BEM (TV Series 2019)

About BEM

BEM is a 2019 Japanese anime television series. It is a reboot of the 1968 series, Humanoid Monster Bem. The story revolves around three youkai (mythical creatures) - Bem, Bela, and Belo who fight for justice while striving to be human. Despite their good intentions, they often face prejudice and hatred from humans, complicating their goal of coexisting peacefully with them.

Making / Production

The development and airing of the reboot were timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original series. Produced by Production I.G and LandQ studios, BEM was directed by Yoshinori Odaka and featured character designs by Range Murata. The script writing was handled by Atsuhiro Tomioka.

Actors

• Katsuyuki Konishi (Bem): Konishi plays Bem, the leader of the trio who typically takes on the form of an adult man. Konishi brings a deep, authoritative tone to Bem, capturing the character's strong sense of justice.
• M・A・O (Bela): A grouchy, book-smart youkai who transforms into a young woman. M・A・O gives Bela a confident and slightly aloof voice, adding layers to her character.
• Kensho Ono (Belo): A video game-loving youkai who assumes the form of a young boy. Ono breathes life into Belo’s character through his youthful and playful vocal performance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The original BEM series from 1968 was considered unique for its darker, more serious tone compared to other anime shows of its time.
• Despite the show's 50-year history, the 2019 series is only the third iteration, following the original and a remake in 2006.
• Each episode of the series is named after a song title from the 1960s, as a nod to the series' origins.

Quotes

• “We must become humans, no matter what.” - Bem
• “Can't handle the real world, huh?” - Bela
• “I only want to live in peace.” - Belo

Music, Soundtrack

• The series' opening theme song, "Uchuu no Kioku," was performed by Maaya Sakamoto, a prolific artist and voice actress.
• The ending theme, "Iruimi," is sung by JUNNA, a rising singer in the anime industry.