SciFi Japan

    Cover for Tokyo Underground. © 2007 Super7 Media, Inc.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Great New Travel Guide for Toy Collectors Author: Keith Aiken Source: CollectionDX Special Thanks to Joshua Bernard For decades, Godzilla, Ultraman, Gundam, and scores of other tokusatsu and anime characters have inspired an unending wave of merchandising and memorabilia. Toys and figures are particularly popular, with collectors in the United States constantly searching out items through stores and online retailers, or even taking pilgrimages to Japan to track down the new and the rare. For anyone planning such a trip to Japan— whether for the first time or the tenth— Super7 Media, Inc. has published the invaluable travel guide Tokyo Underground. The hardcover book was written by Brian Flynn, co-owner of Super7 (Super7 magazine, toy line, and San Francisco store) with the assistance of Joshua Bernard of the website CollectionDX, and full color photographs by Jeff Dey. Flynn, Bernard, and Dey provide information on more than 60

    The devious Alien-Kun at the center of scenes from THE iDol, the independent sci-fi film made by director Norman England and some of the top fx filmmakers in Japan. Photo courtesy of Norman England. © 2007 iMages from the iD

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: iMages from the iD Official Site: The iDol The following production notes were created by iMages from the iD for their Japanese science fiction film THE iDol. The text is © 2007 iMages from the iD. The entire THE iDol presskit (complete with photos, reviews and news articles) can be downloaded here. Mild-mannered Ken has a sweet tooth for figure collecting. On a visit to a local toy collectors shop he acquires a seemingly rare alien action figure that unknown to the young office worker is a creature of extraterrestrial origin! In no time Ken’s life is turned inside out as the somewhat silly looking alien alters his life by benevolently giving him everything he has ever dreamed of before callously taking it all back! SYNOPSIS A homeless man (Yukijiro Hotaru) returns to his makeshift shelter on the banks of Tokyo’s Tamagawa

    ©2007 Kawaii! JeNny Production Committee

    Tokusatsu - FX

    New SPFX series from the makers of GRANSAZER Author: James Ballard Official Website: www.toho-a-park.com/character/jenny/ KAWAII! JENNY (simply meaning "Cute! Jenny") is a new and somewhat bizarre late-night special effects series produced by Toho Co,. Ltd and Dream Planet Japan Inc. The project is headed by director Koichi Kawakita, who once lead as the director of special effects for some of Toho`s biggest FX productions, including all the Godzilla films produced between GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (Gojira tai Biorante, 1989) and GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (Gojira tai Desutoroia, 1995). After retiring from Toho, Kawakita established his own visual effects company, Dream Planet Japan, in January 2003. Since that time, Dream Planet Japan have collaborated with Toho on the TV series SUPER STAR GOD GRANSAZER (Chouseishin Guranseizaa, 2003), THE JUSTIRISERS (Genseishin Jasutiraizaa, 2004) and SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X (Chousei Kantai Seizaa Ekkusu, 2005), the movie SUPER STAR FLEET SAZER-X: FIGHT! WARRIORS

    Kenichi Matsuyama steals the show as L, the brilliant young detective tracking down the unknown killer Kira in DEATH NOTE. The hit film will be screened in Vancouver Canada this month. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006 'DEATH NOTE' FILM PARTNERS

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Shusuke Kaneko is coming to Vancouver Canada for the Western Canadian premiere of his film DEATH NOTE Author: Stan Hyde Tokyo based film makers Norman England and Shusuke Kaneko will visit the city for events on Saturday October 20th and Sunday October 21st. The visit is sponsored by Leonard Wong and the Vancouver Comicon, Stan Hyde and Monster Attack Team - Canada, and the Churchill Film Studies program. On Saturday October 20th, there will be two film presentations at the Film Society Theatre at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.). The Film Society Theatre is on the main floor near the south entrance to the U.B.C. Student Union Building, 6138 Student Union Boulevard in Vancouver. DEATH NOTE shows at 11:30. Admission for this showing will be $6.00 THE iDOL and DEATH NOTE will show at 2:15. Directors Norman England and Shusuke Kaneko will

    THE GRUDGE 2 is featured on the cover of Horrormanía. Enciclopedia de cine de terror. © 2007 José Manuel Serrano Cueto/Imagica

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Spanish-speaking horror fans may enjoy Horrormanía: La Enciclopedia de cine de terror, a new book published in Madrid. From the press release... HORRORMANÍA: ENCICLOPEDIA DE CINE DE TERROR (Horrormania: The Encyclopedia of Terror Cinema) Author: José Manuel Serrano Cueto Editor: Alberto Santos (Madrid, Spain, 2007). 480 pages, SRP: 26.50 € (approximately $37.50 US) Horrormanía is the most complete horror cinema dictionary published in Spanish. The book features more than 2,500 references: actors (Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Paul Naschy, Robert Englund, etc.), directors (John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Jesús Franco, Dario Argento, James Whale...), musicians (Jerry Goldsmith, Ennio Morricone, Marco Beltrami...), writers (Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice...), movies (THE EXORCIST, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THE BIRDS, THE OTHERS...), critics (David J. Skal, Carlos Aguilar, Danilo Arona...), and magazines (Fangoria, Gorezone, Famous Monsters of Filmland...). Horrormanía includes all epochs and nationalities, with a good

    Buraki has been bringing in big money from Korean moviegoers. Photo courtesy of D-War Production Office. © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The Latest Info on What`s New and What`s Next for Younggu Art Entertainment Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: Cine 21, KOBIS, Twitch, various Official Site: DRAGON WARS.com DRAGON WARS: D-WAR, which opened on September 14 across America, has become this past summer one of the most successful blockbusters in Korea. Like many blockbusters, the opening record of DRAGON WARS was very strong from the start. As I reported in a SFJ news bite on August 2, the film, which opened on the previous day in Korea, attracted 417,298 admissions at 530 screens nationwide. It was quite close behind the first day record of THE HOST, which devoured 450,000 moviegoers on the first day and went on to swallow 13 million of them in 2006 to finally become the biggest hit in Korean film history. Rather naturally, critics didn`t like DRAGON WARS (this part is beginning to

    Ryuk the Shinigami death god lurks over the shoulder of Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) as the young man plans to murder in the name of justice. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006 'DEATH NOTE' FILM PARTNERS

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Based on the Popular Anime and Manga Series that have Taken Japan and North America by Storm Source: VIZ Media VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE (Desu Noto) and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME (Desu Noto 2), based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series. “We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan

    Announcement for the US remake of the J-Horror film ONE MISSED CALL. © 2007 Warner Bros.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Keith Aiken Official website: One Missed Call Movie What will it sound like when you die? In ONE MISSED CALL a chain of people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Though the messages can be deleted, their number is up. Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) is traumatized when she witnesses the gruesome deaths of two friends just days apart. Even more disturbing, she knows that both of them had received chilling cell phone messages—actual recordings of their own horrifying last moments. Impossibly, the calls were received days before they died, but each death occurred precisely when and how the messages foretold. The police think Beth is delusional—except for Detective Jack Andrews (Edward Burns) whose own sister was killed in a freak accident that bears a strange similarity to the deaths of Beth’s friends. Together, Jack and Beth work

    Buraki the Evil Imoogi attacks Los Angeles in DRAGON WARS: D-WAR. Photo courtesy of D-War Production Office. © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Egyptian Theatre Hosts a Special DRAGON WARS Event Author: Keith Aiken Source: American Cinematheque, Younggu Art Entertainment Official Site: DRAGON WARS.com Special Thanks to Annie Kim Egyptian Theatre Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 PM DRAGON WARS, 2007, Freestyle Releasing, 90 min. Starring Jason Behr (THE GRUDGE), Amanda Brooks (FLIGHTPLAN) and Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN), and written & directed by Hyung Rae Shim, this is rumored to be the most expensive Korean film ever made, a super big budget giant monster fest with state-of-the art special effects. Dragon-like creatures from an ancient legend appear in Los Angeles, scale buildings, flip cars and terrorize the city in search of a girl named Sarah. While investigating one of the disaster sites, a TV reporter Ethan, uncovers a piece of debris which directly links him to this legend. Ethan must realize his destiny

    Ethan Kendrick (Jason Behr) and Sarah Daniels (Amanda Brooks) run for their lives from Buraki the Evil Imoogi in DRAGON WARS: D-WAR. Photo courtesy of D-War Production Office. © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Younggu Art Entertainment Official Site: DRAGON WARS.com Special Thanks to Annie Kim Younggu Art Entertainment and Freestyle Releasing have expanded the theatrical launch of DRAGON WARS: D-WAR. On September 14, the film will now open on well over 1,700 screens across the United States, including the world famous Grauman`s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. DRAGON WARS: D-WAR will also be featured today, September 7 on the Los Angeles radio station Indie 103.1 FM show JONESY`S JUKEBOX JURY. Between 12:00 and 2:00pm, host Steve Jones will interview the filmmakers behind the big budget Korean monster movie. The show will also be simulcast on the station`s website, so be sure to tune in! On Saturday, September 8 there will be a DRAGON WARS: D-WAR presentation at the anime show MikomiCon 2007. At 6:00pm there will be a sneak peak at the film hosted by the producers

    Buraki the Evil Imoogi hunts on the streets of Los Angeles in DRAGON WARS: D-WAR, coming to theaters across America on September 14. Photo courtesy of D-War Production Office. © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Younggu Art Entertainment, Freestyle Releasing Official Site: DRAGON WARS.com The following press notes were provided by Younggu Art and Freestyle Releasing for their upcoming release DRAGON WARS: D-WAR, which opens in American theaters on September 14, 2007. The text is © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd. FREESTYLE RELEASING and SHOWBOX Present A Film by HYUNG RAE SHIM DRAGON WARS: D-WAR A Younggu Art Production IN THEATRES SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 Synopsis: The story begins with Ethan Kendrick, a TV reporter. While investigating a disaster that occurred at the Seven Palms Resort, he notices that the ground is turned up all around and forklifts have been tumbled over. It looks like a hurricane has gone by. Ethan notices the FBI investigator dusting off a specimen with a brush. It looks like a giant dinosaur fossil or scale. He videotapes it on his Handycam.

    Goldar (a.k.a. Ambassador Magma) battles the monster Noronda (Stopgon) in P-Productions` classic tokusatsu series THE SPACE GIANTS. © 1966 Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    A Look Back at the Many Incarnations of AMBASSADOR MAGMAAuthor: Bob Johnson Source: Uchusen, Lakeside Television, Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Tezuka Osamu World, variousAdditional Material: Keith Aiken and Oki MiyanoSpace Giants is licensed and copyrighted in the United States by Lakeside Television. Contents: AUDIO OF THE SPACE GIANTS OPENING THEME SONG AND NARRATION P-PRODUCTIONS AND OSAMU TEZUKA’S ORIGINAL MANGA THE MAKING OF AMBASSADOR MAGMA THE SPACE GIANTS COME TO AMERICA COPYRIGHT DISPUTE AMBASSADOR MAGMA/ THE SPACE GIANTS EPISODE GUIDE THE ANIMATED AMBASSADOR MAGMA Though the name THE SPACE GIANTS may be unfamiliar to anyone under age 35, for a decade or so beginning in the early 1970s this 52 episode Japanese science fiction series was a popular fixture on syndicated television in the United States. Much like its brethren ULTRAMAN and JOHNNY SOKKO

    You can`t keep a good monster down: Gwoemul will return in THE HOST 2. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: Money Today Star News, The Hankyoreh, Hankyoung , various Chungeorahm Film, the South Korean motion picture company of THE HOST (Gwoemul) fame, will produce a sequel to the monster hit. Producer Choi Yong-bae (also CEO of Chungeoram), announced in mid-June that he will release the sequel, tentatively titled GWOEMUL 2 (Creature 2), within 2 or 3 years. It has been officially confirmed that Bong Joon-ho, the writer and director of the original film, will not return. Producer Choi has some rather interesting plans for the sequel. For the first phase, there will be two or three `pilots`; 10-minute short films. The purpose of these pilots is to attract financiers, to develop visual effects technology in South Korea, and to find a potential director for the sequel. There is no word yet if the pilot films will act as a bridge between

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The latest news from the US and Korea Author: Keith Aiken and Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: Younggu Art Entertainment, various Official Site: D-War.com A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Last month, the Korean film distributor Showbox officially announced that the big budget monster movie D-WAR would be released to theaters in both South Korea and the United States. Now, as the theatrical launch draws near, Younggu Art Entertainment/D-War Production Office has provided additional information and an exclusive first look at the DRAGON WARS "tall wall" banner. In the weeks to come, these banners will be placed on the sides of skyscrapers to give the impression that the buildings are being destroyed by the evil monster Buraki. In America, the film will open nationwide on September 14 with the revised title DRAGON WARS. Freestyle Releasing will distribute the film to a reported 1,500 screens across the country, making DRAGON

    MASKED RIDER THE NEXT ©2007 Masked Rider The Next Production Committee

    Tokusatsu - FX

    First Teaser Trailer Released Author: James Ballard Official Website: Masked Rider The Next The first teaser trailer for Toei’s upcoming theatrical film MASKED RIDER THE NEXT (Kamen Raidaa Za Nekusuto, 2007) has been released on the film’s official website. The new film is a direct sequel to MASKED RIDER THE FIRST (Kamen Raidaa Za Faasuto, 2005), featuring the return of Masked Riders 1 and 2, and the introduction of Masked Rider V3. Just as MASKED RIDER THE FIRST was a loose re-telling of both Shotaro Ishinomori`s original manga and Toei`s MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1971) TV series, MASKED RIDER THE NEXT is set to re-tell the story behind Toei`s MASKED RIDER V3 (Kamen Raidaa Buisurii, 1973) TV series. Actors Masaya Kikawada and Hassei Takano are returning from MASKED RIDER THE FIRST as Takeshi Hongo (Masked Rider 1) and Hayato Ichimonji (Masked Rider 2) respectively, while Kazuki

    Director Shion Sono will attend the US premiere of his J-horror film EXTE: HAIR EXTENSIONS. © 2007 Toei Co.,Ltd

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Official Site: Japan Society Special Thanks to Johann Gambolputty From July 5-15, “Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film” will take place at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017. The series includes a number of US and New York premieres, as well as personal appearances by directors Shusuke Kaneko (DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME), Miwa Nishikawa (SWAY), Naoko Ogigami (KAMOME DINER), and Shion Sono (EXTE: HAIR EXTENSIONS). The New York premiere of GAMERA THE BRAVE will be a special free screening for all ages. Tickets for most shows are $10/$7 members and seniors/$4.50 students, and can be purchased online or from the Box office at (212) 715-1258. From the Japan Society website: THURSDAY, JULY 5 US Premiere 6:45PM- BIG BANG LOVE, JUVENILE A (46 Okunen no Koi) Co-presented with New York Asian Film Festival. 2006, 84 min., 35mm, color.

    Buraki the Evil Imoogi attacks a Korean village in a publicity shot for D-WAR. © 2006 Younggu-art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Distributor Announces August 2007 for South Korea and US Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) and Keith Aiken Source: Showbox/Mediaplex, MaxMovie, various Official Site: D-War.com The long-awaited South Korean fantasy/monster movie D-WAR will finally see the light of day. On June 4, Korean distributor Showbox (THE HOST) officially announced that the monster epic will be released in both South Korea and the United States this August. According to a press release from the distributor, D-WAR will open on August 2 in South Korea and later that month in the United States (the exact date has yet to be revealed). Showbox also provided the rather surprising news that the film will be released on more than 1,500 screens across America. If this does happen, D-WAR will become the first South Korean film ever to receive a wide release in the United States as well as the

    © 2006 Harmony Gold USA /© 2007 Stone Bridge Press

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Stone Bridge Press Since 1989, Stone Bridge Press in Albany CA has published a wide range of books covering Japanese culture, entertainment, language, literature, and manga such as The Anime Encyclopedia, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, Asia Shock, and The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film. Their 2007 schedule features several titles that should be of interest to movie and anime fans… The Art of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles By Tommy Yune Foreword by Carl Macek 978-1-933330- 29-7 144 pages, TP, $19.95, 200 color illustrations Release Date: June 15 Premiering in 1985, ROBOTECH is fondly remembered for its transforming fighter jets, distinctive red logo, and pop-idol heroine. The new film, ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES, picks up directly from the pioneering "space opera" in a breathtaking animated movie combining the talents of artists and producers from around the globe, from Los Angeles and

    The CG monster star of THE HOST was animated by the San Francisco fx house The Orphanage. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Loren "Butch" Portillo Official Site: The Host Movie MySpace: Webster Colcord Special Thanks to Kari Wyatt A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Monster movies have never been a popular genre in South Korea, so fans of director Bong Joon-ho were stunned when the filmmaker announced he would be following up his award-winning box office success MEMORIES OF MURDER (Salinui Chueok, 2003) with a story about a giant mutated tadpole. Bong realized that his new movie THE HOST (Gwoemul, 2006) would, in large part, stand or fall on the believability of its monster star. To realize his goal, the director turned to some of the top fx houses in the world, including New Zealand’s Weta Workshop (LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG), John Cox’s Creature Workshop (PITCH BLACK, BABE, PETER PAN) in Australia and The Orphanage in San Francisco. Founded by former members of

    RING © 1998 The Ring/The Spiral Production Group. JU-ON: THE GRUDGE photo courtesy of Lions Gate Films. © 2003 Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. DARK WATER photo courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures. © 2005 Touchstone Pictures. PULSE © 2001 Kadokawa Pictures

    Tokusatsu - FX

    An Interview with Author and J-Horror Enthusiast David Kalat Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Source: Vertical, Inc. Special Thanks to Vertical Inc., Eddie Stemkowski and Keith Aiken A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE David Kalat is the author of several books, notably A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series. He has his own DVD company, All Day Entertainment, which specializes in restoring and presenting many old films that have not been seen in a long time. Last year he completed the audio commentary for Classic Media’s forthcoming DVD release of GHIDORAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. His latest project is the book J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge and Beyond which puts the focus on such Japanese films as JU-ON: THE GRUDGE, UZUMAKI, RING, DARK WATER and PULSE as well as their American counterparts. J-Horror was released February 27th by Vertical (the

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