Tokusatsu Meets Time Travel: The Japanese Doctor Who Parody
By Doctor Who Online |
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The enormous and varied Doctor Who fan base has produced abundant
fan-generated material, such as cartoons, films, musical mashups, and
other works of art influenced by the iconic British sci-fi TV series.
One such fan is London-based filmmaker Joshua Kahan, who has a deep love
for Doctor Who. Kahan's unique tribute to the classic series, titled
Japanese
Doctor Who, merges elements of the Doctor Who universe with the
Japanese sci-fi genre known as Tokusatsu. In this imaginative
production, you'll discover a suave Time Lord, unexpected alliances
between Cybermen and Daleks, and the curious creation of Dalektor, a
Dalek with legs.
Understanding Tokusatsu: Japan’s Spectacular Sci-Fi Genre
Over the years, Whovians have expressed their devotion to the show
through various forms of creative expression. This has included creating
cartoons, anime, and musical mashups that blend elements of Doctor Who
with other beloved franchises like Sherlock Holmes. Given this history
of creative crossover projects, merging Tokusatsu and Doctor Who doesn't
seem particularly far-fetched.
Tokusatsu is a very popular genre in Japan. Tokusatsu is a term that
refers to live-action films or TV shows characterized by extensive use
of special effects. You can even find Tokusatsu-style casino games at
recommended Japanese online casinos.
The term itself translates to "special filming," and its appeal in
blending with Doctor Who becomes evident. Notable Tokusatsu titles
include Godzilla, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai (the inspiration for Power
Rangers), and Ultraman. These shows feature vibrant characters, intense
battles, eye-catching special effects), elaborate costumes, and often
produced on a limited budget.
Doctor Who and Tokusatsu: Inspired by Japanese Spiderman
The fusion of this iconic series with the Japanese style of creating
Sci-Fi content was inevitable as there has been a thriving
Doctor Who niche in Japan for more than three decades. However, it
wasn't until Joshua Kahan introduced his 4:3 aspect ratio video that the
idea gained significant attention.
While the concept of a Tokusatsu adaptation of Doctor Who might seem
natural, it took until 2014 for this unique blend to emerge. Kahan's
inspiration struck while rewatching the Japanese Spiderman intro, and
its delightful absurdity struck him. He couldn't help but wonder why
there weren't more shows like that. This led to the inception of the
idea to create something distinct.
The logical choice for Kahan was to consider a popular TV series that
matched the offbeat nature of Japanese Spiderman and Doctor Who was the
clear and immediate answer. The rest, as the filmmaker admits, was a
matter of logical progression.
Creating the Japanese Doctor Who with a Tiny Budget
Joshua's creation is a tribute to both genres, seamlessly blending them.
Incorporating the Time Lord character reflects classic Tokusatsu
heroism, while the alliance of Cybermen and Daleks adds a fresh yet
familiar touch to Kahan's vision. The introduction of Dalektro, a Dalek
with legs, exemplifies the boundless innovation within fandom, bridging
seemingly separate worlds harmoniously.
Despite budget constraints, every detail was crafted to capture the
essence of 1980s television trends. Kahan relied on personal favors,
resourcefulness, and creative problem-solving to bring his fan video to
life. Notably, he used an ordinary bin from Camden Market as Dalektor's
head. The budget for Doctor Who's costume was a mere £50, and he
acquired a stylish disco outfit from a second-hand store for just £30.
From Writing to Shooting and Editing in Under 2 Months
And if you thought that writing the Japanese Doctor Who implied more
work than putting together the costumes, think again. Kahan said he
wrote it in April, then called in all the favors possible to get actors
for it, and the video was shot in May. Filming location - Trent Park,
which gave the story a natural placement to add authenticity.
The music was the only thing that took longer and delayed the release of
this Tokusatsu X Doctor Who video. It’s put together by Joshua’s
brother, Gideon, who played in two bands at a time and was harder to
convince to accept a job without a budget.
Final Thoughts
The reception of the Japanese Doctor Who ranged from the internet either
loving it or thinking it’s the strangest thing ever posted. The fact
that it went viral, after all, tells a lot about how something produced
by the fans has the potential to intrigue, amuse, and leave viewers
yearning for more.
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Copyright Doctor Who Online, 2023. |
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Added:
8/11/2023
Written by:
Doctor Who Online |
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