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Movie Star Jean Reno Plays Doraemon in Live-Action Ads

International film star Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional, Mission: Impossible, The Da Vinci Code) will play the robot cat Doraemon himself in the second live-action television commercial in the Doraemon campaign from Toyota Motor Corporation. The ad campaign depicts the characters of the classic children's manga Doraemon in live-action, two decades after they grow up. The second ad, "Nobita's Barbeque," will begin airing on Friday.

Since the first ad last week, actor Satoshi Tsumabuki (Dororo, Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Smuggler) has been playing Nobita, the hapless owner of the manga's title robot cat. Mixed martial artist Naoya Ogawa plays his bullying friend Takeshi "Gian" Gōda. Joining Reno in the commercials are former News band member Tomohisa Yamashita (Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Kurosagi) as Nobita's friend Suneo and actress Asami Mizukawa (Nodame Cantabile, Dark Water) as Nobita's female friend Shizuka. To play Doraemon with his handy four-dimensional pocket, Reno dons a white T-shirt, a blue suit, a blue cap, and a small bell around his neck.

In the second ad, Nobita and Shizuka go on their first date in a long time, but they miss the bus to the camp site, get lost in the woods, and have trouble with the camp stove. Fortunately, Suneo appears with his car to take them back. When Nobita bemoans his lack of a car back at home, his old companion Doraemon appears out his desk. After the two have their reunion, Nobita asks Doraemon to get him a car. Doraemon refuses, and when Nobita asks why, Doraemon replies, "You don't have a license!"

Reno dubbed the title character in Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso anime film in French.

Below is the first ad:

Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web posted more images from the campaign.

Source: Oricon, Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web

Images © Fujiko Pro, Shogakukan, TV Asahi, Shinei, ADK

Update: More information added.

Update 2: Reno voiced Porco Rosso in French, not English. Thanks, ProZD.

Mirri