ware4me
05-28-2007, 05:21 PM
http://www.anizeen.com/images/stories/07y/05/0528SagaNoGabaiBaachan.jpgIn a recent television appearance, 57 year old Japanese comedian / writer Yoshichi Shimada announced his semi-autobiographical novel Saga No Gabai-Baachan will be adapted to full length anime feature format, with a scheduled theatrical release in 2009. He plans to write the scenario himself although no other details were revealed.
In the past the work has been adapted to a movie, manga, and a TV drama. A stage play version is planned in 2007. The story is largely drawn from events from his childhood in Saga. The title character is Akirahiro (Yoshichi Shimada's real name) who grows up rather roughly in Hiroshima in the years following WWII.
Shimada lists the book as volume 1 of a greater series, with the story ending as he leaves his grandmother (who raised him) and graduates from junior highschool. The book, first published in 1993 (Shimada self published the first 3000 copy run with his own money) became famous for introducng the Saga dialect word "gabai" (very) into wider popular Japanese lexicon. Moonlght Factory picked up the rights in 2001, and later Tokuma Shoten acquired the rights in 2004 reissuing it to the market.
It has sold over four million copies as of April, 2007 and enjoyed success abroad, in nations such as Taiwan. The live action film directed by Hitoshi Kurauchi was released to theaters in limited release capacity on June 3, 2006.
It became a box office hit, considering the budget and distribution, drawing a revenue of 600 million Yen. It was widely acclaimed, becoming a recommended pick of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The TV drama began January 4, 2007 on Fuji TV.
Ratings in the Kanto region saw a 21.6% share and 19.2% share in Kyushu. The audience rating in Saga prefecture hit 88% according to author. The manga is illustrated by Ishikawa Saburou and serialized in Business Jump. The play is being produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo. More at: ANS (http://www.animenewsservice.com/)
In the past the work has been adapted to a movie, manga, and a TV drama. A stage play version is planned in 2007. The story is largely drawn from events from his childhood in Saga. The title character is Akirahiro (Yoshichi Shimada's real name) who grows up rather roughly in Hiroshima in the years following WWII.
Shimada lists the book as volume 1 of a greater series, with the story ending as he leaves his grandmother (who raised him) and graduates from junior highschool. The book, first published in 1993 (Shimada self published the first 3000 copy run with his own money) became famous for introducng the Saga dialect word "gabai" (very) into wider popular Japanese lexicon. Moonlght Factory picked up the rights in 2001, and later Tokuma Shoten acquired the rights in 2004 reissuing it to the market.
It has sold over four million copies as of April, 2007 and enjoyed success abroad, in nations such as Taiwan. The live action film directed by Hitoshi Kurauchi was released to theaters in limited release capacity on June 3, 2006.
It became a box office hit, considering the budget and distribution, drawing a revenue of 600 million Yen. It was widely acclaimed, becoming a recommended pick of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The TV drama began January 4, 2007 on Fuji TV.
Ratings in the Kanto region saw a 21.6% share and 19.2% share in Kyushu. The audience rating in Saga prefecture hit 88% according to author. The manga is illustrated by Ishikawa Saburou and serialized in Business Jump. The play is being produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo. More at: ANS (http://www.animenewsservice.com/)