“BARBARELLA” (バーバレラ) — Original Japanese First‑Release Poster, 1968, B2 Size c. 51 × 73 cm O859
An ultra‑rare, first‑release Japanese B2 for Roger Vadim’s deliriously stylish space‑age fantasy Barbarella (1968), starring Jane Fonda. This is the celebrated “Floating Jane Fonda” Japanese design—arguably one of the most iconic Japanese poster images of the 1960s—with Fonda suspended in weightless, pop‑erotic zero‑G against a psychedelic starburst, a cratered moonscape below, and the promise of Technicolor futurism baked into every inch of the layout. Issued for the Japanese theatrical campaign with Paramount crediting, it’s a true centerpiece poster: instantly recognizable, visually explosive, and exceptionally hard to find in this format.
Film background
Released at the height of late‑’60s pop‑culture futurism, Barbarella adapts Jean‑Claude Forest’s French comic into a glamorous, satirical sci‑fi romp—equal parts space adventure, fashion fantasy, and era‑defining kitsch. Directed by Roger Vadim and fronted by Jane Fonda, the film became a time capsule of mod design, erotic sci‑fi, and cosmopolitan European production style (famously tied to that Cinecittà‑era, international “anything goes” imagination). Whatever your angle—cult cinema, 1960s graphic design, or Fonda iconography—Barbarella remains one of the most instantly emblematic titles of the period.
Poster design
This first‑issue Japanese sheet is pure visual impact: Jane Fonda’s body becomes the composition’s diagonal engine, “floating” across a deep cosmic field while an electric blue‑green explosion radiates outward like a psychedelic flower or plasma burst. The huge metallic‑gold katakana title 「バーバレラ」 dominates the lower field like a luxury brand mark, with テクニカラー〈パナビジョン〉 printed just above—an irresistible period flex. At the top, the famous red headline reads 「未来40,000年の男は？ 女は？ そのセックスは？」—a sensational hook that translates roughly as “Men in the year 40,000? Women? And what of their sex?”—while the right‑side vertical copy leans into the film’s erotic‑SF fantasy pitch. The lower area completes the tableau with Earth, lunar terrain, and small campaign details (including the Paramount credit and Japanese release typography), creating a design that feels both cinematic and unmistakably Japanese in its bold typographic confidence.
Rarity and condition
Japanese B2 posters are scarcer than standard international one‑sheets, and Barbarella is a title with consistently intense collector demand—especially this “Floating Jane Fonda” variant, which surfaces only infrequently and is widely regarded as the definitive Japanese campaign image. Condition is excellent: the poster displays beautifully with strong colour and clean, sharp graphics. Only very minor signs of handling are visible on close inspection (light edge wear and a tiny pinhole near the upper‑right margin can be seen in the photos; the reverse shows light, typical storage/age characteristics). Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster offered.
It is over 55 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included (Japan Poster Shop COA).
