Nobuta wo produce

An excellent 11 part TV series featured in the fall TV season in Japan on NTV.

The show utilizes the typical teen school angst genre, but with surprising twists, and characterizations. Focusing on the storyline of a misfit young girl bullied by her classmates in a cruel way that has been the topic of many news stories in Japan. The young girl is saved by two male students who along with their new charge transform her, and themselves. The camera angles, music, and energy is quick paced with in-joke references to other Japanese pop trends. What could be clichés turn out to be fresh moments.

This Japanese drama is nothing short of amazing! Having got addicted to it whilst I was in Japan, I managed to watch about 5 episodes there, and now have watched this drama countless times over the internet. Everything is amazing; from the acting, to the storyline, to the filming techniques. I never thought that such a simple plot of two Highschool boys producing the new student into the most popular girl at school could be made into something so interesting. My favourite character is Akira, and I can't praise YamaPi enough for how well he did this. Kamenashi also did a marvelous job on creating Shuji, and from the articles I've read, he really put a lot of thought into his character of Shuji. Not to mention Horikita's character of Nobuko (Nobuta); so realistic that when I see her out of character, smiling and being normal, I almost can't believe it. This drama made me feel so many emotions- happiness, sadness, loneliness, and inspiration. Overall, I think 'Nobuta wo Produce' is one of the greatest dramas I've ever seen- it had me falling out of my seat laughing, then staring wide-eyed at the screen crying. It's a story about friendship that stays with you for a long time. KON KON!

Fascinating and quite realistic dealing with important issues in Japanese schools such as: popularity, social conformity, and trust. Not to mention some universal issues of friendship, and betrayal. Lots of plot twists in this series, and some unusual changes in characters.

I fully agree with previous comments about the great job Horikita Maki did as "Kotani Nobuko". She really inhabits that role, very convincing acting.

According to http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Nobuta_wo_Produce this series recently won some major awards: 47th Television Acadamy Awards: Best Drama, Best Actor: Kamenashi Kazuya, Best Supporting Actress: Horikita Maki, Best Director, Best Script, and Best Music. Well deserved awards. As of June 2006 this series is apparently available on Japanese DVDs.

It's a great show, and Kame's acting is very great. YamePi on the other hand acts drunk most of the time, but his acting excellent too! The girl in the story got bit of annoying though. Basically, the story takes depth as it continues, and a love triangle somewhat evolves. Shuji (Kamenashi Kazuya) and Akira (YamePi) are the points of the story. But as for the girl, things just get worse as she gets adjusted to knew life. There is even a song by Kame and YamePi, "Seishun Amigo". I thinks it's the greatest song ever! But, I would give it a 9 out of a 10, because it could've built more suspense, but it didn't seem to do that.

Nobuta wo Produce may not have the most original premise, however the characters are what make the show an original. They are the glue that holds the show together, they are what make you laugh and cry and then laugh some more. Nobuta wo Produce is written with a wit and intelligence rarely seen in television anymore. There are far too many shows that attempt to mask a rather cliché premise with "out there" characters who end up as 1 dimensional caricatures. Nobuta wo Produce knows what it is and that's what makes everything work so well. The three main characters are written with the utmost love and compassion and it shines through with their endearing interaction with one another. Nobuta played by the continually impressive Horikita Maki, is positively endearing and wonderfully acted. Akira Kusano is wacky, weird and awesomely played by Tomohisa Yamashita who manages to add a depth to his character, who first appears as the stereotypical funny guy. Finally, Shuji played by Kazuya Kamenashi is equally impressive, exuding an obvious understanding for his characters plight and projecting that through his excellent leading performance. All three actors give brilliant performances and all three have such a strong chemistry with one another that it feels like they really are the best of friends.

Nobuta wo produce is so impressively written that it breaks the mold of conventional high school dramas by developing the characters in such a fashion that they each have their own definable arc that lead to a beautifully written change in character. Nobuta wo Produce deals with issues of growing up without the overly sentimental hallmark crap, it is honest and true with its portrayal of high school life and how these characters influence upon each other is what shapes them to become who they are. It may not be written in the most realistic way at times but the characters that embody the story feel real, and you will undoubtedly be in fits of tears and laughter due to your growing attachment to them.

Nobuta wo Produce is an original but not in the conventional sense. It is an original because it has such a large heart, that makes you fall in love with the characters. Who are original in every sense of the word.