Benza English

Benza English is a Japanese on demand comedy series that premiered on Prime Video via Prime Video Direct in April 2020 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan.[1] Shortly after, it began streaming in seventy additional territories. [2]

Benza English
GenreSitcom
Created by
  • Christopher McCombs
Directed byRaito Nishizaka, Michael Williams
Starring
  • Kaori Ikeda
  • Maria Papadopoulou
  • Aver Hamilton II
  • Masahito Kawahata
  • Christopher McCombs
  • Kyle Card
  • Haku Inko
  • Michiko Noguchi
  • Janni Olsson
  • Lee Min Kuk
  • Hannah Grace
  • Alexander Hunter
Theme music composerTakahiro Nomiya
Opening theme"Rise Above it" by Takahiro Nomiya
Country of originJapan
Original languagesJapanese, English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Producers
  • Christopher McCombs
  • Kristi Woodward
  • Haku Inko
Production locationsNakano, Tokyo, Japan
Running time25 minutes
Production companyTokyo Cowboys
DistributorPrime Video
Release
Original releaseApril 9,  2020 (2020-04-09)

The show is a spin-off of the Japanese on demand comedy series "The Benza", and features Kyle (Kyle Card) and Chris (Christopher McCombs) as well as many other returning characters from the original show. The main plot follows Kaori (Kaori Ikeda) who receives a mysterious offer to become the host of her own English language show and takes place between "The Benza" series 1 and series 2.[3] The eight-episode season was filmed entirely on location in Tokyo, Japan by co-directors Raito Nishizaka and Michael Williams.[4]

History

"Benza English" began as a corner in episode 4 of series 1 of "The Benza", where Kaori Ikeda appeared as the host of an English educational show that helps characters by teaching inappropriate English.[5] The spin-off series was formally announced on the 26th of August in 2019 after Christopher McCombs won Best Actor and Janni Olsson won Best Supporting Actress for their roles of Chris and Alena respectively in the original series at Korea's Seoul Webfest.[6]

Michael Williams was brought in to co-direct with returning director Raito Nishizaka. Talking about the experience working with Raito Nishizaka with Asia Film Festival, Michael said, "Working in tandem with Raito was perfect. With both of us directing together, "Benza English" is an unprecedented show, combining Japanese and English humor together."[7] Actress Haku Inko (Inko Sensei) was additionally promoted to Line Producer at the start of the production.

Creator and Producer Christopher McCombs said on Japanese news site Soranews, "With "The Benza", we focused on what life in Tokyo is like for a foreigner against the backdrop of a hyper-realistic comedy. With "Benza English", we focused on the Japanese entertainment industry in general against the backdrop of a chaotic English language learning show."[8]

Plot

After a mysterious phone call, Kaori suddenly finds herself the host of “Benza English,” an English learning show like none other.

The classroom is a bar. The lessons are about pick up lines and put downs. Her co-stars Maria and Hamilton show up when they are not being kidnapped or plotting to take over the show. Did we mention that the grammar teacher Tamura is a ghost?

Welcome to “Benza English,” where you will learn all the English you never knew you needed to know! [9]

Cast
  • Kaori Ikeda as Kaori[10]
  • Maria Papadopoulou as Maria
  • Aver Hamilton II as Hamilton
  • Kyle Card as Kyle
  • Christopher McCombs as Chris.
  • Haku Inko as Inko-sensei.
  • Michiko Noguchi as Noguchi.
  • Masahito Kawahata as Tamura.
  • Janni Olsson as Alena.
  • Lee Min Kuk as Lee.
  • Alexander Hunter as David.
  • Hannah Grace as Stephanie.

Reception

"Benza English" has been over all well received and maintains an over 4 point score on Amazon Prime Video in America, Japan, and the U.K. and currently has a 9.3 score on IMDB[11]

Japan Times writer Matt Schley wrote, “Like the main series, “Benza English” pokes fun at Japan and its occasionally awkward relationship with its non-Japanese population, though it just as often turns the tables. The fourth-wall-breaking characters even have some choice words for viewers who gave the original “The Benza” one-star reviews online."[12]

Awards and Honors

The following are awards that have been earned by the cast and crew of "Benza English" series 1 in 2020:

Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Cult Critics Film Festival[13] Best Supporting Actress Maria Papadopoulou Won
Best Television Series Benza English Won
Festigious Film Festival[14] Best Television Series Benza English Won
Seoul Webfest[15] Best Guest Star Naito Satoko Won
Rising Star Alexander Hunter Won
Asian Cinematography Awards[16] Best Web Drama Benza English Won
Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival[17] Best Web Episode Benza English Won
Oniros Film Awards[18] Best Ensemble Award Benza English Cast Won
DMOFF 2020[19] Best Web Series Benza English Won
Festival Choice Award Benza English Won
Druk International Film Festival[20] Best Television Series Benza English Won
Best Supporting Actor Aver Hamilton II Won
Asia Web Awards Best Comedy Actress Kaori Ikeda Won
Best Supporting Actor Min Lee Kuk Won

Spin-Off
See also: The Benza RPG

In 2020, a spin-off retro rpg video game called “The Benza RPG” was announced.[21] It was initially released for iOS platforms in October of 2020 and takes place between “Benza English” and series two of “The Benza”. The player primarily plays as Chris and Kyle as they try to save Higashi Nakano from Inko Sensei and save Lee who has been kidnapped.[22]

References
  1. "Watch Benza English". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  2. "日本発、低予算のインディー作品ながら世界各国で賞を総ナメ！ 世界を爆笑させたコメディドラマが120カ国で配信決定！ – ニュース". Rooftop (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  3. "The Benza (Prime Video) : interviews de l'équipe -". smallthings.fr (in French). 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  4. "フリーアナウンサー内藤聡子 初のドラマ出演で日本人初の特別ゲスト賞受賞 「新たなチャレンジに感謝」". ニコニコニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  5. "Toilet-seat themed comedic-adventure The Benza breaks new ground for foreign talent in Japan". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  6. author (2019-08-25). "実話に基づいた日本発のコメディ作品「The Benza」が韓国で開催された世界最大級のドラマ賞で主演男優賞と助演女優賞を受賞！". WMR Tokyo – アイドル、アニメ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. "Japan New Media Film: Benza English Series One | 日本新媒体短片 – Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles". Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  8. "Exercise your English and your toilet humor with Benza English". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  9. "Benza English". tokyo-cowboys. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  10. "日本発、自主制作コメディドラマ『The Benza』が世界120か国で配信開始". TV LIFE web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. Benza English (TV Series 2020– ) – IMDb, retrieved 2020-12-12
  12. Schley, Matt (2020-05-14). "'The Benza' proves that toilet humor is universal". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  13. "MONTHLY RESULT: MARCH 2020". Cult Critic. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  14. "APRIL 2020". festigious. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  15. "2020 Award Winners". Seoul Webfest. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  16. admin. "April 2020 WINNERS | Asian Cinematography AWARDS". Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  17. "Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival: April 2020 Winners" (PDF).
  18. "Oniros Film Awards: May 2020 Winners" (PDF).
  19. "DMOFF | Winner February 2020". DMOFF. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  20. "RESULTS – Page 2 – Druk International Film Festival". Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  21. "Le RPG Benza apporte une action rétro gratuite aux appareils PC et iOS". 45secondes.fr (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  22. "The Benza RPG: Story". tokyo-cowboys (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-01-09.
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