The biggest Japanese TV channel NHK and Ukrainian production company FILM.UA have concluded an agreement whereas NHK would adapt "The Sniffer", one of the most successful Ukrainian series, for the Japanese audience.
Hans Canosa and Ash Nukui of Empathy Machines, Inc. brokered the deal for FILM.UA. Canosa, Nukui, John Baca of Artificial Intelligence Entertainment and Yan Fisher-Romanovsky of Fish/Corb Films will be producers on the show.
"The Sniffer", released in 2013, became the most rated series in Ukraine. In 2014 TF1, the biggest French TV channel, optioned “The Sniffer” format. As of August 2015, the finished version of the original series has been acquired by over 60 countries including Japan.
The original version of the series premiered in Japan in late July on basic channel. The story of the detective with a phenomenal sense of smell has garnered unprecedented interest and marked the higher ranking of foreign series. Not only the thrilling storyline amused the Japanese audience, but also the main character himself, who is extraordinarily eccentric, but smart and even witty at the same time.
The Japanese adaptation of the series is expected to reach TV screens in 2016.
"The Sniffer" is a prominent detective series by the idea of an owner of an extraordinarily acute sense of smell and by the humor and well developed stories," says Atsushi Ochi, Senior Producer in Drama Program Division of NHK. "Its charm as TV drama is obvious. We are sure that "The Sniffer" would entertain the Japanese audience if we could add the Japanese essence to it. This is the first time that NHK would adapt overseas drama though we have adapted quiz shows before. This is the first case of adaption of “The Sniffer” in Asia. So we are planning to spread the charm of this drama to Asia by the Japanese version of "The Sniffer". With this new challenge, we would like to seize more opportunities to participate in the international market."
"The fact that a major and globally known broadcaster as NHK has expressed interest in our series is a great honor," says Victor Mirsky, General Producer of FILM.UA Group. "It is a landmark deal not only for us but for the whole Ukrainian TV industry. We believe that the Japanese version of "The Sniffer" will be a success!"
Synopsis: They call him The Sniffer. He's the proud owner of an extraordinarily acute sense of smell. He can detect things about you that you desperately want to conceal. He'll find that needle in the haystack. Don't ever doubt his extraordinary skills! But the truth is that his sense of smell is as much a curse as it is a gift. This guy can solve a mystery by having a single sniff around but what happens when all these myriads of smells force their way into his private life? Let’s just put it this way – he’s not exactly a happy camper.
