Why So Blu?

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City (Blu-ray Review)

Show Aikawa is back as the superhero like no other in maverick director Takashi Miike (Audition, One Missed Call) and screenwriter Kankuro Kudo’s (Go, Ping Pong) subversive and darkly satirical sequel to their 2004 homage to the golden era of Japan’s tokusatsu TV shows. It’s 2025, and our hero Shinichi finds himself waking up minus memory, zebra stripes and zebra powers in an authoritarian dystopian future. Tokyo has been taken over by a sinister ultra right-wing governor named Kozo, who has reconstructed and rechristened the capital as Zebra City and mandated a twice-daily five-minute purge called Zebra Time in which all crime is legal and his Zebra Police readily pitch themselves into the resulting free-for-all. It’s a society dominated by screens, and the screens dominated by a sultry pop diva named Zebra Queen, who just happens to be Kozo’s daughter. Can Shinichi regain his Zebraman powers to thwart the Kozo and the Zebra Queen’s plans to export their dark vision across the world? Zebraman 2 is released on Blu-ray in the UK May 19, 2025! 

Film

If you thought Zebraman was weird, buckle up. Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City takes the original’s offbeat superhero energy, dumps it in a vat of glitter and dystopia, and dials everything up to full-blown madness. This sequel is louder, sleeker, more chaotic, and way more obsessed with black-and-white leather than anyone probably asked for.

Set 15 years after the first film, this one kicks off in the year 2025, where society is run by Zebra Time — a bizarre law enforcement system that allows for 5 minutes of legalized mayhem each day. It’s like The Purge, but way hornier. Our mild-mannered hero, Shinichi Ichikawa, wakes up with amnesia and once again finds himself tangled in a battle between good and evil. Only now, there’s a pop idol-turned-dictator named Zebra Queen who rules the city with fishnets, electro-pop, and straight-up fascist energy.

Sho Aikawa returns as Zebraman, and while he gets a little less screen time early on, he still anchors the film with his strange blend of earnestness and deadpan comedy. Riisa Naka as Zebra Queen is pure chaos — part J-pop star, part dominatrix, part Bond villain. She steals scenes with her high-camp musical numbers and sheer commitment to whatever this movie is doing, which is often unclear and consistently nuts.

Director Takashi Miike shifts gears hard from the original. Where Zebraman was goofy and heartfelt, this one is glossy and surreal. The satire is thicker, the costumes are wilder, and the tone bounces between superhero parody, sci-fi dystopia, and techno-musical fever dream. It doesn’t always land cleanly, but that’s part of the appeal. You’re not watching this to make sense of it. You’re watching it to see Zebra Queen scream-sing on a giant stage while Zebraman punches glowing alien goo. Ahem.

The pacing can drag a bit in the middle, and not every thread pays off, but the style keeps it afloat. There’s something kind of admirable about a film that throws this many wild ideas at the screen without flinching. It’s messy, sure, but also kind of fearless.

 

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Region:  *B

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail: The Blu-ray offers a sharp and clean image, with fine details evident in costumes, facial features, and set designs. The high-definition transfer brings out the intricacies of the film’s unique visual style.​

Depth: There’s a noticeable sense of depth throughout the film, especially in scenes with layered compositions. The image maintains a three-dimensional quality that enhances the viewing experience.​

Black Levels: Black levels are deep and consistent, providing strong contrast without significant crushing. Shadow details are preserved, contributing to the overall visual fidelity.​

Color: The color palette is vibrant, with bold hues that complement the film’s stylized aesthetic. Colors are well-saturated without appearing oversaturated, maintaining a balanced and engaging look.​ It’s definitely more “colorful” than the first film.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones appear natural and consistent, with accurate rendering across various lighting conditions. There’s no noticeable color shifting or unnatural hues.​

Noise and Artifacts: The transfer is clean, with minimal noise and no significant artifacts. A fine layer of grain is present, preserving the filmic quality without detracting from the image clarity.​

Audio

Audio Format(s): Japanese Stereo LPCM 2.0, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: The audio tracks deliver a dynamic range that captures both the subtle nuances and the explosive action sequences. The sound design effectively supports the film’s dramatic and comedic elements.​

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: The low-end frequencies are robust, adding weight to action scenes and musical numbers. Bass response is tight and impactful without overwhelming the mix.​

Surround Sound: The surround channels are utilized effectively, creating an enveloping soundstage. Ambient sounds and directional effects are well-placed, contributing to the film’s immersive quality.​ I preferred the 5.1 soundtrack.

Dialogue: Dialogue is clear and well-balanced, remaining intelligible amidst the film’s dynamic audio elements. The mix ensures that speech is neither overshadowed by effects nor music. For those that prefer dubs, an English language dub is NOT included on this Blu-ray.

Extras

The 88 Films Blu-ray of Zebraman 2 comes packed with a surprisingly robust set of extras for a film this wild. There’s a nice mix of thoughtful commentary, behind-the-scenes material, and interviews that give you a solid look at how this fever dream of a sequel came to life. You get insight from the cast and crew, including director Takashi Miike and lead actor Show Aikawa, and there’s even a “making of” doc that digs into the production’s stylish chaos. The disc also includes trailers, TV spots, and a stills gallery, plus it’s housed in a slick limited edition case (with a slipcover for the first 2500 units) with newly commissioned artwork and a collectible booklet. It’s the kind of bonus-packed release that feels like it was made for cult film collectors who appreciate when a studio goes the extra mile.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary By Joe Hickinbottom
• Brand New Filmed Introduction By Tom Mes
• Zebraman 2: Attack On Zebra City “Making Of” Documentary
• Interview With Director Takashi Miike
• Interview With Riki Abe
• Interview With Show Aikawa
• Interview With Masahiro Inoue
• Interview With Riisa Naka
• Original Theatrical Trailers And Tv Spots
• Stills Gallery
• Original And Newly Commissioned Artwork By Lucas Peverill
• Includes Limited Edition Numbered Obi Slip [2500]
• Includes Booklet With Notes By Jonathan Wroot

Summary

Zebraman 2 isn’t trying to be neat or subtle. It’s a loud, unhinged spectacle that fully embraces its own absurdity. If you’re into Miike’s brand of genre-bending weirdness, this is definitely one of his flashier roller coasters. Just don’t go in expecting logic — go in expecting leather, lasers, and a whole lot of zebra stripes. The Zebraman 2 Blu-ray delivers a quality video and audio presentation. The special features round out the package. *Please keep in mind that this is a Region B release and you will need a “region-free” player if you’re stateside or outside of the Region B zone.

 

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City is released on Blu-ray in the UK May 19, 2025!

 

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