Trick (2000)
A broke magician and a skeptical physicist make an unlikely team, unmasking fraudulent cults and supernatural con artists across Japan.
Trick - Series Information
- Original Title: トリック
- First Air Year: 2000
- Last Air Year: 2003
- Created by: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 3
- Number of Episodes: 31
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: July 7, 2000 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: tv asahi
- Alternative Titles: TRICK (JP), Trick (US)
- Production Countries: Japan
Trick - Plot
Although 23 year old Yamada Naoko is a "super" magician, she is continously fired and constantly hounded by her landlady for the rent being late. After being fired once again, her boss shows her an ad of a physics professor, a non-believer of all things magical, offering money to anyone who can prove to him that magic is real. Desperately needing the money, Naoko accepts the challenge, which is how she comes to meet Professor Ueda. Falling prey to her simple magic tricks, Ueda is impressed, and enlists Naoko to help him uncover the tricks behind a local cult. Their hilarious antics, along with those of police officer Yabe, leads them onto further mysteries, all with tricks needing to be solved in sort of an "X-Files" meets "Scooby-Doo"...
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Trick - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Main Cast
- Yukie Nakama
- Hiroshi Abe
- Katsuhisa Namase
- Yoko Nogiwa
- Masumi Okada
- Riko Narumi
- Kazuki Maehara
- Kin Sugai
- Inuko Inuyama
- Mako Ishino
Trick - FAQs
What is Trick about?
Trick follows Naoko Yamada, a broke 23-year-old magician, and Professor Jiro Ueda, a physics professor who dismisses the supernatural. The two reluctantly team up to debunk fraudulent cults and expose the tricks behind seemingly paranormal phenomena, with bumbling detective Yabe adding comic relief throughout.
Who are the main actors in Trick?
Trick stars Yukie Nakama as magician Naoko Yamada and Hiroshi Abe as the skeptical Professor Jiro Ueda. Katsuhisa Namase plays bumbling police officer Kenzo Yabe. Supporting cast includes Yoko Nogiwa, Masumi Okada, Riko Narumi, and Kazuki Maehara.
Is Trick based on a true story?
No, Trick is not based on a true story. It is an original fictional Japanese television series created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. The show blends comedy, mystery, and light supernatural elements in a wholly invented narrative about exposing cult tricks and fraudulent psychic claims.
How many seasons and episodes does Trick have?
Trick ran for three main seasons plus a specials season. Season 1 has 10 episodes, Season 2 has 11 episodes, and Season 3 has 10 episodes. There are also 7 special episodes, bringing the total to 31 episodes across the entire series.
What makes Trick similar to The X-Files or Scooby-Doo?
Trick is often described as blending the investigative paranormal mystery tone of The X-Files with the comedic, trick-revealing format of Scooby-Doo. Each episode presents an apparently supernatural mystery that the duo ultimately debunks through logic and sleight of hand, wrapped in slapstick humor.
When did Trick first air?
Trick first aired on July 7, 2000, on the Japanese television network TV Asahi. The series ran until 2003, spanning three seasons and a collection of special episodes, establishing itself as a beloved cult classic of Japanese television comedy-mystery.
Who created the Japanese series Trick?
Trick was created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, a prominent Japanese filmmaker and television director known for his work across both film and TV. Tsutsumi's distinctive blend of deadpan comedy and mystery plotting became the defining hallmark of the Trick franchise.
Did Trick expand beyond the original TV series?
Yes. The popularity of Trick led to multiple theatrical films, TV specials, and spin-off projects. The franchise expanded well beyond the original three-season run, with Yukie Nakama and Hiroshi Abe reprising their iconic roles in several big-screen adaptations released throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s.
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