If you are an older Thai millennial (born in the early 1980s), chances are you've watched zany episodes of Takeshi's Castle where contestants braved crazy physical challenges and obstacles (and got smacked for our laughter in the process) to win prizes.
The iconic Japanese TV show, which originally ran from 1986-1990, is set to return for a grand comeback exclusively on Prime Video Thailand in early November.
The reboot of Takeshi’s Castle already launched in Japan on April 21 but it will have a special humorous, localised Thai version exclusively for Prime Video members in Thailand in early November. The new eight-episode reimagined reboot will undergo a “creative-dubbing” makeover, meaning that, in lieu of a straightforward translation, the entire script will be creatively refurbished into Thai, adding elements that are locally nuanced to ensure that it resonates deeply with Thais. Similar to how it was first aired in Thailand and how Thais fell for the crazy show in the first place.
A select group of well-known Thai comedians and talent — to be announced at a later date — will lend their voices in Thai and inject their own comedic twist to the Japanese game show.
“We are thrilled to bring the reboot of the iconic game show Takeshi’s Castle to Prime Video, which fascinated audiences in Thailand and many other countries in the 90s, transcending languages and culture barriers,” said James Farrell, head of International Originals at Prime Video. “Takeshi’s Castle made millions laugh, and we can’t wait for our audiences worldwide to relive this new and reimagined comedic gem on Prime Video."
“Takeshi’s Castle marked a whole generation in Thailand. We are delighted to have some of the funniest and most iconic talents in Thai entertainment alongside each other to bring this reboot to life. Their participation on this show will help capture the imagination of a new generation of viewers, and delight original fans of the show,” said Erika North, head of Originals at Prime Video, Asia-Pacific.
Takeshi’s Castle originally aired in Thailand on Channel 5 twice between 1988-1993 as Hod Mun Ha (Brutal, Fun, Hilarious), becoming a phenomenon with millions watching the series weekly, and a huge hit, particularly amongst children and young adults who today still hold a special place in their heart for the show. A Thai version of the show was also created and ran from 2014-2016.
To inaugurate the title's relaunch — its comeback for the first time in 34 years — Prime Video Japan, hosted a world premiere of Takeshi’s Castle at Ebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, with the main cast of the show making a special appearance on stage. Bringing the experience to life, a simulated on-ground activation of the iconic “Dragon God’s Pond” was set up to emulate the real-life gameshow.
Prime Video is available in Thailand for B149 per month. Visit primevideo.com to subscribe for a free 7-day trial.
