My Dream Drama

[rosdrise]

So everyone else has been doing the "Dream Drama" meme, I thought I would throw my hat into the mix. I'm not particularly inspired by any original plot at the moment. But, what I would love to eventually see is a drama based off of my favorite anime of all time: Fruits Basket



I know, given the transformations, that this is highly unlikely to ever happen. But I would totally be down for some crappy CG and bad puppets. I love Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi, and the deer in that is HILARIOUS to look at. Really, if it means I get a Furuba drama I'll take what I can get.

Given the length, a drama would probably take it's lead from the anime. But, I've read the first 10 volumes of the manga and know the summary of everything else. Plus, it's more fun to cast EVERYONE. I totally failed when it came to casting the younger kids... and some of the older ones. I just ran out of ideas and I know some of you guys would have some awesome thoughts on the subject.

I'm going with an all Japanese cast, since the manga is Japanese and the actor I wanted for Shigure (my favorite character) immediately sprang to mind and he was Japanese.

Without further ado, here is my live action Fruits Basket j-drama cast (aka - "that's a lot of good lookin' people" OR "DO YOU ONLY KNOW IDOL ACTORS, cranberrysheep?!").

First up: Tohru



My casting choice: Aragaki Yui



Gakki may not be the strongest actress out there, but she is adorable. Anyone who has seen My Boss My Hero can attest to that. Tohru is sweet and caring and I think Gakki would fill that role admirably. Plus, she looks EXACTLY like her.

Tohru's Friends...

Uo-chan



My casting choice: Ueno Juri



Juri's probably best known for her role as Nodame, the quirky pianist from Nodame Cantabile, so she may seem like an odd-choice for the yankee. But I don't know, I think she's a very talented actress with a great deal of inner strength. Plus, she was a motocross biker in Last Friends. I'm pretty sure she'd knock the socks off of this role.

Hanajima



My casting choice: Horikita Maki



I think Maki is as cute as a button, but I haven't loved in her a role since Nobuta. She has come across as kind of bland in any other role she's gotten (Kurosagi, Hana Kimi, and to a slightly lesser extent in Atashinchi no Danshi). Playing the denpa-wiedling, psychic girl could be really interesting.

Sohma Clan!

Yuki



My casting choice: Yamashita Tomohisa



I REALLY struggled when it came to casting Yuki, and I'm hardly sold on this choice so give me your thoughts. It's probably just my Pi-fangirl, but I actually think Yamapi could pull this off. Yuki is very stoic, and Yamapi is kind of a pod-person so this could totally work.

Kyo



My casting choice: Ikuta Toma



First, how hilarious would it be to have fellow Johnny's and bffs Toma and Yamapi sparring off at the drop of a hat? OMG. Second, Toma was brilliant as Nakatsu. He MADE Hana Kimi. He just needs to bring that same kind of energy to this role. Plus, he can do drama too (Maou, anyone?) so he'd be all over Kyo's angst.

Shigure



My casting choice: Kimura Takuya



This was the first role I cast, actually. Probably because I just finished MR BRAIN and A Million Stars Falling From the Sky which cast Kimura in two completely different roles, but both roles that feed directly into Shigure. Which is actually why he's my favorite Furuba character (followed closely by Kyo). He's so ridiculous and goofy, but has this really creepy scheming side.

Hatori



My casting choice: Fujiki Naohito



An emo doctor with a tragic love history? Yeah, I think he can do it no problem.

Kagura



My casting choice: Kitagawa Keiko



I'd never seen Keiko in anything before Buzzer Beat, but she's quite possibly my favorite thing about that drama (even BEFORE the fanservice, you guys). She's got the spunk to be Kagura but has the talent to keep her from just being plain annoying, which would be really REALLY easy. I think her and Toma would be adorable in the interactions.

Hatsuharu



My casting choice: Eita



Eita has played serious and ridiculous (in the same dramas as Ueno Juri, as it happens). I think he could flip the switch between the two as needed when it comes to playing Haru. Plus, he tends to have crazy hair in all of his roles so it only makes sense.

Rin



My casting choice: Shibasaki Kou



I know, Rin never made an appearance in the anime, but I always wish she had. There's an interesting dynamic between her and both Haru and Shigure. I think Shibasaki Kou (just based off of what I saw in A Million Stars) would be perfect as this strong, willful, and very broken young woman.

Kazuma



My casting choice: Tomoya Nagase



Kazuma isn't a member of the zodiac, but he is Kyo's karate master and foster father. Basically, I want Nagase in every drama and love the idea of him mentoring Toma. SO CUTE.

EVERYONE ELSE

I racked my brain trying to think of people for the remaining cast but couldn't come up with anything. Any thoughts on who would make a good Ayame? He's just... well, he's AYAME. Same with Ritsu, thoughts? Kureno never made it into the anime, so I'm not that concerned about casting him, plus his character is kind of blah so I didn't have any strong opinions.

I don't really know any younger actors so my mind is completely blank when it came to casting Kisa, Hiro, and Momiji (who is older, but doesn't look it at all).

Then there is Akito... who I'm completely lost on. How do you approach that? The anime never deals with... that certain issue so how do you handle casting?

INPUT PLEASE!

ETA: Just a quick note to say I updated my drama rankings. I think I want to tackle the rest of the episodes of Painter of the Wind next, but soon I'll need to pick out another older series to binge on. I'm still in the mood for Kimutaku, so it'll probably be Pride.

Comments

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

lol. It drives me bonkers when someone who's supposed to be blonde or American is obviously Japanese &/or has a horrific accent. (I can think of several roles in JHanakimi that were mutilated that way.)

Kamiki Ryunosuke could be one of the kids...?