SciFi Japan

    Xenorama #16 is now on sale. Image courtesy of David McRobie. © David McRobie

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Monster Magazine Publishes First New Issue in 12 Years Source: David McRobie David McRobie`s fanzine Xenorama: The Journal of Heroes and Monsters took a 12 year break before returning this past July with issue #15. Now, a mere two months later, comes Xenorama #16. The latest issue features an in-depth SPACE GHOST episode guide plus articles on DOCTOR WHO, Gamera and the kung fu classic AVENGING WARRIORS OF SHAOLIN (aka SHAOLIN RESCUERS). Writer Christopher Elam takes a look back at the POWER RANGERS on their 20th anniversary with his latest "Ranger Report", which he started writing for Xenorama 20 years ago as well. There`s also a fun look at THE CREATURES THE WORLD FORGOT, the "lost" dinosaur movie from Hammer Films, written by new contributor John LeMay. And, as always, Godzilla makes an appearance as well. SciFi Japan`s Dan Ross once again provides the great cover

    LIBRARY WARS will make it`s Australian premiere at the 17th Japanese Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation. ©

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The 2013 Lineup Unfolds! Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press release Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net Special Thanks to Amanda Thompson The 17th Japanese Film Festival is proud to present a national program for the first time in festival history. 12 of the latest box office hits plus 5 classics will tour all 5 cities: Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. 11 of these are Australian premieres. The festival opens in Sydney from 14 – 24 November at Event Cinemas George Street and in Melbourne from 28 November – 8 December at Hoyts Melbourne Central & ACMI Cinemas, Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Opening + Closing Films Opening the festival is a tribute to the world of words. THE GREAT PASSAGE (????, Fune wo Amu, 2013) is a celebration of a vision to create the best Japanese dictionary starring two of Japan’s leading

    Strong performance overseas has lifted PACIFIC RIM`s total box office to more than $400 million. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND LEGENDARY PICTURES FUNDING, LLC

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. press release Official Site: pacificrimmovie.warnerbros.com Guillermo del Toro’s widely praised action adventure PACIFIC RIM has crossed $400 million dollars at the worldwide box office, becoming the director’s highest grossing film ever. The announcement was made August 30 by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution, and Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Legendary Pictures. Internationally, PACIFIC RIM is still in release in a number of territories and has grossed $302 million thus far. In China alone, the film is the biggest of any Warner Bros. Pictures release ever and the fifth-biggest MPA film gross in China’s cinema history. The film’s record-breaking release in China also furthers Legendary’s growing presence in the territory. “The worldwide performance of PACIFIC RIM is a clear testament to the quality and originality of Guillermo’s world-building,” said Jon Jashni, President and Chief

    Bandai`s S.H.Figuarts will release a 2 figure POWER RANGERS NINJA STORM Blue & Yellow Wind Ranger Set in January 2014. Photo courtesy of Bluefin. © Toei

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Articulated Bandai Figure to be Sold in Japan and America Source: Bluefin Corp. S.H.Figuarts Official Site: tamashii.jp/shfiguarts (Japan) Special Thanks to Xavier Lim Following the release of S.H.Figuarts` Red Wind Ranger, the Blue and Yellow Wind Rangers (aka Hurricane Blue and Hurricane Yellow) arrive to complete the core team from POWER RANGERS NINJA STORM (HURRICANEGER)! Offered only as a Tamashii Web Shop exclusive in Japan, this limited 2 figure set will be made available to fans in North America courtesy of Bluefin Distribution. The set also features a full array of accessories and interchangeable parts, including the Yellow Wind Lion Hammer, Blue Wind Sonic Fin, and Ninja Swords (2 sets each), as well as interchangeable hand parts (5 right/6 left sets for each figure). Ideal for displaying with the S.H. Figuarts Red Wind Ranger (sold separately) and S.H.Figuarts` Crimson Thunder Ranger & Navy Thunder Ranger Set (coming

    Osaka University of Arts students prepped and filmed a daikaiju battle for a course on traditional live-action Japanese special effects techniques. Photo courtesy of Dream Planet Japan Inc.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Special Thanks to Koichi Kawakita Mr. Kazuki Omori was the director and screenwriter of GODZILLA vs BIOLLANTE (???VS?????, Gojira tai Biorante, 1989) and GODZILLA vs KING GHIDORAH (???VS??????, Gojira tai Kingu Gidora, 1991). Now, he is a professor at Osaka University of Arts` Image/Picture department. In 2013, the University established a new “Tokusatsu” (traditional live-action special effects) course run by Mr. Omori. Developed by generations of filmmakers, Tokusatsu is now a part of Japanese culture that has included Godzilla and monster movies, hero franchises like Ultraman and Super Sentai, and big FX films. Mr. Omori invited Mr. Koichi Kawakita to be a visiting scholar for the course. Mr.Kawakita was the Tokusatsu director of six films in the Heisei Godzilla series produced from 1989-1995. He often worked with Mr. Omori at that time. Mr. Kawakita has lectured the class about the

    Members of the girl “geek-idol” group DEMPAGUMI.inc star in the new fantasy INNOCENT LILIES from TV Asahi and Toei. Image courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. © 2013 Innocent Lilies Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    New Toei/TV Asahi Fantasy Gets Worldwide Streaming Release in this September Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: shiromajo.jp (Japan) Worldwide Streaming Site: viki.com/20570c-innocent-lilies Introduction Time has rejected innocent virgins. There seems to be no place left for girls suffering from broken hearts. But there are hands reaching out for them: the hands of the legendary White Witch. They say the Witch was once a girl, deeply hurt and now carrying a never-ending pain. For only the ones who know real pain can acquire the power of witchcraft... TV Asahi and Toei, the team who brought live-action movie series such as the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai/Power Rangers to great success, took on the challenge of making the long-awaited “Action-Fantasy Heroine Movie”, INNOCENT LILIES (?????, Shiro Majo Gakuen). The scriptwriter to come up with a unique “girls witchery” story that has never been told

    The masked hero Tiger Mask battles dangerous foes and defends innocent children in the manga adaptation THE TIGER MASK. Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2013 'Tiger Mask' Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Live Action Anime/Manga Adaptation Begins International Screenings Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: tigermask-movie.jp Additional Material: Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival This past January, SciFi Japan profiled Shochiku`s upcoming superhero movie, THE TIGER MASK (???????, Taiga Masuku). After a long stretch with little activity to report, the film has finally began public screenings: the International Premiere was held at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in July, the North American Premiere will take place August 4, 2013 at the Fantasia International Film Festival, and the Japanese theatrical release is scheduled for November 2013. THE TIGER MASK is based on writer Ikki Kajiwara and artist Naoki Tsuji`s popular manga about a masked wrestler superhero, originally serialized from 1968-1971. Toei Co., Ltd. also produced a TIGER MASK anime series, which ran for 105 episodes between 1969-1971. The show was a hit, with a peak rating

    Xenorama #15 is now on sale. Image courtesy of David McRobie. © David McRobie

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Monster Magazine Publishes First New Issue in 12 Years Source: David McRobie After a twelve year hiatus, Xenorama: The Journal of Heroes and Monsters returns with the all-new issue #15. The all-color magazine features articles on INFRAMAN, THE VALLEY OF GWANGI, El Santo, Jet Li, Godzilla and more! Xenorama is edited and published by David McRobie. A longtime administrator of the Monster Zero forums, McRobie has been writing about monster movies for over twenty years with his work appearing in Famous Monsters, G-Fan, Oriental Cinema, The Prehistoric Times and other magazines. In his spare time he referees roller derby. Xenorama #15 includes articles by Christopher Elam, Jeff Goodhartz, Tara DeVeau, Chad McAlpin and Mike Lawyer on the following subjects... • GODZILLA`S REVENGE • THE VALLEY OF GWANGI • INFRAMAN • the history of Xenorama`s first run • MOBY DICK episode guide • GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER

    An army of 20,000 soldiers marches on Oshi Castle in THE FLOATING CASTLE, screening July 21st in New York City. Photo courtesy of Asmik Ace Entertainment. © 2012

    Tokusatsu - FX

    500 Rebels Defend Against an Army of 20,000 Source: Asmik Ace Entertainment, TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System), Japan Society Official Movie Site: nobou-movie.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett The period epic THE FLOATING CASTLE (?????, Nobo no Shiro, 2012) will have its US Premiere on Sunday, July 21st as the closing film of Japan Cuts: The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema. The screening will take place 8:00 pm at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street - Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium, New York, NY 10017). Co-directed by Shinji Higuchi (SINKING OF JAPAN, Gamera trilogy) and Isshin Inudo (ZERO FOCUS), THE FLOATING CASTLE is based on Ryo Wada`s novel of the same name, which has sold more than 1.3 million copies since 2007. In the year 1590, the mighty warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi (Masachika Ichimura) is close to fulfilling his ambition of unifying all

    Webcomic artist Kang Ji-yoon (Lee Si-young) is the prime suspect in a series of bizarre murders in the new Korean horror film KILLER TOON. Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment America. © 2013 CJ E&M CORPORATION

    Tokusatsu - FX

    New Korean Horror Film Now Playing in Los Angeles Source: CJ Entertainment America Special Thanks to Hoon Bae SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie. The new Korean horror film KILLER TOON (? ??: ????, Deo Webtoon: Yeogosalin) is now playing at the CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles. The following production notes are courtesy of distributor CJ Entertainment... SYNOPSIS Webcomic predicts future murders! A webcomic editor-in-chief is found dead. Every piece of evidence suggests that the death was a suicide, but lead detective Ki-Chul instinctually believes that this is a case of murder. During his investigation, he comes across a webcomic that uncannily resembles the murder, even down to the exact position of the body. He begins to suspect Ji-Yoon, the creator of the popular horror webcomic, is involved. Ji-yoon, who has been suffering from horrific

    The day before PACIFIC RIM opens nationwide, fans can participate in beach clean-up events in eight Pacific Coast cities. © 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND LEGENDARY PICTURES FUNDING, LLC

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Contribute to a Great Cause on July 11th and Receive Free Movie Tickets and T-Shirts Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. press release Official Site: pacificrimmovie.warnerbros.com In support of the upcoming theatrical release of Guillermo del Toro’s new sci-fi action adventure “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures PACIFIC RIM,” eight North American coastal cities along the Pacific Rim are joining in to host monster-sized, family-friendly beach clean-up events on Thursday, July 11. Warner Bros., along with local media partners, RealD, various eco-friendly organizations and local parks and recreation departments, is encouraging people to join the clean-up efforts. They will award the first 100 participants at each local clean-up event two tickets to see the film in RealD 3D on opening weekend, as well as a special PACIFIC RIM t-shirt made of recycled materials, courtesy of RealD, and other prizes. To ensure successful PACIFIC RIM

    Promotional art for Legendary Pictures` sci-fi action adventure PACIFIC RIM, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND LEGENDARY PICTURES FUNDING, LLC

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Complete Final Credits for Upcoming Giant Monster Movie Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Official Site: pacificrimmovie.warnerbros.com Warner Bros. Pictures has provided the complete final credits for Guillermo del Toro`s sci-fi action adventure PACIFIC RIM, opening July 12, 2013. Monster movie fans should take note of the dedication at credits` end. For much, much more on this film, please see the PACIFIC RIM Production Notes and High-Res Images here on SciFi Japan. A WARNER BROS. PICTURES and LEGENDARY PICTURES Presentation A LEGENDARY PICTURES/DDY Production A GUILLERMO DEL TORO Film PACIFIC RIM CAST Raleigh Becket......... CHARLIE HUNNAM Yancy Becket......... DIEGO KLATTENHOFF Stacker Pentecost......... IDRIS ELBA Mako Mori......... RINKO KIKUCHI Dr. Newton Geiszler.......... CHARLIE DAY Gottlieb......... BURN GORMAN Herc Hansen......... MAX MARTINI Chuck Hansen......... ROB KAZINSKY Ops Tendo Choi......... CLIFTON COLLINS, JR. Hannibal Chau......... RON PERLMAN Construction Foreman......... BRAD WILLIAM HENKE Construction Worker......... LARRY

    Photo courtesy of Bluefin. © Toei

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Articulated Bandai Figure to be Sold in Japan and America Source: Bluefin Corp. S.H.Figuarts Official Site: tamashii.jp/shfiguarts (Japan) Special Thanks to Xavier Lim The most powerful form of the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS Red Ranger (aka the Armored Tyranno Ranger from ZYURANGER) has arrived to take down Rita Repulsa`s forces of evil! After receiving the Green Ranger Powers from an exhausted Tommy, Jason is able to command the full arsenal of his former teammate, including the use of his Dragon Shield and Dagger. Ready for action, the S.H. Figuarts Armored Red Ranger incorporates all of the necessary elements to achieve this morphinominal transformation, including the Power Sword, Dragon Dagger, Blade Blaster (in Blade mode only), and multiple handsets for posing. Don`t miss your chance to own this piece before it forever disappears to attend a peace conference. S.H. Figuarts Armored Red Ranger/ S.H.Figuarts ?????????????

    Attend the U.S. premiere of LIBRARY WARS this August at the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. Photo courtesy of TBS. ©

    Tokusatsu - FX

    See the Film and Attend Q&A with Director Shinsuke Sato on August 2nd Source: J-POP Summit Festival, MediaLab Official Site: jffsf.org Special Thanks to Erik Jansen The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, the popular yearly San Francisco summertime Japanese Pop Culture celebration, presents its inaugural Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the first fully-dedicated annual Japanese film event for the S.F. Bay Area, taking place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema from Saturday, July 27th through Sunday August 4th. To celebrate the event, festival organizers are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win free tickets to the U.S. premiere of LIBRARY WARS (?????, Toshokan Senso, 2013), playing at JFFSF on Friday, August 2nd at 7:00pm. Adding to the fun, Guest of Honor director Shinsuke Sato (GANTZ, GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER) will attend the premiere to introduce his new film and engage in an Q&A session with the

    Photo courtesy of Bluefin. © Toei

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Bluefin Corp. S.H.Figuarts Official Site: tamashii.jp/shfiguarts (Japan) Special Thanks to Xavier Lim Bluefin Distribution will have 2 booths this year for San Diego Comic-Con 2013, Booth #140 and Booth #3545. They are divided by the different Bandai Departments with each department offering their own exclusives. Tamashii Nations items will only be sold at Tamashii Nations booth #3545. Exclusives from Bandai Hobby and Bandai Shokugan will only be available at Bluefin booth #140. • There is a limit of 1 per person only for Exclusives from Bandai Hobby. • There is an opportunity to receive an autograph from Jason David Frank after purchasing S.H. Figuarts Green Ranger and the special stand set. Details on number of attendees for autographs and autograph location are still pending. • Megaforce Power Rangers will appear at Booth #3545 throughout the 4 days of the con. Times will be posted at booth. • All Exclusives

    Atsuko Maeda stars in the J-horror film THE COMPLEX, premiering July 9th at the New York Asian Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Nikkatsu. © 2013 The Complex Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    New J-Horror Film Screens July 9th in New York City Source: Nikkatsu Corporation, Subway Cinema Official Movie Site: kuroyuri-danchi.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Emico Kawai THE COMPLEX (??????, Kuroyuri Danchi, 2013) -- the new J-horror film from Hideo Nakata, director of THE RING (???, Ringu, 1998) -- will have its North American Premiere during the New York Asian Film Festival. The screening will take place Tuesday July 9th at the Film Society of Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater in New York City. Tickets can be purchased from filmlinc.com/tickets. THE COMPLEX was produced as part of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Japanese studio, Nikkatsu Corporation. Nikkatsu has provided SciFi Japan with a selection of high-res images from the film, which we`ve paired with NYAFF`s announcement for the premiere... THE COMPLEX North American Premiere Tuesday July 9, 9:45PM Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th

    Kamen Rider Wizard battles the sinister Kamen Rider Sorcerer in KAMEN RIDER WIZARD IN MAGIC LAND. Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. © Ishimori Pro TV Asahi · ADK · Toei

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Double Feature Opens in Japan on August 3rd Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: wizard-kyoryu.jp (Japan) Translations: Elliot Gay Additional Material: Alicia Ashby SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. MAGIC MUSIC MOVIE: KAMEN RIDER WIZARD X ZYUDEN SENTAI KYORYUGER Japanese Title: ??????? ??????????? x ????????????? (Majikku Myuujikku Muubii Kamen Raidaa Uizaado x Juu-den Sentai Kyouryuujaa) Movie: Saturday, August 3, 2013 (Roadshow) Production: The Movie "Wizard ? Kyoryuger" Production Committee Distributor: Toei International Sales: Toei Every fall for thirteen consecutive years, Toei has released a theatrical double feature starring the current incarnations of their top henshin hero franchises; the Super Sentai and the Kamen Riders. The 2013 entry pairs a musical featuring the heroes of the new Super Sentai television series KYORYUGER (?????????????, Juuden Sentai Kyooryuujaa, 2013-2014) with a magic-themed adventure for the characters of KAMEN RIDER

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Huge Festivals Return to New York City with Screenings of More than 70 Asian Films Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society Special Thanks to Ted Geoghegan, Grady Hendrix and Shannon Jowett Beginning Friday, June 28th, New York City once again will host a month-long festival of popular Asian cinema. Subway Cinema`s New York Asian Film Festival (June 28-July 15) and Japan Society`s Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 11-21) combined will feature nearly 80 different movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the seventh annual collaboration between Japan Cuts and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society. Festival Venues Film Society of Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater: June 28- July 11 165 West 65th Street, Upper Level (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue) Box office: (212) 875-5601 America`s pre-eminent film presentation organization,

    China`s Crimson Typhoon faces off against a Kaiju, code name Otachi in Warner Bros. Pictures` and Legendary Pictures` sci-fi action adventure PACIFIC RIM, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND LEGENDARY PICTURES FUNDING, LLC

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Photos and Information for Upcoming Giant Monster Movie Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Official Site: pacificrimmovie.warnerbros.com SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes the sci-fi action adventure “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim.” When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are synched via a neural bridge, called “The Drift.” But as the enemy grows more powerful with each attack, even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the

    Two Daimajin statues guard the entrance of Kadokawa Daiei studios. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. NHFN/1966

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Daimajin and Gamera on Display at Their Home Studio Author: Daisuke Ishizuka It is well known among tokusatsu fans that there is a 2m tall bronze statue of Godzilla at the entrance of Toho studios. But there is one more famous daikaiju spot in Tokyo... Kadokawa Daiei studios. While the general public cannot enter the studio grounds, there are two Daimajin statues to welcome visitors at the entrance. The "Great Angry God" Daimajin was a character created by Daiei and featured in three movies in 1966. Both Daimajins are impressive works of art standing 4.5m tall. Last December, one Majin wore a Santa Claus costume while the other had reindeer horns on its head. That was very bad idea because the Daimajins did not look cool. I hope that they never do costume play again. There is also the SHOP MAJIN at the

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