom he defeats when he starts exhibiting actual superpowers. Confronting more criminals who are possessed by a strange slime-based alien force, Shinichi learns that the Zebraman series was actually a cautionary prophecy of an actual alien invasion written by the school's principal, revealed to be an alien who refused to go through with the invasion and attempted to keep his kind from getting out from below the school before they kill him off and attack in full fury. Though he knows how the show ends, Shinichi defies his predestined fate as he is the only person who can stop the aliens from taking over the Earth. As a result, when the aliens emerge from the ground, the government informs the United States, which will perform an airstrike on the aliens. Realizing this, Shinichi learns of his powers and defeats the aliens.

Cast

Show Aikawa is a Japanese actor. Career Show Aikawa was born in Tokushima and raised in Kagoshima. Aikawa has appeared in a number of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's films, including ''Eyes of the Spider'', ''Serpent's Path'', ''License to Live'', ''Seance'', and '' ...

as Shinichi Ichikawa/Zebraman * Kyōka Suzuki as Kana Asano/Zebra Nurse * Naoki Yasukochi as Shinpei Asano * Atsuro Watabe as Oikawa *

Koen Kondo Koen Kondo (Kôen Kondô; 近藤公園; born 11 October 1978) is a Japanese people, Japanese actor. He made his debut in the popular 2001 in film, 2001 film ''Waterboys (film), Waterboys''. Selected filmography Films *''Waterboys (film), Waterboy ...

as Segawa *

Makiko Watanabe is a Japanese actress. She has appeared in more than 60 films since 1996. Awards Watanabe was given the award for best script at the 1999 Mainichi Film Awards for '' M/Other'' with director Nobuhiro Suwa and co-star Tomokazu Miura is a Japan ...

as Yukiyo Ichikawa *

Yui Ichikawa , is an actress and model from Tokyo, Japan. She is also known by her nickname, ''Yui-nyan''. As an actress she has appeared in several dramas (''doramas''), and in recent years she has concentrated more on her film career. She played a minor ...

as Midori Ichikawa * Yoshimasa Mishima as Kazuki Ichikawa *

Ren Osugi , born was a Japanese actor. For his work in ''Cure'', ''Hana-bi'' and other films, Osugi was given the Best Supporting Actor award at the 1999 Yokohama Film Festival. He often worked alongside Takeshi Kitano and Susumu Terajima. In the DVD comm ...

as Kuniharu Kuroda *

Teruyoshi Uchimura , half of the Japanese comedy duo Utchan Nanchan, is one of the most famous and influential comedians in the owarai community. His nickname is ''Utchan'' ("Wutchan"), and his partner, Kiyotaka Nanbara, is known as ''Nanchan''. He was born on July ...

as Ippongi *

Akira Emoto is a Japanese actor. Career In 1999, he won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' Dr. Akagi''. He also won the award for best supporting actor at the 7th Hochi Film Award for ''Dotonbori River'' and '' Hearts and F ...

as Kitahara the Crab Man *

Ryo Iwamatsu Ryo may refer to: * Ryō, a gold currency unit in pre-Meiji Japan Shakkanhō system * Ryō (actress) (born 1973), Japanese model, actress, and singer * Ryō (given name), a unisex Japanese given name * Ryo, Georgia Ryo is an unincorporated communit ...

as Kanda *

Yu Tokui is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than 90 films since 1987. Selected filmography Films Television References External links * 1959 births Living people Male actors from Osaka Japanese male film actors Japanese male ...

as Pyromaniac * Yoji Boba Tanaka *

Arata Furuta is a Japanese theatre and film character actor. Biography Furata has a broad range that goes from playing serious salary men, to '' bushi'' in period drama roles, and even women. He works with the theatrical troupe called Otona Keikaku and oft ...

- Eggplant Vendor *

Kumiko Asō , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress. She is also a model and has participated in several commercials. Career In 1995, Asō made her film debut in ''Bad Guy Beach''. With her role in the 1998 film '' Dr. Akagi'', she receive ...

as Clerk * Yoshihiko Hakamada * Miyako Kawahara * Hideki Sone * Masayuki Fukushima * Satoru Hamaguchi Midori's boyfriend *

Hiroshi Watari is a Japanese singer, voice actor, and actor. His birth name is Hiroshi Watanabe. His wife is voice actress . In the past, Watari was signed to 81 Produce, Stunt Japan ( スタントジャパン) and Ayers Rock; he is currently signed with Rough. ...

- 1978 Zebraman

Other credits

*Produced by **Shigeyuki Endō - planner **Kumi Fukuchi - planner **Akio Hattori - producer **Takashi Hirano - executive producer: TBS **Mitsuru Kurosawa - executive producer: Toei/Tôei **Makoto Okada - producer *Production Design: Akira Sakamoto *Sound Department: Yoshiya Obara - sound *CGI producer: Misako Saka *Lighting Director: Seiichirô Mieno

Manga

The movie screenplay was adapted into a five volume manga by Reiji Yamada. The manga told its own story, focusing on the relationship the main character has with his two children. Unlike the movie, Zebraman never gains any powers, he is just a man in a suit.

References

External links

* * *
GOO Movies
{{Takashi Miike 2004 films 2000s Japanese superhero films Alien invasions in films Films about shapeshifting Films directed by Takashi Miike Films set in 2010 Films set in the future Films set in Yokohama Films with screenplays by Kankurō Kudō Japanese superheroes Japanese superhero films 2000s superhero comedy films Toei tokusatsu films Tokyo Shock