Director Takashi Yamazaki poses with the Godzilla model used
for ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2. © 2007 Always2
Film Partners

Director Takashi Yamazaki Discusses Godzilla’s Cameo in ALWAYS 2
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: NTV, ASCII Media Works, Midnight Eye, various
Official Site: Always 2
Translations by Oki Miyano
Special Thanks to James Ballard

After a three year absence, Godzilla returned to movie theaters in 2007 with a brief appearance in ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 (Always-Zoku San-Chome no Yuhi), sequel to the award-winning 2005 blockbuster. ALWAYS 2 also marked the first time in a Japanese feature film that the King of the Monsters was created completely via computer animation rather than the traditional suit techniques used in previous Godzilla movies.

Godzilla’s surprise appearance was the handiwork of ALWAYS 2 director, writer and director of special effects Takashi Yamazaki. With the film’s recent release on Region 2 DVD— and a theatrical screening scheduled for New York City in July— SciFi Japan takes a look at why and how Yamazaki included Godzilla in a drama about everyday people living in a small Tokyo neighborhood in early 1959.
Continued…

Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones, co-starring with Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams and Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood,
in INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures. © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Indiana Jones’ Latest Adventure
Source: Paramount Pictures
Official Website: Indiana Jones
Special Thanks to Joy O’Brien

Key theatrical poster art for INDIANA JONES AND THE
KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, opening this
Thursday. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

His exploits are the stuff of legend and his name has become the very definition of adventure.

Indiana Jones.

The whip-toting, punch-packing, snake-hating, globe-trotting archaeologist with a fedora is back on screen in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” debuting worldwide Thursday, May 22, 2008.

This newest adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 – the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield.

Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College – only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy’s recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he’ll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history – the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.
Continued…

Giveaway from the first screening of GODZILLA. The cardstock envelope included a slide of Godzilla stepping on a taxi, plus coupons for Godzilla products.
©1998 Toho Co., Ltd./TriStar Pictures

Ten years ago today, TriStar’s GODZILLA opened with special evening screenings in theaters across America.

A moment of silence, please.

So where does Speed go after making a colorful splash on the big screen?
©2008 Tatsunoko Productions and Speed Racer Enterprises.

Part 5: The Movie and Beyond
Author: James Long

On May 9th, one of the most eagerly awaited events in the history of SPEED RACER came to fruition when the big screen, live action adaptation of the adventures of these classic characters was released to theaters across America.

The notion of a live action version of SPEED RACER has been bandied about Hollywood for a couple of decades now. The earliest mentions of such a project appear to have come about in 1986, when then-student David Lane Seltzer was watching the movie TOP GUN. Scenes of Tom Cruise wearing his helmet while sitting inside his airplane’s cockpit reminded Seltzer of Speed Racer in his race helmet, driving the Mach 5. Latching onto that image, Seltzer realized the potential behind a big screen version of SPEED RACER, which led him to buy the option for the film rights from Tatsunoko Productions.

Read on to see how the new film came to be and where SPEED RACER goes from here!
Continued…

The Green Gargantua is back! 42 years after WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, Gaira returns in New Production: GO! GODMAN.
Fuyuki Shinada and the suit staff put the finishing touches on the monster and prepare him for action. Photos by Ed Godziszewski. ©2008 Toho Co., Ltd

SciFi Japan Presents an Exclusive Look at the New GODMAN DVD Special; Plus a Guide for the Original TV Series
Authors: Ed Godziszewski and John Paul Cassidy
Official Site: GODMAN & GREENMAN
Additional Information and Translations by Oki Miyano and Tetsu Shiota, Anime Jungle

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

On May 23, Toho will release a Region 2 DVD box set of episodes from the 1972-73 children’s shows GO! GODMAN and GO! GREENMAN. The set also includes New Production: GO! GODMAN, a brand new adventure in which the superhero battles five classic foes; Tsunojiras, Jilarji, Kappalge, Green-Mask… and Gaira the Green Gargantua from the classic monster movie WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS.

SciFi Japan previews the new GODMAN with an exclusive “on the set” report and photos from Ed Godziszewski. In addition, John Cassidy provides an overview and episode list for the original GO! GODMAN television show, and DVD specs for the new box set.
Continued…

The popularity of SPEED RACER spurred Tatsunoko to try their hands at other
similar shows. ©2008 Tatsunoko Productions and Speed Racer Enterprises.

Part 4: What Came Next? Sequels and Remakes
by James Long

Once MACH GO GO GO finished its initial Japanese broadcast run in March of 1968, the series remained popular and well remembered thanks to it being shown in syndicated reruns. As a result, toys and model kits based on the series continued to sell quite well, and were readily available for many years after the show ceased production. There were even attempts to expand these lines by creating new items like model kits of vehicles that never appeared in the series, such as a Mach 6 racing car and a motorcycle named “Gallant.” With that kind of long-term popularity, it certainly made sense that Tatsunoko Productions would try to recapture the same kind of magic they’d had with MACH GO GO GO by building a new series around a similar concept.

Join SciFi Japan and James Long for Part 4 of our look back at the classic SPEED RACER series!
Continued…

Godzilla 1954, Godzilla 1962, and a closer look at the Buring Godzilla 1995 from
the new Godzilla: Yuji Sakai’s Concept Works “Ka-Ma-E” set. © 1954-2008 Toho
Co., Ltd./2008 Bandai Co., Ltd.

Source: Anime Jungle

This past February, Bandai released Godzilla: Yuji Sakai’s Concept Works “Ka-Ma-E”, a collection of Godzilla figures sculpted by the popular Yuji Sakai (Godzilla Complete Works).

The series has four separate pieces (plus variant color versions), each depicting a fan favorite Godzilla design. Each figure stands approximately 88mm (3.5 inches) tall and comes with a base featuring the logo for the film depicted…
1. Godzilla 1954 from GODZILLA
2. Godzilla 1962 from KING KONG VS GODZILLA
3. Godzilla 1964 from MOTHRA VS GODZILLA/GODZILLA VS THE THING
4. Burning Godzilla 1995 from GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH

The standard four piece set is now in stock and can be ordered from Anime Jungle in Los Angeles, CA. Tell them SciFi Japan sent you!

The Concept Works “Ka-Ma-E” set features four beautifully sculpted Godzilla figures by Yuji Sakai. Pictured here are the 1954, 1962, and 1964 Godzilla designs.
© 1954-2008 Toho Co., Ltd./2008 Bandai Co., Ltd.

Source: Yahoo! Movies
Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie

Check out the opening sequence of the SPEED RACER motion picture, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. SPEED RACER is ©2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment.

SPEED RACER promotional art featuring Rain as racer Taejo Togokahn. ©2008 Warner Bros. Ent.

The Korean Superstar Discusses His Role in the New SPEED RACER Film
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Warner Bros.
Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie
Special Thanks to Gemma Cacho, Warner Bros.

As Warner Bros’ SPEED RACER movie opens in theaters today, audiences will be reintroduced to the wonderful cast of characters from the classic anime series. The film brings back a slew of familiar faces, from Speed, Trixie, Racer X and Chim-Chim to supporting players such as Inspector Detector and recurring villains like Snake Oiler.

SPEED RACER’s writing/directing team of Andy and Larry Wachowski have also introduced several new characters created specifically for the movie. One of the most important of these new creations is Taejo Togokahn, the lead driver and heir apparent of Togokahn Motors. In an attempt to prevent a hostile takeover of his family’s business, Teijo brings together Speed Racer and Racer X for the Casa Cristo 5000, a race so dangerous that it has been nicknamed “The Crucible”. The three racers form a team against some of the most violent and deadly drivers the World Racing League has ever seen.

Playing the part of Taejo Togokahn is the Korean R&B/pop singer Rain (aka Jung Ji-hoon), who has been a sensation across Asia and is now breaking into the American spotlight. As part of the publicity tour for SPEED RACER, Rain took part in a round table interview to talk about the film and his upcoming project NINJA ASSASSIN.
Continued…

The new Mach 6 tears up the World Racing League racetracks in SPEED RACER. ©2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment

A Detailed Look at the New Live Action Film!
Source: Warner Bros.
Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie
Photos courtesy of Gemma Cacho, Warner Bros.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new film.

©2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action SPEED RACER marks the Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration since THE MATRIX movies. SciFi Japan takes a look behind the scenes of the much-anticipated movie with production notes and more than three dozen photographs, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

SPEED RACER opens nationwide this Friday, May 9.
Continued…

Speed Racer leaps from the Mach 5 in this promo piece from Tatsunoko Studios.
©2008 Tatsunoko Productions and Speed Racer Enterprises.

MACH GO GO GO Comes to the U.S.
Author: James Long

One problem that Tatsunoko Productions faced during the production of MACH GO GO GO was the budget. By switching to color, the cost of each episode nearly doubled from that of an episode of SPACE ACE. A single episode of SPACE ACE cost roughly 1,800,000 yen, while an episode of MACH GO GO GO would run about 3,500,000 yen (Approximately $4,970 per episode compared to $9,660 per episode, at 1967 exchange rates). The money from sponsors helped to cover much of the deficit, but not all of it. For additional financial support, the Yoshidas turned to an idea that had been in the back of their minds when developing the series. They looked to sell the series to foreign countries — America in particular.

Join SciFi Japan and James Long for Part 3 of our look back at the classic SPEED RACER series!
Continued…