If you happen to be in Japan, then you can check out Tokyo Ghoul‘s live-action debut right now. Sui Ishida’s horror franchise saw its movie reach theaters over the weekend ahead of its limited international release, and reviews are starting to trickle in for the feature. But, for fans, no reaction can be as important as Ishida’s own review.
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Over on Twitter, the Tokyo Ghoul creator recently went on a tweet spree to share his thoughts about the live-action movie. Redditor u/Afro_ps was able to translate the review into English for fans, and you can read up on part of the creator’s extensive reaction below:
“Firstly, Kubota-kun (Kaneki’s actor) name was in a lot of places. I’m glad I could see the cast’s names. A personal wish of mine when this whole thing started was to help Kubota-kun become more famous, so I’m satisfied I could contribute towards that.
In regards to the live-action film itself, I think ‘a film is a film and a manga is a manga, so it’s good if you are able to enjoy the film as a film.’”
I am extremely lucky for those of you who were able to enjoy both. And I am also very grateful. I think to be able to receive this sort of thing with pleasure is terribly difficult. In order to not stray away from the original work too much, they imparted the images of the [manga] with flesh and motion to [keep it grounded]. The cast, and the director, Hagiwara, did their absolute best.”
“As for the cast, I can praise them all I want through text, but I would love it if you could make it out to a theater and confirm my opinions yourself. I know it’s hot outside, but I’ll be glad I found you’re able to.”
So far, U.S. reception to the Tokyo Ghoul film has been mixed following the film’s early screening at Anime Expo 2017. Sites like Variety and Nerdist gave the film modest reviews, but the Japanese fandom seems thrilled with the feature. Tokyo Ghoul stands as one of Japan’s most popular titles right now thanks to its gritty tone and on-going manga. Many fans were concerned about its live-action debut, but Ishida seems to think the film does right by his story. So, at the very least, fans should feel reassured by the creator’s glowing review.
If you are unfamiliar with Tokyo Ghoul, Viz Media describes the story below:
“Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way – except their craving for human flesh. Shy Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. But it turns out that she’s only interested in his body – eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own.”
The series debuted in September 2011 thanks to mangaka Sui Ishida. Weekly Young Jump first published the manga before it was adapted into an anime series by Pierrot. The anime premiered in July 2014 before a second season ran in January 2015. A third season has yet to be announced by any party.
Tokyo Ghoul is set in an alternate reality where creatures known as ghouls exist. The horrifying monsters survive by consuming human flesh and live amongst humans in secret. The story follows a boy named Ken Kaneki after a date-gone-wrong leaves him a half-ghoul. Struggling to adapt to his new life, Ken tries his best to fit into ghoul society, keep his monstrous status hidden from humans, and reign in the insatiable hunger he has for flesh.
