SciFi Japan
    Source: Shogakukan Inc. Official Website: https://serai.jp/ (Japan) Cover of the July 2023 issue of Serai. Photo courtesy of Shogakukan. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.  Nostalgic but new!  The July issue of Shogakukan's Super Premium Magazine Serai (サライ, Serai) offers a feature article on FX legend Eiji Tsuburaya plus a special supplement of painted postcards depicting Tsuburaya's Ultraman characters.The main article is "Eiji Tsuburaya, Pioneer of Japanese Special Effects " (円谷英二が拓いたニッポンの特撮, Tsuburaya Eiji ga Hiraita Nihon no Tokusatsu). As the creator of the internationally renowned icons Godzilla and Ultraman, Tsuburaya became known as the "god of special effects". He was born on July 7, which is now called "Special Effects Day" in Japan. The Super Premium Magazine Serai article looks back at the history of special effects from a modern perspective  and the influence of Eiji Tsuburaya on later generations of filmmakers and artists.

    Photo courtesy of Seismic, LLC. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Jirahs - Comics Version, Megadon - Video Game Edition, and Sevenger - Glow in the Dark available now!  Source:  Seismic, LLC. Seismic is continuing both of its popular toy lines: the Dawn of the Monsters toy line and Ultraman Vinyl Oddysey with three new releases. First is Jirahs - Comics Version. This new colorway is based on the character's design in The Trials of Ultraman from Marvel Comics. Seismic's signature translucent effectl and metallic paints are on vivid display in this new figure, limited to 150 pieces. Jirahs is 9 inches tall and is sculpted by Michael Lambert, featuring header card art by Bill Couture. Each figure will come with a limited edition

    Photo courtesy of Nojima Corporation. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Nojima Source: Nojima Corporation press release On June 1, 2023, Nojima Co., Ltd. (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President and CEO Hiroshi Nojima) launched the “Energy Saving Home Appliances Simultaneous Price Reduction Ultra Satisfaction Sale” leading-up to the start of the summer season, when household budgets are under increasing strain due to higher electricity rates. The event is centered on air conditioners, refrigerators, lighting fixtures, and TVs, which account for the majority of energy expenditures. In conjunction with the sale, they are also holding a "Review Your Smartphone (Mobile Phone) Charges Campaign" to support customers by directly reducing their living expenses.   Photo courtesy of Nojima Corporation. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Nojima ◇ Points of Nojima's “Energy Saving Home Appliances Simultaneous Price Reduction Ultra Satisfaction Sale”・ Now that electricity bills are rising, it's time to lower the price of

    Wraparound packaging art for the BATTLE KAIJU SERIES 01: ULTRAMAN VS. RED KING Blu-ray set. Photo courtesy of Mill Creek. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Mill Creek Entertainment Special Thanks to CJ Johnsen Over the past 50+ years, many of the monsters and aliens introduced in Tsuburaya Productions’ Ultraman franchise have become pop culture icons, both in Japan and abroad. The popularity of these characters has inspired the BATTLE KAIJU SERIES, a new Blu-ray collection from Mill Creek Entertainment devoted to some of the greatest Ultraman foes. The first volume, focusing on the “Skull Monster” Red King, will be available on June 27, 2023.The BATTLE KAIJU SERIES 01 - ULTRAMAN VS RED KING set collects 16 Red King episodes from across the Ultraman franchise, starting with his first appearance in the original ULTRAMAN series and continuing through to 2019’s ULTRAMAN R/B. Alongside the original, this collection presents multiple

    Source: Hero's Inc. press release Official Website: https://anime.heros-ultraman.com   Photo courtesy of Hero's. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©Eiichi Shimizu, Tomohiro Shimoguchi / Hero's Hero's, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Katsuya Shirai) will release ULTRAMAN ARTWORKS, a collection of illustrations and designs for the ULTRAMAN manga and anime by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, on May 29, 2023. Among the book's contents aree artwork (including newly drawn pieces), an extended interview with Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, an exclusive newly-drawn manga, character profiles, and a first look at designs for the Ultraman C-type suit and Zetton. ULTRAMAN ARTWORKS celebrates the manga, which is currently serialized in Japan on the manga distribution site Comiplex (with the English translation published by VIZ Media) and the final season of the anime series, which debuted worldwide May 11th on Netflix.   ULTRAMAN ARTWORKS Written by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi

    Photo courtesy of Bandai. ©TTITk Source: Bandai Namco press release Shin Japan Heroes Official Website:  https://sjhu.jp/ Photo courtesy of Bandai. ©TTITk Bandai Toys Division Co., Ltd. will release "S.J.H.U.PROJECT Shin Universe Robo"(S.J.H.U.PROJECT シン・ユニバースロボ,  S.J.H.U.PROJECT Shin Yunibāsu Robo), a rtransforming obot toy in which the characters Shin Godzilla, Evangelion Unit 01, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider combine into one. This is the latest announcement in the Shin Japan Heroes project, a dream collaboration between characters from the movies SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016), EVANGELION: 3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版𝄇, Shin Evangerion Gekijōban, 2021), SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman, 2022) and SHIN KAMEN RIDER (シン・仮面ライダー, Shin Kamen Raidā, 2023) that were made under the supervision of writer/director Hideaki Anno.  This project  was launched in 2021 by Toho, Khara, Tsuburaya Productions, and Toei and presents four of Japan's leading "heroes" in various marketing and merchandising

    Logo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releaseOfficial Site: https://tsubu-con.com/2023/ Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Takayuki Tsukagoshi) is pleased to announce that TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2023 (aka ツブコン / TsubuCon), the largest celebration of all Tsuburaya Productions' works for fans, will include the program "ULTRAMAN MUSIC LIVE ~Ultraman Spirits 2023~” (ULTRAMAN MUSIC LIVE~ウルトラマン魂2023~,  ULTRAMAN MUSIC LIVE~Urutoraman Tamashī 2023~). The concert will be held at Tokyo Dome City Hall on Sunday, November 26, 2023. In collaboration with the anime song event organizers "ANIME JAPAN FES," Tsuburaya will present a premium live performance composed mainly of theme songs from the Ultraman series, along with video clips, for a rare night in which fans can witness the history of Ultraman. Additional details will be announced soon.   ULTRAMAN MUSIC LIVE ~Ultraman Spirits 2023~

      Celebrate 3 days of Ultraman movies, exclusives, and special guests! Photo courtesy of Bay Area Film Events. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Bay Area Film EventsOfficial Site: https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman  Bay Area Film Events, CinemaSF and SciFi Japan have an update for ULTRAFEST, the 3-day Ultraman film festival coming to the 4-Star Theater in San Francisco the weekend of July 21-23.  Authorized by Tsuburaya Productions, Starlight Runner and The Licensing Group, the event will include screenings of Ultraman movies and episodes, special guests, merchandise dealers, an art gallery and more! Front and back of the event exclusive Baltan card by artist Gaz Gretsky. Photo courtesy of RRParksCARDS. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS The complete theater screening lineup should be announced next week, with ticket sales launching shortly thereafter. As previously announced, the screenings will include new 4K compilations from Tsuburaya of the original ULTRAMAN series. The award-winning hit SHIN ULTRAMAN (2022)

    SHIN ULTRAMAN will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in July. Photo courtesy of Cleopatra Entertainment and MVD Entertainment. © 2022 Shin Ultraman Production Committee Source: Cleopatra Entertainment, LLC, MVD Entertainment Special Thanks to Tim Yasui   The hit SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman, 2022) comes to home video in July, courtesy of Cleopatra Entertainment. The film will be available on VOD starting July 4th with the Blu-ray and DVD editions following on July 11th.   Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. © 2022 Shin Ultraman Production Committee   The movie is an adaption of the original ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン 空想特撮シリーズ, Urutoraman Kūsō Tokusatsu Shirīzu, 1966-67) television series from writer/producer Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and director Shinji Higuchi (Gamera Trilogy, ATTACK ON TITAN), the co-directors of the award-winning box office smash SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016).

    Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releaseOfficial Site: https://seven55th.m-78.jp/ (Japan) Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO Takayuki Tsukagoshi) has announced that the concept movie ULTRASEVEN IF STORY 'THE FUTURE 55 YEARS AGO' (ウルトラセブン IF Story 『55年前の未来』, Urutorasebun IF Story '55-nen Mae no Mirai'), will be released this fall as part of the year-long Ultraseven 55th Anniversary Project (ウルトラセブン55周年, Urutorasebun 55-Shūnen) celebrating the original ULTRASEVEN (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun) televsion series. Though more than half a century has passed since its initial broadcast, ULTRASEVEN is still remembered and enjoyed by people all over the globe.  This short film connects the present and future through an "If Story," an episode which "may have existed" as part of the series at the time of its original run in 1967. Running 7 minutes,  ULTRASEVEN IF STORY 'THE FUTURE 55 YEARS AGO

    Photo courtesy of BANDAI NAMCO. ©Taiko no Tatsujin™ RHYTHM FESTIVAL & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ©TOHO CO., LTD. ©khara / Project Eva. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ISHIMORI PRODUCTION INC. TOEI COMPANY, LTD. Source: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. press releaseOfficial Website: https://dondafulfestival-20th.taiko-ch.net/ (Japan), https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/taiko-no-tatsujin-rhythm-festival (US) BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. has announced the "Shin Japan Heroes Universe Pack" (シン・ジャパン・ヒーローズ・ユニバース パック,  Shin Japan Hīrōzu Yunibāsu Pakku) is now available for purchase for their game TAIKO NO TATSUJIN: RHYTHM FESTIVAL  (太鼓の達人 ドンダフルフェスティバル,  Taiko no Tatsujin Dondafuru Fesutibaru). Photo courtesy of BANDAI NAMCO. ©Taiko no Tatsujin™ RHYTHM FESTIVAL & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. TAIKO NO TATSUJIN: RHYTHM FESTIVAL is the latest entry in the "Taiko no Tatsujin" (Taiko Drum Master) series for Nintendo Switch.  The player joins the main character, DON-chan, and their guide, Kumo-kyun, on a journey to become a Taiko master in Omiko City. The game includes 76 songs, more

    Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee Source: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Cleopatra Entertainment, LLC Special Thanks to Tim Yasui   On May 26th, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will bring SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman, 2022) back to select locations for a limited theatrical run. The movie is an adaption of the original ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン 空想特撮シリーズ, Urutoraman Kūsō Tokusatsu Shirīzu, 1966-67) television series from writer/producer Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and director Shinji Higuchi (Gamera Trilogy, ATTACK ON TITAN), the co-directors of the award-winning box office smash SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016).   Visit the Alamo Drafthouse website listings for additional information and to buy tickets... Subtitled Version Dubbed Version   Theater Lineup Alamo Drafthouse North Village 4      Austin, TX        5/26/23-6/1/23 Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville 6        Chicago, IL       5/26/23-6/1/23

    New teaser art courtesy of Netflix. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Netflix press release Netflix has announced their CG-animated ULTRAMAN feature film -- first announced back in May 2021 -- will debut on the streaming service in 2024. Produced in partnership with Tsuburaya Productions, the movie is co-directed by Shannon Tindle (THE CROODS, KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS) and John Aoshima (GRAVITY FALLS, DUCKTALES). This is a separate project from Netflix's ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman, 2019) anime series which will release its third and final season on March 11th.   Synopsis Netflix’s ULTRAMAN follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his

    Fans in Japan can now write to Ultraman -- and get a reply. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Entrants Will Receive Reply From Ultraman on July 10th!Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releaseOfficial Site: https://m78-sukagawa.jp/ (Japan)  On Friday, April 28, Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Takayuki Tsukagoshi) began accepting applications for "Letters to Ultraman" (ウルトラマンへの手紙, Urutoraman e no Tegami), a joint project with Sukagawa City in Fukushima Prefecture, the birthplace of director Eiji Tsuburaya. This announcement comes on the heels of the recent extension of the "Sukagawa City M78 Land of Light" (すかがわ市M78光の町, Sukagawa Ichi M78 Hikari no Machi) program that named Sukagawa as the sister city to Ultraman's homeland, the Land of Light in Nebula M78.  Sukagawa City is known for its monuments of Ultraman heroes and monsters, the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum, and other Tsuburaya-themed attractions. Open

    The ULTRAMAN REGULOS series will be released worldwide in May. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releaseOfficial Site: https://m-78.jp/galaxy-fight/regulos/ja/ (Japan), https://m-78.jp/galaxy-fight/regulos/english/ (English) Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Nagatakei) has decided to distribute ULTRAMAN REGULOS (ウルトラマンレグロス, Urutoraman Regurosu) in Japan exclusively on their official subscription digital platform service TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION with Part 1 on May 23 and Part 2 on June 6, 2023. On those same dates, ULTRAMAN REGULOS will be also be available internationally on the ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL YouTube Channel and on the official North American site, Ultraman Connection. This is the first stand-alone spin-off series in the ULTRA GALAXY FIGHT line. It depicts the unknown past of the mysterious Ultraman Regulos, who first appeared in ULTRA GALAXY FIGHT: THE DESTINED CROSSROAD (ウルトラギャラクシーファイト 運命の衝突,  Urutora Gyarakushī Faito Unmei no Shōtotsu), the 2022 series that was first distributed

    Visit the world of the new ULTRAMAN BLAZAR show at Ultra Heroes EXPO 2023 Summer Festival. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN BLAZAR PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO Become a Member of SKaRD!Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releaseOfficial Site: https://www.ultra-expo.com/summer/2023/Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/m78expo Ultra Heroes EXPO 2023 poster art, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Nagatakei) will host the "Ultra Heroes EXPO 2023 Summer Festival in Ikebukuro Sunshine City" (ウル トラヒーローズ EXPO 2023 サマーフェスティバル IN 池袋・サンシャインシティ,  Urutora Hīrōzu EXPO 2023 Samā Fesutibaruin Iikebukuro Sanshainshiti) at Ikebukuro Sunshine City (3-1-4 Higashi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo) from Satuday, July 22 to Monday, August 28, 2023. "Ultra Heroes EXPO" is a popular summer event for the Ultraman series, with the 2023 festival set to promote the new television series ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā) which will air every Saturday morning at

    Source: Bay Area Film EventsOfficial Site: https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman  Image courtesy of Bay Area Film Events. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Bay Area Film Events, CinemaSF and SciFi Japan are pleased to present ULTRAFEST, a 3-day Ultraman film festival coming to the 4-Star Theater in San Francisco the weekend of July 21-23.  Authorized by Tsuburaya Productions, Starlight Runner and The Licensing Group, the event will include screenings of Ultraman movies and episodes, special guests, merchandise dealers, an art gallery and more! Details are still being finalized, but the theatrical screenings will include the award-winning hit SHIN ULTRAMAN (2022) and new 4K compilations from the original ULTRAMAN series. There will also be sales and giveaways of event-exclusive Ultraman collectibles! Much more infomation about this festival will be announced soon, so please check back here and visit the official site: https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman     ULTRAFEST July 21-23, 2003

    Logo for the new series, ULTRAMAN BLAZAR. Image courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN BLAZAR PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO New Series Coming July 8th Worldwide! For the First Time in the Ultraman Series, the Transforming Hero is a Captain!Source: Tsuburaya ProductionsOfficial Sites: https://ani.tv/ultraman_blazar/, https://m-78.jp/blazar/ (Japan)Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series ULTRAMAN BLAZAR Japanese key art, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN BLAZAR PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM・TV TOKYO   Tsuburaya Productions has provided SciFi Japan with images and press notes for their upcoming television series ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā). The show will premiere July 8th, 2023, on TV Tokyo Network  in Japan, and is scheduled to be simultaneously broadcasted in major Asian regions. An English dubbed version will be available online. Introduction The series features a new hero, Ultraman Blazar, with an unshakable sense of justice hailing from “M421,” a  celestial body far from Earth. He is

    Photo courtesy of Bandai. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd. press release Premium Bandai, the official mail order site of Bandai Namco, is now accepting pre-orders for the "Ultra Replica Flash Prism" (ウルトラレプリカ フラッシュプリズム, Urutora Repurika Furasshu Purizumu), a replica of the Beta Capsule transformation device used by  Kenichi Kai (played by Kane Kosugi) in Tsuburaya's 1993 American co-production, ULTRAMAN: THE ULTIMATE HERO a.k.a. ULTRAMAN POWERED  (ウルトラマンパワード, Urutoraman Pawādo). B Photo courtesy of Bandai. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONSandai produced a DX version of the Flash Prism at the time of the show's release, but that collectible was larger than the prop from the series due to having built-in batteries and other structural features. Now, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ULTRAMAN POWERED,  Bandai has created a new sculpt of the Flash Prism for their "Ultra Replica Series" that utilizes the latest design technology to incorporate light-up and voice-activated

    ULTRAMAN DECKER FINALE: JOURNEY TO BEYOND Blu-ray Special Edition. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©ULTRAMAN DECKER FILM PARTNERS Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Sites: https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/ultraman_decker/, https://m-78.jp/decker/ (Japan) Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series Tsuburaya Productions has announced the Japanese Blu-ray & DVD release for the TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION original movie ULTRAMAN DECKER FINALE: JOURNEY TO BEYOND (ウルトラマンデッカー最終章 旅立ちの彼方へ…, Urutoraman Dekkā Saishū Fumi Tabidachi no Kanata e…) on Friday, July 28, 2023. Special interviews with ultra heroines Yuka Murayama, Sae Miyazawa and Kayano Nakamura will be included as a bonus. ULTRAMAN DECKER FINALE: JOURNEY TO BEYOND depicts the desperate battle of the expert team GUTS-SELECT to face the latest threat to the Earth. Fans can enjoy the brilliance of the mysterious woman, Dinas, who is featured prominently in this "final chapter," and the heroic end of the Giant of Lght, Ultraman Decker. The film was released theatrically in Japan and simultaneously distributed online at

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