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Emoji Movie Gets Japanese Dub for Home Video Release
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
Sony Pictures' The Emoji Movie opened in the U.S. last year to derision from critics and moviegoers alike. Yet, regardless of its reception, it still grossed $217 million worldwide. Soon, for better or worse, Japan will get its very own dub of The Emoji Movie, but it's doubtful even the likes of Takahiro Sakurai can save it.
Sakurai, known for voicing Griffith in Berserk and Suzaku Kururugi in Code Geass, voices the main character Gene. Gene is an emoji that can express multiple emotions, unlike his peers. Tomokazu Sugita (Gintoki in Gintama, Etsuya Eizan in Food Wars!) plays his pal Hi-5.
The film also stars Jouji Nakata, Takehito Koyasu, Shinichirō Miki, and Kōji Yusa.
The movie is retitled in Japan as Emoji no Kuni no Gene (lit. Country of Emoji's Gene) and will start digital distribution on February 17 followed by a home video release on March 14.
The original emojis, designed by Shigetake Kurita, debuted on Japan's mobile carrier NTT Docomo in 1999. President Obama thanked Japan directly for the creation of emoji, as well as anime and manga, when Prime Minister Abe visited the White House in 2015.
[Via Nijimen]
