Manga pop opera ' prepares to take Europe by storm

The heroes of Japanese manga cartoons are preparing to take Europe by storm in a new "pop opera" featuring a wild mix of martial arts and music billed as the world's biggest manga show ever.

The tour starts on Saturday in Paris before going on to Belgium, Germany and Italy.AFP was invited to a rehearsal in the city of Pomezia near Rome, where Japanese performers spoke about a unique show tailored to Western audiences.

"My character is a happy boy with guts and he never gives up to reach his goal, whatever it costs," said Shiina Taizo, 24, who plays the role of Naruto.

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Taizo is a star in Japan but little-known in Europe.He said this is actually no bad thing: "Here I can visit all the sights with complete freedom."

The show is being organised by Japan's biggest production houses and publishers of the comics and cartoons, which are wildly popular in Japan and have a growing following especially in Europe and the United States.

Japan Anime Live will feature previously unpublished episodes and performers sing in Japanese.The lyrics appear in phonetic spelling on a giant karaoke screen with the English titles: "Tonight," "you'll find a way" and "Sail."

The stage is dominated by a giant Japanese drum and multiple screens show manga characters with multi-coloured hair, futuristic uniforms and giant eyes.

The manga aesthetic reigns supreme at this ultra-Japanese show but producers said they're not only expecting manga fans to come.

"We're expecting fans of Japanese culture, but also a more mainstream public.Families too.It's an opportunity for dads to share this moment with their children, "said Fabrizio Verdiani, the producer for the Belgian show.

"There's also a third type of public.University students who love manga. "

Verdiani said that three-quarters of the 3,000 seats available for the show in Brussels on October 29 have already been sold.

"All the actors are very well known in Japan.The musicians too.The artistic director is a living god over there and the producer is the biggest producer in Japan--a market with 300 million consumers, "he added.

The show, which lasts two and a half hours, is divided into five sections shaped around five major manga series: Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Gundam Series.

Piko, a young singer who is very popular in Japan, and Daisuke Asakura, known for his computer game soundtracks, are both set to take the stage.

The show starts on Saturday in Paris, followed by Brussels on October 29, Dusseldorf on October 31.It will then return to Italy for shows in Milan on November 6, Florence on November 11 and Rome on November 13.

Racy "Glee" photos in GQ kick up a storm

 'Glee '' creator Ryan Murphy (C) and the cast celebrate backstage with their award after winning for best television series-comedy or musical the flirting in Beverly Hills, California January 17, 2010.Credit: Reuters/Lucy NicholsonBy Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES |Wed Oct 20, 2010 6: 02pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)-A racy photo shoot for men's magazine GQ featuring three "Glee" cast members raised eyebrows on Wednesday, provoking terms like "creepy" and "pedophilia" and questions about whether the popular TV musical show is becoming over-exposed.

Short skirts, high heels, scanty panties and provocative poses featuring lollipops dominate the November issue photoshoot featuring Lea Michele (Rachel), Dianna Agron (Quinn) and Corey Monteith (Finn) that plays with the high school setting of the Emmy-award winning television show. All three actors are in their 20s.

The Parents Television Council watchdog group said the photos "border on pedophilia," given the adult male readership or GQ."This is just the latest example of the all about the Sexualization of young girls in entertainment," the PTC added.

"Glee", a sometimes dark, subversive comedy featuring a high school choir, has taken U.S. pop culture by storm since its 2009 debut. Superstars like Madonna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga readily agreed to license their songs to the show.

The program has produced three best-selling albums, won two Emmys and deals boldly with issues like sex, disability, and gay bullying.It is regularly watched by some 13.4 million U.S. viewers and has a strong youth following.

Broadcaster Fox on Wednesday declined to comment on the PTC statement.But GQ editor in chief Jim Nelson said that the watchdog group "should learn to divide reality from fantasy."

"As often happens in Hollywood, these kids are in their twenties.Cory Monteith's almost 30.I think they're old enough to do what they want, "Nelson said

Bob Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, brushed off the PTC comments, noting that "Glee" had never been a "kiddie show" despite attracting teens.

"From the very beginning, 'Glee ' has dealt with pot, teen pregnancy and gay sexuality.

"This is a show that has definitely got adult themes. The GQ shoot demonstrates it isn't just a show for teeny boppers, "Thompson told Reuters.

But salon.com writer Mary Elizabeth Williams said GQ playing up or the sexy teen angle was "just creepy".

Los Angeles Times TV writer Mary McNamara, noting that Monteith remains fully clothed, expressed dismay that young women still feel the need to pose so provocatively danced.Michele, she wrote "seems to be auditioning for a live action version of Japanese anime porn."

The Washington Post's Celebritology blog said the GQ shoot was "the latest evidence that the 'Glee ' hype machine might be starting to spiral out of control".

Thompson said he had long felt that "Glee" is over-rated by the media.But he noted that one of its consistent themes was tolerance and "that's a pretty good message for a kid, even though it gets there with a lot of dicey content."

(Editing by Bob Tour tel lotte)

Than Islett, the public policy director took a major hit on twitter for his failure to understand that Ms. Michele and Ms Agron are in their mid-twenties.Cory Montieth is almost 30.This is no where near pedophilia.
We are destroying the use of that word.Was it over the top?No. Did she objectify herself with the open leg panty shot?yes.
Its an adult show done by an adult director.

thunderclap Report As Abusive

Come on … these women are in their mid-twenties, hardly pedophilia – people need to get a grip.