Zebraman (2004) User Reviews

The Lighter Side Of Super-Heroism

[loganx-2 · 5/10 · 23 June 2008]

Great for the first hour and 20, but needed some serious editing.

A normal family man and school teacher, who is despised by his family, enjoys one thing in his free time. Putting on his specially made Zebraman suit, to celebrate the brief canceled TV-show of the same name he watched as a child. When not being insulted by students, strangers, family, and friends, our hero likes to wear the suit in his bedroom alone and practice his super movies, which is all oddly endearing and funny enough, until townspeople begin showing signs of possession by a mysterious, possibly alien force. Stranger still, it all already happened in the Zebraman TV show, in the 70's. Our school teacher finds himself putting on the suit and attempting to fight crime, failing in spectacular comic fashion at first, before going into "Kung Fu Hustle" overdrive.

The aliens themselves resemble Flubber, except when their possessing innocent people and forcing them to commit crimes for some reason. What begins as a dark comedy about hero-worship, becomes a feel-good over the top find the hero within action comedy.

The problem is it's just too long, it's charming and unique, but the charm just doesn't hold past an hour and a half. One of Miikes more accessible movies, but still chalk full of the absurd images and surreal humor fans have come to expect. Good watching for Miike fans, and those interested in the lighter side of super-heroes and nostalgia, others stay away. Recommend | add comment

quirky and interesting, though not always compelling

[cherold · 6/10 · 28 October 2008]

This is an odd little movie. Some nebbishy teacher sews a recreation of a suit from a short-lived superhero show, and find himself dealing with aliens. The movie doesn't make a lot of sense, unless it's all this guy's fantasy, and the movie doesn't really play much with that possibility, instead just letting it all unspool. I like some sort of rationale for what happens in a film, but the audience is expected to just accept that all of this happens for no good reason at all. The silliness of the aliens and a few other things give it the quality of a kid's movie, but even kids movies generally make some attempt to explain stuff.

There are some cool things in this movie. The dead-on recreations of a cheesy Japanese TV show, the relationship between the low-key teacher and the disabled child, the final amusing superhero battle, but I was never fully invested in the story, perhaps because it lacked rationality or perhaps because it was just kind of slow moving and a bit muddled.

Neither as weird or as good as Miike's Happiness of the Katakuris, Zebraman is acceptable but not much more.

Benevolently Reflects Vivid Childhood Memories Controlled By Superheroes

[jzappa · 7/10 · 18 February 2009]

Being a pushover as a teacher and family man, the true humble, mild-mannered identity of our hero tries to escape everyday life by dressing up as Zebraman, a superhero from a TV series that was canceled after only a few episodes. But escaping into his fantasy world in a self-made zebra-suit is the only thing keeping him going. But when he discovers that the Zebraman show was a prophecy of a true alien invasion, disguised as the show's hero he is the only person who can stop it.

Miike always chooses material not only with an unusual premise but with over-the-top details that are slowly, gradually revealed to us. Aside from the way in which its plot unfolds, the film's real charm is in what decides to show us about superheroes, why we identify with them on such a whimsical level and how the ridiculous mentality of a superhero could be formed in a man's solitude. The movie is not serious though. It has Miike's sometime stoic feel, but what we are shown is often hilarious, like the non-sequitary title shot of a fat woman in a beauty parlor who is passed by a sauntering zebra, or Radioactive Ranger, a perfect rendition of a TV show not unlike Power Rangers and its various, progressively obscuring incarnations, or countless others.

Even if Miike's more studious sense of pace is a hindrance to the potential impact of the film, leaving it without a tone and thus making the memory of the movie pretty fuzzy over time, it reflects very benevolently vivid childhood memories controlled by our superheroes. Where the film's spirit hits the nail on the head is in its blurring of zeal and absurdity. The film knows escapism because it's acuity in what it evokes really allows you to escape back into that unadorned young spirit. And what's the point of escapism if you're not truly escaping?

ZEBRAMAN is brilliant.

[anthrapoid · 18 September 2004]

I saw Zebraman for the first, but surely NOT the last time today. I had read that it was a "spoof of the super hero genre", but I strongly disagree; Zebraman IS a true superhero, and this film is not a spoof of any kind. Sure, there is very mild slapstick, but it works perfectly well. The heart of the film is tender and hopeful, and at the end I was left in that rare state in which I could deny no possibilities. I was laughing and crying at once, knowing no boundary between the two. I love this film. The message is a simple one, but given the age in which we live, vitally important: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. I will offer no details regarding the plot or the technical innovation of the work; I only hope that this wonderful film will be seen by all, with a truly open heart. Thank you Takashi Miike...

Believe it or not this is an Takashi Miike film!

[TheEnigmaticRonin · 6/10 · 16 December 2006]

Believe it or not this is an Takashi Miike film! Zebraman is the tender side of Miike. About a junior high school teacher who fails as a teacher. No one understands him beside his new student. Miike message through this film is "belive in your dreams". In the movie when he is talking to his son, he says that I should have a bike, every hero should have one. Miike was always fascinated of bikes, he actually wanted to be a pro. You can still see that it's a Miike in some scenes, specially the one where they find a dead-body twisted. The best scene in the movie is near the end when Zebraman becomes a real hero, good effects, not a the original theme but in the scene mentioned earlier (when he becomes a real hero) is pretty cool, overall Zebraman is a nice family film, in fact the only Miike film you can watch with your family or your girlfriend. Watch this movie!

Nostalgia, kitsch, and video game pleasure for everyone

[Polaris_DiB · 7/10 · 16 April 2008]

A man dresses as his favorite childhood superhero, Zebraman, from a television show that was canceled after only a few episodes. His love of Zebraman is shared by a third-grade student in his class of which he is an unsuccessful teacher, and that student turns out to have the admiration and warmth the man can't get from his family. As he runs around the night in his suit, trying to remain harmlessly escapist and yet still romantically fantasized, he starts running into the enemies from the television show. Seems the 30 year old defunct television show was actually a prophecy, and since it was canceled, Zebraman himself doesn't know how it will end. Now if only he could figure out how to fly...

This warm and nostalgia-laced movie by Takashi Miike is one of his later features, and Miike has sort of slowed down a bit. He no longer cuts corners like he used to, and in this case he doesn't feel the need (nor is there) to throw anything truly disturbing in there. Still, I've heard some people call this movie a children's show, and of course there's some very adult themes speckled throughout. However, once again Miike surprises by playing with audience expectations.

Zebraman is a superhero movie, but the moments of action and frenetic stylizations are actually quite rare and reserved. The bigger bulk of Zebraman is actually a focus on the characters, especially Zebraman and his ten-year-old side-kick as they figure out just what a superhero is supposed to do after he dons the outfit. And what an outfit! Sure to be a new staple Halloween costume for film geeks for years to come, Zebraman's costume is its own character, first because of its hilariously ironic black-and-white style and also in the way it slowly falls apart throughout the film.

Miike is also not strictly a "filmmaker", in that he throws any visual media into his stories as he desires. A love of video and television-quality kitsch is present here in the contrasts between back-alley battles and open-field fights that recall Power Rangers. The Big Boss battle becomes what literally looks like a inter-video graphic from a video game like Final Fantasy VII. But it is all fun and mostly games as the audience gets to delight in a person whose only delight is a lost (non-existent) show that for one reason or another, he unapologetically loved.

--PolarisDiB

70 cult classic television, now a takashi miike film...

[germyslerm · 7/10 · 22 October 2005]

Zebraman is certainly not Takashi Miikes best film (the best is Dead or Alive 2) but it is still worth your time if you are a Miike fan. It is also a good choice for the classic 70's cult show Kikaiaduc(forgive me on my terrible spelling) which is well portrayed in the film. The film is about a struggling junior high teacher having problems at home. His only escape from reality is to imitate his favorite TV show from when he was a kid "Zebraman". Like all Miike films the costume design is excellent, so trust me on this you will love the zebraman costume. But alas the film lacks the trademark Miike feel. I'm not talking about the violence (which if your interested in i'de suggest anything but this one)but the film work. This film made me feel like I was watching a made for TV movie (stylistically)

But either way I'd suggest the film, just to say you saw it...

"Black and white ecstasy," indeed...

[poe426 · 7/10 · 29 September 2008]

Coming as it does from the man who gave us (if you're into gore and consider it in any way a gift) the unbelievably grisly ICHI THE KILLER (not to be confused with Itchy of ITCHY AND SCRATCHY fame), ZEBRAMAN is definitely something from the far end of the spectrum. It harks back to some of my favorite Japanese TV shows- from ULTRAMAN to SUPER INFRAMAN to IRON KING to RED BARON and beyond- and does so in a gentle, loving way. Our soon-to-be hero is actually enamored of one such show and his eventual reincarnation as ZEBRAMAN is about as much fun as you could hope for in a movie like this. Takashi Mike's sure-handed direction never wavers and the uplifting ending makes it all worthwhile. You just gotta believe!

Fun Miike comedy with good special effects

[simon_booth · 8/10 · 31 October 2004]

Well, you probably know by now whether you like Takashi Miike or not, so that's probably the first thing to consider. If you do, Zebraman is sure to please, being a very fun yet dark spoof of superhero films with high production values and the ever-wonderful Sho Aikawa.

There's nothing in Zebraman that would class as particularly shocking or offensive, if you've only seen ICHI THE KILLER or VISITOR Q before and that's your only objection to Miike, but the mix of dark, deadpan humour and absurd silliness probably aren't going to win any new converts. It's a very Japanese film in style and tone, and though still doubtless low budget by Hollywood standards, has impressive special effects and a good feeling of quality. Except when it doesn't want to :)

If you're an undecided, Zebraman may well be one of the best Miike films to sample to help make that decision :)

If you believe in yourself, you can do anything.

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 25 December 2009]

When you talk about Takashi Miike, you usually bring up Graveyard of Honor, Bodyguard Kiba, Ichi the Killer, or Audition: films that feature horror and extreme violence, but that is not the whole of this great director.

There is also The Bird People in China or The Happiness of the Katakuris. Miike stretches himself as a director further than anyone I know.

He does it again with this film, which is a comic book like tale of a failure who is a teacher (Shô Aikawa), who becomes Zebraman. He first saves the day by defeating a local crab-like thug, but then he has to battle aliens.

The special effects are tremendous, and the story, while simple, has a great message for all.

Keep Zebras off the streets and in the zoo!

[grandmastersik · 1/10 · 26 September 2013]

I'd heard about this film a long time ago and had waited eagerly for a chance to watch it.

The premise - a school teacher turning into the TV "Power Ranger" he idolised as a kid, to fight off invading aliens - sounded ideal for a camp, wide-audience genre spoof, but oh man, did it suck.

20 minutes into this, you may start to wonder if someone had access to some old Kamen Rider props, scrawled a plot on a napkin during lunch and said to their mates, "Let's make a film!"

The fact that Miike has such a big cult following (I'm a big fan of a lot of his work... even if I've only seen around 50% of it!) is most likely what drew attention to this disaster in the first place, but does give a valuable lesson to wannabe film-makers in: DO NOT SHOOT YOUR FIRST DRAFT.

If only this unfocused mess of a story had a little bit more time put into it... if the characters drew the viewer in only a little, it may have lived up to its cool premise, but instead, I couldn't bear it any longer after a painful 45 minutes of hoping it would get better and had to turn it off.

A true stinker to avoid.

"Black and white ecstacy!" A must see Miike film.

[JohnnyLarocque · 9/10 · 17 September 2004]

Takashi Miike never disappoints. His latest film to the Toronto Film Festival is ZEBRAMAN, a story about a father (Shinichi) who no longer has a family, or a life. His wife is having an affair, his daughter is a slut (no wonder, she's cute as hell), and his son is bullied at the school where he teaches. Even the other students think he is a geek. Shinichi spends all of his free time fantasizing about a show he watched as a kid called Zebraman, that was cancelled after only a few episodes due to low ratings. He even goes as far as to make his own Zebraman costume, and that's when the fun truly begins.

As the Earth is invaded by aliens (what did you expect) Shinichi is called into action as Zebraman and he transforms from mild mannered teacher to Earth's last hope. Think PowerRangers but with odd and hilarious dialogue ("Don't stand ... behind me."). But first he spends some much needed time in front of a mirror practicing his shouts ("Black and White Ecstacy!"), costume spliting poses, and signature attacks like the "Zebra Double Back Kick". I admit I was sold as soon as he beat the crap out of a guy wearing a giant crab mask on his head. I laughed the hardest at the introduction of ZebraNurse, though.

This is a different kind of film than what you'd expect from Miike. The characters are warm and lovable, and no one gets injured (with the exception of an easily re-grown arm, "Thanks ... ZebraNurse!"). Which shows the kind of range this cult director has. My only regret was that Takashi Miike wasn't present to witness a world class response to this outrageously funny film. (9/10)

Not among Miike's best films

[zetes · 6/10 · 30 March 2008]

In fact, I might call it his worst, or at least it's close to it. Miike is actually a very good director-for-hire, but he never seems to feel comfortable when he's directing a movie for younger audiences. Like The Great Yokai War and Andromedia, the two other Miike films of this type I've seen, Miike keeps the worst part of his normal aesthetic – that is, the incredibly drawn out, Asian art-house dialogue scenes. It can work well in dramas or in suspense pictures, but these three films lack anything that could be considered suspenseful. Miike's not allowed, I would guess, to push the boundaries much, so he can't create any memorable setpieces. He works a lot with computer effects in Zebraman, but they're extremely poor. They wouldn't have been acceptable ten years ago in the United States. The film concerns an ineffectual teacher and father, played by Sho Aikawa, who longs to become a super hero he remembers from TV when he was a kid. He is soon endowed with the powers he wishes for so he can fight an alien invasion. Sho Aikawa is very good in the lead, and there are a couple of good sequences. But, all in all, it's a bore.

Meh

[jason-684-399748 · 4/10 · 16 October 2018]

Loved the idea! But it's so so slow sometimes. And not slow in a good way. But there are some awesome and cult moments in it for sure!

Not as good as I hoped...

[God_of_Thunder · 24 May 2004]

I just saw it in the comfort of my own living room, without subtitles - but I speak a fair bit of Japanese myself, and I had an excellent translator (my girlfriend) who saw it with me.

Now, I am - as many of you - a huge Takashi Miike fan. But this one is my least favourite so far (but what do I know - having only seen about 10 of his movies). But anyway, my point is this; it tried to be funny - and sometimes it was mildly amusing.. but this was really a kids-movie. A mix between Mars Attacks and Howard The Duck, I don't feel I have wasted my time watching it - but as I said in my headline, it was not as good as I had hoped it would be.

It wasn't qwerky enough to be "really weird and qwerky", it wasn't funny enough to be a great comedy, it wasn't violent enough to be a Miike trademark gore-fest, and definitely not original enough to be "something completely new"... so what we're left with is a bit of this - a bit of that.. not really going anywhere.

But as I said, If you like Miike - you'll probably end up watching it anyway - just like I did.

rating: x "stars" out of y "stars"

It's okay, I guess

[kyletrail · 6/10 · 13 December 2005]

I was really expecting more out of this film.

I understand that it was an attempt to help people understand that they can be whatever the want by believing in themselves, but I just plain didn't believe in this movie. And I really wanted to badly. It just didn't happen.

And by the way, it's 2004. Shouldn't we be able to see effects in a Japanese film that look at least like the best from the U.S. in 1999??? Again, I like the idea of an uplifting Miike film. I am a Miike fan through and through. If you want to see him do something positive and upbeat, however, go watch "The Bird People In China". It may just be his greatest film to date.

Look! It's Zebraman!

[chelano · 6/10 · 17 January 2011]

I really do not know what Takashi Miike was thinking when making this movie. He moved away from the horror, but kept the crazy. This movie was pretty messed up, but in a different way. A man fantasizes about being a superhero and it comes true because the world is being attacked by aliens. There is a lot more to the story, but you will have to watch it to see what I am talking about it. If you know Takashi Miike, you will have to watch it to understand it all. The movie also makes fun of old and new superhero type movies, but the cheezy ones, like the Power Rangers. In fact because it is making fun, some of the scenes will really have you laughing. Sho Aikawa plays the so called Zebraman and does an excellent job. Going from a shy older man who does not connect with his family to the powerful Zebraman. The rest of the cast really doesn't need to be mentioned here. I will say that most of them did an excellent job of acting for the most part. There is CG in the film; mostly for the aliens. Combining the mind of Miike and the writers really came up with some strange aliens. They are so evil, but also come off as cute at parts. The story again has a deep meaning behind it, but if you don't catch it, the film seems just strange. But if you like strange, then you got yourself a good movie. I did enjoy the movie for the most part, but I would not recommend this film to Miike fans for they may look at him in a wrong way.

Zebraman will protect the Earth!

[Norman_French · 7/10 · 6 March 2024]

I enjoyed this mid-budget spoof of Japanese superhero (Power Ranger) movies. This is a Sci-Fi/Horror/Action/Comedy with a dose of social commentary. If you like B-movies, particularly the old Godzilla films, you'll probably like this. The special effects are deliberately (and fittingly) sub-par.

The film wisely skips any serious attempt to explain Shin'ichi Ichikawa's (Shô Aikawa) sudden super-powers, which are weirdly psychological. The film's main theme has to do with believing in yourself (and training accordingly).

The homemade Zebra-man costume is laughably lame, as are the aliens. Yet the film gets semi-serious (in a tongue-in-cheek way) when it needs to. It's all great fun. There IS a decent plot, surprisingly enough.

There are some slow and deliberately awkward moments between key characters. I found this interesting and mildly effective, but it may annoy some viewers (who don't "get" what is being attempted).

The balance between campy humor and relatively serious adventure is expertly managed. I give this seven (7) stars and a thumbs-up!

Weirdly less weird than most Takashi Miike films.

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 7/10 · 12 January 2024]

With Zebraman, Takashi Miike makes something that feels shockingly close to a family film. There are a couple of implied seedy moments (Miike usually implies very little in his various other non-family-friendly movies), and some kind of gooey sci-fi violence, but it's all a great deal less extreme than what I'm used to seeing from the director.

I also feel like it's aged accidentally well, considering it's set in 2010, and that was a time when superhero movies were really taking off. That being said, it does intentionally harken back to Japanese TV from the 1970s, rather than parodying Western superhero movies, but it's still something that makes the movie a little more interesting.

It's got its clunky moments and some repetitive scenes, but it's mostly a good blend of absurd comedy and cartoonish action, alongside telling a story that's kind of about a midlife crisis. A man adopts the persona of a superhero from an old show he used to watch, and just so happens to do so around the same time various threats "prophesized" in said show start happening in real life. It's creative and fairly well done. It's also probably an acquired taste, but it worked for me more often than it didn't.

The softer side of Miike

[lonewolf_and_cub · 8/10 · 13 March 2005]

With ZEBRAMAN Takashi Miike proves he can do anything. This film is quite possibly the best feel good movie I have seen in 10 years, and this from a director best known for graphic violence, moral ambiguity and razor-booted kung fu kicking crybaby psychos. The movie has a simple and universal message: you can make a difference if you believe in yourself. It's sweet, poignant and Hilarious(The scene with the Sentai show Shinichi is watching on TV had me laughing so hard I almost choked on my cup of tea). The final scene with Shinichi transforming into a "real" hero is amazing and had me cheering more than any movie I watched as a kid. If that scene fails to stir you then I guess you're dead inside. Miike produces more solid gold cult classics in one year than Hollywood makes in five - he's the king in my eyes: long may his reign continue.

What th hell is this !?

[ebiros2 · 3/10 · 25 August 2011]

Very entertaining super hero genre spoof that spoofs Japanese' own super hero likes of Kamen Rider.

The premise is ridiculous. An elementary school teacher who idolized Zebraman TV series when he was a kid decides to wear Zebraman costume. Then suddenly he does have super powers, and goes out to battle the bad aliens that's covertly infesting his town !

The movie has elements of other movies Miike has directed. There're element of violence, element of a B movie, but is focused to entertain their intended audiences. In a way he's like Japanese version of Roger Corman.

The movie is fun, and that seems to be the focus of it all. Just go along for the ride, and you'll be entertained.

Aside from a little lull here and there, this film is terrific

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 5 October 2008]

Takashi Miike is a very, very difficult director to label. Some of his films have been incredibly violent and gory (such as ICHI THE KILLER and AUDITION)--so much so that I could never recommend them. Some of his films have been strange and highly enjoyable comedies (especially HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS). In recent years, his films have even tended towards being children's movies (such as his Ultraman series on TV and THE GREAT YOKAI WAR). Because of this wide, wide range of films, I was apprehensive to watch ZEBRAMAN, as I had no idea what type of Miike film it would be. Fortunately, it was a blend of both his weird quirky films AND his excellent family-friendly films.

Here in ZEBRAMAN, you have the story of a very nerdy elementary school teacher who secretly longs to be his TV hero, Zebraman. It seems that in the 70s, Zebraman was a very short-lived show and the guy has loved it ever since. This isn't so odd, but the fact that he's made a Zebraman costume and imagines himself to be this great superhero is!! What makes it even weirder is where it all goes next--into a strange and surreal direction that I just didn't anticipate. Rest assured, the direction is very odd and it involves this nerd having to save the planet from evil aliens!!!

The film is all in good fun and does it all tongue in cheek--never taking itself too seriously. Excellent direction and a nice story make this a winner--even if there are a few lulls here and there before the crazy and very exciting conclusion.

this movie sucks

[SparxDragon · 1/10 · 20 January 2005]

I'm a huge fan of Miike's work and I think he made this movie to mock at his usual audience. He knew one would think "wow, that sure will be some twisted interesting film" so he made the most-cliché movie ever instead of that. That's the thing I like about Miike, he always changes and surprises his fans. If we start with the vision - the movie has some interesting stuff shot. That's a plus for it. Even though the budget had been low, the work is done nice here. Except for the ALIENS - What the hell?! They reminded me of The Flabbers! The music sucked like a hooker. At one time I almost threw up. The plot is the worst part of the film. I almost fell asleep till the end. So stupid, so predictable... And where did all the super powers come to that loser teacher? We see him normal and after a second he has all the super punches and kicks and he even teaches himself to fly?!? And that handicapped kid and his mother. One would think that Zebraman is a pedophile, and then other would think that he cheats on his wife with the cripple's mother. The whole movie is pathetic. I wish I never watched it. I think even my dumb-ass brother who likes Virtual Rangers wouldn't like this Zebraman movie!

Zebraman kicks!!!

[sauron-15 · 8/10 · 6 February 2004]

I watched Zebraman at the IFFR in Rotterdam, and it was a coaster ride from beginning to end. I've seen a view movies by Miike Takashi, and they all had elements of gore and typical Japanese-over-the-top-violence. Not this one though!!! From the first second up it's totaly wicked. It has all the elements you've already seen in this sort of action-figure-based movies, but in the hands of Miike it turns into movie magic. In a nutshell: Goodbye Hollywood! Sadako rock's! America doesn't!

The story about a failed teacher/familyman, daydreaming about his alter-ego Zebraman who after construction of his ducktaped superhero outfit gets more then he could ever hoped for, will keep you on the edge for the entire length of the movie.

Those of you familiar with Miike's previous work do not need to dispare: It wouldn't be Miike if there wasn't any blood, body fluids or slurry involved, but I can't tell you anything without spoiling, so: GO SEE!

Not the usual Takashi Miike standard...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 20 September 2013]

I purchased this movie from Amazon simply because it was a Takashi Miike film, but now having seen it, I am just disappointed - to say the least.

"Zebraman" is nowhere near the usual league that director Takashi Miike moves around it. There is just not the same level of action, violence, character build, or same feeling and atmosphere that he usually have to his movies.

The story is rather plain and tends to drift a bit, leaving the audience (well, me, at least) sort of seeking excitement elsewhere. There is just very little in the movie to get worked up over and get your thrills from.

Of course, every director can't keep striking gold every time they touch something, and I suppose this was a strike out from Takashi Miike.

I will say that the people hired for the various roles throughout the movie were doing good enough jobs with their given characters. And also, the characters were extreme enough to be out there, I mean, just look at their costumes.

If you enjoy superhero movies where the heroes have no superhero powers, then there are some better choices out there. American movies, sure, but better choices nonetheless.