Asian Superheroes in the Spotlight
“Superheroes in Asia” is the theme for eleven films to unspool at the Pusan Festival in Seoul, Korea. The event, running from October 2-10, will also feature other themes including "Ani Asia! A Leap of Asian Feature Animation 3”, “Romanian New Wave” and “2008 Asian Omnibus Collection”
According to the festival’s website, “It seems that Hollywood created super heros like Superman and Spider-Man are the only superheroes who protect our planet from the evil forces since we have gotten used to Hollywood blockbusters too much, but there are many unknown superheroes who are working double shifts for the world peace every country in Asia. Through 11 Asian superheroes in 11 films, audiences understand how the new Western genre ‘Superhero’ was introduced in historical, political, cultural and social part of Asia, and traces its transformation into Asia’s own superhero. Asian superheroes will bring not only the peace of the world but also clues about the modernization of Asia.“
Among the films will be director Bhandit Thongdee’s Mercury Man, described as a Thai take on Spider-Man; Yuri Abdul Halim’s Cicak-Man, Malaysia’s first superhero effort; and India’ s Rakesh Roshan-driected Krrish.
Marvel Comics Group helped a Japanese television production company (Toei) develop a show based on Spider-Man. It featured Spider-Man driving a car and using a giant robot to fight giant monsters. I always wondered what the meeting for that was like…"Okay, have some questions about Spider-Man character.""great, ask away""What does his giant robot look like?""Yer what?"After Spider-Man succeeded, Toei and Marvel took the giant robot fighting giant monster idea, folded them onto another of their shows (a new series of shows that started at Go-Ranger and JAKQ) and created what became known as the "Super Sentai" series, the longest-running regular series in japanese children's entertainment – 33 years and still going strong. It's the series that becomes Power Rangers here in the USA, but that show can't hold a CANDLE to the originals.The Metal Heros, the Kamen Riders, The Ultraman series, the new Rescue Hero and Sheisin (Star God) series…Japan's got us beat hands down when it comes to superheroes on TV.