"Wingman" (TV Tokyo), a live-action drama adaptation of a popular manga from the 1980s, has had its official X (formerly Twitter) illustrations drawn by the original author Masakazu Katsura of Fujioka Makino, who plays the protagonist Kenta Hirono, and Kato Konatsu, who plays the heroine Aoi.
"Wingman" was the serial debut of Katsura, who is known for "Video Girl Ai" and "I"s", and was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) from 1983 to 1985. The story is about a high school student, special effects otaku, named Kenta Hirono, who gets his hands on a "Dream Notebook" that makes anything he writes come true, and gains the power to transform into his own hero, "Wingman", for just five minutes. The drama version is directed and action directed by Koichi Sakamoto, a leading figure in special effects action films.
A comment from Katsura, who drew the illustrations for Fujioka and Kato, for the two, was also made public.
Regarding Fujioka, Katsura commented, "His shouts of "Chain" and his pretentious mannerisms made him an unmistakable hero, and Kenta was already there, and it was only Kenta! I was simply touched. I have nothing but gratitude for this encounter." Regarding Kato, he said, "He has a slightly more realistic emotion than in the manga, and I need to express a slightly more difficult character than in the manga, so I think this time Aoi was her."
"Wingman" will be broadcast on TV Tokyo's "Drama Choose!" (Tuesdays at 12:30 midnight) slot from October 22nd. DMM TV will have an exclusive unlimited viewing and simultaneous distribution, and the first episode will be distributed one week earlier on October 16th.
◇Comment from Katsura Masakazu
Mr. Fujioka Maito
When I draw manga, I don't imagine real people. So casting is always an exciting encounter. When I actually met him, I felt that the straightforward, good-natured young man was already like Kenta. Furthermore, during filming, the shouts of "Chain" and the gestures of showing off were unmistakably heroic, and Kenta was already there, and it was only Kenta! I was simply moved. I have nothing but gratitude for this encounter.
Kato Konatsu-sama
Thank you for appearing in my original drama since I"s! Aso Aiko in Eyes and Aoi in Wingman are characters with completely different personalities, so I couldn't imagine what would happen, but I was really surprised that both of them fit the role. She has slightly more realistic emotions than the manga version, and I was asked to express things a little more difficult than the manga version, so I think Aoi this time was her.
