Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, announced today the company will unveil four new formats at this year’s MIPCOM. The program lineup includes two new unscripted formats, Man or Mannequin? (60-120 min. eps.) and Unstoppable (60-120 min. eps.), as well as two new scripted formats Secret Makeover (60 min. eps.) and Going Home (60 min. eps.).
Tom Miyauchi, Head of Formats, Nippon TV: “'Man or Mannequin?' and 'Unstoppable 'are both ambitious game shows that test the limits and imaginations of contestants through universally appealing formats,. At Nippon TV, we pride ourselves in creating compelling game shows with a unique twist that are entertaining for global audiences. 'Man or Mannequin?' is a game show format with a strong visual identity, a guessing game scaled to a new height and staged all around the city. 'Unstoppable' is a conceptual game show in which the challengers never stop and always try to keep winning through a succession of simply irresistible games. We are delighted to be offering these new unscripted formats that are sure to captivate viewers with its fun and innovative concepts," commented.
Sayako Aoki, Head of Scripted, Nippon TV addressed the scripted formats:“'Secret Makeover' and 'Going Home' are scripted formats with stories about female protagonists who gather courage to change the irrational world and face unsolved mysteries as well as personal burdens from the past. As we have seen with our mega hit formats Mother and Rebooting, there is an appetite for scripted formats with strong women at the helm of the story. It is our goal that our new formats will also resonate with audiences around the world while keeping them engaged with a fast-paced story packed with unexpected plot twists," he noted. Next, let’s briefly review each of the titles.
"Man or Mannequin?" is a high-stakes, team-based game show where celebrity contestants race against time to find mannequins cleverly hidden throughout the city. Imagine peeking into a baby's stroller in the shopping arcade, only to find a mannequin baby, or realize that the woman in a couple cuddled up on a park bench is actually a mannequin. Each mannequin found brings the team closer to victory, but there is a twist. 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 to determine what is real or fake.
Meanwhile "Unstoppable" is an new studio game show where challengers relentlessly push themselves to break their limits, with a cash prize waiting for those who succeed. The challenges vary from physical tasks in the obstacle course, a test of manual dexterity, to even a tolerance challenge for spicy food. Audiences will witness the series of visually engaging and addictive missions, which makes the contestants simply unstoppable until the victory. With around 10 challengers competing across 3 missions, the most "unstoppable challenger" in each mission becomes the winner. As the difficulty increases, the cash prize rises—but one misstep can bring it all to an end.
Additionally, "Secret Makeover" is a series that blends style, mystery, and suspense into an unforgettable success story. This series follows a top coordinator who will style her clients from head to toe, turning their lives around, while working to help cover up their flaws and scandals. Her latest mission is her most challenging yet: transforming a single mother who has faced countless misfortunes. Teaming up, they take on a huge real estate developer whose CEO recently died under mysterious circumstances. The single mother, once the CEO’s caregiver, finds herself the unexpected heir to the company’s shares to much dismay of the CEO’s family. While the fashion stylist pulls strings to turn this single mother into a fabulous successor, her own secret starts to interfere. This series is a fascinating success story filled with mystery and suspense.
Finally, Inspired by an existing police unit in Tokyo, "Going Home" follows a unit of the Metropolitan Police Department that is tasked with identifying nameless bodies and returning them to their families and partners. Among the investigators are two female buddy cops who scramble to unveil the truths behind the deaths. Sakura, who volunteered to be assigned to this not-so-popular unit, teams up with Makoto, her serious and earnest classmate from the academy. Despite the 10-year age difference and completely opposite personalities and interests, they share the same motivation to return as many unidentified persons as possible. Each carrying personal burdens from the past, their struggles take an unexpected turn in this procedural series, forcing them to finally face the unsolved mysteries involving themselves.
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