Humanoid Monster Bem#Anime

{{Short description|Japanese anime television series and its adaptations}}

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| name = Humanoid Monster Bem

| image = BEM logo.svg

| caption = Logo of the 2019 anime

| ja_kanji = 妖怪人間ベム

| ja_romaji = Yōkai Ningen Bemu

| genre = Horror, adventure

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| director = Hideo Wakabayashi

| producer =

| writer = Akira Adachi

| music =

| studio = Dai'ichi Dōga

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=Discotek Media}}

| network = Fuji TV

| first = 7 October 1968

| last = 31 March 1969

| episodes = 26

| episode_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| director = Hiroshi Harada

| producer =

| writer = Junki Takegami

| music =

| studio = Studio Comet

| network = Animax, Tokyo MX

| first = 1 April 2006

| last = 7 October 2006

| episodes = 26

| episode_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = drama

| title =

| director = Shunsuke Kariyama
Noriyoshi Sakuma

| producer =

| writer = Masafumi Nishida

| music =

| studio = Nippon Television

| licensee =

| network = NTV

| network_en =

| first = October 22, 2011

| last = December 24, 2011

| episodes = 10

| episode_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = live film

| title =

| director = Shunsuke Kariyama

| producer = Hidehiro Kawano

| writer = Masafumi Nishida

| music =

| studio = Toho

| licensee =

| released = {{Start date|2012|12|15}}

| runtime = 124 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = tv series

| title = BEM

| director = Yoshinori Odaka

| producer =

| writer = Atsuhiro Tomioka

| music = Soil & Pimp Sessions
Michiru

| licensee = Funimation

| studio = LandQ Studios

| network = TV Tokyo, TVA, TVO

| network_en =

| first = July 14, 2019

| last = October 13, 2019

| episodes = 12

| episode_list = #Anime

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = live film

| title = Yokai Ningen Bela

| director = Tsutomu Hanabusa

| producer =

| writer = Daisuke Hozaka

| music = Minami Nozaki

| studio = ADK Emotions

| licensee =

| released = {{Start date|2020|09|11}}

| runtime =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

| title = Anime film

| content =

BEM: Become Human (2020)

}}

{{nihongo|Humanoid Monster Bem{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-02-07/humanoid-monster-bem-franchise-gets-new-tv-anime-in-2019/.143113|title=Humanoid Monster Bem Franchise Gets New Anime in 2019|website=Anime News Network|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21}}|妖怪人間ベム|Yōkai Ningen Bemu|lead=yes}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.animax-asia.com/program/synopsis.php?i=265|title=Synopsis for HUMANOID MONSTER BEM - Animax Asia|publisher=Animax Asia|access-date=2007-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225084105/http://www.animax-asia.com/program/synopsis.php?i=265|archive-date=2007-12-25|url-status=dead}}

A live-action television drama adaptation premiered on NTV on October 22, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/10/kamenashi-kazuya-anne-and-suzuki-fuku-to-sing-the-opening-theme-for-yokai-ningen-bem/ |title=Kamenashi Kazuya, Anne, and Suzuki Fuku to sing the opening theme for 'Yokai Ningen Bem' |author=Shiso |date=October 11, 2011 |access-date= October 11, 2011|work=Tokyohive}} A film was released on December 15, 2012.{{cite web|url= http://www.24framespersecond.net/index.php?/24frames/news_details/humanoid-monster-bem-goes-feature-length|title= HUMANOID MONSTER BEM goes feature length|author= Deljhp|date= 2012-10-18|access-date= 2012-10-25|work= 24framespersecond.net|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130909091754/http://www.24framespersecond.net/index.php?/24frames/news_details/humanoid-monster-bem-goes-feature-length|archive-date= 2013-09-09|url-status= dead}}

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.{{cite web|title=Humanoid Monster Bem Franchise Gets New TV Anime in 2019|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-02-07/humanoid-monster-bem-franchise-gets-new-tv-anime-in-2019/.143113|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 7, 2019|date=February 7, 2019}}{{cite web|title=New Bem Monster Anime's 2nd Teaser Reveals More Cast, Musicians, Summer Premiere|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-22/new-bem-monster-anime-2nd-teaser-reveals-more-cast-musicians-summer-premiere/.144859|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 22, 2019|date=March 22, 2019}}{{cite web|title='BEM' Anime Reveals More Cast Members, Theme Song Artists, Promo Vdeo, July 7 Premiere|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-05-31/bem-anime-reveals-more-cast-members-theme-song-artists-promo-video-july-7-premiere/.147336|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 31, 2019|date=May 31, 2019}} A new film titled BEM: Become Human, was released on October 2, 2020.{{cite web|title=BEM Reboot Anime Gets Movie This Fall|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-01/bem-reboot-anime-gets-movie-this-fall/.160157|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 1, 2020|date=June 1, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-20/bem-become-human-film-trailer-reveals-theme-song-october-2-opening/.163081|title=BEM: Become Human Film's Trailer Reveals Theme Song, October 2 Opening|publisher=Anime News Network|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=August 20, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-10-28/funimation-streams-bem-become-human-film/.165686|title = Funimation Streams BEM: Become Human Film| date=July 30, 2023 }} It streamed on Funimation's website on October 29, 2020.

A spin-off live-action film Yokai Ningen Bela was released on September 11, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-11/humanoid-monster-bem-bela-character-gets-live-action-film-in-september/.160490|title=Humanoid Monster Bem's Bela Character Gets Live-Action Film in September|date=July 30, 2023 }}

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)|Gabe Kunda (2019 series)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.funimation.com/forum/topic/18704/master-thread-bem-dubbed/2|title=[Master Thread] BEM (Dubbed)|last=Funimation|website=www.funimation.com|access-date=2019-07-30}}

: Played by: Kazuya Kamenashi

: The oldest looking of the trio is the leader and protagonist. 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)|Dani Chambers (2019 series)}}

: 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)|Aaron Dismuke (2019 series) (English)}}

: 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==

Bem: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Bela: Hiroko Mori
Belo: Mari Shimizu
Opening Narration: Tatsuya Jo, Issei Futamata (Part 2)

==Theme songs==

Opening: {{nihongo|"Humanoid Monster Bemu"|妖怪人間ベム}} (lyrics: Daiichi Doga, composition and arrangement: Seishi Tanaka; performance: Honey Nights)
Ending: {{nihongo|"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==

Bem: Kazuhiko Inoue
Bela: Kaori Yamagata
Belo: Ai Horanai
Kira Hyuga: Yūna Inamura
Sora Kaido: Naoya Iwahashi
Mitsuki Kisaragi: Minori Chihara
Genpaku Hyuga: Masami Iwasaki
Urara Hyuga: Mie Sonozaki
Riku Kaido: Ryō Naitō
Umi Kaido: Miki Nagasawa
Ryoko Kisaragi: Yuriko Fuchizaki
Yuzo Mikami: Manabu Murashi
Hitoshi Tamugenro: Hirofumi Nojima
Imp: Mitsuo Iwata
Dana O'Shee: Rokuro Naya
Doppleganger: Hiroyuki Miyasako
Narration: Mizuho Suzuki

==Theme songs==

Opening: {{nihongo|"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: {{nihongo|"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==

Bem: Katsuyuki Konishi/Gabe Kunda
Bela: M.A.O/Dani Chambers
Belo: Kensho Ono/Aaron Dismuke
Mysterious Lady: Maaya Sakamoto/Colleen Clinkenbeard
Joel Woods: Kenji Nomura/Jason Douglas
Sonia Summers: Maaya Uchida/Felecia Angelle
Dr. Recycle: Junichi Suwabe/Daman Mills
Daryl Bryson: Soma Saito/Dallas Reid
Roddy Walker: Koutaro Nishiyama/Stephen Fu
Helmut Felt: Daisuke Ono/Christopher Wehkamp
Julia Bush: Sayaka Oohara/Jamie Marchi

==Theme songs==

Opening: "Uchū no Kioku" (Performance: Maaya Sakamoto)
Ending: "Iruimi" (Performance: JUNNA)

=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==

Bem: Katsuyuki Konishi/Gabe Kunda
Bela: M.A.O/Dani Chambers
Belo: Kensho Ono/Aaron Dismuke
Burgess: Toshiya Miyata/Ryan Colt Levy
Manstoll: Kōichi Yamadera/Jason Liebrecht
Emma: Nana Mizuki/Bryn Apprill
Draco: Wataru Takagi/Michael Schwalbe
Greta: Shizuka Itō/Elizabeth Maxwell

Anime

Funimation has licensed the 2019 series for a simuldub.{{Cite web|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/06/14/summer-2019-lineup/|title=Funimation Turns Up the Heat with Their Summer 2019 Lineup!|last=Funimation|website=www.funimation.com|date=14 June 2019|access-date=2019-07-03}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://newbem.jp/news/407/|title=妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト NEWS|last=妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト|website=newbem.jp/|access-date=2019-07-30}}

class="plainrowheaders wikitable" style="width:98%; margin:auto; background:#FFF"

style="border-bottom: 3px solid #CCF;"

! style="width:4em;" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

! Title

! style="width:12em;" | Original air date

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| Title = Water

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|14}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| Title = Liar

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|21}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| Title = Shadow

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|7|28}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| Title = Lightning

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|18}}{{Cite web|url=https://newbem.jp/news/407/|title=妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト NEWS|last=妖怪人間ベム新作アニメ「BEM」公式サイト|website=newbem.jp/|access-date=2019-07-30}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| Title = Sweeper

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|8|25}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| Title = Gravity

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|9|1}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| Title = Chimera

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|9|8}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| Title = Noise

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|9|15}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| Title = Falling

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|9|22}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| Title = Betrayal

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|9|29}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| Title = Judgement

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|6}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| Title = Wishing to become human someday

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|13}}

| ShortSummary =

}}

Reception

The live-action film grossed US$11.5 million in Japan.{{cite web |url= http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/the-asian-films-driving-global-box-office|title= The Asian films driving global box office|author= Staff Reporter|date= 16 May 2014|access-date= 17 May 2014|work= Film Business Asia}}

References

External links

{{in lang|ja}} [https://newbem.jp/ Official site of the remake]
[http://www.ntv.co.jp/bem/ Official site of the TV drama] {{in lang|ja}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20091106023958/http://www.animax-asia.com/shows/humanoid-monster-bem Animax East Asia's official website for Humanoid Monster Bem]
{{IMDb title|0409645}}
{{anime News Network|anime|1483}}
{{anime News Network|anime|6541|Humanoid Monster Bem}} (2006 series)
{{anime News Network|anime|21994}} (2019 series)