simpleek

Since I’m on the track of Japanese live action dramas from last night’s post, I decided to continue with an opinion piece to end the week with.

I enjoy live action dramas from Japan if they are made well. There were a few that have impressed me such as Kimi wa Petto (You Are My Pet), Hana Yori Dango Season 1 & 2, and Gokusen Season 1. All of these were based after mangas. I know Hana Yori Dango and Gokusen were made into animes, but Kimi wa Petto was never made into one. I was lucky enough to watch the entire series of these Jdramas through a cousin who downloaded them onto his computer or through Youtube back when Youtube wasn’t getting much attention for illegal uploads of copyrighted material. The fansubs made it possible for me to enjoy all three of them.

After watching all of these series, I remember wishing I could own them on DVD to rewatch any time that I want. There is always downloading the fansubs, but my computer is old and it can’t support holding all three of these dramas with the limited space that I have. Honestly, I rather own the DVDs of these Jdramas rather than watch it on my computer screen. It’s easier to stretch out on the bed or couch as you watch your favorite series. It’s a little harder with a computer where you have to sit at your desk chair to enjoy them. There is always laptops I suppose to remedy this problem.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a petition to have these Jdramas get the DVD treatment in the U.S. market like most anime series does. I wonder if the Japanese think there is no profit to grant a license to the U.S. to do it or the U.S. market doesn’t think there is a huge following for Jdramas like anime/manga has? I’m curious to know what the reasoning is.

The U.S. is able to at least get the license to release and officially sub a live action movie for DVD release like Death Note, Honey and Clover, and NANA. It is a curious thing when Jdrama series like Hana Yori Dango doesn’t get the same permission in the U.S.

When I saw on Amazon that they released the final movie of the live action Hana Yori Dango on DVD for the U.S. I was really excited. I didn’t know there was a live action final film made in Japan to end the entire Jdrama series. I do own it, but I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet. I’m pretty sure I will like the movie if I loved the live action series so much.

This is where I am a bit confused though. It’s hard for the final movie of HYD to act as a stand alone film. People would have had to get their hands on Seasons 1 & 2 of the live action Jdrama for any of the stuff in the final movie to make sense. Again, I will not make any critiques on this film until I have seen it. For a final a film, it has to continue or make reference to events that went on in the Jdrama series. I highly doubt the movie can skip around it somehow. The movies of Death Note, Honey and Clover, and NANA can work as stand alone films because they were not made into a Jdrama series prior. Everything starts and finishes with the movie. HYD’s final film involves watching the Jdramas first before getting into the final film.

I am of the opinion that Jdramas do have a potential market value here in the U.S. If anyone is a fan of HYD, Kimi wa Petto, or Gokusen I think the live action dramas would be a nice add on to a manga/anime fan’s collection. The Japanese actors are appealing and you have another take on a series you know and love very much.

If you type Hana Yori Dango Final: The Movie in the Amazon search box, you will see it has a pretty high user rating. The reviews of the final film are also favorable too. This is an indication of how a Japanese production series can be just as popular as the anime/manga. It just needs a chance to be introduced to the market.

I will always dream and wish for the day when I see on Amazon the official DVD release of my favorite Jdramas. For now, I will have to be satisfied with the nostalgia it brings me when I think about the series. Or I get a new computer and just look for the fansubs on the Internet for download.