Original subtitles

Even if the world ended. I wouldn't stop collecting toys.

I'm obsessed. l'm never satisfied until I have the whole line-up.

The action figure capital is the U.S.A. That's where they all come from.

Priceless rare figures leave us collectors penniless.

But we won't stop buying them.

American comic heroes. I'm totally insane about them.

I wanted to look like them, so I lifted weights in vain.

This bites, this screams. Some break into pieces by pushing a but ton.

They are waiting for me. striking poses in blister packs.

Maniacs. Freaks. Make the world go round.

Einstein, a physics freak. Marx, an economics freak.

Von Braun, a rocket freak took mankind to the moon.

Me, l'm an action figure freak.

I was. I am and l always will be. Day and night, all year round.

What is it? When is it coming. and how many?

These are the questions nobody can answer.

Those American figures are made in Asian factories.

So, for quicker business, dealers buy directly from the factories.

Yeah. Boss?

I'm s tuck in heavy traffic. Just outside the airport.

Like this scumbag. . .

he makes money by ripping off the shop he works for.

But the figure I'm after requires a bit o flaw-bending to acquire it.

What I'm after is. . . "Hellbanker."

Collectors would kill for it.

It's so rare. it's almost a missing link.

You people are virgin worshippers.

What?

I said, virgin worshippers.

Yuji, you never open them, do you?

You never play with them. You just look at them.

Ren, hard-core collectors never open the blisters.

That's what I'm saying. Virgin keepers.

Take a look a tthis.

I bought two of her.

One to play with, one to keep.

Sometimes I do open them, but hardly ever.

Do you realize what you've done?

Hey! Take it outside! You're scaring the cus tomers!

Colors, design, everything about them.

Blister packs are at their prime unopened.

But when I say this, nobody understands.

Collectors nowadays are way too excessive.

Who the hell needs four of the same thing?

Two's enough, I tell you. Just two.

This is Terada, a cheap shit.

Fossilized sci-fi maniac. Hired manager of the bar.

What's wrong with being hired? Never seen Battle beyond the Stars ?

Mercenaries hired to protect a miserably poor planet.

Darth Vader. Hired manager of the Galactic Empire.

He works so hard, he's always out of breath, wheezing.

A three time divorcee and a happy idiot.

Don't call my collection fashion. It's culture. It's history.

Star Trek. It all began in the '60s.

The Next Generation, DS9, Voyager followed and it's still trekking.

Understanding that long history makes you a true Trekker.

His life equals sci-fi flicks. He loves booze and hates kids.

Simply because he 's a kid himself.

The latest addition to his collection was also his biggest spend.

This Delorian.

He wanted it documented before he turns it into a time machine.

Make me look cool!

Mummi, have you ever seen 5 million in cash?

What?

No? Forget l asked. You're just an assistant photographer.

This is what 5 million yen looks like.

Birds of a feather flock together.

I have to lock the car.

- Later. Hurry! - If it's stolen, it's your fault!

Hey! Take it outside! You're scaring the customers!

Ouch! Please forgive me... Ouch!

He'll look like a mummy for sure.

Now what are you up to this time?

l'm going to America to look for Hellbanker.

America? With fliers?

I've looked everywhere in Japan for it.

I've canceled the ticket, hear me?

Toys, toys. When was the last time you paid the rent?

- Where am I going to sleep? - How about up to there with your friends?

So much of the same old shit! What is this, a toy storage.

What about you and your junk?

- This happens to be my profession. - Profession! Huh! Give me a break!

Ouch, ouch, hey!

I wish somebody dropped it on the street and I found it.

What?

Why doesn't anybody invent a detector or radar or something?

There he goes again. . . Mr. Hellbanker.

Has anybody ever seen it?

No. That's why it's so valuable! That's why everybody wants it.

There 's nothing rarer than this.

Maybe it's something even bigger.

Maybe it's like UFOs and Nessie.

Maybe it's just a myth.

You think so? Look a tthis! HelIbanker. Photocopied.

I found it at last.

So? You call this proof?

Maybe somebody faked it to fool a sucker like you?

Author's dead. Publisher's gone out of business.

Besides the book was banned.

I know. You know why?

Because villains in the book were based on real powerful people.

Political conspiracy? Bullshit, kid.

Look here.

Gene Karvonen, the author.

He tried to change the world with his comic books.

See, they did make Hellbanker figures. But they didn't sell them.

So there must be some left?

I don't know. Never heard of Garage Toys either.

You're dreaming, kid. Wake up! Time for a reality check.

Even the advanced medical science of my own country can't save me.

Nobody in Korea could cure my disease.

I'm not ready to die. Not just yet.

Not until I find someone to inherit my gift...

Japanese medical science is my last hope.

So I came to Japan.

We're going to make a movie, OK?

I'm talking about science fiction!

It's time for us to join sci-fi history!

- Can't you be happy just by collecting? - I direct...

and he makes models.

Models?

Spaceships! What are you going to do without them?

So Io-tech. In these days of CGI.

Why's everything done on computer? Even monsters are CGI nowadays.

Wha tever happened to Dynamation? I can hear Harryhausen weeping.

Terada introduced me to Hasamoto.

Robots. Anime. Nothing else. A model builder of the digital generation.

The kind of person I'd rather not deal with, has entered my life.

Graphic designer by day, robot otaku by night.

Mr.Katoki is God if you ask me.

So three-D and dynamic. He's a pure genius.

His dream girl is Francoise Arnoul. I thought she was a French actress.

But she was Cyborg 003.

We're a bunch of perverts, aren't we? Getting turned on by these things.

What's wrong with them?

- I mean... - You think live ones are better?

Can't fuck a doll, you know?

What's this, then?

Figures are meant to be attractive.

They are everything we desire in a human body.

They are void of anything ugly. Pure perfection.

Now, look at humans.

Ugly, aren't they?

Hanako Tank, again.

I don'>t need two. Here!

Who cares if they call us perverts? We know something they don't.

What's wrong with society? Why don't they sell figures at 7-11?

So you don't open blister packs?

It's not a painting. You have to touch it.

Open it! You're insulting the sculptor.

I don't open blisters so I can keep my sense of anticipation.

I wouldn't have opened Pandora's box either.

Once opened, the thrill had gone.

It's like just before an orgasm and suspending that feeling forever.

But once open, it's over.

- Come on, let's do it. - Sssshh... Hush!

- Show your face! - No way.

I'm blind!

That's enough. That was it. There!

This is awkward...

What is it?

Let's make love.

Hellbanker's watching me...

Hey, where are you going?

Why don't you fuck that Hell what ever?

Hellbanker's a man though.

I've had enough of this!

Alright, here goes... Rolling!

OK, here's the story. Garbage fights against evil to save the planet.

Definitely for a selected audience.

This guy's a fish skeleton. This one's chewed gum.

- A tissue with snot. - Super gross!

They got mixed up in a trash can and became one. They hate each other,

These are the main characters. An empty bottle and an empty can.

Rub and Bish,

Rub, Bish? How original...

It's called Crush of Trash!

Toy stores around the world will soon be filled with them,

When that happens, take me to the South Pacific.

Where?

Just imagine. Coral in clear water. That's what I want to photograph.

OK, I'll give it a try. l'm gonna make it.

I'm gonna make it.

Why are you watching this?

- Where are you going? - Say something.

I love you!

I can't stand the way you two abuse me like a slave.

You have to help me! There's no way I can find it by myself any more!

0K?

- Any suggestions? - Hellbanker.

No clue.

Son of a bitch!

We should try every toy store in the world.

That's it!

Yeah! Try McFerson Toys!

No.

Franky and Fun.

Nope.

Toy Festival-Skip Meet.

Sorry.

Neybeetoys!

Don't have it.

UF0 Scwaltz.

No.

I can't believe this!

No.

No, again.

N-O.

Being a collect or is so unrewarding!

- I'll do another art group exhibition. - Yeah? What's it about this time?

Nail painting art, with paintings and sculpture.

I'll exhibit myself. Like this.

- That's cute. - Don't you know a nice art gallery?

I'm working on ideas for my original robot figure.

I'll submit it to the Model Traffic's competition.

I know that one! 2 million yen grand prize, right?

It's not the money.

What then?

Why do you collect action figures?

Well, you know. . .

Collecting is a learning process.

You acquire artistic knowledge through collecting.

Now you've learnt. What then?

You create!

A man who doesn't create is just a piece of flesh.

What about you?

- Where are you going? - Men's room.

I see.

Maybe he knows some good art galleries.

Whoa... Stop it...

They have expressions too.

Nails?

Don't you think nails are like faces for fingers?

See? Looks just like you.

You there...

Didn't I tell you not to sell drugs here?

I got this yesterday.

Fidel Castro used to own this knife.

And this... belonged to Che Guevara!

Kim for Kimura.

A psycho case who collects anything rare. Everybody hates him.

Jimmy Hendricks' own guitar pick!

Socks worn by Jimmy Lee 0swald!

Whatever he collects seems suspiciousIy fake,

He's funded by the drugs he sells, which may well be fake too.

Hey! Take it outside! You 're scaring the customers!

A party animal with an ego problem.

An off the wall narcissist.

The bourbon drunk by Ed Wood.

He wants any thing rare.

Naturally. He's after Hellbanker too.

- How's business? - Just fine.

Don't you think the interior reflects your taste too much?

- You know what I'm saying? - Don't worry.

I got fired because of the trouble with Kim.

No job, no dough. That forced me to give up my figure habit.

Wrong pronunciation! Remember, Greedo!

I haven't been to a toy shop for days. Then I found this.

"Eat Kiwi and Get Action Figures!"

Your space talk just isn't snappy enough!

Next! Get me potatoes for the asteroids!

Come on Yuji!

Everybody, hold them up. Pose. Quick! Here we go...

I can eat and get action figures with the same money.

Toys that come with cereals and such. In times like these, anything's 0K.

Humans and animals eat alike. Humans and animals shit alike.

Then what separates humans from animals?

We have science fiction!

Imagination! That's what's missing in your space talk.

Rankor ain't a dinosaur!

If I had a daughter, her name would be Leia Terada!

Han Solo should sound silly dubbed in Japanese.

Yuji, here!

Now, Hasamo to-san.

Terada-san's turn. Yeah, you hunk!

Something's perverse about this...

I didn't know you were so pretty...

Let's try to be in the new Star Wars! Imagine action figures of ourselves.

Nothing I try satisfies my craving.

In the meantime, somebody somewhere must be getting close to Hellbanker.

A robot with tons of moving joints. That's my dream.

Whoa, look at this. Unimaginable!

I'm close, but not quite right. I need a clincher for the design.

It's getting better, though. Look at this. Really cool.

You unders tand this. . . ?

Why don't you join our group art exhibition?

With robots and anime? You sure?

Open it.

You miserable chicken shit.

The aristocracy of the Middle Ages looked everywhere for rare animals.

To observe? No. To eat. With no remorse.

This is a limited novelty product.

But only poor chicken shits keep it untouched.

Hey, Iook.

I got this mailed from America the other day.

Hell Bomber. Cute.

Pisses you off, doesn't it? They could've done better than this.

Sure.

That's not all. Look at this.

The back sheet of a Hellbanker blister.

He speaks, man.

You press the button, and he goes, To save this planet!

This is going to shock the world.

Aren't you going to open it either?

Even if you got Hellbanker?

Oh, no... it's here...

It's the last one. Buy it.

Jurassic Punk?

A pirate toy from Hong Kong.

It's a rare product. Collectors kill for it.

Mummi, can I borrow some?

No.

He's a bum and a pimp. No way I can let him buy it.

Look. He's in pain...

He'll live.

How about a little mercy before he becomes brain dead?

No way. No mercy.

Hello.

Hey, Hasamoto? What is it?

I continued the search. I tried every key word from the comic book.

Doug Edland. Bill, Gholem Town...

Then Soong hit the jackpot.

Dr. Soong, the scientist who is after Hellbanker, right?

Shit, he was based on a real person too!

Soong Laboratory, Washington D.C. He sounds like some scientist.

Guess what they research here.

The Earth rotation control. They live in a sci-fi world.

Anyway, I e-mailed him. He mailed right back. He says.

"As a toy collector myself, it's a joy to know someone who loves Hellbanker."

He's de finitely nuts.

The Hellbanker author, Gene Karvonen was his friend.

That's why this guy's in the comic book.

He gave me this one as a gift.

Never seen him without the black line over his eyes before...

Looks like he knows something... That's no tall he says in the mail.

"In 3 days, I'll leave town for a research trip."

"My destination is a nuclear facility in Asia."

"My plane will make a stopover at Narita."

"Why don't we meet at the airport? It'll be fun."

"I'll see you soon, my dear toy collecting friend. H.R. Soong."

Why doesn't he just take Ren with him? It'll be easier.

Pride. He 's too proud to do that.

It's not like Dr. Soong is coming to Japan to give him Hellbanker.

For generations, my family has been sculptors.

In the days of the old dynasties, my ancestors sculpted for kings.

With these fingers, there is nothing that can't be sculpted.

These fingers. Passed on in the family generations after generations.

Master Kumiho, we've run out of options...

Japanese medical science was my last hope...

but it couldn't save my life. My life will end soon.

These fingers... With these fingers...

there is no physical substance I can't shape...

They mustn't die out with me.

Stop! You're annoying me.

Hasamoto's shirt's too small.

Whatever belongs to him smells like paint.

Do you watch TV recently?

Why? Was the electricity bill high?

It wasn't me.

Then, look.

Where's Terada?

Hasn't showed up yet.

This is it.

I'm going to build this.

You made it!

A powered suit with 112 moving joints.

Your nail painting inspired me.

Huh?

See? This is you.

Equipped with op tical camouflage.

lt turns into a Gerwalk too.

Ga... What?

Gerwalk. An airplane with legs.

Legs... For what?

Transformation is a major requirement.

I had to choose between this and a tank.

When the model is finished...

I want you to paint those nails... For our little collaboration.

Is that the way you see me?

An object of desire that transforms into a tank or a plane?

That's sick and...

Forget about the exhibition. What we're exhibiting is art.

Not some weird fantasy.

Art my ass...

Anime is always the black sheep.

Not this one again...

Art...

Art has...

Art has no boundaries. Does it?

Gogh! Basquiat! Tezuka! Anno! They are all equally artistic, aren't they?

Give me some change.

I've finished editing...

You two did a great job.

Your great special effects...

and my horrible script.

There's always next time.

Right...

That was the last time.

The last time we ever saw him.

We learnt why much later.

Terada had spent the bar profits on his collection and the movie,

Ren told me.

The debt he'd got into for the Delorian made him desperate.

"Yuji, the car's yours."

All that's left of him was a pile of his collected toys.

A heap of garbage valuable to nobody...

What obsesses us? Why?

Why do we keep collecting...

these pieces of plastic?

Recently, a Korean toy factory went out of business.

Guess what.

They found it there?

Too good to be true. Only a sucker would fall for that.

Yeah? Are you walking a way?

You sure it's a real Hellbanker?

Repossession people found it. I mean, I couldn't believe what I heard.

5 million. That's the minimum offer.

Bullshit.

That's its value.

I'll be there. Take it or leave it.

Hello. Yes... Uh huh...

Honestly, that was my first gig. I was a nervous wreck...

Really? You think my photos are that good? Thank you so much.

I never even expected to ge t paid that much...

Thank you. My pleasure. I appreciate it. Good bye.

I'm home.

What's this?

Where's the furniture?

Answer me!

I sold it.

Why?

To buy Hellbanker.

Come and see the event of the century...

under the train bridge...

Is that your artwork?

Yuji!

You have to listen to me!

Hey, Yuji!

I want you to meet someone.

I have no time for your nonsense!

On December 8th,

in 1980.

this piece...

gunned down John Lennon...

After all...

It's always the man with the big gun who finishes first.

You guys are unbelievable f ools!

All this fuss for just a doll...

Just a doll...

Just a doll?

Only one of them exists in the world! Think how priceless it is!

Guys like us live only to own a thing like that.

Is there anything else worthy in this worId?

Stop it!

Mummi...

5 million... for this?

Shit...

This is wrong.

Wait... I didn't know! There's been a mistake...

- Where's the real one? - I don't know!

Life with people like you is nothing but troubIe...

What do you mean by this...?

Isn't it obvious?

South Pacific. Huh?

Let's go, then.

Are you serious?

First,

I'm going to make money with these.

You know how valuable you are?

You're a limited edition.

Limit ed edition, huh?

It feels strange...

Feels like it's over...

Feels like it's only the beginning...

It wasn't Hellbanker I really wanted.

But I found what I really wanted while I was looking for Hellbanker...

I'll never forget it.

"Original Action Figure Competition"

"Hasamo to Kazuto: Grand Prize 2 million yen"

I love capsule toys. I have 2,000 Muscle Man toys.

The more you have, the better they look.

Idealized human body. Perfect and strong. That's a robot.

Even adults love Doolly in Korea.

If you have to depict war in a very thrilling way, you go sci-fi.

Like Gamera, an attractive character takes more than just good sculpting.

Those light sabers are pirate products. Wrong design.

Let's open this Night Master. Oh, no! Isn't it Yoda?

I made my own action figure.

Grand Moff D AICHI, It's me.

Blisters first appeared in the '70s.

They are pop art by definition.

Whereas Japanese toy makers put them in boxes,

blisters have such presence.

In the '80s, blisters started to have stands. They stand by themselves.

You don't need a display case any more.

When I was a kid, I saw friends opening blisters to play...

I couldn't bring myself to open them.

I open blisters.

I don't. So I buy two of them if I have to open one.

If it's cuter wrapped, I won't open it.

Often, I can't open the one I bought to open.

These KISS figures. No stands. It's a message. "Open and play with it!"

The moment I open it, I get goose pimpIes.

It's great to collect things.

What l want from life is... to collect toys.

The more you get, the more you love them.

Anybody who has passion f or something looks so alive.

I have a love bigger than any love. You got that?

English subtitles by Tetsuro Shimauchi and Rosemary Dean