The Man of a Thousand Dub Tracks
Author: Bob Johnson
Special Thanks to Keith Aiken and Aaron Cooper

Peter Fernandez as he appears today.

Peter Fernandez is probably one of the more famous of the many behind the scenes heroes that work hard so we can enjoy movies and television shows from other countries. Most people who have heard of him think about SPEED RACER when Peter’s name is mentioned. And why not? Peter was the producer, director and writer of the series, as well as the voices of Speed Racer and Racer X.

However, there is so much more to the man than just one series or two characters. Since the 1940s, Peter has been a child model, a Broadway and movie actor, and a key figure responsible for most of the dubbing for movies and shows we’ve all grown up watching from Japan, China, Italy, Mexico and other countries. In addition to SPEED RACER, his long list of voice credits includes GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, ASTROBOY, ULTRAMAN, THE SPACE GIANTS, SON OF GODZILLA, GIGANTOR, STAR BLAZERS, the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns… and even a “clean version” of George Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD!

In this interview we tried to touch on all aspects of his life and work to give readers a better understanding of the remarkable career he has had. Even so, I feel we only managed to scratch the surface.
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On sale now: Media Blasters’ 2-disc set of GAMERA THE
BRAVE. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2006 Chiisaki
Yusha-tachi Gamera/Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

New Info, Cover Art, and Release Dates for Asian DVDs and Blu-ray on the ‘Tokyo Shock’ Label
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Richard York

The New York-based distributor Media Blasters has provided new information, cover art, specifications, and release dates for their ‘Tokyo Shock’ Blu-ray and Region 1 DVDs in the first quarter of 2009.

Check out SciFi Japan’s report for the latest news on GAMERA THE BRAVE, TOKYO GORE POLICE, MARTIAL CLUB, KISARAZU CAT’S EYE 2, DEATH TRANCE, ART OF THE DEVIL 3, ICHI THE KILLER, LONE WOLF AND CUB TV Series Volume 6, ONE MISSED CALL 3: FINAL and CROWS ZERO.
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Childhood fantasy and terrifying reality merge in 20th CENTURY BOYS, the first of three new movies based on the acclaimed manga by Naoki Urasawa.
Photo courtesy of NTV. ©2008 ”20th Century Boys” Film Partners

A Behind the Scenes Look at the Big Budget, Epic Sci-Fi Trilogy
Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network)
Official Movie Site: 20th Boys
Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Tzeling Huang

One of the biggest events in recent Japanese cinema is 20th CENTURY BOYS, the movie trilogy adapted from the internationally acclaimed sci-fi manga series. The three pictures were filmed together (as with THE LORD OF THE RINGS films) by a partnership of the Nippon Television Network, Shogakukan, Toho Co., VAP, Yomiuri Television, Dentsu, Yomiuri Shimbun, Cine Bazaar, Office Crescendo, and d-rights. Produced at a combined budget of 6 billion yen (approximately $60 million US), 20th CENTURY BOYS is the most expensive film project in Japanese history.

The first 20th CENTURY BOYS was released in Japan by Toho on August 30, 2008. It premiered in the #2 spot behind Sony Pictures’ HANCOCK and moved to the top of the box office in its second week of release. By mid-December the film had earned nearly $40 million, making it a major box office hit in Japan. The second movie will open in Japan on January 31.

NTV is handling world sales of 20th CENTURY BOYS and the film was screened this past November at the 2008 American Film Market. It has also been picked up for distribution in more than two dozen countries, including the United Kingdom where it will open on February 20.

NTV has provided photos, promotional art, and detailed production notes for the first 20th CENTURY BOYS movie which we are pleased to share with SciFi Japan readers. In the next few days we will also be running interviews with the cast and crew of the film, so check back soon for more on one of the most anticipated films to come out of Japan in years.
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PULGASARI Plays the Bloor Cinema in Toronto; GMK Strikes the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta
Source: Silver Scream Spook Show, Bloor Cinema

PULGASARI, North Korea’s first giant monster movie. © 1985 Korean Film Export
& Import Corporation

Giant Asian monsters return to movie theaters in North America this month with the Canadian premiere of the infamous PULGASARI (1985) and a screening of the popular GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (Gojira, Mosura, Kingughidora: Daikaiju Soshingeki, 2001) in Atlanta.

At 9:30pm on January 30, the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Canada will open their “Workers Paradise!—The North Korean Film Series” with PULGASARI. The following day, Japan’s King of the Monsters returns to Atlanta, GA for a screening of GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK at the Plaza Theatre.
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NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is now available on Crunchyroll. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/2007 Shippuden

Online Anime Distribution Leader Launches One of the Most Popular Anime Titles of All Time
Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release
Official Site: www.naruto.com
Special Thanks to Chase Wang

Crunchyroll, the world’s largest anime-focused content and social networking service, takes a huge and bold step in making a decisive transition from a platform for user-uploaded content to a platform of professionally-produced content with the historic launch of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN. The first eight episodes of the beginning of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN can be accessed immediately, with eight more catalog episodes added every week Friday. In addition, simulcast of the most recent episode one hour after Japan broadcast will be available starting January 8, 2009.
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Take a look back at sci-fi and fantasy film highs and lows of the past year!
MONSTER X STRIKES BACK © 2008 Guilal Production Committee. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. G © 2008 G-Project and Gokan. Photo courtesy of
Kiyotaka Taguchi. SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS © 2008 Super 8 Ultra Brothers Production Consortium. KING KONG VS GODZILLA and NEW PRODUCTION:
GO! GODMAN © Toho Co., Ltd. CLOVERFIELD © 2008 Paramount Pictures.

A Look Back at Asian Sci-Fi Throughout the Year
Author: Aaron Cooper
Special Thanks: The entire staff of SciFi Japan

2008 was intriguing in the landscape of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films. To some, it may have appeared very dry; to others it seemed a great boon of varied material. Big names like Godzilla and Gamera were mostly no-shows, but the slack appears to be taken up in a variety of outlets by a wide range of talent depending on your tastes.

The staff of SciFi Japan took another moment to ponder over the events of the past year, and attempted to come up with the most defining moments of 2008. You may agree or disagree but regardless, the year held moments for everyone whether you knew it or not!
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The ferocious deep-sea monster REIGO joins Japan’s ever-growing pantheon of daikaiju stars. The beast was created by GAMERA 4 fan film director Shinpei Hayashiya.
Photo courtesy of producer Show Tsuchida, Option Inc. © 2008 InterMedia Co., Ltd.

After Several Years, the Much-Delayed WWII Kaiju Film Finally Surfaces in Japan
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Option Inc., Gold View Co., Ltd., various
Official Movie Site: REIGO
Additional Material and Translations by Oki Miyano and Norman England
Special Thanks to Show Tsuchida, Kiyo Joo, Ryo Ikeuchi, Daisuke Ishizuka, Sheldon Warnock, and Shinichi Wakasa

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie.

English language promotional art for the kaiju movie
REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO.
Photo courtesy of Gold View Co., Ltd.© 2008 InterMedia Co.,
Ltd.

In the midst of World War II, the battleship Yamato, the pride of the Japanese navy, joins with the main squadrons of the Combined Fleet in the South Seas. While lurking in the waters off the Truk Islands, the crew of the Yamato spot what is believed to be an enemy submarine and fire on it. The attack is a success, however what sinks to the sea bottom is not a submarine at all but a massive mysterious creature that will later bring disaster upon the fleet…

In November of 2005, the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA had the first screenings of a new daikaiju movie called DEEP SEA MONSTER- REIGO (Shinkaiju Reigo). Made by a highly-regarded fan turned professional filmmaker, and featuring the talents of popular genre performers and FX artists, REIGO was the first Japanese monster picture in years that was not a sequel, remake, or based upon a pre-existing franchise. The film was originally scheduled for release in 2006 but suffered numerous delays— and a title change to REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO — before finally beginning theatrical screenings in mid-2008.

SciFi Japan begins 2009 with an exclusive look at REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, featuring production info, story synopsis, cast and crew bios, promotional art, and dozens of photos courtesy of the filmmakers, original production company Option Inc., and international sales agent Gold View Co., Ltd.
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