{"product_id":"supergirl-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1984-rare-japan-only-design-b1-size-73-103-cm","title":"“Supergirl”, Original Japanese First Release Movie Poster 1984, Rare Japan-Only Design, B1 Size (73 × 103 cm)","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese B1 theatrical poster produced for the first Japanese release of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSupergirl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in 1984\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the film stars \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHelen Slater as Supergirl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, alongside Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole, Mia Farrow, Brenda Vaccaro, and Peter Cook.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in the impressive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese B1 format of approximately 72.8 × 103 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this is an especially unusual Japanese-market campaign design, radically different from the more conventional photographic and painted artwork used for the film in the United States and Europe. Its combination of pastel colour, airbrushed illustration, fashion graphics, and playful typography gives it an unmistakably \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1980s Japanese Pop-design aesthetic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilm background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in 1984, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSupergirl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e introduced Helen Slater as Kara Zor-El \/ Supergirl, Superman’s Kryptonian cousin. After a powerful energy source known as the Omegahedron is accidentally lost from Argo City, Kara travels to Earth to recover it, adopting the identity of schoolgirl Linda Lee in the process.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Omegahedron falls into the hands of Selena, an ambitious and theatrical sorceress played by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFaye Dunaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while Peter O’Toole appears as Zaltar, Kara’s mentor in Argo City.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduced by the Salkind team behind the Christopher Reeve \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuperman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e films, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSupergirl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e expanded the cinematic DC universe while placing a female superhero at the centre of a major international studio production—an unusual proposition for mainstream genre cinema of the early 1980s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHelen Slater’s bright, earnest performance and the film’s mixture of fantasy, superhero adventure, romance, and elaborate production design have helped it develop a significant cult following.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoster design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Japanese B1 is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003espectacular and highly distinctive design created specifically for the Japanese campaign\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, replacing the darker heroic imagery associated with many Western posters with something closer to contemporary fashion illustration and commercial Pop Art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe entire composition is set against a flat \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003emint-green background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, immediately establishing the poster’s unusual pastel palette.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcross the upper-left section, the title:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“SUPERGIRL”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eappears in enormous red block lettering with a deep navy-blue extruded shadow, giving the typography the appearance of a three-dimensional commercial logo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBelow it, an enormous \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebright pink 1950s-style American automobile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e flies diagonally across the sheet. Supergirl appears beneath it, effortlessly holding the vehicle above her with one hand while flying forward in her classic blue costume, red cape, and red-and-yellow “S” emblem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe juxtaposition of the mint field, shocking pink automobile, red cape, orange skin tones, and glossy airbrushed surfaces gives the poster an almost \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efashion-editorial or record-cover quality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, far removed from conventional superhero advertising.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt upper right, circular portrait medallions feature \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rendered in warm airbrushed tones. Their elegant presentation adds another layer of 1980s commercial graphic design to the composition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA small diamond-shaped emblem reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“SPARKLING FANTASY”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereinforcing the Japanese campaign’s emphasis on the film’s magical and romantic qualities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe bilingual tagline reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「悪には強いが、恋には弱い。」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewith the accompanying English:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Strong against evil, but touched by love.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe phrase captures the deliberately lighter and more romantic positioning of the film for Japanese audiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese campaign typography\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRunning vertically down the right side is the prominent roadshow copy:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「ニューヨーク、パリ、ロンドン、東京、世界的ロードショー。」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApproximately:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“New York, Paris, London, Tokyo — a worldwide roadshow.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeside it appears the English:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“New York, Paris, London, Tokyo — International Release.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe lower-left billing uses a particularly distinctive graphic device for the principal cast. The names:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHelen Slater\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFaye Dunaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeter O’Toole\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eappear inside elongated white capsules, with their initials isolated in large orange circles—an unmistakably \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1980s Japanese graphic-design treatment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original production credits identify \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as presenters and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJeannot Szwarc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as director.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlong the bottom edge appear the original Japanese release-company markings, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFuji Television, Tohokushinsha, and Shochiku-Fuji\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, together with the period Eirin classification mark.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesign significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis poster is particularly appealing because it does not simply reproduce international \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSupergirl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e campaign artwork. Instead, the Japanese designers reinvented the film through a highly stylised visual language combining \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmerican comic-book imagery, Japanese commercial graphics, pastel fashion illustration, airbrushing, and Pop Art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe flying pink automobile is especially memorable, transforming Supergirl’s super-strength into an almost surreal fashion image rather than a conventional action scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is an unusually sophisticated piece of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1980s Japanese film-poster design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with strong crossover appeal for collectors of superhero cinema, DC Comics, Japanese graphic design, Pop culture, and large-format vintage advertising.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcellent. The poster presents extremely strongly, retaining \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003evivid mint-green, pink, red, and blue colour together with excellent graphic impact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. There is light evidence of period handling and minor edge \/ surface wear consistent with an authentic large-format theatrical poster of this age. Please review the photographs—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis poster is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese theatrical B1 from the 1984 first-release campaign\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a modern reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e42 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57160301248890,"sku":null,"price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/man-looking-at-an-art-gallery-wall-2026-08-12T210718.090.jpg?v=1786536607","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/supergirl-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1984-rare-japan-only-design-b1-size-73-103-cm","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}