At the beginning of this season, when we were told that Face Off (Syfy, Tuesdays, 9/8C) would be shaking things up a bit, the Tokyo episode was mentioned. Now it’s here. Oscar®-nominated makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji and anime artist and sci-fi illustrator Hidetaka Tenjin make guest appearances in the next all-new episode on March 4th. The eight remaining competitors will seek inspiration for two extreme challenges celebrating Japanese culture. Follow the jump for more details from the press release.
SYFY’S FACE OFF TRAVELS TO TOKYO, JAPAN FOR AN ANIME INSPIRED CHALLENGE ON NEXT WEEK’S ALL-NEW EPISODE, TUESDAY, MARCH 4 AT 9 PM ET/PT
NEW YORK – February 26, 2014 – Syfy’s acclaimed reality competition series Face Off continues its bold and extreme season as the eight remaining artists travel to the other side of the globe for a special episode shot in Tokyo, Japan. Academy-Award nominated makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji (Planet of the Apes, Men in Black, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and renowned anime artist and sci-fi illustrator Hidetaka Tenjin make guest appearances in the all-new episode airing Tuesday, March 4 at 9 PM ET/PT.
In the episode, “Ego Trip Abroad,” the artists embark on the trip of a lifetime where they’ll gather inspiration for two extreme challenges celebrating the fascinating culture of Japan. After a day of exploration, they arrive at an ancient temple where host McKenzie Westmore and two-time Academy Award-nominated makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji are waiting to deliver their next Foundation Challenge – to create an original take on a traditional Japanese Oni, which are ogre-like Japanese demons. The next day, the artists venture off into the heart of Akihabara, Tokyo’s tech district and ground zero for anime, where they meet genius anime artist Hidetaka Tenjin. They learn their Spotlight Challenge will be to create a character based on one of Japan’s most famous exports, anime, with a surprise personal twist thrown into the mix.
The eight artist still in the competition are: Chloe Sens of Austin, TX; Corinne Foster of Whittier, CA; Daran Holt of Kansas City, MO; George Schminky of Walnut Creek, CA; Graham Schofield of Boston, MA; Niko Gonzalez of San German, Puerto Rico; Rashaad Santiago of Bronx, NY; and Tyler Green of Litchfield, CT.
Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Some of SFX world’s most celebrated figures return to judge the competition – Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean), Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, The Hunger Games, Heroes) and Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned makeup artist – and McKenzie’s dad – Michael Westmore is the official contestant mentor.
Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.(Syfy. Imagine greater.)
Photo by Nicole Wilder/Courtesy Syfy