On the 24th, a special video was released of the scene from the Japanese dubbed version of "Minecraft: The Movie" (directed by Jared Hess, to be released on April 25th), the first live-action film adaptation of the world of the popular game "Minecraft." The scene features Koichi Yamadera, who voices Steve (Jack Black), singing passionately "Lava Chicken."
"Minecraft" is a game where you can freely create and adventure in a virtual space made of 3D blocks. In 2023, the number of copies sold worldwide exceeded 300 million. The movie is about Garrett (Jason Momoa), Natalie (Emma Myers), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks), who are not very popular in real life, who are transported to a parallel world made of squares by the power of a mysterious blue glowing cube. With the advice of Steve (Jack Black), a native of the world, they survive in "Minecraft World" by making full use of their creativity. In the released scene, the group arrives at the village of "Minecraft World" and visits a "lava chicken" shop recommended by Steve, the guide. "Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed lava with chicken? Let me show you what would happen," Steve says as he turns on the device, and the redstone circuit runs, causing lava to flow over the chicken placed in the device. As Steve begins to sing, "Lava, lava, chicken, chicken," his friends look on in a quizzical manner. As soon as he finishes singing, a hot, juicy, square "lava chicken" pops out of the device, making for a stomach-churning scene.
"Lava chicken" is a familiar sight to fans of the game "Minecraft." In the game, you can roast animals such as chickens to turn them into food, and by using various materials and items, you can even create a machine that automatically makes yakitori. In the movie, the revolutionary (?) cooking method of pouring lava over chicken, "lava chicken," is realistically and pop-likely recreated. The facial muscles of Black, who plays Steve, and the overwhelming singing ability of voice actor Yamadera, who really shows off his talent, make this a scene that you'll be hooked on once you hear it.
Yamadera has previously voiced many Hollywood stars, but this is his first time dubbing Black. There are many singing scenes in the film, including "Lava Chicken," but he said, "Jack Black's acting and Steve's character are both amazing, so I just had fun acting without thinking too much. I tried to get as close as possible to Black's singing so that people, including children, can enjoy the dubbed version."
"Minecraft: The Movie" has already started screening in 76 countries and regions around the world ahead of Japan, and has grossed over $720 million (approximately 100 billion yen) worldwide. In the United States, it surpassed the opening record of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023), achieving the largest opening gross in history for a movie based on a video game, and continues to perform well, topping the charts for two consecutive weeks (according to Box Office Mojo, 1 dollar converted to 141 yen, as of April 21).
