Doomed Megalopolis
Encyclopedia
is an anime
rendition of the Japanese historical fantasy
epic Teito Monogatari
(Hiroshi Aramata
). Like it's live-action predecessor, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
, the anime is only an adaptation of the first 1/3rd (first four books) of the original novel. It was released by Toei
in 1991 as a 4-part OVA. In 1999, ADV Films gained the rights to the anime and released it on a four-volume cassette series in the US, under the title Doomed Megalopolis. In 2001, ADV re-released the entire series on a 2-Disc DVD edition. However, the release contained Streamline's dubbed releases and did not have an optional Japanese soundtrack or any special features. As such, ADV gathered the rights to the original Japanese voices, and in 2003, re-released an enhanced version entitled Doomed Megalopolis: Special Edition, wherein the Japanese language option was available and many other features were added.
In the context of the cinematic adaptations, the anime could be considered a remake of its live-action predecessor, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
, since it covers exactly the same plot.
went against the Emperor and was executed for his crimes. However, his hatred for the new capital of Edo
has left a curse that persists in the city to this day. The setting moves forward a few years to 1912. Two figures appear in Tokyo at exactly the same time. One is Yasumasa Hirai, an Onmyoji of the Tsuchimikado Family who has come to give advice to Baron Eiichi Shibusawa
as to how to make Tokyo the most blessed and successful city in the East. The other figure is Yasunori Kato
, an evil Onmyoji who wishes to destroy Tokyo completely to appease his ancestors, the indigenous tribes of Japan who fought against the Imperial court
in ancient times
. . Kato plans to do this by awakening the raging spirit of Taira no Masakado
as a weapon to demolish the city. To do this, he kidnaps a young girl (Yukari Tatsumiya), who is blessed with some "unusual spiritual power", to use as a medium for Masakado's spirit. Hirai discovers this and attempts to stop Kato and save Yukari through his own magic. Unfortunately, the two Onmyoji are too equally matched and their battles end in stalemates. Finally Hirai takes the fight to his temple, where he and his followers protect Yukari with a purification ceremony
. However, despite the collaboration of all these individuals against the dark Onmyoji, Kato still manages to overwhelm Hirai with his own powerful magic. With Hirai defeated, Kato escapes with Yukari.
. At a national level, tragedy strikes as the Emperor Meiji
passes away thus ending the Meiji period
. In accordance with this transition, Hirai sacrifices himself to perform one final act of divination which foretells the year of Tokyo's destruction—the year of the boar
. The story then moves ten years forward to 1923
where Yukari's daughter, Yukiko Tatsumiya, is now a young girl. Kato decides to strike and kidnaps the girl in her own home. However, his job isn't as easy as last time, as a myriad of defenders are ready for his coming. Upon crossing Nihonbashi Bridge
, he is attacked by spiritual guardians set as traps by the Tsuchimikado Clan. After neutralizing them, Kato must contend with many other challenges which weaken him considerably, such as escaping from a Kimon Tonkou spell trap. Despite all this resistance, he still successfully makes his way to Masakado's grave and manages to invoke the tyrant's spirit through the body of Yukiko. Masakado reacts violently by by summoning a lightning bolt down upon Kato. However the spiritual energy released from this encounter has temporarily awoken the Underground Dragon
, whose violent undulations result in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, wherein most of Tokyo is decimated and many innocent lives are lost.
employs the talents of Torahiko Terada, a physicist and scientist in the field of Earthquake Studies, to help oversee construction. But with the reconstruction of Tokyo comes Kato's revival. Infiltrating the construction sites for the subway tunnel, Kato employs shikigami
and spiritual apparitions
to hold the workers at bay while he focuses on a more important task: the second awakening of the Underground Dragon. Shibusawa calls in a Feng Shui expert (Shigemaru Kuroda), who pinpoints the source of these disturbances to foreign magic that is undermining the balance of the earth's spiritual energy veins. Since the construction workers are too frightened to continue their work, Terada decides that different action must be taken. He enlists the help of Makoto Nishimura to use his robot, Gakutensoku
, to clear out the disturbances which have put a stop to the project. Terada reasons that since Gakutensoku is inhuman, he can't be tricked by psychic apparitions that would terrify normal men. Meanwhile, a beautiful young shrine maiden by the name of Keiko Mekata, has been summoned by Masakado's spirit to fight Kato. While praying at Masakado's shrine one day, she catches the eye of Yoichiro Tatsumiya, who falls in love with her. The two marry, and Keiko is initiated into the Tatsumiya household. As a member of the Tatsumiya household, Keiko can provide spiritual protection for the family from the inside. Kato, still unable to rouse the Underground Dragon through his own magics, decides to kidnap Yukiko and use her as a sacrifice. After a battle at the Tatsumiya household, Kato gets away with Yukiko and Keiko pursues him underground. While contending with Keiko, Kato is distracted and doesn't notice the efforts of Gakutensoku, who arrives at the "heart" of the Underground Dragon and self-destructs. This throws the spiritual energy veins into disarray, releasing Yukiko and foiling Kato's plan. Finally, Keiko uses Masakado's power to banish him to the underworld.
Kwannon, which eliminates the anger of the dead souls and appeasing the curse. The anime ends in 1927 with a quote by Koda Rohan
, who hopes Tokyo will find peace for the time being.
claimed to have been helplessly inspired by both of the previous live-action adaptations of Teito Monogatari
(Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
and Tokyo: The Last War
) while he was directing Doomed Megalopolis. He admitted that there are stylistic similarities between the adaptations.
Despite some aesthetic similarities and a similar portrayal of the villain, Yasunori Kato
, in both adaptations, the plot of Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
and Doomed Megalopolis differ significantly in many areas. Below is a partial list of major changes from the plot of the live-action adaptation:
. In general, the content of the animated adaptation is much more graphic, obscene and simplified from the original novel. Some areas where the original novel differ include, but are not limited to, the following:
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
rendition of the Japanese historical fantasy
Historical fantasy
Historical fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy and related to historical fiction, which makes use of specific elements of real world history. It is used as an umbrella term for the sword and sorcery genre and sometimes, if fantasy is involved, the sword-and-sandal genre too...
epic Teito Monogatari
Teito Monogatari
is a massive Japanese historical fantasy epic written by Hiroshi Aramata.-Overview:The story is a retelling of the history of Edo from an occultist perspective. The premise is based on the idea that the curse of Taira no Masakado greatly influenced the city's history from its inception to the...
(Hiroshi Aramata
Hiroshi Aramata
is a Japanese author, translator, and screenplay writer, as well as a specialist in natural history and cartography.His most popular novel was Teito Monogatari , which has sold over 3.5 million copies in Japan alone. He also wrote Alexander Senki, a novel which eventually evolved into the anime...
). Like it's live-action predecessor, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
is a tokusatsu historical fantasy film produced in 1987 by Exe and distributed in 1988 by Toho Studios. It is the first live-action adaptation of the Teito Monogatari series by Hiroshi Aramata.-Plot:...
, the anime is only an adaptation of the first 1/3rd (first four books) of the original novel. It was released by Toei
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
in 1991 as a 4-part OVA. In 1999, ADV Films gained the rights to the anime and released it on a four-volume cassette series in the US, under the title Doomed Megalopolis. In 2001, ADV re-released the entire series on a 2-Disc DVD edition. However, the release contained Streamline's dubbed releases and did not have an optional Japanese soundtrack or any special features. As such, ADV gathered the rights to the original Japanese voices, and in 2003, re-released an enhanced version entitled Doomed Megalopolis: Special Edition, wherein the Japanese language option was available and many other features were added.
In the context of the cinematic adaptations, the anime could be considered a remake of its live-action predecessor, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
is a tokusatsu historical fantasy film produced in 1987 by Exe and distributed in 1988 by Toho Studios. It is the first live-action adaptation of the Teito Monogatari series by Hiroshi Aramata.-Plot:...
, since it covers exactly the same plot.
Episode 1: "The Haunting of Tokyo"
The story begins in a contemporary, with a voice over narrative concerning the state of the expanding city of Tokyo. The narrator tells the tale of how Taira no MasakadoTaira no Masakado
was a samurai in the Heian period of Japan, who led one of the largest insurgent forces in the period against the central government of Kyoto.-History:...
went against the Emperor and was executed for his crimes. However, his hatred for the new capital of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
has left a curse that persists in the city to this day. The setting moves forward a few years to 1912. Two figures appear in Tokyo at exactly the same time. One is Yasumasa Hirai, an Onmyoji of the Tsuchimikado Family who has come to give advice to Baron Eiichi Shibusawa
Eiichi Shibusawa
' was a Japanese industrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism". He spearheaded the introduction of Western capitalism to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. He introduced many reforms including use of double entry accounting, joint stock corporations and modern note-issuing...
as to how to make Tokyo the most blessed and successful city in the East. The other figure is Yasunori Kato
Yasunori Kato
is a fictional character, the antagonist of the Japanese historical fantasy series Teito Monogatari, created by Hiroshi Aramata.Since his first cinematic appearance in 1988, Yasunori Kato has gone on to become a well known and well respected archetype in Japanese popular culture having inspired a...
, an evil Onmyoji who wishes to destroy Tokyo completely to appease his ancestors, the indigenous tribes of Japan who fought against the Imperial court
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
in ancient times
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 , the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed...
. . Kato plans to do this by awakening the raging spirit of Taira no Masakado
Taira no Masakado
was a samurai in the Heian period of Japan, who led one of the largest insurgent forces in the period against the central government of Kyoto.-History:...
as a weapon to demolish the city. To do this, he kidnaps a young girl (Yukari Tatsumiya), who is blessed with some "unusual spiritual power", to use as a medium for Masakado's spirit. Hirai discovers this and attempts to stop Kato and save Yukari through his own magic. Unfortunately, the two Onmyoji are too equally matched and their battles end in stalemates. Finally Hirai takes the fight to his temple, where he and his followers protect Yukari with a purification ceremony
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
. However, despite the collaboration of all these individuals against the dark Onmyoji, Kato still manages to overwhelm Hirai with his own powerful magic. With Hirai defeated, Kato escapes with Yukari.
Episode 2: "The Fall of Tokyo"
The episode starts off with Kato injecting demonic seed into Yukari's body via black magic. Kato attempts to employ Yukari's body as a medium to awaken Masakado's spirit. However, Masakado rejects the offer, and Kato is once again at a loss. However, as he views into Yukari's body, he realizes that his magic has been successful, and he has impregnated her with what he believes to be his child. He leaves, planning to return when the child is of suitable age. Hirai's followers find Yukari and deliver her back to her brother's home. Yukari's brother, Yoichiro Tatsumiya, is left with such mixed emotions for Yukari, that he unfortunately expresses his love for her through a blatant act of incestIncest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
. At a national level, tragedy strikes as the Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
passes away thus ending the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. In accordance with this transition, Hirai sacrifices himself to perform one final act of divination which foretells the year of Tokyo's destruction—the year of the boar
Pig (zodiac)
The Pig , is the last of the 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Year of the Pig is associated with the earthly branch Hai .In Chinese culture, the pig is associated with fertility and virility...
. The story then moves ten years forward to 1923
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
where Yukari's daughter, Yukiko Tatsumiya, is now a young girl. Kato decides to strike and kidnaps the girl in her own home. However, his job isn't as easy as last time, as a myriad of defenders are ready for his coming. Upon crossing Nihonbashi Bridge
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
, he is attacked by spiritual guardians set as traps by the Tsuchimikado Clan. After neutralizing them, Kato must contend with many other challenges which weaken him considerably, such as escaping from a Kimon Tonkou spell trap. Despite all this resistance, he still successfully makes his way to Masakado's grave and manages to invoke the tyrant's spirit through the body of Yukiko. Masakado reacts violently by by summoning a lightning bolt down upon Kato. However the spiritual energy released from this encounter has temporarily awoken the Underground Dragon
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
, whose violent undulations result in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, wherein most of Tokyo is decimated and many innocent lives are lost.
Episode 3: "The Gods of Tokyo"
The plot now shifts to the mid-1920's. While rebuilding Tokyo, plans are made to erect a subway system which will modernize the city. Eiichi ShibusawaEiichi Shibusawa
' was a Japanese industrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism". He spearheaded the introduction of Western capitalism to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. He introduced many reforms including use of double entry accounting, joint stock corporations and modern note-issuing...
employs the talents of Torahiko Terada, a physicist and scientist in the field of Earthquake Studies, to help oversee construction. But with the reconstruction of Tokyo comes Kato's revival. Infiltrating the construction sites for the subway tunnel, Kato employs shikigami
Shikigami
Shikigami are a kind of spirit, found in Japanese Mythology summoned to serve a practitioner of onmyōdō, much like a western familiar. Shikigami cannot be seen by most people, but according to the Heian period onmyōji who were said to control them, shikigami often looked something like a...
and spiritual apparitions
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
to hold the workers at bay while he focuses on a more important task: the second awakening of the Underground Dragon. Shibusawa calls in a Feng Shui expert (Shigemaru Kuroda), who pinpoints the source of these disturbances to foreign magic that is undermining the balance of the earth's spiritual energy veins. Since the construction workers are too frightened to continue their work, Terada decides that different action must be taken. He enlists the help of Makoto Nishimura to use his robot, Gakutensoku
Gakutensoku
Gakutensoku , the first robot to be built in Japan, was created in Osaka in 1929. The robot was designed and manufactured by biologist Makoto Nishimura...
, to clear out the disturbances which have put a stop to the project. Terada reasons that since Gakutensoku is inhuman, he can't be tricked by psychic apparitions that would terrify normal men. Meanwhile, a beautiful young shrine maiden by the name of Keiko Mekata, has been summoned by Masakado's spirit to fight Kato. While praying at Masakado's shrine one day, she catches the eye of Yoichiro Tatsumiya, who falls in love with her. The two marry, and Keiko is initiated into the Tatsumiya household. As a member of the Tatsumiya household, Keiko can provide spiritual protection for the family from the inside. Kato, still unable to rouse the Underground Dragon through his own magics, decides to kidnap Yukiko and use her as a sacrifice. After a battle at the Tatsumiya household, Kato gets away with Yukiko and Keiko pursues him underground. While contending with Keiko, Kato is distracted and doesn't notice the efforts of Gakutensoku, who arrives at the "heart" of the Underground Dragon and self-destructs. This throws the spiritual energy veins into disarray, releasing Yukiko and foiling Kato's plan. Finally, Keiko uses Masakado's power to banish him to the underworld.
Episode 4: "The Battle for Tokyo"
After the dragon under the city had been relieved so to speak Kato found another tool for his destruction. The dark Onmyoji employs all his powers to shift the path of the moon so that the force of its gravity will destroy Tokyo. Wounded by Keiko, he has retreated to a small wooden temple on the outskirts of Tokyo. Keiko receives spiritual aid from Kuroda and Masakado's spirit and sets off to destroy Kato once and for all. Instead of fighting him however, she sacrifices herself by transforming into the bodhisattvaBodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
Kwannon, which eliminates the anger of the dead souls and appeasing the curse. The anime ends in 1927 with a quote by Koda Rohan
Koda Rohan
who used the pen name was a Japanese author in the Meiji period. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him.Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived was rebuilt in 1972 by the...
, who hopes Tokyo will find peace for the time being.
Voice cast
| Character | Japanese version | English version |
|---|---|---|
| Junichi Narutaki | Kōichi Yamadera Koichi Yamadera is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's... |
Cam Clarke Cam Clarke Cameron Arthur "Cam" Clarke is a prolific American voice actor and singer, well known for his work in animation and video games. Clarke is well known for providing the voices of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 original English-dub of Akira. He often voices... |
| Yasunori Katō Yasunori Kato is a fictional character, the antagonist of the Japanese historical fantasy series Teito Monogatari, created by Hiroshi Aramata.Since his first cinematic appearance in 1988, Yasunori Kato has gone on to become a well known and well respected archetype in Japanese popular culture having inspired a... |
Kyūsaku Shimada Kyūsaku Shimada Kyūsaku Shimada is a Japanese actor. He is perhaps best known in the West for the role of Yasunori Kato in the historical fantasy film Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis. He has a distinctive long facial profile with a large, protruding chin.-History:... |
Jeff Winkless Jeff Winkless Jeffrey Alan Winkless was an American film and voice actor and music composer. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Two of his younger brothers, Terence H. Winkless and Daniel Owen Winkless, worked with him on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. He was also credited as Jeffrey Brock... |
| Hirai Yasumasa | Goro Naya Goro Naya is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and theatre director from Hakodate, Hokkaidō. He is a drop-out of the legal education division of Ritsumeikan University. He is connected to Theatre Echo. He is the older brother of actor and seiyū Rokurō Naya. He is the husband of actress and seiyū... |
Mike Reynolds |
| Makoto Nishimura Gakutensoku Gakutensoku , the first robot to be built in Japan, was created in Osaka in 1929. The robot was designed and manufactured by biologist Makoto Nishimura... |
Kan Tokumaru | Clifton Wells |
| Yoichiro Tatsumiya | Kaneto Shiozawa Kaneto Shiozawa Kaneto Shiozawa , real name was a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo affiliated with Aoni Production. He had a distinctive cold, calm voice which usually typecast him in roles as villains or anti-heroes.... |
Kerrigan Mahan Kerrigan Mahan Kerrigan Mahan is an American voice actor, also known as Ryan O'Flannigan.Mahan was born in Los Angeles, California. His voice ranges from young and exuberant to sneering and Lee Van Cleef-ish... |
| Yukari Tatsumiya | Keiko Han Keiko Han is a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and... |
Joan-Carol O'Connell Joan-Carol O'Connell Joan-Carol O'Connell is an American voice actress and voice director who also goes under the names Joan Carol O'Connell, Joan Carrol O'Connell, Joan Carol, Carol O'Joan, Joan Carol Kent, and Jenny Haniver.... |
| Kamo | Ken Yamaguchi Ken Yamaguchi was a Japanese voice actor. He was represented by OYS Produce.He was most known for the roles of Ashuraman, The Omegaman, Prisman , Genji Togashi , Flazzard , Tarantula Arachne , and Ein .Yamaguchi died on October 24, 2011 due to illness.-Notable voice... |
Kirk Thornton Kirk Thornton Kirk Thornton is an American voice actor.-Bio:He is known for playing tough or grouchy men in English-dubbed anime and video games. His career includes Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi and Jin in Samurai Champloo... |
| Kuroda Shigemaru | Kenichi Ogata | Steve Kramer Steve Kramer (actor) Steven M. Kramer is an American voice actor for many anime titles. He has also done voice acting for various Power Rangers series in the past, with the best-known of those roles being the voice of Darkonda in Power Rangers in Space. His wife, Melora Harte, is a voice actress... |
| Amano Junkichi | Kōichi Kitamura Koichi Kitamura , real name was a Japanese voice actor born in Osaka, Japan. Kitamura was employed by the talent management agency Mausu Promotion. He died on October 2, 2007 of pneumonia.-TV:*April to Sandman *Dragon Ball GT *Esper Mami... |
Ed Mannix |
| Torahiko Terada | Naoki Tatsuta Naoki Tatsuta is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Buta Gorilla , Daima Jin , Oolong , Ashibe's Father , and Scoop-kun .... |
Steve Bulen Steve Bulen James Steven Bulen , better known as Steve Bulen, is an American voice actor. He has been doing voices for many animated films and television shows for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Hanna-Barbera as well several video games and anime titles such as Doomed Megalopolis, Giant Robo, Outlaw Star,... |
| Eiichi Shibusawa Eiichi Shibusawa ' was a Japanese industrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism". He spearheaded the introduction of Western capitalism to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. He introduced many reforms including use of double entry accounting, joint stock corporations and modern note-issuing... |
Osamu Saka Osamu Saka is a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Wheeljack in the Japanese dub of , as well as Seitaro Sakaki , Jotaro Honma , and Daisuke Aramaki .-Anime:* Noah Van Hellsing in Blade* Dr... |
Michael Forest Michael Forest Gerald Michael Charlebois, better known as Michael Forest is an American actor who provides the voices for many animated titles. At the age of 71, he provided the voice of Prince Olympius in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue... |
| Noritsugu Hayakawa | Takaya Hashi Takaya Hashi is a Japanese voice actor and actor affiliated with the Seinenza Theater Company. His real name is '.-Television animation:*Allison & Lillia *D.Gray-man *Elemental Gelade... |
Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie Michael D. McConnohie is a voice actor and is the President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation. He is known for his recognizable deep booming voice and is generally known for playing more charismatic characters... |
| Keiko Tatsumiya | Yōko Asagami Yoko Asagami ' is a veteran seiyū who is represented by Aksent. Her married name is '.She is most known for the roles of Yuki Mori and Saeko Nogami .... |
Barbara Goodson Barbara Goodson Barbara Goodson is an American actress known mostly for her versatility in voicing original and dubbed cartoons. She is voted one of the ten best women to do the voices for young males in cartoons... |
| Koda Rohan Koda Rohan who used the pen name was a Japanese author in the Meiji period. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him.Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived was rebuilt in 1972 by the... |
Yūsaku Yara Yusaku Yara is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is currently affiliated with Vi-Vo. His real name is ', and his former stage name was .He is best known for his roles in Chibi Maruko-chan as Hiroshi Sakura, Kiteretsu Daihyakka as Kiteretsu's Papa, the 1989 version of Sally, the Witch as Sally's... |
Sam Fontana |
Differences from live-action version
The main director of the anime, RintaroRintaro
is the pseudonym of , a well-known director of anime. He works frequently with the animation studio Madhouse , though he is a freelance director not employed directly by any one studio. He began working in the animation industry—at age 17—as an in-between animator on the 1958 film Hakujaden...
claimed to have been helplessly inspired by both of the previous live-action adaptations of Teito Monogatari
Teito Monogatari
is a massive Japanese historical fantasy epic written by Hiroshi Aramata.-Overview:The story is a retelling of the history of Edo from an occultist perspective. The premise is based on the idea that the curse of Taira no Masakado greatly influenced the city's history from its inception to the...
(Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
is a tokusatsu historical fantasy film produced in 1987 by Exe and distributed in 1988 by Toho Studios. It is the first live-action adaptation of the Teito Monogatari series by Hiroshi Aramata.-Plot:...
and Tokyo: The Last War
Tokyo: The Last War
Tokyo: The Last War is a tokusatsu dark fantasy/historical fiction film directed by Takashige Ichise and distributed by Toho Studios. It is an adaptation of the eleventh book of the Teito Monogatari novel by Hiroshi Aramata...
) while he was directing Doomed Megalopolis. He admitted that there are stylistic similarities between the adaptations.
Despite some aesthetic similarities and a similar portrayal of the villain, Yasunori Kato
Yasunori Kato
is a fictional character, the antagonist of the Japanese historical fantasy series Teito Monogatari, created by Hiroshi Aramata.Since his first cinematic appearance in 1988, Yasunori Kato has gone on to become a well known and well respected archetype in Japanese popular culture having inspired a...
, in both adaptations, the plot of Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
is a tokusatsu historical fantasy film produced in 1987 by Exe and distributed in 1988 by Toho Studios. It is the first live-action adaptation of the Teito Monogatari series by Hiroshi Aramata.-Plot:...
and Doomed Megalopolis differ significantly in many areas. Below is a partial list of major changes from the plot of the live-action adaptation:
- Yoichiro Tatsumiya is given a completely different, and arguably more respectable, treatment in the live-action version. In the live-action version, Yoichiro is not apathetic towards his sister’s (Yukari Tatsumiya) plight; he makes several attempts to participate in both the defense of her and the city of Tokyo. In the live-action version, he engages in the first spiritual battle between Kato and the Tsuchimikado Clan instead of excusing himself to work. He is also responsible for the erection of the statue guardians at Nihonbashi BridgeNihonbashi, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
, an important obstacle in Kato’s progress toward Masakado’s grave site. Finally he does not attempt to murder his sister at the climax of the film. Instead he valiantly goes to Masakado’s grave site by himself to use his blood to appease the anger of the raging spirit. He also is not shown to actively rape his sister, although later on in the film it is implied that they did copulate to produce Yukiko Tatsumiya. Instead of avoiding the conflict due to hatred and unfulfilled lust for his sister, his apathy is presented more from result of simple fear of contending with forces beyond his understanding as well as stress from being involved in the Tokyo Improvement Project.
- In the anime, Yasumasa Hirai explains that Kato wants to use Yukari Tatsumiya as a vessel for Masakado’s spirit because she possesses an “powerful spiritual energy”. In the live-action version, Kato wants to use Yukari Tatsumiya as a medium because she and Yoichiro are direct descendents of Masakado’s family and share the closest blood ties with the dead warlord.
- The character of KamoKamo-Japan:*Kamo, Niigata*Kamo District, Gifu*Kamo District, Hiroshima*Kamo District, Shizuoka*Kamo, Kyoto*Kamo, Okayama*Kamo, Shimane*Kamo, Shizuoka*Kamō, Kagoshima*The Kamo River in Kyoto-Rest of the world:*Gavar, Armenia - formerly Kamo*Kamo, Armenia...
(Yasumasa Hirai’s apprentice) is not present in the live-action version. Instead Koda RohanKoda Rohanwho used the pen name was a Japanese author in the Meiji period. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him.Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived was rebuilt in 1972 by the...
is responsible for all the activities of Kamo in the live-action version. Likewise, nobody dies during the second battle with Kato at Masakado’s grave—both Junichi Narutaki, and Koda Rohan survive.
- In Doomed Megalopolis, the reason Kato goes into a ten year seclusion after failing to use Yukari as a medium for Masakado’s spirit is because he hopes to use her daughter, Yukiko as a medium in her place when she is older. In the live-action film version, Kato has been planning the Great Kanto Earthquake with the White LotusWhite LotusWhite Lotus was a type of Buddhist sectarianism that appealed to many Han Chinese, who found solace in worship of the "Unborn or Eternal Venerable Mother" , who was to gather all her children at the millennium into one family....
society in DalianDalianDalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for ten years and he goes to Masakado’s grave by himself to activate the power of the sleeping spirit. Yukiko is not involved in any way in this operation. Likewise Kato escapes from the Kimon Tonkou spell of his own accord as opposed to being due to the intervention of Narutaki.
- The role of Junichi Narutaki is shortened in the live-action version. After the battle with Kato at Masakado’s mound, he only has one more scene where he exchanges a brief greeting with Yoichiro Tatsumiya and then disappears for the rest of the film (the character is used again in the side storySide storyA side story is a story that occurs alongside established stories set within a fictional universe. As opposed to a prequel, sequel, or interquel, a side story takes place within the same time frame as an existing work....
filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Teito Monogatari GaidenTeito Monogatari GaidenTeito Monogatari Gaiden is a tokusatsu horror/fantasy film...
, however that entry does not occur within the same universe of Tokyo: The Last MegalopolisTokyo: The Last Megalopolisis a tokusatsu historical fantasy film produced in 1987 by Exe and distributed in 1988 by Toho Studios. It is the first live-action adaptation of the Teito Monogatari series by Hiroshi Aramata.-Plot:...
).
- In the live-action version, there is only one battle between Keiko Tatsumiya and Kato, and these parallel the events of the third episode of Doomed Megalopolis with some differences. The setting of the conflict is in a small ruined temple similar to the one Kato utilizes in fourth episode of the anime, as opposed to the “land of the dead”. Since there is no succeeding conflict in the live-action version, Keiko’s sacrifice (as portrayed in the fourth episode of the anime) encompasses the climax of the battle in the live-action version. It should be noted that Keiko is not actively shown “transforming” into Kwannon in the live-action version, rather her sacrifice and quelling of Kato’s spirit is implied and its significance is explained later in the film by Shigemaru Kuroda to Yoichiro.
- Kato is clearly still alive at the end of the live-action version.
Differences from the original novel
Due to time constraints of the animated adaptation and difference in audience, Doomed Megalopolis takes many deviations from the source materialTeito Monogatari
is a massive Japanese historical fantasy epic written by Hiroshi Aramata.-Overview:The story is a retelling of the history of Edo from an occultist perspective. The premise is based on the idea that the curse of Taira no Masakado greatly influenced the city's history from its inception to the...
. In general, the content of the animated adaptation is much more graphic, obscene and simplified from the original novel. Some areas where the original novel differ include, but are not limited to, the following:
- In the original novel, Kato is more human in his portrayal and has several personal interactions with the main characters. At the beginning of the book, he converses with Yoichiro Tatsumiya and slowly gains the trust of him and his family. In the anime, Kato isn't even identified by name until the middle of the first episode and he never interacts with any of the main characters outside of frightening them with spiritual apparitions or threatening them.
- In the original book, Kato takes Yukari out on a date into town to see a kabuki play. After the show, Kato feeds her a candy which is actually a kodoku worm egg. In the anime, this scene might be hinted at at the beginning where Narutaki offers Yukari a candy piece during a trolley ride to her brother's office.
- There is no magical skirmish between Yasumasa HiraiYasumasa HiraiYasumasa Hirai is a fictional character from the historical fantasy novel Teito Monogatari by Hiroshi Aramata.He is a master Onmyoji who leads the Tsuchimikado Clan . Hirai is also an esteemed spiritual advisor of the Emperor in Kyoto....
and Kato by the riverside in the original book. Koda RohanKoda Rohanwho used the pen name was a Japanese author in the Meiji period. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him.Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived was rebuilt in 1972 by the...
finds Yukari wandering around in a trance near the river bank and takes her to get help.
- The kodoku itself is not an enormous worm with a phallic shaped head as portrayed in the anime. Rather it is merely an orange shapeless mass about the size of a rat. Yukari regurgitates it during a trance state and it immediately escapes into the reeds along the riverbank.
- Ogai Mori has a more active role in the book.
- In the book, Kato sponsors Karl HaushoferKarl HaushoferKarl Ernst Haushofer was a German general, geographer and geopolitician. Through his student Rudolf Hess, Haushofer's ideas may have influenced the development of Adolf Hitler's expansionist strategies, although Haushofer denied direct influence on the Nazi regime.-Biography:Haushofer belonged to...
into a Chinese secret society working to free China and Korea from Japanese control. Kato is also actively involved with underground Chinese and Korean organizations. None of these plot points are ever touched upon in the animated adaptation.
- When Kato approaches Masakado's grave during the Year of the Boar, he is confronted only by Koda RohanKoda Rohanwho used the pen name was a Japanese author in the Meiji period. His daughter, Aya Kōda, was also a noted author who often wrote about him.Kōda wrote "The Icon of Liberty", also known as "The Buddha of Art" or "The Elegant Buddha", in 1889. A house in which Kōda lived was rebuilt in 1972 by the...
and Narutaki. The character of Kamo is not present and thus, nobody dies in the encounter at Masakado's grave.
- The anime concludes its story in 1927 at the end of the fourth book in the novel. However the story of the original novel continues for eight more books from 1927 all the way to the end of the 20th century. Likewise the climax of the fourth book is slightly more open-ended.