TOKYO -- Toho, Japan most powerful domestic distrib, had a banner first half in 2008, releasing 13 pics in the January-June period that have since earned Yen 1 billion ($9.6 million) or more -- the traditional mark of a hit in the Japanese market. This compares with 12 pics that hit the one-billion-yen bench mark in the first half of 2007 and 10 in 2006.
The leader was the 28th feature installment in the "Doraemon" toon series, which scored Yen 3.37 billion ($32.4 million) following its March bow,
Based on a popular comic by Fujio F Fujiko, the toon features a bumbling 10-year-old boy and his pet blue cat -- a time-traveling robot from the 22nd Century.
Second was the animal drama "Mari and Her Three Puppies," which earned Yen 3.16 billion ($30.4 million) following its December 2007 release. The pic is based on a true story about a mother dog and her puppies who survived the devastating Chuetsu Earthquake in Northern Japan in 2004.
Of the 13 pics, only three are toons. The rest are live-action pics, all of which were produced by TV networks and their consortium partners. Of two pics still on release, the Koki Mitani laffer "The Magic Hour" had earned Yen 2.67 billion ($25.7 million) by the end of June, on its 24th day on release. Meanwhile, the romantic thriller "Boys Over Flowers" raked in Yen1.18 billion ($11.3 million) by the same date, after only three days in the theaters. By July 11, the pic had recorded Yen3.2 billion ($30.8 million) on 2.65 million admissions and is forecast to beat last year's hit-TV-series-turned-hit-pic, 'Hero," which finished with a chart-topping Yen 8.15 billion ($78.4 million).
With a similarly strong sked the second half, Toho looks likely to reach its B.O. target of Yen 60 billion ($577 million) for the year.
© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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