SciFi Japan
    Photo courtesy of Avery Guerra ©Showa Tokusatsu Monster Film Cooperation Corps Special Thanks to Avery Guerra Director Shinpei Hayashiya just launched a fundraising campaign for his next tokusatsu kaiju film, WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS GOURA (忍獣大戦記 蛇龍対號羅, Shinobu Kemono Daisenki Daryū tai Goura). The independent filmmaker, known for works like REIGO: KING OF THE SEA MONSTERS (深海獣レイゴー, Shinkaijū Reigō, 2005/2008) and RAIGA: GOD OF THE MONSTERS (深海獣雷牙, Shinkaijū Raiga, 2009), is looking for additional funds to create higher-quality visual effects for his latest production. Photo courtesy of Avery Guerra ©Showa Tokusatsu Monster Film Cooperation Corps Hayashiya explained that recent Japanese monster movies have relied on modern computer graphics rather than the monster suits and miniatures used in past films.  He believes that the suit actors give life to monsters they portray and that the classic techniques should not be forgotten. To

    Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra   Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. 3Y Film and MRTS have announced that Robert Scott Field has been added to the cast of their upcoming kaiju film, HOSHI 35 (星35). Robert is a very familiar face to kaiju fans, having previously portrayed Android M11 in the hit GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH (ゴジラVSキングギドラ, Gojira tai Kingu Gidora, 1991) and one of the human hosts of Ultraseven 21 in the series ULTRAMAN NEOS (ウルトラマンネオス, Urutoraman Neosu, 2000-01). His recent credits include cameos in THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL (大仏廻国, Daibutsu Kokaiku, 2019) and GOD RAIGA VS KING OHGA (深海獣雷牙 対 溶岩獣王牙 Shinkaijū Raiga tai Yōganjū Ōga,, 2019) and voicework in The Asylum's MONSTER ISLAND (2019).  He has also been a frequent guest and MC for the annual G-Fest convention. Robert Scott Field joins a cast that already includes his Godzilla

    Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE   3Y Film and MRTS have provided an update for their upcoming kaiju film, HOSHI 35 (星35). The company had launched a fundraising campaign for the project on the popular Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake. It has been a great success, having smashed it's goal and currently sitting at 286% with 64 days still to go. There are also some new casting announcements to share... Photo courtesy of 3Y Film.   Yoshinori Tanaka -- Tanaka has appeared in Minoru Kawasak's kaiju comedy MONSTER SEAFOOD WARS (三大怪獣グルメ, San Daikaijū Gurume, 2020) and 3Y Film's NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020) and GHOST CAT RHAPSODY  (怪猫狂騒曲, Kaibyō Kyōsō Kyoku, 2022).                        

    SciFi Japan is pleased to present an early look at the new film, KAIJU: ISLAND OF FIRE. Photo courtesy of North Star Pictures JP. ©3North Star Pictures JP Source: North Star Pictures JPOfficial Site: https://www.kaijumultiverse.com/Special Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE   North Star Pictures JP have revealed the first details and advance artwork for their upcoming monster movie, KAIJU: ISLAND OF FIRE. The first film in a planned franchise, the story begins when a geological anomaly is discovered by a team of scientists on an ancient Japanese Island. After the members of a construction team, who were in the process of building a new military base there, go missing, a combined military and science task force is sent to investigate. Once on the island, the task force encounters a foreboding, fiery landscape now home to a strange and terrifying creature, capable of

      Source: Avery Guerra   Poster art, courtesy of Avery Guerra. An English subtitled trailer has been released for the upcoming Asian horror movie CIRCLE LINE (生死环线, Shēngsǐ Huánxiàn). Directed by J.D. Chua, the film will make history as Singapore's first major monster movie as well as their first VFX/CGI-driven movie.   CIRCLE LINE features special visual effects by award-winning animation company Omen Studios, and creature designes by Victor Marin.   The film's release was delayed by the pandemic and is now scheduled for January 2023.   View the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCCDlbZ3zQ4   SYNOPSIS   Trapped in the underground train tunnel system, a single mother’s resolve to protect her son is tested to the extreme as both of them are the few remaining survivors of an attack by a monster. Meanwhile

    The long unseen Korean monster movie SPACE MONSTER WANGMAGWI finally makes it North American debut, thanks to SRS Cinema! Photo courtesy of SRS Cinema and Avery Guerra. Source: SRS Cinema LLC press releaseSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra Distributor SRS Cinema has announced the launch of preorders for their limited edition Blu-ray of  SPACE MONSTER WANGMAGWI (우주괴인 왕마귀, Ujugoein Wangmagwi). Blu-ray cover art, courtesy of SRS Cinema and Avery Guerra. Released in 1967, WANGMAGWI was the second giant monster film to be made in South Korea (and first feature length one). A holy grail among kaiju fans, it was long thought to be lost until an original print emerged out of the blue a few years ago. It is being released on physical media for the FIRST time EVER -- anywhere in the world -- thanks to SRS Cinema. SYNOPSIS Aliens

    Concept art from the upcoming kaiju short film, MIDNIGHT THE ERA. Photo courtesy of Studio Mujaku. ©Studio Mujaku Author: Keith AikenSource: Studio MujakuSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Photo courtesy of Studio Mujaku. ©Studio Mujaku   SciFi Japan is pleased to present an exclusive preview of MIDNIGHT THE ERA, an upcoming kaiju short, created by an exceptional team of university students, that combines animation with traditional Japanese tokusatsu FX techniques. MIDNIGHT THE ERA is being produced by the independent film studio, Studio Mujaku. Established in Noivember 2021, Studio Mujaku is fully staffed by college students, mainly those studying art. The movie is being financially backed through a fundraising campaign, with a tentative completion date of July 2023. Unlike many student works, MIDNIGHT THE ERA will not be released on YouTube. Instead, it is scheduled to premiere at the Summer 2023

      © 2018 Youku Information Technology (Beijing) Company Source: ITN Distribution, Inc.Special Thanks to Avery Guerra   The independent film company ITN Distribution has released the Chinese giant monster movie SNOW MONSTER VS. ICE SHARK (大雪怪, Dàxuě guài, 2019) on DVD in North America. Directed by Huang He (UNDERGROUND MONSTER) and starring Juncheng Wu (UNKNOWN CONTROL), Yongxian Zhang (RESTART THE EARTH) and Tang Xin (LAND SHARK), the film follows representatives of a genetic research corporation who are attacked by giant creatures while on an expedition to an unknown area on the edge of the Arctic. © 2018 Youku Information Technology (Beijing) Company SNOW MONSTER VS. ICE SHARK is now available from Amazon and other major retailers (Walmart, Best Buy, etc) nationwide. The movie is presented in English and 2.35:1 widescreen, has a runtime of 82 minutes and a SRP of $15.99 .

    3y Film has announced a new kaiju film, HOSHI 35. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Author: Keith AikenSource: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE   Our friends at 3Y Film, the Japanese production company behind THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL (大仏廻国, Daibutsu Kokaiku, 2019) and NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020), and MRTS have shared an exclusive first look at their next kaiju film, HOSHI 35 (星35). ‘Hoshi’ means ‘star’ in Japanese and, like the English word, has several meanings. The movie, which will use traditional Japanese FX techniques (aka tokusatsu), will be directed by Hiroto Yokokawa (THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL, NEZURA 1964, GHOST CAT RHAPSODY).  Daisuke Sato (HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG) is also working on the film as cinematographer and part of the kaiju modeling team. 3Y Film has a tradition of bringing back actors known for their work

    Gamera the flying turle returns in 2023 with GAMERA -Rebirth-. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2023 KADOKAWA/ GAMERA Rebirth Production Committee Source: Kadokawa Pictures press release Official Site: https://gamera-rebirth.com (Japan) Official Twitter: @gamera_rebirth #Gamera Rebirth #gamera_rebirth  Kadokawa Pictures have provided the official press release and high-res images for their new Gamera project...   Gamera, resurrection. "GAMERA -Rebirth-" New Production and Global Distribution on Netflix! Production of the new work "GAMERA -Rebirth-" of the giant monster "Gamera," that has been loved by monster fans all over the world from the Showa era to the Heisei era, has been announced!     Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2023 KADOKAWA/ GAMERA Rebirth Production Committee From the Showa era to the Heisei era, Kadokawa has decided to produce a new work "GAMERA -Rebirth-"  (ガメラ リバース, Gamera Ribāsu)of the giant monster "Gamera", that

      © Willa Film, LLC. Source: Willa Film, LLC. press releaseSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra   CRABS!, the award-winning indie creature feature is now available to pre-order in the USA on iTunes and Apple TV. CRABS! took an astonishing eight years to make and is the labor of love of first time writer/director Pierce M. Berolzheimer. © Willa Film, LLC. CRABS! will be available to watch on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Prime on November 15th, 2022. A feature packed Director’s Edition Blu-Ray will be released a week later on November 22nd which will include three feature length commentaries (including a very special one from actor Chase Padgett in character as Radu!), behind the scenes featurettes, blooper reels, deleted scenes, storyboard animatics, and the official soundtrack. Pre-Order CRABS! here today! https://apple.co/3A1btHF CRABS! has been described as “a film lover's dream”

      Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. ©2022 All Rights Reserved Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications  Special Thanks to Leif Helland Well Go USA is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win THEY CRAWL BENEATH, the the practical effects-driven Sci-Fi creature feature  reminiscent of the fun horror films of the 1950s. Directed by Dale Fabrigar (D-RAILED, LONELY BOY), the nail-biting thriller stars Michael Pare (THE LINCOLN LAWYER), Joseph Almani (LAW OF ATTRACTION), Arthur Roberts (NOT OF THIS EARTH), Merrick McCartha (TWISTED TWIN), Karlee Eldridge (HOUSE OF BODIES), Elena Sahagun (TREMORS 3: BACK TO PERFECTION) and Natalia Bilbao (NO MAN’S LAW). Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. ©2022 All Rights Reserved THEY CRAWL BENEATH had its world premiere at the Texas Frightmare Festival and will also be screening at the Horror Hotel Film Fest and the Halloween Horror Picture Show.  

    Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © Delightful Love Letter to Japanese Pop Culture  Debuts Everywhere on Digital and  On Demand October 11, 2022 Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Eric McEver, Jeff Hammer, Bob Eggleton and Sarah J. De Bruin IKÉ BOYS key art by award-winning artist, Bob Eggleton. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©   A charmingly offbeat fantasy adventure that mixes live action, original animation, and tokusatsu special effects, the new feature film IKÉ BOYS will debut on Digital and On Demand on all major platforms October 11, 2022 from Shout! Studios. Heart-warming yet comedic, IKÉ BOYS is a coming-of-age story of adventure and friendship set amongst high school friends in late ’90s Oklahoma who escape the dull reality of daily life via a shared obsession with all things Japanese. A love letter to kaiju, anime

    Available For The First Time In North America,  Highly Anticipated 7-disc Dvd Collection To Be Made Available Directly To Fans On September 6, 2022 From Shout! Factory Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©Ishimori Production Inc. and Toei Company, Ltd. ©Toei Company, Ltd. The Super Sentai franchise, spanning 46 different series and concepts, had been going strong in Japan for many years.  Shout! Factory, in collaboration with eOne, is proud to present a special Super Sentai collection, CHIKYUU SENTAI FIVEMAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES, available directly to fans beginning September 6. This highly collectible 7-DVD collection contains all thrilling 48 episodes presented in Japanese with English subtitles. A must-have for enthusiasts and collectors to complete their pop culture library, SUPER SENTAI: CHIKYUU SENTAI FIVEMAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES is available for pre-order now from

    Available for the First Time in North America,  Bring Home This Highly Anticipated 7-Disc Blu-ray Collection Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. ©Ishimori Production Inc. and Toei Company, Ltd. In continued celebration of the landmark series’ 50th anniversary, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Toei Company Ltd., is proud to present a special Kamen Rider collection, KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES on national home entertainment shelves in September 20, 2022. Available for the first time in North America, this long-awaited 7-Disc Blu-ray set contains all 49 action-packed episodes from the original Japanese master and features separate subtitle tracks (Japanese only subtitle track and Japanese + Grongi language translation). KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES is a must-have for loyal fans and pop-culture collectors. Pre-order is available now at ShoutFactory.com. Fans who order KAMEN

      Old-School Tokusatsu Kaiju Return!Source: Team Better TomorrowSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra The the first trailer for the upcoming daikaiju movie YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei Saidai no Kessen) has been released. Written and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii (ULTRAMAN GINGA, ULTRAMAN GINGA S, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO boasts a cast and crew made of veterans from tokusatsu cinema and television including Masanori Machida (GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER, THE GREEN SLIME, ZATOICHI, ULTRASEVEN, MASKED RIDER SKYRIDER, ULTRAMAN TIGA),  Takehiko Fujita (ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER, THE METHOD OF THE KEY THIEF, FAMILY HAPPINESS),  Takashi Toyoda (ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), Hironobu Nomura (GAKKOU NO KAIDAN - SCHOOL GHOST STORIES, ULTRAMAN GINGA, KAMEN RIDER EX-AID), Yusuke Sugiyama (SHIN GODZILLA, ULTRAMAN GINGA), Takuya Fujisaki (RONIN STREET, ULTRAMAN TIGA), Daniel Aguilar (SHIN GODZILLA, DEATH KAPPA)

    Yumiko Tanaka, Yoshinori Tanaka, Yutaka Taguchi and Mako Principal have joined the cast of GHOST CAT RHAPSODY. Photos courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE    3Y Film, makers of THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL ((大仏廻国 Daibutsu Kaikoku, 2018) and NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020), have announced the latest cast additons to their upcoming musical tokusatsu movie, GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY (怪猫狂騒曲, Kaibyō Kyōsō Kyoku). Among the new actors are tokusatsu veteran Yumiko Tanaka, whose resume includes the Kamen Rider series MASKED RIDER SUPER-1 (仮面ライダースーパー1, Kamen Raidā Sūpā Wan, 1980-81). She also had a cameo role in Toho's THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (ゴジラ, Gojira, 1984) as Akemi, the assistant to news photographer Goro Maki. She will be joined by Yoshinori Tanaka, who previously appeared in 3Y Films' NEZURA 1964, director Monoru Kawasaki's daikaiju comedy MONSTER SEAFOOD WARS (三大怪獣グルメ,

    Source: MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler   Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. SRS Cinema and distributor MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD edition of ZILLAFOOT,  an epic kaiju homage to the Toho monsters and Tsuburaya heroes.   A UFO lands on Earth, unleashing a giant monster that is half lizard, half gorilla - Zillafoot! The monster rampages, decimating any military response and even awakening a strange dinosaur. Now it's up to scientists and the final member of the famed Ultrasquad to face the new threats and save humanity   The ZILLAFOOT DVD will be ravailable from SRS Cinema on October 5. The suggested retail price is $19.95. OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES and INFORMATION Prize: A. There are five (5) prizes, each consisting of

    VirusKing threatens Japan in the upcoming monster movie, YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow Source: Team Better TomorrowSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra  A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE   The makers of the upcoming daikaiju movie YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei Saidai no Kessen) have shared a gallery of new photos from the film. Written and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii (ULTRAMAN GINGA, ULTRAMAN GINGA S, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO boasts a cast and crew made of veterans from tokusatsu cinema and television. For more on  YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan. Takehiko Fujita and Masanori Machida. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow Photo courtesy of Team Better

    © 2024 Your Company. All Rights Reserved. Designed By JoomShaper