TV Theater Success So 3 Blu-ray Box

The eagerly awaited third season of Success So finally comes to Blu-ray. Once again, enjoy the unpredictable developments in every episode, the actors' authentic reactions and the unguarded expressions that appear along the way.

Nelke Planning, a pioneer of 2.5-dimensional theatre, teams with hugely popular screenwriter Koji Tokuo, who attracted attention with Ossan's Love, to create an unprecedented drama format: television theatre with just one rehearsal and a single take for the actual performance. This much-discussed series now reaches its long-awaited third season.

Toshiki Tateishi and Mitsuru Karahashi appear for the first time in season three, bringing new residents into the everyday life of Success So. Actor and voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda narrates. Once the performance begins, there is no cut until the end: no retakes, and improvisation is welcome. Fans can watch the actors tackle a drama with the tension of a live stage performance and the spirit of 'the show must go on.'

The main-program discs contain all twelve broadcast episodes, the full run-through rehearsals and post-performance review discussions for every episode. The bonus disc contains generous behind-the-scenes footage and solo versions of the ending dance, among other extras.

In episode one, Success So is an apartment building tucked quietly into a corner of the city. Its residents are young men who dream of making a name for themselves. Legend says that they will someday achieve their dreams and leave the building.

Kenny, played by Eito Konishi, and Torajiro, played by spi, discover a suspicious man in the living room. He claims to have lived there all along, but who is he? Another prospective resident also arrives. The three people who will interview the newcomer are chosen by darts.

Video extras include run-through footage before filming, post-performance review discussions, making-of footage, a collection of filming wrap-ups, ending dances and a collection of making-of footage for those dances. A leaflet is enclosed.

The cast, listed in order of their characters' room numbers, features Masanari Wada, Kensuke Takahashi, Shun Takagi, Mario Kuroba, spi, Toshiki Tateishi, Shotaro Arisawa, Fuma Sadamoto, Yuki Tamaki, Takeshi Terayama, Eito Konishi and Mitsuru Karahashi. Kenjiro Tsuda narrates.