“Man or Mannequin?"
"Man or Mannequin?", the competitive gameshow format produced by Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse Nippon TV, has been optioned for adaptation in the Italian market by Italian production company Casta Diva. The announcement was made by Sayako Aoki, Head of International Sales at Nippon TV, and Massimo Righini and Fabio Nesi, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer, respectively, at Casta Diva Pictures.
The format which launched globally at MIPCOM 2024, is a high-stakes, team-based game show where celebrity contestants race against time to find mannequins cleverly hidden throughout the city. Contestants might find a mannequin baby in a stroller at a shopping arcade or realize that a woman sitting cozily with a partner on a park bench is actually a mannequin. Each mannequin found brings the team closer to victory, but hidden among them are fake mannequins and humans pretending to be mannequins trying to fool the contestants. As the game progresses, expanding into new locations with even more cunning and witty disguises, the challenge intensifies. Former teammates might become rivals, using their knowledge of each other's strategies to outwit and outplay as they try determining what is real or fake.
Sayako Aoki, Head of International Sales at Nippon TV highlighted the international reception of the format: "Since the launch of "Man or Mannequin?" last October, we have been receiving positive feedback towards this format from around the world for its light-hearted, hilarious content which can provide viewers with a little break from their busy everyday life. We are excited to work with Casta Diva Pictures towards its first international version and looking forward to seeing what their creativity brings to this format," noted.
Finally, Massimo Righini, Chief Operating Officer at Casta Diva Pictures stated that from the very beginning, they trusted in the potential of the format.: "Being able to option this format while other global companies had also been showing interest is a great honor. We immediately understood that 'Man or Mannequin?" has a very high entertainment potential that comes from a simple but brilliant idea that only the Nippon TV team could create. We can't wait to propose it to an Italian broadcaster. We are sure that an idea like this has never been proposed," expressed.