Tokyo Revengers (film) explained

Tokyo Revengers
Director:Tsutomu Hanabusa
Producer:Shota Okada
Starring:
Music:Yutaka Yamada
Cinematography:Tomo Ezaki
Editing:Sagara Naoichiro
Distributor:Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime:120 minutes
Country:Japan

is a 2021 Japanese science fiction action film directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa and co-written by Izumi Takahashi. It is the live-action adaptation of the manga series of the same name created by Ken Wakui, which was also made into an anime series of the same name.The film stars Takumi Kitamura, Yuki Yamada, Yosuke Sugino, Mio Imada, Shotaro Mamiya and Ryo Yoshizawa.[1] It follows a freeter who travels back and forth in time in order to prevent the death of his ex-girlfriend at the hands of a criminal gang.

The live-action film adaptation was announced in February 2020.[2] In April 2020, it was announced that the film's crew has halted filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] [4] [5]

Plot

During the year 2017, Takemichi Hanagaki, a 26-year-old freeter, learns that his middle school ex-girlfriend Hinata Tachibana and her younger brother Naoto Tachibana have been killed by the Tokyo Manji Gang (also known as Toman). When Takemichi is pushed in front of a train, he teleports exactly 12 years into the year 2005. While reliving his middle school years, Takemichi meets with Naoto and divulges the exact date that he and Hinata will die. When they shake hands, Takemichi is suddenly transported back to the present, creating a time paradox where Naoto survives and is now a detective.

Naoto deduces that every time they hold hands, Takemichi is transported 12 years into the past. Using his knowledge from the future, Takemichi vows to save Hinata. Travelling back to the past, Takemichi's friends are forced into underground matches led by Kiyomasa, a member of the Toman. Takemichi's determination to protect them gains the respect of the gang's leader Manjiro Sano aka "Mikey". Takemichi discovers that his new friendship with Mikey prevented one of his friends Akkun, from going to prison in the present. However, Akkun commits suicide out of fear, where Takemichi realizes the Toman presents a stronger threat to his friends than he initially thought.

Takemichi travels back to his past and finds that the Tokyo Manji Gang is declaring war on Moebius, a rival gang, to avenge Pah-chin's friend. Takemichi learns that Mikey's second-in-command Ken Ryūgūji aka "Draken" will eventually be killed and lead to Mikey becoming violent. Draken survives the rumble, but Pah-chin turns himself to the police after stabbing Moebius' leader Osanai, which later causes infighting within the Toman. Takemichi finally resolves Mikey and Draken's dispute. On August 3, 2005, the Tokyo Manji Gang are attacked by a group of Moebius members, who are led by Valhalla member Shūji Hanma.

Takemichi learns that Peh-yan colluded with them out of anger for Mikey and Draken letting Pah-chin be arrested, while Kiyomasa had stabbed Draken for humiliating him and causing him to be exiled from the Tokyo Manji Gang. The Tokyo Manji Gang wins the fight, where Takemichi defeats Kiyomasa and admits Draken to the hospital. Draken recovers from his injuries and Peh-yan apologizes for his actions. Takemichi travels back to the present timeline and heads to Hinata's house to meet Naoto, where he finally meets Hinata.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music is composed by Yutaka Yamada and the theme song for the film was performed by Super Beaver.

Sequel

The makers announced the sequel titled, was announced in July 2022. It adapts the "Bloody Halloween" arc and will be released as a two-part film titled and . The first film was premiered on April 21, 2023, and the second premiered on June 30, 2023. There will be new cast members which include Kento Nagayama, Nijiro Murakami, and Mahiro Takasugi.[6] Super Beaver will be composing the theme songs for both films titled and, respectively.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Live-Action Tokyo Revengers Film Casts Mio Imada as Heroine Hinata. April 9, 2021. December 15, 2020. Anime News Network. February 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210218025350/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-15/live-action-tokyo-revengers-film-casts-mio-imada-as-heroine-hinata/.167491. live.
  2. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Ken Wakui's Tokyo Revengers Manga Gets Live-Action Film This Fall. Anime News Network. April 21, 2020. February 18, 2020. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330202826/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-18/ken-wakui-tokyo-revengers-manga-gets-live-action-film-this-fall/.156596. live.
  3. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Live-Action Tokyo Revengers Film Halts Shooting. Anime News Network. April 21, 2020. April 14, 2020. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330204642/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-14/live-action-tokyo-revengers-film-halts-shooting/.158572. live.
  4. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. List of Anime & Manga Affected by COVID-19. Anime News Network. April 21, 2020. April 21, 2020. April 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200424231941/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-21/list-of-anime-and-manga-affected-by-covid-19/.158799. live.
  5. Web site: Sherman. Jennifer. Live-Action Tokyo Revengers Film Delayed Due to COVID-19. Anime News Network. June 29, 2020. June 29, 2020. March 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330204717/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-29/live-action-tokyo-revengers-film-delayed-due-to-covid-19/.161211. live.
  6. Web site: Pineda. Rafael. Live-Action Tokyo Revengers 2 Films' Video Reveals More Cast, April 21 & June 30 Debuts. Anime News Network. May 15, 2023. January 10, 2023. February 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201124207/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-01-10/live-action-tokyo-revengers-2-films-video-reveals-more-cast-april-21-and-june-30-debuts/.193697. live.
  7. Web site: https://skream.jp/news/2023/01/super_beaver_tokyo-revengers2.php. ja:SUPER BEAVER、新曲「グラデーション」&「儚くない」が映画"東京リベンジャーズ2"前後編2部作の主題歌に決定. skream.jp. January 26, 2023. February 20, 2023. ja. February 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220045113/https://skream.jp/news/2023/01/super_beaver_tokyo-revengers2.php. live.