The Benza
GenreSitcom
Creator
Starring
Theme music composerTakahiro Nomiya
Open theme"The Benza Theme" by Takahiro Nomiya
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Num seasons2
Num episodes13
Director
Producer
Executive producerJeff Cisneros
LocationNakano, Tokyo, Japan
Runtime20-35 minutes
CompanyTokyo Cowboys
First airedApril 9, 2019

The Benza is a Japanese web television comedy that premiered on Amazon Prime Video via Prime Video Direct in April 2019 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan.[1] It then premiered in Germany in July 2019. It is currently available in over 130 countries via Amazon Prime Video and Plex.[2]

The series follows Kyle (Kyle Card) and Chris (Christopher McCombs) as they try to figure out how their toilet seat (便座, benza) broke and prevent the end of the world. The six episode first season was filmed entirely on location in Tokyo, Japan by director Raito Nishizaka. The seven episode second season was released in Japan via Amazon Prime Video in December 2021 and was directed by Raito Nishizaka and Michael Williams.[3] The entire series was written by series creator Christopher McCombs.

History

"The Benza" began as a Japanese short film that was partially inspired by true events.[4] Pre-production began in early 2018 and the short film premiered in Tokyo, Japan on April 6 of the same year.[5] After receiving several awards from various film festivals around the world including Best Comedy at Mediterranean Film Festival in Italy, Rising Star for main cast Christopher McCombs and Best Pilot at Seoul Web Fest in 2018, Tokyo Cowboys received an offer from Korean mobile service KT mobile to create a series based on the short film.[6]

The first series began shooting in September 2018 and wrapped filming in mid-December. Post production continued into mid-January 2019.[7]

The second series of The Benza held its world premiere at MCM Comic Con Birmingham in November 2021[8] and held its domestic premiere in Tokyo, Japan at Nakano Zero on December 11, 2021.[9]

Series creator Christopher McCombs said on UK news site Otaku News, ""The Benza" has been in the works for over a year and I am so happy we can finally sit back and enjoy it with everyone. It's so important to take a step back and laugh so that we can get back to the important things in life. "The Benza" is the perfect way to take a break, smile, and refresh." Lead actress Haku Inko added, "We set out to make an outrageous comedy and I think we did, but it's not finished until we hear your laughter. It's such a lovely idea that people all over the world might be laughing together about "The Benza.""[10]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Reception

The Benza has been over all well received and maintains an over 4 point score on Amazon Prime Video in America, Germany, Japan, and U.K.

Sora News24 writer Master Blaster wrote, "Full of literal toilet humor and heart, this Amazon Prime series is a breath of fresh air." Master Blaster continues, "But what really stands out about The Benza is that it depicts foreigners in Japan as normal people rather than the stereotypes we are used to seeing on Japanese TV." Speaking about the international cast he says, "With a nice balance of Japanese and foreign performers, the result is a series that is able to poke fun at each other without ever being demeaning."[13]

Spin-Off

See also: Benza English
See also: The Benza RPG

In 2019, it was announced that "The Benza" receive a spin-off series called "Benza English".[14] Production began in late 2019, and the series was released in April 2020.[15] The series features minor characters from "The Benza" appearing in larger roles along with the original series' main cast, and is set in an English learning television show that takes place in the world of "The Benza".[16]

In 2020, a spin-off retro rpg video game called "The Benza RPG" was announced.[17] It was initially released for iOS platforms in October 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.[18] The Benza RPG is currently available for iOS and Android devices as well as for PC and Mac via Steam in Japanese and English.[19] Plans for a Nintendo Switch port were announced by Christopher McCombs via Steam in December 2021.[20]

Awards and honors

The following are nominations and awards that have been earned by the cast and crew of The Benza for series 1 in 2019:

AwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
Festigious International Film Festival[21]Best Web SeriesThe Benza
Best EnsembleThe Benza
Best SongThe Benza "Running Around"
Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival[22]Best Web SeriesThe Benza
Seoul Webfest[23]Best ComedyThe Benza
Best Guest StarKaori Ikeda
Best Supporting ActressJanni Olsson
Best DirectorRaito Nishizaka
Best ActorChristopher McCombs
Best ActressHaku Inko
Florence Film Awards[24]Best Web/Television AwardThe Benza
New Jersey Web Fest[25]Best DuoChristopher McCombs and Kyle Card
Best Theme SongThe Benza
Best Fantasy ComedyThe Benza
Best Supporting ActressHaku Inko
Cult Critics Film Festival[26]Best Supporting ActorMasahito Kawahata
Asia Web Awards[27]Best ActorKyle Card
International Online Webfest[28]Best Original Soundtrack"The Benza" Series 1 Soundtrack, Takahiro Nomiya

The following are awards that have been earned by the cast and crew of The Benza during its short film iteration in 2018:

CategoryNominee(s)Result
Festigious 2018 Best Duo [29]Christopher McCombs and Kyle Card
Seoul Webfest 2018 Best Rising StarChristopher McCombs
Seoul Webfes 2018 Best PilotThe Benza
Comedy World Network Int. Film Festival 2018 Best Short FilmThe Benza
MedFF 2018 Best ComedyThe Benza
Unko Film Festival 2018 Best PictureThe Benza
Asia South East-Short Film Festival 2018 Best ComedyThe Benza

References

  1. ^ "Watch The Benza". Amazon.com
  2. ^ "The Benza". Plex.com
  3. ^ "「Japanese Comedy Drama Series ‘The Benza Season 2’ Now Streaming Worldwide". Moshimoshi. 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ Sturdevant, Kayla (1 April 2018). "Tokyo Cowboys shoot for more diversity on Japanese screens". The Japan Times
  5. ^ Caprio, Danny. "The Benza, interview with Award Winning cast for The Best Comedy MedFF 2018" (in Italian). The Blog DC
  6. ^ "2018 Award Winners". Seoul Webfest. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  7. ^ Naro, Ali (23 January 2019). "Tokyo Cowboys". Movies OVER The Rainbow. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  8. ^ "The Benza Exclusive Screening and Behinds the Scenes Footage". MCM Comic Con. 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ "The Benza: Series 2 Premiere". The Benza. 20 November 2021.
  10. ^ "The Benza - A Comedy about a Quest for a Toilet Seat". Otaku News. 15 August 2019.
  11. ^ Inc, Natasha. ""壊れた便座"巡る日本発のコメディ「The Benza」韓国の国際映画祭で2冠（コメントあり）" (in Japanese). 映画ナタリー
  12. ^ "世界１９０カ国のAmazonプライム・ビデオで配信中の日本発のコメディドラマ『The Benza』の新シリーズ『The Benza シリーズ２』が、配信開始！ 新たに全７話の完全新作ドラマシリーズから第１話から第４話まで日本国内で配信中！）" (in Japanese). Neo Press
  13. ^ "Toilet-seat themed comedic-adventure The Benza breaks new ground for foreign talent in Japan". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 14 August 2019.
  14. ^ "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！" (in Japanese). Excite News. 20 May 2020.
  15. ^ "'The Benza' proves that toilet humor is universal". The Japan Times. 20 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Benza English Cast" (in Japanese). Tokyo Cowboys. 20 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Le RPG Benza apporte une action rétro gratuite aux appareils PC et iOS" (in fr-FR). 45secondes.fr. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  18. ^ "The Benza RPG: Story" (in Japanese). tokyo-cowboys. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  19. ^ "「ザ・ベンザRPG」が日本でもサービス開始。便座をテーマにした日本のコメディドラマが原作のRPG" (in Japanese). 4gamer. 17 June 2021.
  20. ^ "The Benza Version 2.5 and Nintendo Switch Development?!?!". Steam. 27 December 2021.
  21. ^ "JUNE 2019". festigious
  22. ^ "WINNERS LIST". Eurasia Film Fest. Archived from the original on 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  23. ^ "2019 Nominations". Seoul Webfest. Archived from the original on 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  24. ^ AWARDS, FLORENCE FILM. "July 2019" (in it-IT). FLORENCE FILM AWARDS. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  25. ^ "New Jersey Web Fest". New Jersey Web Fest. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  26. ^ "Cult Critics Film Festival". Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "Asia Web Awards". Asia Web Awards. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "International Online Webfest Winners and Nominees". International Online WebFest. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  29. ^ "WINNERS AUGUST 2018". Festigious