SciFi Japan

    Teo (Miyuki Sawashiro), Haruka (Haruka Ayase) and Cotton (Tamaki Matsumoto) explore a land of long-lost childhood treasures in the computer animated film OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR. © 2009 Fuji Television Network/ Production I.G / Dentsu/ Pony Canyon

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee FUNimation Entertainment has acquired the home entertainment, broadcast, digital, and mobile rights to the Production I.G. full length animated film, OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR (??????? ????????, Hottarake no Shima - Haruka to Maho no Kagami, 2009). Directed and co-written by Shinsuke Sato (the GANTZ live action films), the film was nominated for the award for Excellent Animation of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize. OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR is the first full length film from Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOL. 1) done completely in 3D computer generated animation. To separate the film from American computer animated productions, the character designs have a unique “anime” style to them while the look and feel of the animation bear a closer

    The opening logo for GODZILLA: THE SERIES. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd./Adelaide Productions, Inc.

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    A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE GODZILLA`S ANIMATED ADVENTURES The Cast and Characters of GODZILLA: THE SERIES GODZILLA: THE SERIES – THE DEFINITIVE EPISODE GUIDE GODZILLA`S ANIMATED ADVENTURES The Making of GODZILLA: THE SERIESAuthor: Bob JohnsonSource: Sony Pictures Family EntertainmentOfficial Site: sony.com/tv/kids/godzillaSpecial thanks to Keith Aiken, Fil Barlow, Jeff Kline, Audu Paden and John Russel “The fearsome franchise continues this Fall with the debut of GODZILLA: THE SERIES. Just as Manhattan and the rest of America recover from the chaos and havoc the world’s most famous monster wreaked this Summer, a series of new catastrophes appear. Only our hero Nick Tatopoulos and his enormous new ally, Godzilla, can prevent further destruction. Riding the crest of the monstrous success of the feature film, GODZILLA: THE SERIES will build upon the huge following of the world’s favorite monster with ‘A whole

    Striking quad poster design for the upcoming UK theatrical release of the Japanese Academy Award winning thriller VILLAIN. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2010 Toho Co., Ltd., Amuse Inc.

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    Source: Third Window Films, Rabbit Publicity Official Movie Site: akunin.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/villain (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel and Davide Previti VILLAIN (??, Akunin) A film by Lee Sang-il (HULA GIRLS) UK RELEASE DATE: 19 August 2011 Certificate: 15 Running time: 140 mins In Japanese with English subtitles Colour/35mm and Digital release NOMINATED for 15 Japanese Academy Awards WINNER of 5 Japanese Academy Awards including: Best Actress, Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor and Music Score WINNER ‘Best Actress – Eri Fukatsu’ – Montreal Film Festival WINNER ‘Best Actor – Satoshi Tsumabuki’ – 53rd Blue Ribbon Awards WINNER ‘Best Japanese Film of 2010’ – Kinema Junpo Starring: Eri Fukatsu (THE MAGIC HOUR, BAYSIDE SHAKEDOWN) Satoshi Tsumabuki (TOKYO!, VILLON`S WIFE, PANDEMIC) Hikari Mitsushima (LOVE EXPOSURE, DEATH NOTE, SAWAKO DECIDES) Masaki Okada (CONFESSIONS) With over twenty companies bidding for the film adaptation rights, and many of

    Check out SFJ`s breaking news on the GODZILLA VS MEGALON Blu-ray/DVD plus classic Gamera films streaming online for free. GODZILLA VS MEGALON © 1973 Toho Co., Ltd. GAMERA VS GYAOS © 1967 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

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    Source: Media Blasters, Inc., Golden Media Group Special Thanks to Carl Morano and Roy McAree SciFi Japan has received some news updates today that should be of interest to daikaiju fans... • Media Blasters informed us that GODZILLA VS. MEGALON is scheduled for DVD and Blu-ray on November 29, 2011. • In response to demand, the GooHead.com Internet Channel will add the original Japanese (with English subtitles) versions of the Gamera films to their lineup, beginning with GAMERA vs GYAOS (English dubbed versions are already available). All of the Gamera movies will be streamed for free. For much more information on these topics, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan: GODZILLA VS MEGALON Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray Rumors False Media Blasters Discusses DVD and Blu-ray Plans for DESTROY ALL MONSTERS and GODZILLA VS MEGALON And: Gamera

    Original Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima holds up autographed Godzilla photo for Anime Jungle`s Tetsuo Shiota. Photo courtesy of Tetsu Shiota.

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    Toho Monster Makers Attend Convention in Burbank, CA Source: Tetsu Shiota and Shinichi Wakasa Filmmakers, fans, collectors, and dealers from around the world flocked to Monsterpalooza 2011, held April 8-10 at the Marriott Burbank Hotel and Convention Center. Among the guests were two key figures from Toho`s Godzilla movie series: Haruo Nakajima and Shinichi Wakasa. Mr Nakajima played the title role in the original GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954) and would go on to portray the King of the Monsters in twelve films. He was also the "man in the monster suit" for such films as RODAN (Sora no Daikaiju Radon, 1956), THE MYSTERIANS (Chikyuu Boeigun, 1957), MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961), and KING KONG ESCAPES (Kingu Kongu no Gyakushu, 1967), as well as episodes of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRA Q (Urutora Kyuu, 1966) and ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966). Haruo Nakajima spent much of the weekend signing autographs, with the proceeds going to

    A twisted Garden of Eden is revealed in the production art for MATANGO. © 1963 Toho Co, Ltd.

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    Author: Sean Kotz THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT: The Story that Inspired MATANGO For all the artistic beauty of ONIBABA, the graphic intensity of JIGOKU, and the genre-blending impact of GOKE: BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL (Kyuketsuki Gokemidoro), Ishiro Honda’s MATANGO is probably the most significant, disturbing and influential of Japan’s 60s horror/sci-fi psychodramas. Often cited as an anti-drug film, MATANGO is more significant in its conscious embrace of psychology. In its original language form, MATANGO is a creepy and intelligent film that stands in sharp contrast to Toho’s generally optimistic sci-fi of the decade. With a slow-boiling tension, smart writing, convincing portrayals and some simple but effective special effects, MATANGO deftly explores the limits of human will and the lengths of social restraints. At the same time it directly questions the fabric of reality and the nature of happiness.

    Color guide used during the production of GODZILLA: THE SERIES. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Family Entertainment. © 1998 Toho Co., Ltd./Adelaide Productions, Inc.

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    Complete Animated Series Now Available Online Official Site: sony.com/tv/kids/godzilla Special Thanks to Zen Faulkes Netflix subscribers can now watch all forty episodes of Sony Pictures Television`s animated program GODZILLA: THE SERIES. Spun off from the studio`s big budget GODZILLA (1998), the show aired Saturday mornings on the Fox Network from 1998 to 2000. Netflix has also made available two episodes of GODZILLA: THE SERIES, 126- THE BALLAD OF GENS DU MARAIS and 139- TOURIST TRAP, which were not broadcast on US television. To view the GODZILLA: THE SERIES episodes, visit netflix.com/Godzilla-The-Complete-Series. For more on the series check out SciFi Japan`s The Ultimate Guide to GODZILLA: THE SERIES.

    Godzilla returns to the big screen with a brief sequence in the drama ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2. Godzilla is © Toho Co., Ltd. © 2007 Always2 Film Partners

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    Director Takashi Yamazaki Discusses Godzilla’s Cameo Appearance in ALWAYS 2Author: Keith Aiken Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network), ASCII Media Works, Midnight Eye, various Official Site: Always 2Translations by Oki Miyano Special Thanks to James Ballard In November 2005, Japanese moviegoers flocked to see the drama ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET (Always San-Chome no Yuhi). Adapted from the popular manga by Ryohei Saigan, the film told the story of the residents of Third Street— a small Tokyo neighborhood in late 1958. The rosy, nostalgic tale was a tremendous box office success that triggered a national fad for the “Showa Era” of Japan (1926-1989). ALWAYS was also a critical hit, winning 33 awards domestically and internationally, including Picture of the Year, Director of the Year, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress at the 2006 Japan Academy Prize. The cast and crew

    LOVE EXPOSURE director Sion Sono. Photo courtesy of NYAFF.

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    Source: Japan Society JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film JUNE 30 - JULY 12 at Japan Society JAPAN CUTS: FESTIVAL OF NEW JAPANESE FILM is a diverse selection of the most notable recent films from Japan, giving New Yorkers a first look at blockbusters and cinematic landmarks from cutting-edge independents to highly innovative animations. In its third year, JAPAN CUTS is the only large-scale annual Japanese film festival in North America that brings a sizable slice of Japan`s contemporary film scene to New York City. The program is replete with exclusive Q&As with filmmakers, special events and more. Launched in Summer 2007 to celebrate Japan Society`s centennial, the first annual JAPAN CUTS was one of the most successful single events in Japan Society`s 2007-08 centennial celebration. Noted for its "rich and varied selection of recent Japanese films” (David Kehr, The New York Times),

    After numerous false starts, the YAMATO saga is successfully revived with the feature film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: RESURRECTION. © 2009 Space Battleship Yamato Film Partners

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    Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: yamato2009 SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: RESURRECTION (Uchu Senkan Yamato: Fukkatsu Hen) Executive Producers: Shoji Nishizaki, Yoshinobu Nishizaki, Toshiaki Nakazawa Director: Yoshinobu Nishizaki Original Story: Yoshinobu Nishizaki Original Concept: Shintaro Ishihara Script: Buryu Ishihara, Atsuhiro Tomioka. Yoshinobu Nishizaki Music: Naoto Otomo, Hiroshi Miyagawa Theme Song: The Alfee Cast Susumu Kodai: Koichi Yamadera Yuki Kodai: Noriko Yume Miyuki "Miho" Kodai: Ayumi Fujimura Gorui: Masatoh Ibu Shiro Sanada: Takeshi Aono Dr. Sakezou Sado: Ichiro Nagai Narrator: Michio Hazama Distribution: Toho Co., Ltd., Emotion Released: December 12, 2009 (Japan) Running Time: 131 minutes Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Synopsis: 2220 A.D.: Seventeen years have passed since the space battleship Yamato was destroyed while saving Earth from the flood waters of Planet Aquarius. Earth has enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, and

    English promotional art for DETROIT METAL CITY. © 2008 Toho Co., Ltd. /Horipro Inc. / Hakusensha, Inc. /Sony Music Ent. (Japan) Inc. / Dentsu Inc. /d-rings Inc. /Parco Co., Ltd. /SDP, Inc. /Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. /Yahoo Japan Corporation /Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. /Tsutaya Group.

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    DEATH NOTE`s Kenichi Matsuyama and Gene Simmons of KISS Star in Adapatation of Hit Manga Source: New York-Tokyo press release Official Site: go-to-dmc NY Premiere of DETROIT METAL CITY Directed by Toshio Lee Starring Kenichi Matsuyama, Gene Simmons Japan/2008/103 min./35mm film/Japanese with English Subtitles Thurs., Aug. 20 - Doors open 6:15pm - Film starts 7:00pm The ImaginAsian Theater, 239 East 59th Street (Bet. 2nd & 3rd Ave.), NYC For RSVP, newyork-tokyo.com/wp/dmc Detroit Metal City (DMC) is a manga series started in 2005 for Young Animal magazine. It soon earned a cult following for its eccentric setting, distinctive characters, radical story and funny jokes. As soon as it was released as a comic book, it quickly sold out at every bookstore, and those who couldn`t get the comic were called "DMC refugees". The rumor was spread by word of mouth as well as the blog/message board on

    On July 31st, the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta will screen a rare 35mm print of GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND, the original US version of GODZILLA VS GIGAN. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Rare 35mm Showing of the Original US Version of GODZILLA VS GIGAN Source: Timothy Price, Plaza Theatre GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND (aka GODZILLA VS. GIGAN) 1972, Toho, 89 min. Directed by Jun Fukuda. Starring Hiroshi Ishikawa, Tomoko Umeda and Yuriko Hishimi. Special Effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. English dubbed version. From a secret base hidden inside a life-sized Godzilla-shaped office building in a children`s amusement park, alien cockroaches (!!) launch an assault on earth using King Ghidorah and the cyborg monster Gigan. While a comic book artist and his friends attempt to foil the invaders` plans, Godzilla and Angilas battle the space monsters. Despite a remarkably low budget and lots of obviously recycled stock footage, this entry is a high- energy slug-fest that introduces one of Toho`s most colorfully imaginative monsters: the sickle-armed evildoer Gigan. It is also your only chance to hear Godzilla

    DEATH NOTE`s Kenichi Matsuyama plays innocent musician Soichi Negishi and his death metal alter-ego Johannes Krauser II in DETROIT METAL CITY. © 2008 Toho Co., Ltd. /Horipro Inc. / Hakusensha, Inc. /Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. /Dentsu Inc. /d-rings Inc. /Parco Co., Ltd. /SDP, Inc. /Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. /Yahoo Japan Corporation /Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. /Tsutaya Group.

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    Toho Heavy Metal Comedy To Screen This Month During J-Pop Summit Festival Source: VIZ Pictures Official Site: go-to-dmc (Japan), DMCtheMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji Toho`s 2008 heavy metal comedy DETROIT METAL CITY will make its San Francisco theatrical debut this month during the J-Pop Summit Festival. The film opens at the VIZ Cinema with a special Premiere Event on Saturday, September 18th, followed by a dozen screenings through the 27th. DETROIT METAL CITY takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like SPINAL TAP to hilarious new extremes in this film directed by Toshio Lee and based on the popular manga comic created by Kiminori Wakasugi. It features notable appearances by Gene Simmons from the legendary band, KISS, and Marty Friedman of Megadeth, and stars Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the most adored actors in Japan today and also known widely for

    Akira Takarada, star of GODZILLA and several sequels, takes to the stage in New York this weekend for the Japanese musical FREDDIE THE LEAF. © Freddie Company

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    U.S. Premiere Opens August 13, 2010 Source: TKO Entertainment press release Official Site: freddie.co.jp (Japanese) FREDDIE THE LEAF An all ages Japanese musical about the importance of every life, narrated by legendary Godzilla film actor Akira Takarada. Fri 8/13 at 7pm, Sat 8/14 at 2pm and 7pm, Sun 8/15 at 2pm New York, NY – Freddie Company in association with TKO Entertainment proudly presents the U.S. Premiere of the Japanese musical FREDDIE THE LEAF, written and directed by Takashi Inuishi, conceived by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, with music and lyrics by Shoichi Tama and starring popular Japanese film actor, Akira Takarada, and a cast of 21 Japanese teens and children. FREDDIE THE LEAF runs from August 13 – 15, 2010 in a limited engagement at John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater, located at 899 Tenth Avenue, between 58 and 59 Streets, in NYC.

    Auntie (Yoko Minamida, right) needs the blood of virgins to give her eternal life in HOUSE, a very weird haunted house story by filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi. Photo courtesy of NYAFF. © 1977 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Source: Janus Films Official Movie Site: janusfilms.com/house On July 30, 1977, Toho Co. Ltd released HOUSE (Hausu), a bizarre horror film written and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. Mixing scares, comedy, and psychedelic imagery— and based on an idea by the director`s 11 year-old daughter— HOUSE told the tale of seven high school girls who are trapped inside a haunted house with a bloodthirsty aunt, a demonic black cat, and killer pianos, mattresses, and chandeliers. The movie won the award for "Best Visual Effects" at the 23rd Asian Film Festival and went on to become a cult favorite in Japan. In the North America, however, HOUSE has rarely been shown. Toho`s international division prepared a subtitled version which had a few US screenings in the late 1970s. More recently, distributor Janus Films acquired rights to the film. HOUSE premiered on the Independent Film

    Japan Society`s fourth annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema begins July 1st. Photo courtesy of Japan Society. PARADE © 2010 2009 “Parade” Production Committee

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    Japan Society Confirms 24 Titles for its 4th Annual Summer Fest of New Films from Japan Source: Japan Society Official Site: Japan Cuts Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett and Tahmid Mannan JAPAN CUTS: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema July 1-16, 2010, at Japan Society Japan Society`s fourth annual JAPAN CUTS Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema screens 24 feature films--the most in the festival`s history and the largest showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema globally this year. In addition to 8 features co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival, JAPAN CUTS 2010 includes an array of Japan`s best films from 2010 and 2009, and a special selection of the decade`s best films never before released in the U.S. Made by both established and emerging directors and starring today’s hottest actors and festival winners, most films in JAPAN CUTS 2010 are international, U.S., or New York premieres,

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    For comments, questions, article submissions, advertising rates, and all other inquiries please contact SciFi Japan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. SciFi Japan on Facebook SciFi Japan on Twitter

    Photo courtesy of New York Asian Film Festival.

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    Source: Subway Cinema press releases Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne and Grady Hendrix NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2010 June 25 – July 8 More of what you`ve loved and waited for all year 7 countries! 45 movies! 17 Guests! The Film Society of Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater (June 25 - July 8 ) Japan Society (July 1 - 4) & midnight screenings at the IFC Center (on Friday and Saturdays) Presented in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center and with the programming support of the Japan Society, this is the ninth New York Asian Film Festival and it will unleash more guests, more movies, and more fun than ever before! More movie madness than last year, including the Official Opening Night Film and North American Premiere of IP MAN 2 (Hong Kong, 2010) with Sammo Hung and

    Director Akira Kurosawa, ca. 1952. Photo courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library.

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    Two-Part Film Festival Begins Tomorrow in Los Angeles Source: American Cinematheque The American Cinematheque joins the UCLA Film & Television Archive for a two-part retrospective celebrating the career of one of cinema’s most inventive and artful masters, Akira Kurosawa. Enraptured with the works of classic Hollywood director John Ford, Kurosawa skillfully borrowed elements from American genre films and wove them into the elegant tapestry of his Japanese works, which range from contemporary noirs to epic period pieces. Some of his greatest films include RASHOMON, THE SEVEN SAMURAI and RAN, though these three stunners hardly account for the entirety of his oeuvre, which spanned decades. Kurosawa`s career as a director featured a long-running professional relationship with actor Toshiro Mifune, whose charismatic, hyperbolic presence illuminated many of Kurosawa`s best films. Centennial Celebration: The Films of Akira Kurosawa, Part I— running at the Egyptian Theatre May 14 - 23,

    An ominous house beckons from a hilltop in writer/director Nobuhiko Obayashi’s horror movie HOUSE, one of the strangest films ever produced by Toho. Photo courtesy of Janus Films. © 1977 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    Bizarre Japanese Horror Film Now Playing in American Theaters Author: Kyle Byrd Source: Janus Films Official Movie Site: janusfilms.com/house When sitting down to review a film like Nobuhiko Obayashi’s HOUSE (Hausu), one has to dismiss everything they know about film criticism. It’s a film that is truly one of a kind, so the “rules” of film criticism are almost impossible to apply to it. When Toho mega producer Tomoyuki Tanaka gave TV commercial director Nobuhiko Obayashi a small chunk of money to make a horror film, its doubtful that he realized he was funding what would be one of the oddest films to come out of Toho Studios. HOUSE is a film that is truly beyond description. Obayashi took the imaginative musings of his 11-year-old daughter and turned them into what could be the most bizarre film I’ve ever seen (which is saying

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