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11/7/25
"BEAST EATS ANGEL" now available
UPSIDE DOWN's mid-length theatrical production, "BEAST EATS ANGEL," begins streaming today. It's the sixth installment in the "FREAK SCREEN SHOW" project, which adapts plays into film, and will be UPSIDE DOWN's final production of 2025.
In 1945, a young girl meets a guard known as "The Angel" at a detention camp. This poignant story is inspired by historical fact. The cast includes FUMINA TATEYAMA, MISAKI KASHIWARA, KAREN, HARUKA SAKURANO, and ERI TOIRO. Subtitles are available in Japanese or English. In addition to the 47-minute main feature, there is also a 28-minute behind-the-scenes video. Please be sure to watch it after viewing the film.
▼ Comment from TOBY WASNOBODY
First of all, I'm truly happy that we've finally been able to bring this production to life. This is a project we've been thinking about since the early days of UPSIDE DOWN's formation, but we've never had the opportunity. We decided to produce it this year, marking eight decades of the end of the war. Thanks to the cooperation of so many people and the hard work of the entire cast, which was almost mentally exhausting, we are finally able to release it to the world today. This is an important work to me personally, and I hope that many people will see it. I pray that our wishes will come true 80 years from now. Please take a look.
This is the last new work announced for the year, but our 2025 is far from over. Don't miss the next update.
10/31/25
"DROP-DEAD" now available
UPSIDE DOWN's mid-length theatrical work “DROP-DEAD” begins streaming today. This marks the fifth installment in the “FREAK SCREEN SHOW” project, which adapts theatrical works into video, and is the latest entry in the vulgar pseudo-rom-com series RED-FIRE.
Set at RED-FIRE PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL in a Japan-esque country, this high-tempo, high-energy, whirlwind pseudo-rom-com revolves around three people who fall for the Discipline Committee President. Starring HARUKA SAKURANO, H!ROMU, MARU ARIA, REN SASAKI, and KANA ISHIKAWA. Japanese subtitles are available (English subtitles will be available in next month).
In addition to the 46-minute main feature, there's a 3-minute blooper reels. Be sure to watch it after the main feature.
▼ Comment by TOBY WASNOBODY
It's been eight years since we staged “PLAN-B.” That was the root of all evil, the very thing that made some fans think “UPSIDE DOWN always playing high-tempo.” Of course, I can't deny that I myself got hooked on this genre...
While the stories of RED-FIRE originally started with the tagline “No need any sentimental elements,” this time feels like the series' first emotional development and conclusion. Have I mellowed out? Since these are fundamentally awful characters with awful plots, I want them to lead awful lives, but this time, especially for the three main characters, I couldn't do that. I just want these guys to keep fooling around together happily forever.
And two characters made comebacks from the previous two works. HANA ISHIKAWA, who's becoming a regular actress for us, played MASUYO KAWAISUGI again, who appeared in “GAME-OVER.” And the other character is... well, that's a surprise for those who watch the main story. It felt like I managed to stir up the already chaotic main story even more, and that was kind of fun.
Now, the RED-FIRE series—we intend to wrap it up with this installment... but I'll probably make a new one when everyone's forgotten about it. For us, where dark and heavy-hearted works make up the majority, this genre is quite precious. Maybe the next one will delve deeper into REN MITSUME (played by REN SASAKI), or perhaps it'll be about entirely new characters from a different generation. Either way, until that day comes again. Glory to RED-FIRE!
(P.S.) While there are plenty of bloopers, this absolutely does not mean the cast slacked off on remembering their lines. In fact, everyone worked incredibly hard. They received the final script—a massive 20 pages—just one week before filming, with only one rehearsal left. Well, that's what happened. Please understand. These people are capable of much more normally.
Starting next week on Friday, November 7th, the mid-length theatrical work “BEAST EATS ANGEL” will begin streaming. Don't miss it.
10/24/25
"SCRABBLE" now available
UPSIDE DOWN's short play "SCRABBLE" begins streaming today. This is the fourth installment in the "FREAK SCREEN SHOW" project, which adapts plays into film, and is a remake of "ITO" one of the plays in UPSIDE DOWN's omnibus performances from 2016.
A dialogue-driven drama about a teacher and a student, this approximately 19-minute human drama incorporates a narrative trick. Starring YUKI SENOUE, KAREN, EGAKU KAWAMURA, and H!ROMU, the play is available with Japanese subtitles (English subtitles will be added next month).
In addition to the main feature, the cast reunites in the bonus feature "Scrabble Party." They play Scrabble and look back on the rehearsals and filming. There's laughter, no tears, but a little touching feeling. Be sure to watch it after watching the main feature.
▼ Comment by TOBY WASNOBODY
As a student, I originally wanted to be a film director, so I began studying theater. What was inspiring to me was the tricks that only abstract theater could pull off. I was thrilled to discover that, "Oh, so in theater, not film, we can create these kinds of gimmicks!" I immediately incorporated these gimmicks into my debut work. Even back then, I've been a wicked playwright who loved nothing more than to surprise audiences.
Since forming UPSIDE DOWN, I've occasionally used these tricks in works like "STELLAR," "HAPPY PRINCE," and "CHORD," but "ITO," the prototype for "SCRABBLE," was a particularly straightforward expression of them. We revived it for our 5th anniversary, and this time we slightly spiced it up, changing the title and significantly upgrading the content. The only elements that remain the same from the original are the male protagonist's occupation, the female protagonist's name, and the relationship between the two characters, revealed in the second half. We used Scrabble, a game I used to play as a child, and the names of acquaintances and teachers throughout the play, making it quite a personal story. But at the same time, I feel we were able to deepen the humanity of each character. With a fresh, new-generation cast and beautiful visuals, this production has been reborn even more captivating than ever, so please enjoy it all the way to the end.
Next week, the medium-length play "DROP-DEAD" will be streaming on Friday, October 31st, followed by "BEAST EATS ANGEL" the week after that on Friday, November 7th. Don't miss either one.
8/10/25
Leading cast of "MACHARIDGE" announced
UPSIDE DOWN is producing a new original drama series, "MACHARIDGE" in the second half of 2025. Following auditions held this spring, HARUKA SAKURANO and YUKI SENOUE have been selected to play the lead roles.
Similar to UPSIDE DOWN's previous original drama series, "MASQUE" and "JUVENiLE," this is a buddy story featuring the exploits of two protagonists. All we can reveal about the series at this time is that it is an all-new sci-fi series with a grand theme. It is also part of a shared universe project, like the previously produced "TWENTY FACE SAGA," and will be the first in a series to depict an entirely new worldview.
SAKURANO and SENOUE, both active at the forefront of Fukuoka's theater world, will be acting together for the first time in this series. They will each play the strong characters of the protagonist, "SHIGURE," and his partner, "TAMA." They are among the first to learn the full storyline of the series and how it will unfold in the future, and both said they're really looking forward to it. We, too, are looking forward to seeing the chemistry between these two.
New information will be revealed little by little in the future, including the main cast surrounding the pair, the guest stars appearing in each episode, and the theme song that will be used for the series. Please look forward to further updates.
8/10/25
3 works of "FREAK SCREEN SHOW" now available
The three works that spearhead our new theaterical filmed project, "FREAK SCREEN SHOW" will begin streaming today.
"JB" is a remake of the first script our director, Toby, wrote when he was a student. It's a comedy that combines show business with dark fantasy, set in a fictional 1990s US state. This work, which marks the beginning of UPSIDE DOWN, is lively and colorfully performed by MISAKI KASHIWARA, who is returning from "SAKURA & HAJIME," first-time performers REN SASAKI, YUTO YOSHINAGA, KURUMI ISHIZAKI, and as known as our ally, IKKUN.
"CHOCO and VANILLA" is a short work that has been performed twice before by UPSIDE DOWN. This time, we filmed the version that was performed in 2024 at CAT-RABBIT organized by AYU AKIYOSHI. AKIYOSHI, who is deeply fond of this work, will be directing and starring in it herself, with KANA ARAKI playing her partner.
"HAPPY PRINCE" is a new interpretation of OSCAR WILDE's fairy tale, presented from our perspective. This one-man play, originally performed in 2016, has been reprised this time with our close friend HANA ISHIKAWA taking on the lead role. Thanks to ISHIKAWA, the finished product lived up to the quality we were aiming for, and we have created another masterpiece that we can be proud of.
Although each piece was created as an independent piece, some keywords, such as "magic" and "prince," and the storyline are similar, resulting in three pieces that unintentionally seem to be spiritually connected. We hope you enjoy them. And if you would like, we would appreciate it if you would also leave a review, as it would be a great encouragement to the performers and the group.
8/10/25
All works & latest works permanently free
To everyone who always supports UPSIDE DOWN's activities: We are pleased to announce the launch of “Complete Free Streaming of All UPSIDE DOWN Works” starting today. This means all our works, including three new releases, will suddenly become permanently free to watch. We've decided to return to the days of about ten years ago, when we had just formed UPSIDE DOWN and frequently organized events like low-cost admission tickets and free performances.
While it's an unavoidable reality that prices, not just tickets, have been rising lately, we want at least the works we create to remain accessible. Rather than prioritizing the group's income, we want more people to enjoy them, and hopefully, for them to become a gateway to a new world for those individuals.
Of course, future live theater performances, screening events, and various merchandise will be paid. However, fundamentally, the works themselves will be available for anyone to watch anytime they like. As we enter our 11th year of activity, we sincerely appreciate your continued support.
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