Source: Titan Books press release
Special Thanks to Isabelle Sinnott and Hannah Scudamore
Last August, SciFi Japan ran an article about Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book: The Abyss of Monsters Unraveled by Shinji Nishikawa (ゴジラ大解剖図鑑 西川伸司が紐解く怪獣の深淵, Gojira Dai Kaibō Zukan Nishikawa Shinji ga Himotoku Kaijū no Shinen), a new Japanese language book from Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd. Written and illustrated by the popular artist Shinji Nishikawa who has worked on botht the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises, it featured over detailed, full-body illustrations of Toho monsters and offered commentary on the differences in suit specifications, differences in the films in which they appeared, and more.
While Godzilla fans were excited to learn of the new book, many expressed disappointment that it would only be available in Japanese. But, thankfully, that is about to change.
This September, Titan Books will release an English language edition of Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book with the title Godzilla: The Encyclopedia. Read the following press release from Titan for details...
Photo courtesy of Titan Books. Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD., Shinji Nishikawa
Shinji Nishikawa Unravels the Depths of Godzilla
This illustrated book features the many versions of Godzilla and his monstrous foes from the original 1954 movie to SHIN GODZILLA in 2016, and even the 2021 animation. With in-depth explanations accompanied by illustrations from renowned manga artist and monster designer Shinji Nishikawa, this 216-page book explores the powers and anatomy of over 100 kaiju, including Mechagodzilla, Shin Godzilla and Mothra!
Nishikawa worked on the monster designs for many Godzilla movies from 1989 to 2004, and here he unravels the live-action special effects and theatrical CG animations of the Godzilla franchise in this essential enyclopedia. This comprehensive guide covers the Godzilla Showa Era (1954-1975), Godzilla Heisei Era (1984-1995), Godzilla Millenium (1999-2004), SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016) , Toho’s animated trilogy (2017-2018), and the animated Godzilla series GODZILLA SINGULAR POINT (ゴジラ S.P ＜シンギュラポイント＞, Gojira Shingyura Pointo, 2021) .
Publisher: Titan Books
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: 9.81" x 6.94" (US), 257mm x 182mm (UK)
Pages: 216
ISBN-13: 978183541036
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Price: $34.99 (US/Canada), £29.99 (UK)
About Toho International
Toho International, Inc., the Japanese studio’s U.S.-based subsidiary, has brought classic Godzilla, with 70 years of storytelling and monster mayhem, brand awareness and excitement to audiences around the world through a comprehensive licensing program spanning toys & collectibles, gaming, apparel, accessories, publishing, seasonal, housewares, food & beverage, and many more categories. With over 25 live-action films, numerous animated films and series, and more action-packed new content to come, Toho has captured the love and attention of Godzilla fans from all across the globe. Always-on content accessible across multiple streaming platforms has put Godzilla and other Toho monsters at the forefront of consumers' minds as the franchise gears up for an exciting next generation of storytelling and fandom.
About Titan Books
Titan Books was founded in 1982 and for many years operated out of the Forbidden Planet store in Drury Lane, London (UK). In 2000, now a part of TEG the company moved to its current residence on Southwark Street in South London, not far from the Tate Modern.
Titan Books originally came to prominence as the first British trade paperback/reprint publisher for long-running UK comics anthology series 2000 AD‘s — focusing primarily on the lead character Judge Dredd. However it soon added to its roster with a major distribution deal with DC Comics — starting with The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller in 1986.
The DC Comics deal was in many ways the first deal of it’s kind, bringing Graphic Novels produced by the comics giant to UK books and entertainment stores, making popular characters like Batman, Superman and the Green Lantern available to a general audience. This was quite an innovation and helped pave the way for a burgeoning Graphic Novels market in the UK today.
In 1992 Titan Distribution was sold to Diamond Comics and the team who co-owned the company parted ways. Nick Landau and Vivian Chueng took over full ownership of Forbidden Planet and in 1993 launched the umbrella company Titan Entertainment Group.
It was in the 1990’s that Titan Books seized on the opportunity to begin publishing movie and television tie-in books. Fans of major sci-fi and supernatural movies and TV shows were hungry to learn more about how they were made. With lavish art, concept drawings, info on special effects and interviews with the cast and creators, these books take you behind the scenes of some of the biggest shows and movies of their time. Some of the very earliest tie in books came from Alien, Terminator, Star Trek and Star Wars amongst many others.
In 1995 TEG launched Titan Magazines to help provide a swelling audience of thirsty fans more information on their favourite shows in a current and up-to-date way, launching magazines for Star Trek, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X-Files and many others.
With fans ever hungry for more, Titan produced many fiction tie-in titles that took stories of major movies and shows further, introducing major new canon story-lines for key and minor players in each franchise. Some of the earliest fiction Titan produced was for Star Trek Next Generation, and has since grown to include Alien and Aliens, Terminator, Planet of the Apes and many TV shows including X-files, Supernatural, 24 and Fringe.