Information
Director: Koichi Ohata
Story: Daisuke Okamoto
Executive Supervisor: Noboru Sugimura, Keiji Inafune
Director: Koichi Ohata
Story: Daisuke Okamoto
Executive Supervisor: Noboru Sugimura, Keiji Inafune
BIOHAZARD 4D-EXECUTER is a computer-animated 3D horror film created by CAPCOM in cooperation with Visual Science Laboratory, supervised by FLAGSHIP and distributed by Digital Amuse. It has had a limited release in Japan as an attraction located in various Japanese amusement parks, such as the Toshimaen amusement park in Tokyo, Japan. It is a side-story ("gaiden"). Approximately 20 minutes long, the film is set in Raccoon City, and the story follows a unit of 5 U.B.C.S. members sent in search of a female researcher named Dr. Cameron, who has been developing a new virus.
Plot
During the biohazard in Raccoon City, a small 5-man team of the U.B.C.S. (Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service) is sent by the Umbrella Corporation to find a female researcher, Dr. Cameron. Using a tracking device linked to her ID card, the team arrives at a municipal warehouse where encounter find a grotesque humanoid monster, which kills Robert. The monster is quickly blown to pieces by Ed, at which point Cameron's signal begins to move. Meanwhile, a cockroach feeds on the monster's remains and becomes infected with the virus it was carrying, evidently "transferring" and continuing its life. During an argument between Claus and Roger, the cockroach infects a rat and as the team drives away, a crow.
In the city, the tracking device reveals Cameron's location to be in the sewers. Claus orders Ed to secure the manhole, while Claus, Norman and Roger enter the sewers. The team destroy a wall to reveal an entrance where they find Cameron's equipment and are attacked by her pet dog, which is killed by Claus. They find that her ID card was attached to the dog's collar, and Cameron herself is nowhere to be found. Roger begins going through Cameron's laptop, and reveals that their mission is a success if they can retrieve the data of a genetic regeneration program accomplished by Cameron. He explains that Cameron was developing a new type of virus which she was accidentally exposed to during its development and eventually transformed into the monster that the team had blown to pieces earlier.
Angered by being treated like fools, Caus throws Roger on top of the dog's corpse, its blood getting in his mouth. Gunfire and screams from Ed are heard above ground, and Claus and Norman run to investigate. Upon climbing the manhole, Norman is killed after being ripped in half. A new monster, formerly Ed, climbs down and begins to chase Claus through the sewers. Escaping through another sewer grate, Claus is surrounded by zombies and begins to kill them, only to be confronted by the monster again. It injures his leg, at which point it is run over by Roger in the team's hummer. Using the mounted machine gun, Claus shoots the monster as they drive away.
While driving in the outskirts of the city, Roger explains that Ed's infection was the result of a second stage infection carried by the crow which attacked him. He also explains the nature of Cameron's virus; it fuses with the genes of one creature after another and regenerates the infected person's body using the new host. Claus is then impaled by tentacles, as Roger begins to metamorphose into Cameron. She explains that she kept observing the team despite being blown up in the warehouse, as her dog was also infected with the virus containing her genetics, allowing her to take control over its body and transmit the virus to Roger after he accidentally ingested the dog's blood. She states that she will continue her research to return herself to a human form, and then states that she will not hand her data to Umbrella. She then rips Claus' face apart with her tentacles.
In the city, the tracking device reveals Cameron's location to be in the sewers. Claus orders Ed to secure the manhole, while Claus, Norman and Roger enter the sewers. The team destroy a wall to reveal an entrance where they find Cameron's equipment and are attacked by her pet dog, which is killed by Claus. They find that her ID card was attached to the dog's collar, and Cameron herself is nowhere to be found. Roger begins going through Cameron's laptop, and reveals that their mission is a success if they can retrieve the data of a genetic regeneration program accomplished by Cameron. He explains that Cameron was developing a new type of virus which she was accidentally exposed to during its development and eventually transformed into the monster that the team had blown to pieces earlier.
Angered by being treated like fools, Caus throws Roger on top of the dog's corpse, its blood getting in his mouth. Gunfire and screams from Ed are heard above ground, and Claus and Norman run to investigate. Upon climbing the manhole, Norman is killed after being ripped in half. A new monster, formerly Ed, climbs down and begins to chase Claus through the sewers. Escaping through another sewer grate, Claus is surrounded by zombies and begins to kill them, only to be confronted by the monster again. It injures his leg, at which point it is run over by Roger in the team's hummer. Using the mounted machine gun, Claus shoots the monster as they drive away.
While driving in the outskirts of the city, Roger explains that Ed's infection was the result of a second stage infection carried by the crow which attacked him. He also explains the nature of Cameron's virus; it fuses with the genes of one creature after another and regenerates the infected person's body using the new host. Claus is then impaled by tentacles, as Roger begins to metamorphose into Cameron. She explains that she kept observing the team despite being blown up in the warehouse, as her dog was also infected with the virus containing her genetics, allowing her to take control over its body and transmit the virus to Roger after he accidentally ingested the dog's blood. She states that she will continue her research to return herself to a human form, and then states that she will not hand her data to Umbrella. She then rips Claus' face apart with her tentacles.
History
The concept for BIOHAZARD 4D-EXECUTER was originally conceived by anime director Yasuhiro Imagawa, who proposed a draft plan of the film to CAPCOM, with Keiji Inafune stating that he consented as Imagawa's draft plan seemed "interesting", and would help as much as possible to ensure the completion of the attraction. 1 It was originally named "BIOHAZARD 4D HORROR". The project was first announced to the public in late October 1999. 2 In the early stages of production, Imagawa was responsible for the planning and the screenplay, collaborating on the film with Shinji Higuchi, director of photography. The final script was written by Daisuke Okamoto under the supervision of FLAGSHIP, the screen-writing subsidiary of CAPCOM, as well as Keiji Inafune. 3 Inafune referred to the story as a "gaiden" (side-story) for fans of the series. 4
The film was director Koichi Ohata's first experience with computer-generated imagery (CGI), after his previous work on original video animations such as MD Geist, Cybernetics Guardian and Genocyber. 5 The CGI rendering was handled by Visual Science Laboratory, with the creature designs provided by 3D artist Gouta Nanami, who released concept art and renders from the film on his online portfolio. 6
Due to the strong graphic violence depicted, shorter versions of the 20-minute film were created, from which certain scenes were cut. There are 3 cuts of the film in total, a short version which runs for 10 minutes and 18 seconds, another short version which runs 13 minutes and 11 seconds and the full version which runs for 17 minutes and 30 seconds. In order to shorten the length, some of the story that isn't shown was explained by a series of black and white images with text on them for the 10 minute and 18 second cut. 7
The attraction was presented in 5.1 surround sound, and features music composed and orchestrated by Yoshihiro Ike. The film was produced with a budget of 150 million yen (approx. US$1.4 million in October 1999), and saw a first screening at the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival on October 27, 2000. In attendance for the film’s debut were a handful of CAPCOM representatives, including Yoshiki Okamoto. A widespread release in Japanese theme park theaters followed in November 2000.
The film was shown in movie theaters for a large audience, and in single booths for a small number of viewers. For a more immersive presentation of the attraction, distributor Digital Amuse designed special cylindrical seats named "gimmick chairs", which could shake viewers and blow air on their necks with built-in speakers and hydraulics. 8 The film was shown on a 220 in. screen within the specially designed theater. As opposed to using regular film, CAPCOM used a propriety DVD system to show the film. Adult tickets, which could be purchased upon entering the park, cost 1,200 yen ($10.00).
A detailed overview of the film can be found on The Horror Is Alive.
The film was director Koichi Ohata's first experience with computer-generated imagery (CGI), after his previous work on original video animations such as MD Geist, Cybernetics Guardian and Genocyber. 5 The CGI rendering was handled by Visual Science Laboratory, with the creature designs provided by 3D artist Gouta Nanami, who released concept art and renders from the film on his online portfolio. 6
Due to the strong graphic violence depicted, shorter versions of the 20-minute film were created, from which certain scenes were cut. There are 3 cuts of the film in total, a short version which runs for 10 minutes and 18 seconds, another short version which runs 13 minutes and 11 seconds and the full version which runs for 17 minutes and 30 seconds. In order to shorten the length, some of the story that isn't shown was explained by a series of black and white images with text on them for the 10 minute and 18 second cut. 7
The attraction was presented in 5.1 surround sound, and features music composed and orchestrated by Yoshihiro Ike. The film was produced with a budget of 150 million yen (approx. US$1.4 million in October 1999), and saw a first screening at the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival on October 27, 2000. In attendance for the film’s debut were a handful of CAPCOM representatives, including Yoshiki Okamoto. A widespread release in Japanese theme park theaters followed in November 2000.
The film was shown in movie theaters for a large audience, and in single booths for a small number of viewers. For a more immersive presentation of the attraction, distributor Digital Amuse designed special cylindrical seats named "gimmick chairs", which could shake viewers and blow air on their necks with built-in speakers and hydraulics. 8 The film was shown on a 220 in. screen within the specially designed theater. As opposed to using regular film, CAPCOM used a propriety DVD system to show the film. Adult tickets, which could be purchased upon entering the park, cost 1,200 yen ($10.00).
A detailed overview of the film can be found on The Horror Is Alive.
Footnotes
1. 新しいスリルと恐怖！『BIOHAZARD 4D HORROR』(仮称)
2. "デジタルアミューズ 人気ソフトの立体映像をカブコンと共同制作". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. October 27, 1999.
3. "バイオハザードの映像アトラクションがお披露目". October 19, 2000.
4. としまえんに新アトラクション『BIOHAZARD 4D-EXECUTER』がオープン
5. "東京国際ファンタスティック映画祭2000 上映リスト10/27"
6. GOUTA NANAMI Online Portfolio
7. 1, 2, 3, 4
8. "Biohazard 4D-Executer 作品紹介"
2. "デジタルアミューズ 人気ソフトの立体映像をカブコンと共同制作". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. October 27, 1999.
3. "バイオハザードの映像アトラクションがお披露目". October 19, 2000.
4. としまえんに新アトラクション『BIOHAZARD 4D-EXECUTER』がオープン
5. "東京国際ファンタスティック映画祭2000 上映リスト10/27"
6. GOUTA NANAMI Online Portfolio
7. 1, 2, 3, 4
8. "Biohazard 4D-Executer 作品紹介"