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Tezuka's Book of Human Insects Gets Live-Action Show
posted on by Egan Loo
The Japanese satellite channel WOWOW will run a live-action television series adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's experimental Ningen Konchūki (The Book of Human Insects/Human Metamorphosis) manga. The story centers around a naive high school girl who instinctually steals the talents of the people around her. As a result, she transforms — much like an insect transforms from an egg and a larva to a pupa and eventually an adult imago — into an actress, a screenwriter, a designer, and an author.
WOWOW's project will be the first screen adaptation — live-action or anime — of this title, which Tezuka created from 1970 to 1971 in Akita Shoten's Play Comic magazine. 24-year-old actress and self-professed Tezuka fan Minami (Battle Royale, Tomie: Revenge, Sakuran, Detroit Metal City) will play the lead role of Toshiko Tomura. Her co-stars will include 37-year-old Yukiya Kitamura (Michiko to Hatchin), 46-year-old Shingo Tsurumi (Hyouge Mono, L change the WorLd, Mahō Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto), and finally, 29-year-old Kyōko Matsunaga — with whom Minami will share a love scene.
The North American publisher Vertical announced at New York Anime Festival last October that it licensed the manga, which it will release under the title The Book of Human Insects.
Source: Sports Nippon
Update: More background information added.
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