London filmmaker behind 'Japanese Dr Who' web smash reveals: I'm not biggest fan

 
Tribute: Akie Kotabe as Dokutaa Who (Picture: YouTube)
Rachel Blundy16 July 2014

A filmmaker whose video tribute to Doctor Who in the style of a Japanese action film went viral online has admitted he is "not the biggest fan" of the popular BBC sci-fi series.

Joshua Kahan's Japanese Doctor Who has racked up more than 350,000 views since it was uploaded to YouTube last week.

The three-minute clip features a fight scene between the Doctor, who Kahan renamed Dokutaa Who, and a group of cybermen, as well as an infamous Dalek.

The 25-year-old animation graduate from Wembley, who has previously worked as a runner on film sets, said he hoped to create speculation that the video was a real Japanese version of the sci-fi programme by initially sharing the video anonymously.

Fight: the Doctor grapples with a Dalek (Picture: YouTube)

He posted it with the caption: "Found a clip on old video tape 1970's? 80's?...like a Japanese version Doctor Who. Anyone?".

But after sparking excitement amongst Doctor Who fans, he revealed the video was created on a shoestring budget of £200 with a group of friends in Trent Park, north London.

Despite recent praise for the pastiche, which was inspired by a film adaptation of Marvel comic Japanese Spiderman, he told the Standard: "I am not the biggest Doctor Who fan. I didn't really watch it [as a child]."

"I thought [the video] would be quite popular because it is Doctor Who but I did not realise it would be this popular. [The Doctor] is a very adaptable character. Each guy is different - it is one of those shows that just works. They can take it in different directions."

He added: "I really wanted a bigger budget for it but I think it is the cheapness of the production which adds to its charm. I spent as much as I could on costumes in pound shops."

Mr Kahan, who is in talks with television channel Comedy Central to make more videos, said it was "incredibly lucky" timing that footage from series 8 of the BBC show starring The Thick of It actor Peter Capaldi had recently been leaked.

He said: "A lot of people have been interested. It has mainly been from Americans so I am not sure what the Great British public thinks yet."

He continued: "I would like to get more work doing skits and comedy but I am aware that if I do that I might get pigeonholed."

Watch the clip in full above.

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