Masakazu Katsura, the manga artist known for Video Girl Ai and I"s, will see his debut series Wingman adapted into a live-action drama on TV Tokyo starting October 22nd. The series will air in the "Drama Tuesday!" slot every Tuesday at 12:30 AM. A 15-second teaser for the series has also been released.

Wingman was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) from 1983 to 1985 and became a popular series, drawing heavy inspiration from 1980s tokusatsu heroes. Its appeal spanned both male and female audiences, leading to anime and game adaptations, among other media.

To celebrate the series' 40th anniversary, a live-action drama adaptation has been realized, featuring a popular cast and a strong production team. The series aims to capture the charm of the original, bringing its vibrant characters to life in a way that will appeal to a wide audience.

The original creator, Masakazu Katsura, commented, "It's been a dream for 42 years. To see Wingman adapted into live-action... I'm overwhelmed with emotion." To commemorate this, Katsura also released a new illustration.

Producer Tomoki Maeda (TV Tokyo, Distribution Business Department):

"We're finally bringing this legendary hero manga, which has been deeply loved for many years, to live-action! This is the second time TV Tokyo has adapted a work by Masakazu Katsura, following Video Girl Ai. This time, we're teaming up with Toei Video, who have shaped the history of tokusatsu, and the booming streaming platform DMM TV. With a cast full of charm and a staff deeply in love with the original work, we're dedicated to creating something truly special. We've approached this project sincerely, asking ourselves how to express the charm of the original—its unique characters, radiant romance, exhilarating developments—in the world of 2024. I believe we've created a hero story that shines even in an era that often favors cynical attitudes, with a straightforward, 'blue' charm. The human drama crafted by our excellent screenwriters and the intense action scenes are major highlights! Please look forward to it!"

Introduction:

Kenta Hirono, a high school sophomore and tokusatsu fan, spends most of his time lost in his imagination, leading a rather dull life viewed with coldness by those around him. One day, a mysterious and beautiful girl named Aoi, who claims to have escaped from an evil force in another dimension, appears before him. Kenta, after drawing his imaginary hero "Wingman" in Aoi's Dream Note, finds himself with the actual ability to transform into Wingman. However, while Kenta is thrilled to finally have the power to become a hero, assassins from Aoi's world are sent to pursue her, bringing new challenges to Kenta's life...

Source : ORICON NEWS