Takashi Miike's Yatterman (2009)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:20 amScrewed up kids films and giant robot fans rejoice; Takashi Miike is at it again!
The famous and often infamous director, better known for his extreme horror films in the US, but whose repertory extends to lighter, though no less stranger fair like the musical The Happiness of the Katakuris, the drool superhero spoof Zebraman, the pseudo-fantasy drama Bird People In China, and the epic monster filled family adventure The Great Yokai War is now working on a live action version of the 1977 anime comedy Yatterman, reportedly set for a mid-2009 release.
The second series in the lesser-known Time Bokan franchise, Yatterman was produced by Tatsunoko Productions (the originators of Speed Racer and Gatchaman), and tells the story of a mysterious stone known as Skull Stone, said to have the power to reveal the location of the largest deposit of gold in the world. This legend has entranced the trio of villains named the Dorombo Gang, who are in pursuit of fame, power and wealth.
However, their hunt for the Skull Stone is not as easy as they imagined, mainly due to the faulty information they receive from their leader. And most of all, due to a righteous duo of pursuers named Gan-Chan and Ai-Chan; the Yatterman team of the title, who also happens to pilot the oversized dog robot Yatter-King.
Needless to say, the upcoming film will feature some wacky robot-on-robot action and a very cartoonish feel and look overall, as seen in these three teaser trailers.
And of course, only in a Japanese kids show (with or without Takashi Miike) do you have a bat-headed dominatrix as your lead villain...and played by that fine looking Japanese actress Fukada Kyoko too!
Now many fans are probably asking "hey, what about the Daimajin remake Miike was going to do"? Well, the sad truth readers is that Daiei dropped the plans for the film based on the less then spectacular performance of the otherwise good film Gamera the Brave, in addition to Japan's surprising lack of interest for anything giant monster related these days...or at least what Kpa told me...and he's more informed then I am.
But thankfully this hasn't stopped Miike from leaving the world of tokusatsu, as I'm a big fan of the aforementioned works (minus "Bird People", as I've yet to see it), and would like to see his bizarre take on the sub-genre of live action mecha.
Plus, a bat-headed dominatrix played by Fukada Kyoko...how can you not go wrong with that!?!?
(Special Thanks to Avery Guerra for originally bringing this project to my attention)