It has been announced that new dubbed versions of all three films in the blockbuster sci-fi movie series "Back to the Future" (directed by Robert Zemeckis), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will be broadcast for three consecutive weeks starting February 7th on Nippon Television's movie slot "Friday Road Show". In the new dubbed versions, voice actor Mamoru Miyano will play high school student Marty McFly, and Koichi Yamadera will play mad scientist Emmett Brown, also known as "Doc". Yamadera has previously voiced Marty in the DVD version and Doc in the BS Japan version.
In addition to Miyano and Yamadera, Kenta Miyake will voice the villain Biff Tannen, Miyuki Sawashiro will voice Marty's mother Lorraine McFly, Morikawa Toshiyuki will voice Marty's father George McFly, and Paku Romi will voice the female teacher Clara.
The first film in the "Back to the Future" series was released in 1985 and became a worldwide hit. It was followed by "Part 2" (1989) and "Part 3" (1990), which also became huge hits. It is a science fiction film in which high school student Marty (Michael J. Fox) travels back in time in a Delorean, a time machine created by scientist Doc (Christopher Lloyd). The first film is set 30 years in the past, in 1985, the second 30 years in the future, and the third 100 years ago, during the Wild West.
On Friday Road Show, "Back to the Future New Dubbed Version" will be broadcast at 9 pm on February 7, "Back to the Future Part 2 New Dubbed Version" at 9 pm on the 14th, and "Back to the Future Part 3 New Dubbed Version" at 9 pm on the 21st. The first film and "Part 3" will be broadcast with an extended time of 25 minutes, and "Part 2" will be broadcast with an extended time of 15 minutes.
Comments from Miyano and Yamadera are as follows:
◇Comment from Mamoru Miyano
Looking back on this work as an adult, I think it's a great piece that has become the foundation of entertainment today. As a time travel story, it's amazing how it explains time paradoxes scientifically, and makes you feel like it could actually happen, even though it's fiction. Part 2 depicts various world lines, and the story is carefully constructed with Part 3 in mind, making it a really interesting piece.
Also, what impressed me the most was the performances of the actors at that time. Michael J. Fox (hereafter referred to as Michael) is cool, and I was especially hooked on Crispin Glover's performance as the father! (Even though he was only 21 when Part 1 was released) He played the role of Marty's father comically with special makeup, and his teenage scenes were adorable, which was very entertaining. Everyone, including Biff and Lorraine, performed skillfully and with a good sense of tempo, which I think is the royal road to comedy. As an actor, I was very inspired by it.
Michael was in his mid-20s at the time and played a teenager, but since I was 41 years old and had to play a teenager, it was hard to convey the feeling of my age (laughs). I was careful that my voice would suddenly sound like an adult's, but I tried to convey the mischievous, immature, and youthful feeling of a teenager in an American way.
But while I was acting, I didn't feel that the role itself was that difficult, and it was a good fit. I think I was able to fit the character of the role and Michael's acting well! Yamadera-san (who has played the role of Marty in the past) also told me, "Mamo, this role is perfect for you," which made me very happy, and it gave me confidence, so I was able to take the plunge!
In PART 2, I played four roles: Marty, Marty 30 years later, Marty's son, and Marty's daughter. I had a lot of fun playing a female role, so I had a lot of fun. The scene in PART 2 where all the Michaels appear is my favorite scene!
Also, as we move on to Part 2 and Part 3, I like how the film self-parodies the previous film and becomes a kind of "tendon" because it's so playful. For example, when Marty faints, his mother wakes him up every time. In Part 1, Marty is woken up by his mother (in his younger days) and is surprised, saying, "You're so..... so.... skinny," and I put a lot of effort into acting out this scene. I also like the line he says to his mother (in the other world line) when he wakes her up in Part 2, "You're so.... boobs" (laughs). I deliberately use 80's words in many places in the Reiwa era, so younger people may not understand, but I hope they can feel the emotion (laughs). I also love Marty's "heavy" and Doc's memorable catchphrases, "Oh my goodness!"
I am happy and honored to have had the opportunity to be involved in this masterpiece. I was able to pour all the experience I have gained as a voice actor into playing Marty in my own way! My chemistry with Yamadera-san is perfect, so I hope you will enjoy the tempo of our performance!
◇Comment from Koichi Yamadera
Many people have already talked about "Back to the Future," but I think it's the best entertainment movie ever. Time travel movies are full of contradictions, but I think it's the best movie because it makes you think, "Who cares about that?" and entertains you. I know there are many people who list it as the number one movie of their lives, and it's always been in the top ten of my heart.
Anyway, it's a memorable work, and everything about it is great! It's full of great scenes! The script, the actors, the music, everything about the movie is packed with charm. It's really exciting, suspenseful, and humorous, and I think it has all the elements that a movie needs, that entertainment needs.
I played the role of Marty in my 20s, and Doc 10 years ago, so I'm really grateful to have been chosen to play Doc again this time. Because of that, I felt a pressure inside me to "be better than when I played Doc last time."
Also, this time, the script is the same as when I played Marty in the past, and I've been working with Takeshi Aono, who played Doc at that time, for a long time, so when I look at the script, Aono's voice comes to my head. I really wanted to imitate Aono, but I strongly thought, "I can't imitate him!" and acted. I once again felt Aono's greatness, thinking, "How could he do it with such a fast-paced script?" In PART 3, when there is no gasoline in 1885 and they think they can't go back to the future, they see a steam locomotive running and say, "That's it!" I love Aono's version of the scene, and this time we had the same lines, so I tried my best not to lose.
Also, I was reminded once again how amazing Christopher Lloyd is. There are two scenes I've always loved. One is in Part 1, when Marty's parents are having a great time at the "Enchanted Deep Sea Party" and Marty, who had almost disappeared, suddenly comes back to life and plays the guitar. The other is in Part 3, when Doc and Clara meet and fall in love. I love this scene so much!
My favorite line is when Doc says in Part 3, "You carve out your own future." A lot of things have happened up until now, but I think this is what this movie is ultimately trying to say. Also, at the end of Part 2 (it appears again at the beginning of Part 3), when Marty, who was supposed to have been sent back to the future, returns, Doc collapses, saying, "What have you done?" I also love what Doc says at that time!
Last year, I saw the "Back to the Future" musical in New York, and it was really amazing! So, I was reminded of the appeal of "Back to the Future" and then I was approached about doing the new dubbing, so I was really happy... I'm very happy to be able to take on the challenge for the third time.
For those who have been fans of this work for a long time, there are fans of the subtitle version, those who like the version by Mitsuya (Yuji), and those who think that Aono-san is the best for Doc, but this time, leaving my thoughts aside (laughs), Mamoru Miyano is perfect for Marty! And for the other roles, I think objectively that this is the best casting we could think of right now... the best voice actors have been gathered! Putting my thoughts aside (laughs). So, I hope you will look forward to it, and I would be very happy if those who have never been exposed to "Back to the Future" before would watch this new dubbed version and make it their favorite.
