Hop: An Easter Movie, Coming to Japanese Theaters on August 19th

Here’s a great example of how the Japanese release dates for foreign movies are delayed to the point of absurdity. The Easter Bunny movie “Hop” will be released on August 19th in Japan, months after the end of the Easter season:

Almost nobody in Japan celebrates Easter, but the movie is still being marketed under a new title that emphasizes its association with Easter. In place of its original title, the movie is called “Easter Rabbit’s Candy Factory” in Japanese (イースターラビットのキャンディ工場).

—

Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

14 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - August 11, 2011 at 2:15 pm

Categories: Films Tags:

http://www.billowykimono.com Senor Science

I would assume holding back the release date for a movie like this is to capitalize in on school holidays.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Maybe, but it still follows a common pattern of Japan being one of the last countries in the world to see the release of major films.

A previous movie by the same studio (Despicable Me) was first released in the U.S. in June 2010.

Distributors in Russia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Poland, Romania, and a bunch of other countries released the film in June, July and August.

Japanese distributors could have probably made more money by releasing it during the August holiday period, but for some reason they released it at the end of October instead.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/releaseinfo

Daniel Brown

They put more care and effort into their subtitles and dialogue making sure the voices they use suit the character. And they even provide headphones so you can still listen to it in English which I thought was pretty neat.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

they even provide headphones so you can still listen to it in English which I thought was pretty neat.

I’ve never experienced that at a Japanese movie theater. Every theater I’ve been to has separate dubbed and subtitled shows. (And for kids movies – only dubbed shows with no headphones)
http://www.facebook.com/rallegretti Rob Allegretti

For your average block show, at about 20-some minutes, it takes approximately one day to subtitle.

Accounting for a two hour movie, it should take about a week to subtitle the film, even with extreme care and checking.

Tack onto this that the movie is complete and ready to screen MONTHS before it is actually released, and there is absolutely no excuse for the delay.

Dubbing is a much lengthier process, but still only takes about a month of work to complete for your average two-hour movie.

I have yet to see a Japanese-dubbed English movie, but I think it would be interesting to watch – like the opposite of the old bad-dub Kung Fu movies.

Kevin not kevin

James, I’ve talked with someone in the movie industry about this before, and they said the main reason for these delays is because the film companies don’t want to cut into their own profits. There are only a couple of publishers here, and by spreading out their release schedule, they can ensure that there is always a steady flow of income coming in.
These delays have nothing to do with translation or dubbing. It’s simply a matter of making money.
Kevin not kevin

James, I’ve talked with someone in the movie industry about this before, and they said the main reason for these delays is because the film companies don’t want to cut into their own profits. There are only a couple of publishers here, and by spreading out their release schedule, they can ensure that there is always a steady flow of income coming in.
These delays have nothing to do with translation or dubbing. It’s simply a matter of making money.

Takes One To Know One

That’s pay back for how long the rest of the world has to wait for localised versions of japanese video games.
Fish_Taco

I had heard from a Japanese friend some time ago that the reason for the extremely long delays in most movie releases was because they needed to be translated and dubbed into Japanese. Supposedly there is some law about all movies must be dubbed even if they are mainly released in subtitle form. Not sure how true that is, maybe someone can verify that.
Hraesvelgr

This seems like an odd movie to play in Japan, honestly. Personally, I don’t celebrate Easter either, but will people go see it just because it’s a “family movie”?
http://www.facebook.com/rallegretti Rob Allegretti

So…does this apply to *good* movies too? Or just these filler make-a-buck drivel pieces of crap ‘quick flicks’?

At least “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” will come out when there’s snow on the ground!

If you’re watching American movies, you’re doing it wrong. There hasn’t been anything original or worthwhile in the better part of a decade.

Hans-Christian Andersen

“If you’re watching American movies, you’re doing it wrong. There hasn’t been anything original or worthwhile in the better part of a decade.”

Off the top of my head I’ll name a few recent movies I thought were pretty damn good: “There Will Be Blood”; “The Departed”; “The Fighter”; “The Hurt Locker”. I’m sure there are lots more.

I’m thinking you’re either very picky, or haven’t searched well enough.

Heiankyo794

I thought it was because Japanese marketers want to wait for licensing costs to drop; they use translation as a smokescreen.
http://profiles.google.com/greentingle sean greenskie

The movie has nothing to do with easter per se it’s all eggs and bunnies and stupid crap.

Hop: An Easter Movie, Coming to Japanese Theaters on August 19th

Recent Comments

Further Reading

Irish Woman Found Dead in Tokyo Hotel Room / Two Americans Arrested

More Korean Ultra-Nationalism: Dokdo Wine in California / Territorial Dispute Propaganda Ad Appears at Sydney Airport

Image: Tokyo Sky Tree vs. Japan’s Other Famous Towers

The Comfort Women Monument in New Jersey

South Korean TV Erases Japanese Flag From H-IIA Rocket

Short Film: “Regular Days” in Saga Prefecture

More Vandalism: Hair Removed From Sazae-san Character Statue

Videos: Solar Eclipse Over Japan

Japanese H-IIA Rocket Carries South Korean Satellite into Space

Takeshi Kitano Compares Homosexuality to Bestiality?

Categories

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs