What Is Getting Any? About?
The premise of Getting Any? in 298 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet outskirts of Saitama Prefecture, Asao lives a modest life with his grandfather, content to watch the world from a distance while nursing a rather unconventional dream: a car that will double as his passport to romance. At thirty‑five, he is painfully inexperienced with women, yet he believes that a sleek automobile is the missing piece of an imagined formula for attraction. The everyday backdrop of suburban streets and humble family routines is painted with a gentle, slightly off‑kilter humor that makes his yearning feel both absurdly grand and endearingly human.
When Asao finally steps into a gleaming showroom, the polished promises of high‑performance machines clash with the realities of his thin wallet. The juxtaposition of his earnest desire against the polished market of luxury cars sparks a series of comically misguided attempts to bridge the gap between fantasy and what he can actually afford. The tone stays light‑hearted and surreal, letting the audience linger on the humor that arises when a simple, earnest soul confronts a world that constantly nudges him toward more elaborate, sometimes ridiculous, solutions.
The film follows Asao as he navigates a landscape where everyday life and outlandish imagination collide. Each new idea he pursues feels like a playful riff on the classic “car‑for‑love” trope, pushing him into a cascade of quirky, loosely connected escapades that feel more like a series of wry sketches than a linear plot. The atmosphere bubbles with a blend of slapstick mishaps, wistful longing, and a subtle critique of consumer culture, all set against a backdrop of ordinary Japanese suburbia that suddenly feels ripe with endless possibilities. The journey promises laughter, oddball charm, and a poignant look at the lengths one will go to chase a dream that’s as fragile as a wind‑shield wiper in a storm.
What Happens in Getting Any??
The complete story of Getting Any?, from the first scene to the last, in 575 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
Asao, a naive and goofy man played by Dankan, lives with his grandfather in Saitama Prefecture. Although at 35 years old he is utterly inexperienced with women, he ached to have sex and believed the key to attraction was owning a flashy car. One day, after watching an erotic TV film, he convinces himself that a car is all he needs to win the attention of girls and rushes to the nearest car dealer.
In the film-within-a-film, the male lead owns a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, so Asao sets his sights on a luxury import showroom. The dealer asks what kind of car he wants, and he bluntly replies that he wants “a car for having sex.” He tests a cabriolet, aided by a friendly yet somewhat hapless hostess, but he immediately admits he is short on money. The best he can afford is a used domestic budget-car, forcing him to buy a Honda Today—an incredibly cheap kei car compared to the gleaming examples on display.
Back at home, Asao reenacts the scene with a female mannequin to practice his approach, then tries to replicate it with real women on the street. He quickly learns that real-life relationships aren’t as naive or simple as those in porn, and his failures mount. After several humiliating and unsuccessful attempts, he concludes that roadsters are the better route to cruising, even though they are out of reach financially. Desperate, he asks his grandfather for help, with a grim and shocking twist: he ends up selling his grandfather’s liver and kidneys to raise money.
With money in hand, he returns to the dealer, who pushes him toward a different path. The dealer initially convinces him to buy an Austin Healey Sprite MkI, but once he sees how little money Asao actually has, he pivots and sells him a Eunos Roadster (Mazda Miata), insisting it’s essentially the same car and a smarter choice for cruising. The new car barely holds together—after only a few meters it begins to fall apart—and Asao, frustrated, attaches the wrecked pieces to the back of the car in a perverse repair job.
Undeterred, he continues his quest to pick up girls, but his attempts remain fruitless, leading him to a garage-sale fate as he sells the wreck to a salvage yard. On his way home, he stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned Mazda RX-7 Turbo and decides to steal it. He drives a short distance before encountering a young woman and attempting to strike up a conversation, echoing the erotic film, but the car’s brakes fail and he crashes into a billboard after striking the woman. He narrowly escapes serious injury and abandons the wreck.
His imagination then takes him on a new flight of fancy: airline stewardesses offering naked “on-board sex service” to first-class passengers, so he resolves to travel by plane—though money remains a barrier. His plan turns toward crime: an armed bank robbery. To arm himself, he travels to Kawaguchi City, near Tokyo, to obtain a weapon by creating a revolver in a local iron foundry.
What follows are a string of misadventures, including joining the yakuza, taking on the persona of Zatoichi, acquiring invisibility, and even transforming into a giant fly-man reminiscent of The Fly. The film culminates with his capture after he dives into a large reservoir of feces. After the credits, a final scene shows Asao leaping around Tokyo as the fly-man before meeting a fatal end, impaled on Tokyo Tower.
Getting Any? Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Asao in Saitama with his grandfather” to “Post-credits: fly-man and Tokyo Tower”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Asao in Saitama with his grandfather
Asao, a naive 35-year-old man, lives with his grandfather in Saitama Prefecture and is clueless about dating. He fixates on sex and believes romance will come with the right car. He starts to seek out a vehicle that will supposedly fix his love life.
Where:Saitama Prefecture
- 2
Inspiration from an erotic TV film
Watching an erotic TV film, Asao concludes that the key to getting girls is owning a fancy car. The idea consumes him and he heads to a car dealer to find a vehicle. He hopes the showroom will deliver the fantasy he saw on screen.
Where:Luxury import car dealer
- 3
The dealer's test and Honda Today purchase
At the luxury car dealer, he is asked what kind of car he wants. He naively says 'a car for having sex' and is shown expensive models he cannot afford. Eventually, due to funds limits, he buys a used Honda Today instead.
Where:Luxury import car dealer showroom
- 4
Reenacting the scene with a mannequin
Back home, he quickly restages the scene using a female mannequin to practice his lines. He then tries to replicate the film's pickup by approaching real girls on the street. The reality proves far more complicated and embarrassing.
Where:Home and nearby streets
- 5
Reality check: dating is not porn
After several humiliating attempts, Asao realizes that real social interactions are not as simple or forgiving as fiction. He confronts the gap between fantasy and reality. This leads him to reassess his approach to dating.
Where:Streets
- 6
Seeking help and drastic funding
Concluding that a performance with a roadster might work better, Asao pleads for money from his grandfather. To fund his dream, he ends up selling his grandfather's liver and kidneys.
Where:Saitama
- 7
The dealer upsells to an Eunos Roadster
Back at the dealer, a salesman says he cannot afford a classic roadster, then insinuates a modern Eunos Roadster (Mazda Miata) and claims it's the same car. He agrees to buy, and the dealer's pretence hides the car's true cost.
Where:Car dealer
- 8
The roadster falls apart and makeshift repair
The Eunos Roadster proves unreliable and soon falls apart. Asao pleads with the dealer, who refuses to discuss further, so he attaches the broken pieces to the back of his car in a makeshift repair.
Where:Car
- 9
Failed street dating and salvage sale
Trying again to charm women on the street, he has no luck and ultimately sells the wrecked vehicle to a salvage company. His attempts to improve his love life continue to fail.
Where:Streets and salvage yard
- 10
The stolen RX-7 Turbo and a violent misstep
Stumbling upon an apparently abandoned Mazda RX-7 Turbo, he steals it and drives off. A young woman walking nearby becomes the target of his reckless ride: the car's brakes fail, he runs her down, and crashes into a billboard before abandoning the car.
Where:Street
Show the other 4 events of Getting Any? Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Flight fantasy and the bank robbery plan
After the crash, Asao envisions airline stewardesses offering naked 'on-board sex service' and decides to travel by plane. With no money, he hatches an armed bank robbery plan as a way to fund the dream.
Where:Air travel
- 12
Kawaguchi revolver and surreal transformations
To obtain a weapon, he travels to Kawaguchi City where he makes his own revolver in a local iron foundry. His adventures multiply as he encounters the yakuza, becomes Zatoichi, turns invisible, and even transforms into a giant fly-man.
Where:Kawaguchi City
- 13
Downfall: feces reservoir and capture
The story culminates with his capture after diving into a large reservoir of feces. The finale emphasizes the film's surreal humor and chaotic tone as his plans unravel.
Where:Reservoir of feces
- 14
Post-credits: fly-man and Tokyo Tower
After the credits, Asao continues to leap around Tokyo as the fly-man. The final image shows him impaled on Tokyo Tower, a darkly comic capstone to his misadventures.
Where:Tokyo
Who Are the Main Characters in Getting Any??
12 characters, among them Asao (Dankan), Asao's Mother (Tokie Hidari) and Asao's Younger Sister (Misayo Haruki): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- A(
Asao (Dankan)
Played by Dankan
A naive and goofy man who is embarrassingly inexperienced with women but obsessed with sex. His fixation on cars as a shortcut to romance launches a string of ridiculous schemes that pull him into the yakuza world and other surreal misadventures.
- 😂 Comedy
- 🚗 Car obsession
- AM
Asao's Mother (Tokie Hidari)
Played by Tokie Hidari
A protective mother figure who anchors the family dynamics and seasons Asao's antics with concern and warmth. She embodies traditional values while reacting to her son's reckless experiments.
- 💖 Family
- 🤝 Support
- AY
Asao's Younger Sister (Misayo Haruki)
Played by Misayo Haruki
A sibling who provides a pragmatic counterpoint to Asao's fantasies. She witnesses his schemes with a mix of care and humor, reflecting the film's domestic side.
- 👧 Family
- 😂 Comedy
- BM
Bank Manager (Akira Kubo)
Played by Akira Kubo
A calm, businesslike figure who represents the financial gatekeeping behind Asao's plans. His interactions reveal the economic pressures that fuel impulsive decisions.
- 💼 Finance
- 🗝️ Power
- D(
Doctor (Hideo Higashikokubaru)
Played by Hideo Higashikokubaru
A medical professional who appears in the film's more surreal sequences. He embodies the clinical absurdity that underpins the plot's bizarre transformations.
- 🏥 Medical
- 🧪 Science
- HY
Head Yakuza 1 (Tetsuya Yuuki)
Played by Tetsuya Yuuki
An aging yakuza boss who anchors the criminal underworld within the story. His presence drags Asao deeper into a world of crime and danger.
- 🗾 Crime
- 🥷 Yakuza
- HY
Head Yakuza 2 (Yuuji Minakata)
Played by Yuuji Minakata
Another senior yakuza figure who complicates Asao's misadventures and adds to the film's chaotic criminal ecosystem.
- 🗡️ Crime
- 🌀 Chaos
-
Injured Yakuza (Susumu Terajima)
Played by Susumu Terajima
A wounded gangster encountered during the film's episodic chaos, used to punctuate the danger and absurdity of Asao's journey.
- 💥 Violence
- 🕶️ Gang
-
Scientist (Takeshi Kitano)
Played by Takeshi Kitano
A scientist who features in the movie's quirky, surreal transformations. He represents the film's blend of science fiction and carnival-like comedy.
- 🧪 Science
- 🧠 Thinker
- SA
Scientist's Assistant (Makoto Ashikawa)
Played by Makoto Ashikawa
An assistant to the scientist who participates in the experiments and amplifies the film's chaotic energy with comic timing.
- 🧰 Assistant
- 🧪 Science
- L(
Lupin (Yūrei Yanagi)
Played by Yûrei Yanagi
A mysterious, roguish presence introduced in the film's pop-culture collage. His appearances contribute to the film's sense of mischief and murky identity.
- 🎭 Mystery
- 🦊 Rogue
- CO
Chief of World Defence Force (Akiji Kobayashi)
Played by Akiji Kobayashi
A bureaucratic, high-ranking official included in the sprawling cast, adding a satirical edge to the film's global-security parody.
- 🌐 Satire
- 🛡️ Authority
Where and When Is Getting Any? Set?
Getting Any? is set in Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City and Tokyo. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, Tokyo
The events unfold in the Tokyo metropolitan area, beginning in Saitama Prefecture where Asao lives with his grandfather, and moving through Kawaguchi City and central Tokyo. The urban landscape provides the backdrop for his obsession with cars and the social experiments he conducts to attract women. Street scenes, dealership showrooms, and urban neighborhoods frame a comedy of manners and misadventures.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🚗 Car culture
- 🌆 Suburban Tokyo
What Are the Themes of Getting Any??
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Materialism, Identity and Crime.
-
01
Materialism
The film satirizes consumer culture by equating car ownership with sexual power. Asao naively thinks purchasing a luxury car will help him attract women, while the reality is that social skills and sincerity matter more. The showroom fantasies and the dealer's manipulation highlight the hollow promise of status symbols. The pursuit of the perfect car becomes a social comedy that critiques material obsession.
-
02
Identity
Asao experiments with borrowed personas—ranging from yakuza to Zatoichi to a fly-man—exposing how easily identity can be constructed or consumed. The film uses these transformations to mock the clichés of porn-inspired fantasies and pop-culture icons. Each disguise reveals a mismatch between image and real self, and ultimately questions the value of image over authenticity. The chaotic shifts explore the fragility and performativity of identity.
-
03
Crime
Asao's adventures drift into criminal territory, from stealing cars to planning an armed robbery, satirizing criminal fantasies. His flirtations with the yakuza and other criminal figures lead to surreal and violent misadventures that are treated with dark humor. The film juxtaposes the allure of crime with its consequences, culminating in a farcical pursuit ending at Tokyo Tower. The tone uses crime as a device to critique desire, masculinity, and recklessness.
What Kind of Film Is Getting Any??
Whimsical in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Sad
A fast-paced, absurdist Japanese comedy that follows a hapless man's increasingly bizarre and unsuccessful quest for sex, resulting in a cascade of surreal misadventures and darkly humorous failures.
- absurd
- satirical
- goofy
- frustrated
- chaotic
- silly
- sexual frustration
- absurd comedy
- social satire
- failed ambition
Content notes: organ harvesting, death, feces.
Quiz
How well do you remember Getting Any?? Test yourself on the story.
