A sequel. And I still haven’t seen Ninja Kids 1…:o
Oshin, Ninja Kids revived at Sedic Int
By Patrick Frater
Thu, 14 February 2013, 08:30 AM (HKT)
Production gets underway tomorrow (Fri 15 Feb) on Oshin , a big screen retelling of Japan’s most successful TV series.
Newcomer HAMADA Kokone (pictured) has been confirmed in the title role as Oshin, a little girl who in 1907 is traded by her natural family and is sent to live with a merchant family. The film tracks her life story and its many ups and downs. UETO Aya will play the mother, while IZUMI Pinko and KOBAYASHI Ayako (the original Oshin) return from the original TV series.
The film is directed by TOGASHI Shin with production by Departures (2008) and Thirteen Assassins (2010) producer NAKAZAWA Toshiaki .
Principal photography will run to the end of March, with a wide theatrical release set for October through Toei Company Ltd . International sales are handled by Sedic International Inc .
The original TV series was produced by NHK and ran as 300 15-minute episodes between 1983 and 1984. It was licensed in over 60 territories and was partially retold as an anime film in 1984, produced by Hello Kitty licensor Sanrio.
Sedic is also finalising Ninja Kids!!! 2 , a sequel to Ninja Kids!!! (2011). Where the previous film was directed by MIIKE Takashi , the new episode is directed by experienced TV director TASAKI Ryuta . Toei will release it in July.
Nakazawa is also producing I am Ichihashi: Journal of a Murderer , a drama based on real events about a Japanese man who went on the run for two and a half years after murdering a British woman teacher. Taiwan-based actor Dean FUJIOKA directs himself as a film-maker researching the crime and its aftermath. Release in Japan is pencilled in for November.
Sedic expects to give both Ninja Kids!!! 2 and I am Ichihashi market screenings at next month’s Hong Kong FilMart.