LilyMu

"LilyMu" is the show within a show on the television series "Kappa Mikey".

Overview

Since Kappa Mikey's concept is to be a parody of anime, "LilyMu" represents the stereotypical, action-adventure animated programming in this cartoon version of Japan, akin to DragonBall Z, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. "LilyMu" also seems to be based on the classic Japanese Rubber Suit shows such as Super Sentai (the show is adapted into Power Rangers for America), Kamen Rider (Masked Rider in the US), and Ultraman. Guano may be the true creator behind the show, since he appears to be more devoted to it than his boss, but this is never implied. Guano states in "Big Brozu" that the show is about "life and love", and that Gonard's character presents society.

At the beginning and end of every episode, there is under a minute of "LilyMu" footage, featuring the protagonists Kappa Mikey, Guano, Lily and Mistuki, battling the evil Gonard and saving Tokyo ["Kappa Mikey" episodes] . Only the climax of each "LilyMu" episode is shown. The characters' lives outside of fighting crime, as well as Gonard's motivations for destorying Tokyo, are never made clear. As in episodes of the original "Power Rangers", each "LilyMu" segment is varied on a particular theme, such as in “Free Squiddy”, which is centered on garbage (Gonard builds an army of "garbots", and they all shout out garbage-related lines, while battling in a dumpster). Many episode plots revolve around Gonard unveiling his newest Doomsday device, and Kappa Mikey using his wits, as well has his physical strength, to defeat him. On occasion, Gonard even succeeds in kidnapping one or more of the team members, and uses them as hostages or bait to lure in the rest of the team.

Once something goes wrong in the take, either Guano or Ozu yells cut, and the rest of the 22 minutes of "Kappa Mikey" is spent on what the characters are like off-camera. The same one-minute sequence is shot again at the end, and this time, it is successfully completed, ending both episodes at once. Recently, especially deep into Season Two, "Kappa Mikey" has stopped showing a "LilyMu" sequence at the end of an episode as an experiment with the format.

Curiously, while "Kappa Mikey" makes clear the separations of the worlds contained in LilyMu from the real world, many of the props on "LilyMu", such as the fighter jet and Guano's gem, are able to function in real life. [Several episodes show the devices and props working in real life, such as "Big Trouble In Little Tokyo", "With Fans Like These" and "Night of the Werepuff".]

Broadcast History

In "Big Brozu", Ozu states that "LilyMu" is his proudest creation in his profession, even though he's been in the television industry for six decades, and remembers being offered the advice of refraining from going into the restaurant business when starting the show [The episode "Mikey's Place"] .

In its beginnings, "LilyMu" was an unoriginal anime series with plummeting ratings. Guano proposed to Ozu that they hold a scratch card contest to find the new star of "LilyMu". When Mikey Simon, an American high school graduate and aspiring actor, found the winning card, he traveled to Tokyo to meet the show's cast. Since Mikey came on "LilyMu", it has once again become Japan's highest rated TV show. Lily, the original star, had her role turned into co-star status.

As of Mikey's involvement, "LilyMu" has been in production for at least six seasons. [Mitsuki states in "Mikey Impossible" that she was on the show for five years.] . The show still had a turbulent run on television and experienced countless problems, perhaps enhanced by the addition of Mikey. Ozu has threatened to cancel the show many times, but it always continued, regardless. The most dramatic Kappa Mikey episodes often revolve around situations where the "LilyMu" show is in serious jeopardy, and where it is out of Ozu's control. In "A Christmas Mikey", it was said to have been canceled if Mikey left for Ohio during Christmas Eve. During "The Karaoke Episode", Ozu closes the studio after they can't stop singing and no one wants to see a musical "LilyMu" show, but he quickly reopens it after they break the curse.

LilyMu Credits

* Executive Producer: Ozu
* Writer and Director: Guano, Ken Katsumoto (former)
* Stars: Mikey Simon, Lily, Mitsuki, Gonard, and Guano
* Cinematography: Yoshi and crew
* Studio Maintenance: Phantom of the Soundstage (former), Janitor
* Filmed at LilyMu Studios in Tokyo, Japan

LilyMu Guest Stars

*Reggie the baby bird ("Like Ozu, Like Son")
*Claude Von Fabio ("Camp!")
*The Masked Tanuki ("The Masked Tanuki")
*Pirate King, in the role of Gonard ("Go Nard Hunting")
*Kello the Kitten ("LilyMeow")
*Jomar ("Mikey And The Pauper")
*Dadzuki, in the role of Mitsuki ("Mitsuki Butterfly")

Link

* [http://www.lilymu.com/ Official site]

References