Humanoid Monster Bem
Logo of the 2019 anime
妖怪人間ベム
(Yōkai Ningen Bemu)
GenreHorror, adventure
Anime television series
Directed byNoboru Ishiguro
Hideo Wakabayashi
Written byAkira Adachi
StudioDai'ichi Dōga
Original networkFuji TV
Original run 7 October 1968 – 31 March 1969
Episodes26
Anime television series
Directed byHiroshi Harada
Written byJunki Takegami
StudioStudio Comet
Original networkAnimax, Tokyo MX
Original run 1 April 2006 – 7 October 2006
Episodes26
Television drama
Directed byShunsuke Kariyama
Noriyoshi Sakuma
Written byMasafumi Nishida
Original networkNTV
Original run October 22, 2011 – December 24, 2011
Episodes10
Live-action film
Directed byShunsuke Kariyama
Produced byHidehiro Kawano
Written byMasafumi Nishida
StudioToho
ReleasedDecember 15, 2012 (2012-12-15)
Runtime124 minutes
Anime television series
BEM
Directed byYoshinori Odaka
Written byAtsuhiro Tomioka
Music bySoil & Pimp Sessions
Michiru
StudioLandQ Studios
Licensed byFunimation
Original networkTV Tokyo, TVA, TVO
Original run July 14, 2019 – October 13, 2019
Episodes12
Live-action film
Yokai Ningen Bela
Directed byTsutomu Hanabusa
Written byDaisuke Hozaka
Music byMinami Nozaki
StudioADK Emotions
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)
Anime film

Humanoid Monster Bem[1] (Japanese: 妖怪人間ベム, Hepburn: Yōkai Ningen Bemu) is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series, which first aired on Fuji TV between October 7, 1968 and March 31, 1969, on its 19:30–20:00 timeslot.

The series was later remade into a second anime television series, which premiered in April 2006 in Japan on Animax, featuring a new cast, with a total of 26 episodes also produced.[2]

A live-action television drama adaptation premiered on NTV on October 22, 2011.[3] A film was released on December 15, 2012.[4]

For the series' 50th anniversary, a third anime television series adaptation titled BEM was confirmed to be in production. The third series aired from July 14 to October 13, 2019.[5][6][7] A new film titled BEM: Become Human, was released on October 2, 2020.[8][9][10] It streamed on Funimation's website on October 29, 2020.[10]

A spin-off live-action film Yokai Ningen Bela was released on September 11, 2020.[11]

Plot

The plot of the series revolves around three yokai (supernatural creatures), Bem, Bela and Belo, who arrive at a large coastal city and come across an evil atmosphere, which was brought about by immoral behavior by humans and mischief caused by monsters and yokai. They therefore decide to stay in the city, fighting against other monsters and yokai which attack humans, making a few friends along the way. Even though the three yokai are often abused and discriminated against by other human beings due to their appearance, they still strive in protecting the human populace of the city from other monsters, one day hoping to become human beings in return for their good actions.

Characters

Bem
Voiced by: Kiyoshi Kobayashi (1968 Series), Kazuhiko Inoue (2006 Series), Katsuyuki Konishi (2019 Series) (Japanese); Gabe Kunda (2019 series) (English)[12]
Played by: Kazuya Kamenashi
Protagonist The oldest looking of the trio is the leader. He uses a walking stick as a weapon in human form.
Bela
Voiced by: Hiroko Mori (1968 Series), Kaori Yamagata (2006 Series), M.A.O (2019 Series) (Japanese); Dani Chambers (2019 series) (English)[12]
Played by: Anne Watanabe
The only female in the group and the most bad-tempered of the trio. She uses a whip as a weapon in human form.
Belo
Voiced by: Mari Shimizu (1968 Series), Ai Horanai (2006 Series), Kensho Ono (2019 Series) (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (2019 series) (English) (English)[12]
Played by: Fuku Suzuki
The youngest looking and the most naive of the trio. He is the only one that does not use a weapon in human form.

Staff

Original series

  • Original Concept: Akira Adachi
  • Screenplay: Akira Adachi
  • Directors: Noburo Ishiguro, Tadao Wakabayashi
  • Art: Shin Morikawa
  • Production: Daiichi Doga (later incorporated into ADK)

Cast

Theme songs

  • Opening: "Humanoid Monster Bemu" (妖怪人間ベム) (lyrics: Daiichi Doga, composition and arrangement: Seishi Tanaka; performance: Honey Nights)
  • Ending: "Barro wa Tomodachi" (ベロは友だち, Bero wa Tomodachi, lit. Bero is a Friend) (lyrics: Daiichi Doga Bungei-bu, composition and arrangement: Masahiro Uno, performance: Toshiko Yamada, Otowa Yurikago Kai, Gekidan Komadori)

2006 remake

  • Original Concept: Asatsu DK
  • Director: Hiroshi Harada
  • Series Composition: Junki Takegami
  • Character Design: Kazuhiko Shibuya
  • Chief Animation Director: Takeshi Yamazaki
  • Yokai Design Creator: Naoki Ogiwara
  • Art Directors: Shō Tensui, Tsutomu Nishikura, Shinji Kawai
  • Primary Background Artist: Kazue Itō
  • Color Settings: Miharu Sakai
  • Director of Photography: Tomofumi Fujita
  • Editing: Yumiko Nakaba, Hideaki Murai (Okayasu Promotion)
  • Sound Director: Fusanobu Fujiyama
  • Sound Supervision: Takanori Ebina
  • Music: Takehiko Gokita
  • Animation Production: Studio Comet
  • Production: NAS
  • Producers: NAS, Sony Pictures Entertainment, avex entertainment, Studio Comet

Cast

Theme songs

  • Opening: "Justice of darkness ~theme of Humanoid Monster Bemu" (Justice of darkness ～妖怪人間ベムのテーマ, Justice of darkness ~ Humanoid Monster Bemu no tēma) (Performance: Hiroshi Kitadani (Bem = Kazuhiko Inoue))
  • Ending: "Hachigatsu no Eien" (8月の永遠) (Performance: Minako Yoshida)

2019 anime

  • Original Story: ADK Emotions
  • Director: Yoshinori Odaka
  • Series Composition: Atsuhiro Tomioka
  • Original Character Design: Range Murata
  • Character Design: Masakazu Sunagawa
  • Music Composer: Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, Michiru
  • Music Producer: Flying Dog
  • Animation Production: LandQ Studios
  • Planning Production: NAS
  • Project Collaborator: Production I.G
  • Production: BEM Production Committee

Cast

Theme songs

2020 film

  • Original story: ADK Emotions
  • Director: Hiroshi Ikehata
  • Series Composition: Atsuhiro Tomioka
  • Original Character Design: Range Murata
  • Character Design: Mino Matsumoto
  • Animation Production: Production I.G

Cast

Anime

Funimation has licensed the 2019 series for a simuldub.[13] Due to the Kyoto Animation arson attack on July 18, 2019, Episode 4, which was originally scheduled to air on August 4, 2019, was postponed to August 18, 2019.[14]

No. Title Original air date
1"Water"July 14, 2019 (2019-07-14)
2"Liar"July 21, 2019 (2019-07-21)
3"Shadow"July 28, 2019 (2019-07-28)
4"Lightning"August 18, 2019 (2019-08-18)[14]
5"Sweeper"August 25, 2019 (2019-08-25)
6"Gravity"September 1, 2019 (2019-09-01)
7"Chimera"September 8, 2019 (2019-09-08)
8"Noise"September 15, 2019 (2019-09-15)
9"Falling"September 22, 2019 (2019-09-22)
10"Betrayal"September 29, 2019 (2019-09-29)
11"Judgement"October 6, 2019 (2019-10-06)
12"Wishing to become human someday"October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13)

Reception

The live-action film grossed US$11.5 million in Japan.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Humanoid Monster Bem Franchise Gets New Anime in 2019". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Synopsis for HUMANOID MONSTER BEM - Animax Asia". Animax Asia. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  3. ↑ Shiso (October 11, 2011). "Kamenashi Kazuya, Anne, and Suzuki Fuku to sing the opening theme for 'Yokai Ningen Bem'". Tokyohive. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ Deljhp (October 18, 2012). "HUMANOID MONSTER BEM goes feature length". 24framespersecond.net. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Humanoid Monster Bem Franchise Gets New TV Anime in 2019". Anime News Network. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ "New Bem Monster Anime's 2nd Teaser Reveals More Cast, Musicians, Summer Premiere". Anime News Network. March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "'BEM' Anime Reveals More Cast Members, Theme Song Artists, Promo Vdeo, July 7 Premiere". Anime News Network. May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  8. ↑ "BEM Reboot Anime Gets Movie This Fall". Anime News Network. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "BEM: Become Human Film's Trailer Reveals Theme Song, October 2 Opening". Anime News Network. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Funimation Streams BEM: Become Human Film". July 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Humanoid Monster Bem's Bela Character Gets Live-Action Film in September". July 30, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Funimation. "[Master Thread] BEM (Dubbed)". www.funimation.com. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  13. ↑ Funimation (June 14, 2019). "Funimation Turns Up the Heat with Their Summer 2019 Lineup!". www.funimation.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  14. 1 2 妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト. "妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト NEWS". newbem.jp/. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ Staff Reporter (May 16, 2014). "The Asian films driving global box office". Film Business Asia. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
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