The appeal and evaluation of "Humanoid Monster Bem": A timeless masterpiece revived in modern times

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Yokai Ningen Bem

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 1, 2006 - October 7, 2006 Animax April 1, 2006 - October 7, 2006 (Episodes 1-26) Every Saturday 19:00 - 19:30

■Broadcasting station

Animax

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

ASATSU DK

■ Director

Hiroshi Harada

■ Production

Animation Production: Studio Comet Production: NAS
Produced by: NAS, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Avex Entertainment, Studio Comet

■Works

©2006ADK/Yokai Ningen Bem Project

■ Story

The many hidden dramas of monster humans are now revived!
I want to be a fast human being...

After a long journey, the monster humans Bem, Bella, and Bello arrive at a port city on the eastern edge of the Orient. Feeling that the city is enveloped in a huge demonic energy, Bem and his friends stay in the city to protect the humans and face the evil monsters that attack them!

*Quoted from Bandai Channel

■Explanation

The legendary character breaks his silence and makes a grand appearance!
After a long journey, the monster humans Bem, Bella, and Bello arrive in the huge Bayside Shun. In this town, monsters appear one after another. Why did the monsters wake up from their deep sleep? And what is the secret of the monster humans' birth? Can the monster humans become human?

*Quoted from the NAS official website

■Cast

・Bem/Kazuhiko Inoue・Bella/Kaori Yamagata・Bero/Ai Hounai・Kumohide Hinata/Yuna Inamura・Sora Kaido/Naoya Iwahashi・Mizuki Kisaragi/Misato Chihara・Genpaku Hinata/Masami Iwasaki・Urara Hinata/Mie Sonozaki・Shigeru Kaido/Koichi Nagano・Ritsuko Kaido/Mariko Nagahama・Riku Kaido/Rei Naito・Umi Kaido/Miki Nagasawa・Ryoko Kisaragi/Yuriko Fuchizaki・Yuzo Mikami/Manabu Muraji・Genrosai Tanashi/Yuji Nojima・Narration/Mizuho Suzuki

■ Main staff

・Original work / ASATSU-DK・Director / Harada Hiroshi・Series composition / Takegami Junki・Character design / Shibuya Kazuhiko・Sound effects / Akatsuka Fujio・Chief animation director / Yamazaki Takeshi・Original monster design / Ogihara Naoki・Art directors / Amamizu Masaru, Nishikura Chikara, Kawai Shinji・Basic art setting / Ito Kazue・Color setting / Sakai Miharu・Director of photography / Fujita Satoshi・Editing / Nakaba Yumiko, Murai Hideaki・Sound director / Fujiyama Fusanobu・Sound direction / Ebina Yasunori・Music / Gokita Takehiko・Producers / Tsurusaki Rika, Naruke Katsunori, Oizumi Hiroyuki, Beppu Koji・Animation production / Studio Comet・Production / NAS
Produced by: NAS, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Avex Entertainment, Studio Comet

■ Main Characters

Bem
A man who is the leader of the three monster humans. He has strong opinions, a strong and kind personality, and sticks to his beliefs and justice. He usually appears as a human male around 50 years old, but when he fights he transforms into a monster. He always carries a steel walking stick with him, which he uses as a weapon.
Bella
She is the only woman among the three human monsters. She has a strong, short-tempered personality and is very emotional. She usually appears as a human woman around 27-28 years old, but when fighting she transforms into a monster. When in human form she uses a whip. She is also skilled in various illusions, such as the ability to freeze objects.
・Bello
He is the slowest growing boy among the three monster humans. He is cheerful, curious, and has a sociable personality, treating all humans equally. He usually appears as an 8-year-old human boy, but when fighting he transforms into a monster. He is childish both physically and mentally, so he always needs the help of Bem and Bella.
Hinata Kumoei is a fourth-grade girl at a private elementary school and the only daughter of a general hospital. She is a reliable girl who hates to lose. She can generally express her opinions clearly, but she also plays the role of a good girl so as not to shock her parents. By chance, she meets Bello and they become friends.
・Kaidou Sora A fourth-grade boy attending public elementary school, he is the youngest of three siblings. He is a selfish, confident, bossy type. He is good at sports. He easily falls in love and has a strong admiration for older women. He is very skeptical of Bello, but he helps him many times and they gradually become friends.
Mizuki Kisaragi is a fourth-grade boy who attends public elementary school. He is a classmate of Sora's who is wary and doesn't open up to others easily. Although he looks weak, he is actually stubborn and has his own beliefs. Although he knows that Bello is not a bad monster, he is afraid and cannot befriend him.
・Hyuga Genpaku Kira's father. He took over the general hospital run by his father and is now the director. His specialty is surgery. He has a gentle personality, dotes on his only daughter, Kira, and thinks he is understanding when it comes to children.
Urara Hinata is Kira's mother and a full-time housewife. She is intelligent and sociable. However, she also has a tendency to force her adult common sense on Kira, and sometimes digs her own grave with her strong beliefs.
Shigeru Kaido: Sora's father. He is a gentle, responsible, and serious person. He works in the event industry. He is a middle manager at the company and is loved by both his superiors and subordinates, but at home he tends to be dominated by his wife.
Sora's mother, a full-time housewife. She is energetic, strong, and has a bold personality that doesn't worry about small things. She is a reliable Edokko type mother. She has her husband Shigeru under her thumb.
・Kaidou A young man in his first year at Riku Public High School. He is Sora's older brother and the eldest of three siblings. He is innocent and playful, but at heart he is kind and has a strong sense of justice. He falls in love easily and spends his days confessing his feelings and getting his heart broken.
Kaido: A second-year girl attending Kai Public Junior High School. She is Sora's older sister and the eldest of three siblings. She has a tomboyish and playful personality and is sensitive to trends. She is crazy about the indie band "674 (Munashi)."
Ryoko Kisaragi Mitsuki's mother and a fashion designer. She lives with her son Mitsuki, but she is so busy with work that she leads irregular days and tends to put off housework. She calls Mitsuki "Mitsuki-san."
Yuzo Mikami A detective appointed as the head of the Special Biological Organisms Unit. He has a sincere and earnest personality, but also has a clumsy side. He has always maintained that a full-scale investigation into monsters should be carried out.
A mysterious man who calls himself Tanashi Genrousai, a magical sealer. He appears before Mikami and offers to help with his investigation of monsters. He always has a teasing attitude and is hard to grasp. He exerts mysterious powers with his mysterious spells.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Evil Century Begins (2006/04/01)
・Episode 2: Carriage to Hell (2006/04/08)
Episode 3: Fangs of the Full Moon (2006/04/15)
Episode 4: Cursed Wings (2006/04/22)
Episode 5: Pediatric Ward (2006/05/06)
Episode 6: Forbidden Ritual (2006/05/13)
Episode 7: Tears of the Homunculus (2006/05/20)
Episode 8: Tragedy in the Underground Sewer (2006/05/27)
・Episode 9: Fortune Telling Hall (2006/06/03)
・Episode 10/Goblin Tragedy (2006/06/10)
Episode 11: A Deadly Painting (2006/06/17)
・Episode 12: The Soul-Sucking Guitar (2006/06/24)
Episode 13: Minotaur in the Underground Labyrinth (2006/07/01)
・Episode 14: Black Dog Howls in the Dark (2006/07/08)
Episode 15: A voice that lulls you to sleep (2006/07/15)
・Episode 16/Final screening (2006/07/22)
Episode 17: Rose Umbrella (2006/07/29)
・Episode 18: The Secret of Bem's Birth (2006/08/05)
・Episode 19/Horror House (2006/08/12)
Episode 20: Voyage with the Dead (2006/08/26)
・Episode 21: Wandering Mirror (2006/09/02)
・Episode 22: When the Forest Moves (2006/09/09)
Episode 23: Broken Seal (2006/09/16)
Episode 24: The Yokai Extermination Operation Begins (2006/09/23)
Episode 25: Farewell, Monster Humans (2006/09/30)
Episode 26: Light of Hope (2006/10/07)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Justice of darkness ~ Theme of the monster human Bem ・Lyrics by Yukinojo Mori ・Composition by Takehiko Gokita ・Arrangement by Takehiko Gokita ・Vocals by Hiroshi Kitadani, Bem (Kazuhiko Inoue)

・ED1
・August Eternity・Lyrics by Minako Yoshida・Composition by Kazumi Watanabe・Arrangement by Minako Yoshida and Nobuo Kurata・Vocals by Minako Yoshida

Review and Recommendation

"Humanoid Monster Bem" is an anime series that was broadcast in 2006, and attracted attention as a remake of the long-running humanoid monster series. As the original work is an original anime, the story and character settings have been given a new interpretation. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work, as well as recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Humanoid Monster Bem" is about three human monsters, Bem, Bela, and Bello, who fight to protect humans while striving to become human again. After a long journey, they arrive at a port city where they struggle to save the city from the power of a giant demon. The story has a deep theme that questions the boundaries between humans and monsters, and provides viewers with many moving and thought-provoking elements.

Particularly impressive are the dramas of the monsters depicted in each episode. For example, episode 7, "Tears of the Homunculus," depicts Homunculus' sad past and the tears he sheds, moving viewers to their hearts. Also, in episode 18, "The Secret of Bem's Birth," the secret of Bem's birth is revealed, adding new depth to the story. These episodes are not just battle scenes, but often focus on the characters' inner lives and backgrounds, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

Character Appeal

Each character in "Humanoid Monster Bem" is unique and charming. Bem, the leader, has a strong personality that sticks to his beliefs and justice, giving viewers a sense of security. Although Bella has a strong and short temper, she looks cool when she fights in her monster form, and her illusions and abilities are also a highlight. Bello has a bright and curious personality, making her a beloved character with viewers.

The human characters are also appealing, and interactions with children such as Hinata Un'ei, Kaido Sora, and Kisaragi Mizuki add warmth to the story. Hinata Un'ei is a reliable and competitive person, and her friendship with Bello is an important element of the story. Kaido Sora is a selfish, self-confident, bossy character, and the process in which her skepticism towards Bello changes into friendship is moving. Kisaragi Mizuki is wary, and the story depicts the gradual change in her relationship with Bello. The growth and relationships of these characters enrich the story.

Production Features

"Humanoid Monster Bem" was produced by Studio Comet and NAS, and directed by Hiroshi Harada. Character design was by Kazuhiko Shibuya, the original monster design was by Naoki Ogiwara, and art direction was by Masaru Amami, Chikara Nishikura, and Shinji Kawai. The visual beauty and character design created by this team of staff leave a strong impression on viewers.

In particular, the design of the monsters is reflective of Naoki Ogiwara's unique sensibility, and the visuals of the monsters that appear in each episode are worth a look. In addition, the music is by Takehiko Gokita, and the opening theme "Justice of Darkness ~ The Theme of Human Monster Bem" and the ending theme "August Eternity" are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the story.

Recommended points

"Humanoid Monster Bem" is a work that can be recommended for the following reasons.

1. **Deep Themes and Moving Story**: The theme of questioning the boundary between humans and monsters, and the drama of monsters depicted in each episode provide viewers with deep emotions and elements to make them think. In particular, there are many touching scenes in Bem and his friends' journey to become human and their interactions with humans, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

2. **Charming characters**: The characters on the human side, such as the monster humans Bem, Bela, and Bello, and the human characters such as Hinata Kumoei, Kaido Sora, and Kisaragi Mizuki, are all unique and charming. Their growth and relationships enrich the story, making them beloved characters by viewers.

3. **Beautiful visuals and music**: The visuals and character designs by Studio Comet and NAS, and the monster designs by Naoki Ogiwara are worth seeing. Also, Takehiko Gokita's music enhances the atmosphere of the story and leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

4. **New interpretation as a remake**: As a remake of the original work, new interpretations and settings have been added, providing a new perspective for existing fans. In particular, the depiction of the secret of Bem and his friends' origins and their journey to become human has a different depth than the original work.

As mentioned above, "Humanoid Monster Bem" is a work that is appealing with its deep themes, moving story, attractive characters, beautiful visuals and music, and a new interpretation as a remake. I would especially recommend this work to those who like monsters and human dramas, and those who want to enjoy deep themes. Please watch this work and empathize with and be moved by the journey of Bem and his friends.