"Song vs Dance", a new talent format that aims to conquer the world

Japan's TV Asahi has partnered with Emmy Award-winning producers Craig Plestis and Clara Plestis from Smart Dog Media to co-produce an innovative talent competition, "Song vs Dance." This groundbreaking show combines two iconic forms of artistic performance: singing and dancing, setting a new benchmark in TV competitions. "We've been thinking about this idea for a long time, and we're just amazed no one's ever done it before," said Craig Plestis, Executive Producer of the show.

In "Song vs Dance," outstanding performers compete in thrilling head-to-head battles in a video game-inspired format, leaving only one winner. "We used a live studio audience, a crucial part of the format. It's not commonly used in Japan, but it gave the show fantastic energy. It's going to be the next hit TV show," added Clara Plestis, Executive Producer of the show.

Creator and producer Takaaki Kitano explained that they aimed to select Japanese singers and dancers who could perform in a global environment. "We tried to find the best talent available and selected different genres. For dancing, we included breakdancing and tap dancing. For singing, we featured opera singers and even beatboxers. We wanted a lot of variety from different backgrounds and brought them together," Kitano said.

Renowned Japanese comedian Takashi Yoshimura hosts the show and features two coaches and three judges, including comedian Naomi Watanabe, making comedy a key element of the program. "'Song vs Dance' is thrilling to watch. TV Asahi casts great people who are not only talented in their fields but also incredibly funny. That's the magic ingredient of the show, the comedy," Craig Plestis stated.

The show's comedy essence stems from Takaaki Kitano's extensive background and expertise in the genre. His passion for games and anime has also played a significant role in shaping the show's direction. "I draw much inspiration from games and anime when producing shows. I'm actually an active Pokémon card player, and that's where the idea for the 'player selection' process came from, where the coaches choose players by placing down a card. Additionally, the LED screen set up was inspired by the Japanese video game 'Super Smash Bros,' reflecting its fast-paced competitive nature of the show," Kitano said.

"The format is really simple, but it's essentially head-to-head song versus dance battles, inspired by boxing and fighting. 'Team Song' and 'Team Dance' are led by their respective coaches, who choose their performers for each battle, so you never know who will be competing against whom," described Clara Plestis. "The coach selects a player, places their card down, and the battle begins. After all the versus battles, the coaches choose the final two competitors to go head-to-head to determine, once and for all, what's better: song or dance?" she added.

GLOBAL APPEAL
"Song vs Dance" is a format that can be easily adapted in other territories. TV Asahi and Smart Dog Media have created a truly distinctive and unique set design to make the show stand out. "The set features huge prizefighter-style tunnels where contestants make their entrances. There's a mouth-shaped tunnel for singers and a pair of legs for dancers. Before each battle, the performers emerge from their tunnels and meet in the center to compete. It's a really unique set that can be replicated when sold internationally," Clara Plestis explained. She also emphasized that the show is one of the few TV titles where American and Japanese cultures blend seamlessly. "The Japanese elements are integral to the format, just as the American elements are. No matter where this show travels worldwide, it will always maintain those distinctly Japanese and American concepts," she concluded.