SciFi Japan

    Actress Yuriko Hishimi (Anne Yuri in ULTRA SEVEN) takes a tour of the exhibits at ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tokyo Expo Ends September 2nd Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: ulfes.com/2012 (Japan) The annual event ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL (?????????????) continues at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. 2012 is the 45th anniversary of ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutorasebun, 1967), and special guests relate to ULTRA SEVEN were invited to celebrate the character`s anniversary. Ms. Yuriko Hishimi, who played Anne Yuri, and Mr. Kazuho Mitsuta, who was a director for many of Tsuburaya Productions` tokusatsu television series, gathered on the stage of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL on August 17th. They had talk and autograph session in the afternoon. That night as special premium event was held in which Ms. Hishimi and Mr. Mitsuta walked with fans among the ULTRA SEVEN displays, sharing stories about the show. During the tour, the group was joined by Alien Pegassa. The alien first appeared in ULTRA SEVEN Episode 6: THE DARK

    Actor Koji Moritsugu (Dan Moriboshi in ULTRA SEVEN) poses with his Ultra alter ego at ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tokyo Expo Celebrates 45 Years of ULTRA SEVEN Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: ulfes.com/2012 (Japan) The popular annual event ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL (?????????????) began July 27th at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This year is the 45th anniversary of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutorasebun, 1967) so that series is the theme of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012, with aliens and Monsters that appeared in classic ULTRA SEVEN episodes displayed throughout the convention hall. Mr. Koji Moritsugu, who played the hero Dan Moroboshi (Ultra Seven`s alter ego) was invited as a special guest of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012 on August 10th. He took part in a short talk event and Q&A session in the afternoon. Two children asked him... Q: Why can`t see ULTRA SEVEN episode #12? [Tsuburaya Productions pulled Episode 12: FROM SPACE, WITH LOVE after complaints from the Japan Confederation of the A-

    The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama is now hosting an exhibition of props, models and artwork from ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Final Two Events Held in Saitama and Takamatsu City Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: m-78.jp/45th/art, momas.jp (Japan) ULTRAMAN ART! TIMES AND CREATION — ULTRAMAN & ULTRA SEVEN (???????????????????????????????) is a museum exhibition devoted to the two Ultra series, ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN. ULTRAMAN ART! started in 2010 in Hokkaido and the exhibition has been held at various museums in Japan ever since. Finally, ULTRAMAN ART! has come to The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama near Tokyo. The exhibition (which runs July 7th-September 2nd in Saitama) is very unique. The Museum of Modern Art had prepared a special photography area for visitors. Ultraman himself welcomes guests to the first block of exhibits, which focuses on his 1966 series. Among the displays are Alien Baltan, the subterranean monster Magula and the Science Patrol`s iconic Jet-Beetle aircraft. While not the original suits or props, they are

    Hyper Zetton in his final 'Imago' form! © 2012 Ultraman Saga Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoqzAv_RmKw[/youtube] An Early Review Of The Latest Ultraman Movie Author: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramansaga.com SPOILER WARNING: The following review contains plot details for a new Japanese film. Hisashiburi, Ultraman fans! On Friday I went to a press screening of the latest Ultraman movie ULTRAMAN SAGA (Urutoraman Saaga, 2012) with my good friends Takeshi Yagi (director/producer of ULTRAMAN MAX, SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS) and JR Lipartito (my colleague at GaijinChannel.com). "New Ultraman Day" only comes once a year, and it was great to enjoy the new film with like-minded fans for a change (followed by copious drinking and drunken phone calls to other Ultraman directors.) As I`ve been very preoccupied with work this past year I`ve been out-of-the-loop with fandom and hadn`t had a chance to follow any of the news surrounding ULTRAMAN SAGA, so for the first time since 2004`s ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT I was able

    Mothra and Rodan puppets confront a King Ghdorah puppet at Wonder Festival 2012. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman and More at Tokyo Hobby Festival Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: wf.kaiyodo.net Special Thanks to Bill Gudmundson, Yoichi Kakuma and Tetsu Shiota, Anime Jungle On Sunday, February 12th it was once again time to trek out to Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex for the winter session of Wonder Festival, Japan`s premier hobby festival sponsored by Kaiyodo. A crisp cold Sunday morning breeze off of Tokyo Bay greeted thousands of visitors to this year`s show, many braving the cold hours in advance to try and gain a favorable place in line for when the doors opens and the mad dash begins to get a show exclusive. This year`s show featured more dealers than the last few years, but the downward trend in monster and scifi kits seemed to continue. While there was no special movie tie-ins or displays, there was still more than the enough

    Zoffy flies over a street near the fomrer offices of Tsuburaya Productions. Photo by Daisuke Ishizuka. © 2012 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tsuburaya Productions` Characters on Display in Their Old Hometown Author: Daisuke Ishizuka From 1963-2005, Tsuburaya Productions -- the television and film company behind the long-running Ultraman franchise -- had their headquarters in the residential Kinuta and Okura districts of Tokyo`s Setagaya Ward. Tsuburaya Pro moved into their new offices in Hachimanyama, Setagaya, Tokyo after being purchased by the TYO Group in 2007. For a time, the Kinuta office was maintained as an editing and computer graphic imaging facility. The second floor of the building was also used as a warehouse to store the monster suits, masks and costumes from the various Ultraman movies and shows. But Tsuburaya eventually decided to to move these departments to Hachimanyama as well, and the Kinuta branch was shut down on February 6, 2008. The property was sold to developers who demolished the office and replaced it

    Creatures from the various Ultraman shows and movies celebrated

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Popular Ultra Series Characters Enjoy a Day at the Amusement Park Author: Daisuke Ishizuka January 9, 2012 was a national holiday in Japan known as "Coming of Age Day" (????, Seijin no Hi). The holiday is held each year on the second Monday of January, and celebrates those Japanese who -- over the past year -- turned 20 years old, the age one is considered an adult can legally vote, drink and smoke (and be tried as an adult in court). Throughout the day, special ceremonies honoring the new adults (???, Shin Seijin) were held at cities across Japan. Young women dress up in fancy, fur-lined silk kimonos called furisodes while men wear suits or traditional hakama. The Yomiuriland amusement park in Inagi City, Tokyo decided to celebrate Coming of Age Day in a unique and fun way. Just as the English language

    Former Ultraman director/producer Takeshi Yagi at an Ultraman event in Tokyo in 2009. Photo by Jim M. Ballard. Author: Jim M. Ballard Special Thanks to Takeshi Yagi

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Conceived by Tsuburaya Productions - the production company founded by Eiji Tsuburaya, the master of special effects on Toho’s Godzilla film series - the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman) first broadcast from July 17th 1966 until April 9th 1967 on TBS. Throughout 39 exciting episodes, audiences nationwide watched the superhero Ultraman defend the Earth from a plethora of giant monsters. ULTRAMAN proved so successful that after 45 years and over 30 spin-offs and feature films, Ultraman is continuing to thrive, ingraining itself in Japanese popular culture shoulder-to-shoulder with Godzilla and other famous icons. In March 2011, immediately following the earthquake disaster, Tsuburaya Productions established the Ultraman Foundation. Through the support of Tsuburaya`s creative staff and their extensive back-catalog of famous heroes, the charity is helping to raise money for children directly affected by the events of March 11th, and spreading a message of hope to children throughout Japan in

    Covers for Monster Attack Team issues M8 (illustration by Kevin Grays) and M9 (art by Matt Frank). Photos courtesy of MAT. © 2011 Monster Attack Team

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Japanese SF Movie Zine to be Distributed by Diamond Source: Monster Attack Team Special Thanks to Michael G Keller and Edward Holland In the 1990s, Monster Attack Team, a fanzine devoted to Japanese live action sci-fi and fantasy productions, ran for seven issues. After a fifteen year break, editors Edward Holland and Michael Keller revived MAT in 2010 with a massive, full-color 132 page eighth issue packed with informative articles covering a wide range of tokusatsu film and television programs. And now Monster Attack Team is back in a big way. Holland and Keller are currently working with a team of top writers on MAT #9, another 100+ page, full-color special. The magazine is tentatively scheduled for release in early October, exact date and price to be announced. The issue can be ordered at monsterattackteam.com. Monster Attack Team has also been picked up

    Advance poster for ULTRAMAN SAGA. © 2011 Ultraman Saga Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    45th Anniversary Film Coming from Tsuburaya Pro Author: Elliot Gay and Keith Aiken Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Movie Site: ultramansaga.com Tagline: “We still have a shining hope with us!” Continuing their 45th anniversary celebration of the Ultra series, Tsuburaya Productions has announced the production of their next feature film ULTRAMAN SAGA (?????????, Urutoraman Saga), to be released in 2012 on both 2D and 3D screens in Japan. The new movie is a sequel to the recent films, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (?????? ???????? THE MOVIE, Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE, 2009) and ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL (???????? THE MOVIE ?????????????, Urutoraman Zero THE MOVIE Chou Kessen! Beriaru Ginga Teikoku, 2010). ULTRAMAN SAGA will continue the recent trend in the Ultraman movies of bringing together characters from several different series and timelines. The newest Ultra hero, Ultraman Zero, will once

    T-`s Facto presents the prototype Godzilla 54 sculpture, one of the the incredible kits sold at Winter WonderFest 2011. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Godzilla, Ultraman, and More at Tokyo Model and Toy Collectors Show Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: Wonder Festival Once again, it`s that time of year for the winter season orgy of model kits, toys, and cosplay otherwise known as Wonder Festival. Hosted once again by toy and kit maker Kaiyodo, this year`s event again took place February 6, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe, just a few train stops down the Keio Line from Tokyo Disneyland. And as usual, this year`s show had its share of surprises as well as the weird, wacky, and wonderful. If you are fan of Japanese movie monsters, the news isn`t quite so good. Continuing the trend of the last few years, the number of kits related to Japanese SF films has been on a steady decline, a fact which several of the major kit makers have bemoaned. And

    It`s round two for Ultraman Zero and the evil Ultraman Belial! Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2010 Ultraman Zero- Revenge of Belial Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Review Of The Latest Ultraman Movie Author: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramanzero.com SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Opening to theaters nationwide in Japan on December 23rd, ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL (Urutoraman Zero THE MOVIE Chou Kessen! Beriaru Ginga Teikoku) is the latest entry in the enduring Ultraman series, and serves as a direct sequel to last year`s MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE) in which the evil Ultraman Belial was released from a millennia of imprisonment and resurrected an army of 100 monsters to defeat the Ultra warriors. The new film delves right into the action with a dramatic sweeping shot of Princess Emerana`s home world of Esmeralda being ravaged by Ultraman Belial (now calling himself "Kaiser Belial") and his empire, and her protector Mirror

    Logo design for ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL. Photo courtesy of Shochiku © 2010 Ultraman Zero- Revenge of Belial Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Official Press Notes For The Latest Ultraman Movie Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions Translation: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramanzero.com THE ULTRAMAN SERIES 45TH ANNIVERSARY The Ultraman series continues to send to children, and to those adults who have not forgotten their dreams, a "message of hope for the future". In this new production commemorating the 45th anniversary of the series, Ultraman Zero encounters new friends on his adventures, delivering a story of growth to adulthood as our heroes learn many important lessons. Previously defeated by the Ultra warriors, the evil Ultraman Belial has revived, returning as the "Galactic Emperor Kaiser Belial" with aspirations of universal conquest and revenge against the Ultra warriors! Will the warriors from the "Land Of Light" be able to defeat this evil army!? INTRODUCTION Tagline: "This is our light!" (Kore ga, ore-tachi no

    Memorial card for Shunsuke Ikeda, star of the 1973 Toei superhero show KIKAIDA 01. Photo courtesy of Tetsu Shiota. © 1972 Ishimori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Memorial Service in Hawaii for KIKAIDA 01 Star Source: Anime Jungle, Generation Kikaida Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Daisuke Ishizuka, Joanne Ninomiya and Scott Shinsato On November 11th, family and friends gathered at Diamond Head, Hawaii to bid a final farewell to actor Shunsuke Ikeda, who died this past June after a long battle with stomach cancer. Ikeda had appeared in a number of television dramas and FX shows during the 1960s and 70s and is best remembered for his starring role in the popular superhero series KIKAIDA 01 (1973). Shunsuke Ikeda was born Norio Ikeda in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture on November 11th, 1940. His father was Tatsuo Ouchi, a renowned tateshi (sword fight choreographer), and Ikeda was trained in martial arts from an early age, earning black belts in both Judo and Karate. In 1962, he joined Toei Movie Company as part

    ULTRAMAN DYNAA is now airing on the Los Angeles station UTB. © 1997 Tsuburaya Productions Co, Ltd., MBS

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    English Subtitled Episodes Broadcast on Japanese Language Station UTB Source: United Television Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Earlier this year, SciFi Japan reported that Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRAMAN TIGA (Urutoraman Taiga, 1996) was being broadcast on the independent Japanese language TV station UTB (United Television Broadcasting Systems, Inc.) in Hollywood. Now TIGA has been joined by the follow-up series ULTRAMAN DYNA (Urutoraman Daina, 1997), making its US television debut with two episodes airing each Saturday and Sunday from 6:30am - 7:25am. ULTRAMAN DYNA takes place in the year AD 2017. Humans have begun terraforming other planets for colonization during a time known as "Age of the Neo Frontier". One day, the Neo Frontier is attacked by mysterious objects known as the Spheres. Shin Asuka, new member training for the new GUTS (Global Unlimited Task Squad) team, "Super GUTS", fights back. Asuka`s ship is damaged during the

    Peter Fernandez at the 2008 premiere of SPEED RACER during the Tribeca Film Festival.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Bob Johnson On Thursday July 15, 2010, the television and movie industry lost one of its truly unsung heroes. Peter Fernandez passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 83. Although fans of international films and TV know his name and his contributions, Hollywood as a whole has passed over a little-known industry that made it possible to import many foreign efforts that we would have never otherwise seen. The dubbing of international product was a thankless chore and an underpaid one in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Peter Fernandez was a tireless pioneer and turned out some of the most memorable and highest quality dub tracks of a generation. Fans of Japanese animation, Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera, Space Giants, spaghetti westerns, kung-fu cinema, as well as films from France and other non-English speaking countries have heard Peter`s voice and voice direction literally

    EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE is just one of fifty Asian films playing this month at Fantasia. Photo courtesy of EIN`s M&M. © 2009 Khara

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Montreal Genre Movie Festival Runs July 8-28 Source: Fantasia press release Official Site: Fantasia 2010 The organizers of Fantasia International Film Festival— North America`s largest genre film festival— have once again pulled together an amazing lineup of movies to screen in Montreal. From July 8 to 28, Fantasia 2010 will showcase 120 feature films and several hundred shorts from all over the world, including a number of North American and international premieres. Please visit Fantasia`s official website for their complete film list and schedule, venues and directions, ticket information, and other details. SciFi Japan readers may be particularly interested in the fest`s Asian movie schedule, detailed in the following press release... From Asia with Love – Overview of the Asian Programming of Fantasia 2010 For its fourteenth edition, the Fantasia Film Festival is proud to present over 50 titles from Asia. Once again, Japan, the

    © ULTRAMAN ZERO THE MOVIE Production Committee

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    Tsuburaya Announces Production of 45th Anniversary Ultraman Movie Author: Jim M. Ballard Source: Asahi.com Official Movie Site: ultramanzero.com In celebration of the Ultraman series` 45th anniversary in 2011, production has begun on Tsuburaya Productions` latest feature film ULTRAMAN ZERO THE MOVIE: SUPER DECISIVE BATTLE! BELIAL`S GALACTIC EMPIRE (Urutoraman Zero THE MOVIE Chou Kessen! Beriaru Ginga Teikoku), due for nationwide theatrical release this December in Japan. The latest Ultra hero Ultraman Zero, the son of Ultra Seven, takes on the role of the protagonist in this production, while Ultraman Belial, history`s first evil Ultraman who rampaged screens in last year`s ULTRA GALAXY: MEGA MONSTER BATTLE (Daikaiju Battoru Urutora Ginnga Densetsu THE MOVIE) has survived, returning in a powered-up form and proclaiming himself to be "the galactic emperor Kaiser Belial". Building up an enormous galactic empire, Kaiser Belial aspires for universal conquest in revenge against

    Contents of the DVD Memorial Box © Mega Monster Battle ULTRA GALAXY Film Partners / Bandai Visual. Photo by Jim M. Ballard

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Director Koichi Sakamoto`s MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE) was released on home video in Japan on April 23rd. Three different editions were released; a single disc DVD, a double-disc "Memorial Box" DVD collection, and a single disc Blu-ray. All three editions include English subtitles. While playback of the DVD editions are restricted to Japan, Europe and other Region 2 DVD countries, the Blu-ray edition is compatible with all Region A Blu-ray players, including North America. SciFi Japan takes a look at the feature-packed "Memorial Box" collection... Memorial Box Overview The Memorial Box DVD package for MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY follows the pattern for the last two Ultraman feature memorial boxes, ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS and SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS. The entire contents

    “Will the galaxy be plunged into darkness?” reads this advance teaser ad for MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan. © Mega Monster Battle ULTRA GALAXY Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Jack Bass Official Movie Site: Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Released on April 23 on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan with import friendly English subtitles, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu The Movie; lit. Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends- The Movie) has finally made its way into the homes of the non-Japan residing Ultra faithful. After all of the trailers, promotional stills, early reviews, and months of speculation, how does the film stack up against previous entries in the series? Much like STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982), ULTRA GALAXY represents a bold new direction for an established series. Nearly every shot of the film features some sort of digital VFX, due in large part to filming almost exclusively against a green screen. By doing so, ULTRA

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