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One Cut of the Dead - BE@RBRICK

Despite its humble beginnings, One Cut of the Dead has achieved international acclaim as one of the best modern zombie films. Fans and critics alike praise the film for its originality and witty writing. Medicom Toy capitalized on One Cut of the Dead's rise to fame in 2018. The film's debut BE@BRICK figure, "BE@RBRICK One Cut of the Dead 100%," captures the film's creepy yet ridiculous spirit.

Context of the collaboration between One Cut of the Dead and BE@RBRICK

One Cut of the Dead has appeared in several Medicom Toy merchandise lines following its international rise to fame in 2018.

Information on planning and launching the collaboration

One Cut of the Dead debuted in Medicom Toy's merchandise collections with a BE@BRICK figure in September 2018. A white alternate-color version. BE@RBRICK was released in October as a pre-order special edition. The figure came with the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film and a commemorative clear case. In November 2018, Medicom Toy released a series of One Cut of the Dead accessories and T-shirts for its apparel brands.

BE@RBRICK A 100% Cut of the Dead

BE@RBRICK One Cut of the Dead 100% is a must-have addition to any movie lover's BE@RBRICK collection. Inspired by One Cut of the Dead, the figure adapts its design from the film's English poster. The figure is painted in a solid matte black. The film's title appears on the figure's chest in a dynamic and bold white font. Splatters of blood-like red paint adorn the text, giving off an ominous vibe. The figure has large, shocked eyes with widely visible whites and tiny constricted pupils. On the back, the figure features a streaked red pentagram to complete the design.

Product Name: BE@RBRICK A 100% Cut of the Dead
Series: A Cup of the Dead
Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
Features: Painted and articulated plastic figure
Height (approx.): 70 mm | 2.8"

One Cut of the Dead - BE@RBRICK, proximity Japan, figurine

About One Cut of the Dead: Story

One Cut of the Dead, or Kamera wo Tomeruna, is a 2017 Japanese zombie comedy film directed by Shinichiro Ueda. The film's plot contains three main sections. In the first section, director Takayuki Higurashi is filming a low-budget zombie film called One Cut of the Dead. He fights with his crew and eventually abandons them. Suddenly, a full-blown zombie apocalypse begins. Seizing the opportunity, Higurashi tells the cameraman to keep filming. The second section describes the personal lives of the cast and crew members. The last section covers the behind-the-scenes footage of the film.

About One Cut of the Dead: Reception

Ueda produced the film on a tight, partially crowdfunded budget of approximately $25,000. The film starred then-unknown actors from Tokyo's Enbu Seminar Drama School. With an initial target of 5,000 seats, the film was screened in an 84-seat arthouse cinema for six days. The film gained international attention by being a finalist in the audience vote at the 2018 Udine Far East Film Festival. The film's attention sparked a wider theatrical re-release in Japan. It became the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2018 in Japan. The film made box office history by grossing over 1,000 times its original budget. Internationally, the film has grossed over $31 million.

The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning a "universal acclaim" rating on Metacritic. Critics praised the film's upbeat tone and clever, satirical writing. Critics also praised the film's comedic ending, which references seemingly insignificant details in the middle section. The film was accused of plagiarism by playwright Ryoichi Wada in late 2018. Ueda and Wada later reached a settlement that cited Wada's play "Ghost in the Box" in the film's credits.

Important characters from One Cut of the Dead

The film One Cut of the Dead features prominent characters, including Takayuki Higurashi, Yuzuki Akiyama, and Mao Higurashi.

Takayuki Higurashi

Takayuki Higurashi is played by actor Takayuki Hamatsu. He is a tyrannical director with high expectations. His main conflicts stem from his lead actress, Yuzuki Akiyama, who lacks motivation and enthusiasm. He ends up fighting with his crew members, to the point where he decides to abandon the film himself. However, after being attacked by real zombies, Higurashi insists that the camera keep rolling. He thus succeeds in making a true zombie apocalypse film. He has a reputation in the film industry for producing cheap, quick, and mediocre films.

Aika Matsumoto

Aika Matsumoto is played by actress Yuzuki Akiyama. She is the lead actress within the film, criticized for her lack of passion and intensity in the climactic scenes. Higurashi is surprised, unwilling to continue filming the film. Her idol status goes to her head, and she categorically rejects any mistakes she makes by apologizing. She uses her idol agency as an excuse for her acting shortcomings. This role launched Akiyama's career. After her performance, Akiyama signed with Asobi System and gained an international cult following.

Mao Higurashi

Mao Higurashi is played by actress Mao. She is the student daughter of director Takayuki Higurashi and a member of her school's basketball team. Like her father, Mao is interested in the film industry. However, she disapproves of her father's style of producing cheap, low-quality films. Although driven, her meticulous personality gets the better of her and prevents her from breaking into the industry. She has a fiery personality and takes her frustrations out on anyone who gets in her way. This character gave actress Mao her breakthrough and her first performance as a named character.