Kids Return (1996): Cast & Plot
Kids Return is a 1996 crime drama directed by Takeshi Kitano, starring Masanobu Ando as Shinji, Ken Kaneko and Kanji Tsuda. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Director
- Takeshi Kitano
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Bandai Visual
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Kids Return About?
The premise of Kids Return without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Shinji and Masaru spend their school years tormenting classmates and playing pranks. After dropping out, Shinji turns to small‑time boxing while Masaru becomes involved with a local yakuza gang. As they confront the harsh realities of adulthood, they discover how unforgiving the world can be.
Kids Return Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- high school
- comedian
- gun violence
- mobster
- mob violence
- teenager
- teen comedy
- teen drama
- teen movie
- violence
- school
- student
+38 more Show fewer
- thug
- trainer
- partner in crime
- mob
- boxer
- yakuza
- gangster
- street life
- gym
- juvenile delinquent
- friendship
- training
- boxing
- anti hero
- bicycle
- comic relief
- criminal underworld
- desert eagle
- drive by shooting
- drug user
- gang
- gang leader
- mob boss
- organized crime
- pistol
- revolver
- teenage gang
- hitman
- schoolteacher
- jogging
- street
- tattoo
- town
- yakuza boss
- boxing sport
- friend
- classmate
- prank
Kids Return Cast & Characters
Masanobu Ando leads the cast as Shinji, with Ken Kaneko as Masaru and Kanji Tsuda as Kazuo. Directed by Takeshi Kitano; 52 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Takeshi Kitano
- Masanobu Ando as Shinji
- Ken Kaneko as Masaru
-
Kanji Tsuda as Kazuo -
Susumu Terajima as No. 2 in Local Gang
Also Starring in Kids Return
· 48 more- Sei Hiraizumi Scale Company Boss
- Ren Osugi Taxi Passenger
- Yoshiyuki Morishita Man in the Restaurant
- Satomi Korogi Classmate (uncredited)
- Hatsuo Yamaya Boxing Club Manager
- Masami Shimojō Yakuza Chairman
- Moro Morooka Hayashi
- Ryo Ishibashi Local Yakuza Chief
- Kankuro Kudo High School Student
- Leo Morimoto Homeroom Teacher
- Kyosuke Yabe Hanayama
- Makoto Ashikawa Teacher Hashida
- Hirokazu Inoue Vagrant
- Takashi Hagino Classmate
- Mitsuko Oka Sachiko's Mother
- Hajime Tanimoto Teacher
Show all 52 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Yuko Daike Sachiko
- Baiken Jukkanji Yakuza
- Kazuyuki Senba Yakuza Boss
- Yojin Hino Taxi Office Worker
- Yoshitaka Ôtsuka Short-hair Delinquent
- Koutarou Yoshida Eagle Asuka
- Hajime Taniguchi Hiroshi's Man
- Jumbo Sugita Big Man
- Michisuke Kashiwaya Hiroshi
- Koji Koike Boxing Trainee
- Rome Kanda Snack Boy
- Seiji Kurasaki Senior Friend at a Gym
- Motoharu Tamura Ramen Shop Owner
- Takao Toji Man on Bicycle
- Matsumi Fuku Movie Theater Clerk
- Yoshiko Sekino Classmate
- Kôjun Itô Teacher with Glasses
- Yasushi Sakagami Bully (uncredited)
- Atsuki Ueda Reiko
- Koichi Shigehisa Trainer
- Koji Kitakawa High School Student
- Peking Genji Classmate
- Kazuki Oh Sr. Hashida
- Shintarô Hasegawa Classmate
- Satoru Abe Yakuza Guard
- Takeshi Azuma Boxing Trainee
- Kentarô Fuchigami Impressed Man
- Hikaru Ishii Assistant Boxer
- Kyohhei Mita Shinji's Opponent
- Masanori Miura Champion's Opponent
- Hiromi Kikai Taxi Customer
- Emiko Onda Ramen Shop Lady
More from Takeshi Kitano
One more film directed by Takeshi Kitano: A Scene at the Sea.
Kids Return Plot Summary
What happens in Kids Return from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Shinji and Masaru are high school delinquents who terrorize their classmates, nicking money and even torching their teacher’s car. When a string of victims hires a boxer to settle the score with Masaru, he decides to strike first and drags his timid friend Shinji to a boxing gym. The pair soon discovers a surprising truth: Shinji is a natural in the ring, turning the sparring ring into his own arena and effortlessly besting Masaru in a bout that stuns their trainers. Watching this, Masaru pushes his friend to chase success, but soon afterwards quits boxing and shifts his ambitions toward the yakuza. As Shinji carves out a future in boxing and Masaru pursues leadership within a criminal world, their trajectories begin to diverge in dramatic fashion.
Full summary
The whole story of Kids Return, scene by scene
Kids Return Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Kids Return.
How Well Do You Know Kids Return?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What sport does Shinji discover a natural talent for?
Seen Kids Return?
Movies Like Kids Return
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Empire of Kids, Kids and High School Return of a Gangster.
Kids Return FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Kids Return, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Kids Return?
Kids Return runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Kids Return released?
Kids Return was released on July 27, 1996.
Who directed Kids Return?
Kids Return was directed by Takeshi Kitano.
More films by Takeshi Kitano Who is in the cast of Kids Return?
Kids Return stars Masanobu Ando as Shinji, Ken Kaneko as Masaru and Kanji Tsuda as Kazuo, among 52 credited actors.
Does Kids Return have a post-credit scene?
No. Kids Return has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Kids Return in?
The original language of Kids Return is Japanese.
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