Here's some more news of PR events for the film opening in less than nine days!
On November 24th, there will be sneak previews in select Toho theaters across Japan, again, decided upon by a drawing. Boxes were set up in these select theaters, and those interested filled out entry forms for a chance to be one of the lucky ones to see the film (the entry ended on November 22nd, Japan time).
There have been other special events with the actors and director in attendance. One of these has been a series of Sneak Preview screenings by lottery — including a series for parents and grammar school children — and another was for a venue which seats 3,800 people, and over 10,000 sent in postcards for the chance to attend!
According to the official live-action YAMATO website, famed Anison, Isao Sasaki (who sang the original theme songs for the first YAMATO TV series and many of its sequels) is going to sing on November 28th (Japan time) at the Akasaka Sacas in Tokyo! This is the a special event taking place at exhibit of original props and costumes from the upcoming movie, as well as the unveiling of a giant, 49-foot, laser-firing Yamato — the centerpiece of the exhibit (listed in the previous posts). The display is open from November 20th through December 4th (Japan time).
During this special event on November 28th, Isao Sasaki will be joined on stage by Director Takashi Yamazaki and... ANALYZER (the robot from the film) himself! This event is limited to 500 attendees. Drawn at random, 250 winners will receive a pair of tickets to this opening gala. All entries had to be submitted by Monday, November 22nd (Japan Time) to be eligible:
Cool, huh?
Meanwhile, on December 1st (Japan Time), at the Toho Cinemas Nichigeki, Toho's largest theater in Tokyo (located in the Ginza Ward), they will be having the two main stars of the new film, Takuya Kimura (Susumu Kodai) and Meisa Kuroki (Yuki Mori), and director Takashi Yamazaki, on stage for the 2:45 pm screening (Japan Time).
The media blitz swirling around this release also includes all of the sponsor tie-ins I have posted (see previous posts) as well as television, web, and magazine profiles on the film — primarily interviews with the actors and director. With the exception of the early Sanrio/Hello Kitty tie-in promotion earlier this year, and the grade school screenings, most of the promotion for the film is being aimed at young adults and older (the real target demographic).
Three friends of mine from the States will be there for opening day, and two more will be there the week after it opens — and there are my Japanese friends who are attending — so, it will be interesting to hear their thoughts on the film and the Japanese public's reaction and reception of the new YAMATO.
Here's Hitachi's YAMATO campaign promoting their new line of HD TV/Monitors, featuring some choice footage from the film:
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Having already seen the film, the Steven Tyler song is only heard during the end credits of the film — for those of you worrying about it — and the actual music score for the film is EXCELLENT, and composer Sato weaves in many of the original themes from Hiroshi Miyagawa's first YAMATO score!
Oh, on that video, people were laughing because they were excitied — it's called nervous laugher the kind of release that happens with some people who are highly anticipating something —*akin to a rollercoaster ride or a horror movie. It's a release, not a ridicule.
