The movie’s all-star cast.
©1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts / Shogakukan Inc.
©2008 20th Century Boys Movie Production Committee

20th Century Boys, a hit manga series written by the globally renowned Urasawa Naoki, has been turned into a live-action movie trilogy, with the first part scheduled to premiere in August 2008. The films promise to provide first-rate entertainment, with an all-star cast, scenes shot on location around the world, and copious use of the latest computer graphics techniques. The movies’ interpretation of the story differs somewhat from that of the original manga, which will add to the interest for fans of the series.

Prophecies That Come to Pass
It is the summer of 1969, the year that astronauts took their first steps on the moon and the year before the World Exposition at Osaka. Kenji, who is in fourth grade at elementary school, along with Occho, Maruo, and Yoshitsune, and a few other classmates, build a secret hideout in an empty field by tying grass together. At their “base,” they create a Book of Prophecies, in which they depict stories about an evil organization that takes control of the world, a giant robot that destroys Tokyo, attempts by the “good guys” to foil these schemes, and many other fantasies, giving full scope to their imagination. 

The young friends draw in the Book of Prophecies at their base.
©1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts / Shogakukan Inc.
©2008 20th Century Boys Movie Production Committee

In 1997, when Kenji and his friends are adults, their lives are brought together once again by the death of their childhood friend Donki. Following the incident, the founder of a religious sect named Tomodachi (meaning “friend”) and his followers appear on the scene. At the same time, strange events start to take place around the world. Kenji and his friends realize that the events mirror the stories they made up long ago in their Book of Prophecies. Are the incidents the work of Tomodachi? Is Tomodachi actually one of their old friends in disguise? Kenji and his friends decide they must prevent any more unfortunate events from occurring.

20th Century Boys was originally serialized in a weekly manga magazine from 1999 to 2006. It was later published as a 22-volume set of manga books. A two-volume set titled 21st Century Boys has also been published. In total, more than 20 million copies of these manga have been sold. The stories have been translated and published in 12 countries and regions. 20th Century Boys has won several awards, including the Prize for a Series at France’s prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival and an award for excellence in manga at the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Japan Media Arts Festival.

Tomodachi, the founder of a religious sect.
©1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts / Shogakukan Inc.
©2008 20th Century Boys Movie Production Committee

Strange events take place around the world.
©1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts / Shogakukan Inc.
©2008 20th Century Boys Movie Production Committee

An Unprecedented Production
After production of the movie got underway, a decision was made to turn 20th Century Boys into a series of three movies, because of the difficulties of bringing together the complex story line, spanning half a century, into a single work. The first part will premiere on August 30, 2008, the second on January 31, 2009, and the third in 2009. Shortly after Japan, the movie series will be introduced in overseas, and it has been already confirmed that the films will be released in 34 countries and regions in Asia.

Approximately ¥6 billion yen ($57.1 million at 105 yen to the dollar) was spent on the production, which becomes the most costly Japanese movie project in history. Scenes were filmed on location in New York, London, Paris, Beijing, Bangkok, and other places around the world. Around 300 actors and actresses have significant roles in the three movies, including such big names as Karasawa Toshiaki (in the role of Kenji), Toyokawa Etsushi (Occho), and Tokiwa Takako (Yukiji).

Urasawa Naoki, the creator of the manga, is also assisting in the production, serving as scriptwriter director. One point of interest is the different interpretation given to the character Tomodachi and subsequent developments in the film’s story line. The title of the work derives from the name of a song sung by the 1970s British rock group T. Rex. A CD of the song, “20th Century Boy,” was included as a giveaway on a limited edition of the first printing of the nineteenth volume in the manga-book set, and the song serves as the theme song of the movies. (August 2008)