JAPAN'S NIPPON TV AND UK'S ANYWAY CONTENT
ENTER SCRIPTED CO-DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

'How to be a Sensei' pairs acclaimed Japanese Director/Writer
with award-winning British Comedy Writer

Story follows a young British woman pursuing her dream of
making it as a top Manga Artist in Japan

Project to be launched at MIPCOM CANNES by Nippon TV

(L-R Itaru Mizuno, Zoë Tomalin, Sayako Aoki, James Baker)

TOKYO/LONDON, 8 October 2024 - Nippon TV, Japan's multi-platform entertainment powerhouse and London based media group Anyway Content today announced a co-development partnership to create an original scripted series for the global market.

Original comedy drama 'How to be a Sensei' twins Nippon TV's creative director/scriptwriter Itaru Mizuno, the multiple Asian Academy Creative Award-winning Director behind 2023's breakout hit Rebooting, with award-wining British comedy writer Zoë Tomalin (Have I Got News For You, Hypothetical). It will be taken out to the international market for the first time at the forthcoming MIPCOM CANNES later this month by Nippon TV.

Based on an original concept by Mizuno and set in Japan and the UK, the bi-lingual comedy drama centres on a young British woman following her dream of becoming a manga artist in Japan and to one day be called "Sensei". Her quest to succeed in the weird and wonderful world of manga will take her through iconic and more underground locations in Tokyo. The series of hour-long episodes is in advanced development following a writing room that was recently held in Tokyo.

Nippon TV's Head of Global Scripted, Sayako Aoki, is the Business Producer for How to be a Sensei with Chairman, James Baker, Head of Development Kathryn Castles and Development Executive Cassie Smyth driving the project for Anyway Content. Sayako will be in MIPCOM to discuss the project with prospective financiers, commissioners, and production partners.

The Japanese word "sensei" means "teacher," but it is also commonly used to address authors, manga artists, anime creators, doctors, lawyers and politicians. as a sign of respect. While it is a Japanese term, many global Japanophiles have adopted using the word "sensei" to honour individuals they admire for their expertise or innovation.

Nippon TV has seen several scripted format successes of late, from its hit scripted series roll-out of 'Mother' and 'Woman - My Life for My Children', to co-developed series 'CONNECTED' with UK's Envision Entertainment, currently optioned by Tomorrow Studios for a US version, and 'Issak', another co-developed series with ZDF Studios and Studio Zentral that was the finalist for Series Mania Forum's Co-Pro Pitch in March 2024.

Alongside founders Sam Parker (Metro International), acclaimed film director Oliver Parker and James Baker (Red Arrow Studios, Sky), the collective Anyway Content team has a highly accomplished track record creating high-end scripted TV, film production, financing and distribution. Set up to partner with established and emerging talent, and best-in-class producers internationally, to bring exceptional stories to screen, 'How to be a Sensei' is part of an Anyway development slate that sees the re-visioning of world-renowned IP alongside original innovative concepts from renowned and next generation writers. Details of further projects are set to be announced soon.

Creative director and scriptwriter Itaru Mizuno has been working for the production division of Nippon TV since 2012. His recent work includes the Japanese TV series 'Rebooting' (2023), which was a number 1 hit in Japan during the first half of 2023 drawing more than 15 million viewers on broadcast, and over 35 million+ viewers on streaming services and winning multiple awards; 'Double Booking' (2020) was nominated for C21's International Drama Awards, and internationally co-produced follow up 'CONNECTED' (2022) has been optioned for adaption in the U.S. market by Tomorrow Studios. Itaru's current project also includes 'Issak', another co-developed series with ZDF Studios and Studio Zentral, which was the finalist for Series Mania Forum's Co-Pro Pitch in March 2024.

Zoë Tomalin is an award-winning British comedy writer. A prolific joke-writer for UK variety shows, Zoë is also part of the writing team for the BBC's flagship satirical programme, 'Have I Got News For You'. Her other credits include producing and script-editing UKTV's 'Hypothetical', co-creating Channel 4's 'Late Night Forever' and writing for '8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown'. In 2021, Zoë won the prestigious David Nobbs Memorial Trust New Comedy Writing Award and was runner-up in the Funny Women Writing Award sponsored by Sky Studios. She has recently written three episodes of animated adventure comedy 'Badjelly', starring Miriam Margolyes and Rhys Darby which will air in New Zealand, Australia and Canada and is set to deliver in 2025.

Itaru Mizuno, Creative Director, Nippon TV, said:

"How to be a Sensei is a sisterhood comedy-drama about two young girls, one from the UK and one from Japan, who pursue their dream of becoming manga artists. Along the way, they clash hard but also inspire each other to grow, ultimately forming a strong and lasting friendship. I've always been fascinated by the question: "How can people from different cultures and backgrounds respect and learn from one another?" This project captures that very essence. The cultural contrast between Japan and the UK provides a rich foundation for comedy, while the universal theme of young people chasing their dreams is something that resonates globally."'

"Meeting the team at Anyway Content and working alongside my incredible partner, Zoë, has been a stroke of inspiration. I've been moved by their creativity as well as sense of humor, and mutual respect deepened as the writers' room in Tokyo proceeded successfully. I'm confident that How to be a Sensei will turn into something very special."

James Baker, Chair, Anyway Content, said:

"Recent successes have proven there is an appetite globally for storytelling that explores universal themes through different cultures. The partnership with Nippon TV is driven by the sole aim of enabling this funny, emotional and romantic tale to be told authentically through the brilliant creative minds and different perspectives involved."

ABOUT NIPPON TV
Nippon TV is Japan's leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster, as well as owner of streaming giant Hulu in Japan. Over 90% of its content IP is fully owned by Nippon TV and the company has been active in bringing its content to the international market in the form of anime, ready-made programs, formats, and through co-production partnerships.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-tv

ABOUT ANYWAY CONTENT
Anyway Content is a global independently-backed content group committed to bringing exceptional stories to screen. Drawing on an unrivalled film and television expertise, the London-based creative team originate and collaborate on ideas, partnering with established and emerging talent and best in class producers internationally.
https://anywaycontent.com/