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The Director Talks About His Colorful Contribution to the Godzilla Universe
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Special Thanks to Keith Aiken, Kevin Pyrtle of Wtf-Film, Brad Thompson, Ed Godziszewski, and Steve Ryfle
A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
In 1957, the Americanized GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS was released in Italy as GODZILLA IL RE DEI MOSTRI. 20 years later, filmmaker Luigi Cozzi decided to bring the classic film back to Italian cinemas.
But he didn’t simply re-release GODZILLA IL RE DEI MOSTRI; Cozzi instead took the U.S. version of the film, which itself was already cut apart and re-spliced together from the Japanese original, and added his own “new” footage… mostly comprised of old newsreels showing wartime footage of real death and destruction. He also extensively reworked the audio and music tracks for “Futursound”, an 8 track magnetic sound system based on Universal Pictures’ Sensurround. Most notably, Cozzi also colorized GODZILLA using a technique involving colored gels that created a nightmarish, glowing effect far different from the pastel colorization attempts employed by Ted Turner in the 1980s or the digital technology now used by Sony Pictures and other studios.
The finished result— released in Italy in 1977 as GODZILLA, but often referred to by fans and the director himself as “COZZILLA”— stands as a real oddity in the long and often bizarre history of the Godzilla franchise.
In April of 2009, SciFi Japan’s own John “Dutch” DeSentis had the chance to meet Luigi Cozzi at the Chiller Theatre Expo in New Jersey. Following up after Cozzi’s return to Italy, the two discussed all things regarding the colorized 1977 Italian version of GODZILLA. Continued…
Anime Expo 2009 will be the place to be for anime and manga lovers this fourth of July weekend. The nation’s largest anime/manga convention serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California.
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are invited to view the video coverage site of the 2008 convention at AXBackstage.org and to register for the 2009 convention at anime-expo.org. In addition, the convention recently launched a Japanese language version of its newly re-designed fan-friendly site to be used as a welcome portal to Japanese industry, press, attendees and fans. Continued…
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
Johannes Krauser II Is The Outrageous Demonic Front Man Of The Heaviest Death Metal Band In Japan
But Off Stage He’s A Pop Music-Listening Wimp – Can He Ever Reconcile His Two Personas?
VIZ Media, LLC will delight rock and roll and manga fans nationwide with the debut of Detroit Metal City on June 9th. The new manga series is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and carries an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $15.00 CAN. The first print run of volume one also contains limited edition tattoos.
Prepare to have your mortal soul devoured by the demonic Johannes Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, the most outrageous death metal band on the Japanese indie rock scene! Soichi Negishi dreamed of moving to Tokyo and starting a bubblegum pop band, but now he’s fronting the most scandalous and demented death metal band in Japanese rock! Deep down, Soichi still dreams of acoustic guitars and trips to Paris, but when the makeup comes on and he transforms into his alter ego, Krauser II, not even the denizens of hell are safe from his soul-devouring death metal sound. Can Soichi reconcile his sensitive inner yearnings with his wild on-stage persona – the vilest hard rocker in Japanese (and possibly world) history?
Detroit Metal City takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like THIS IS SPINAL TAP to hilarious new extremes in this witty series created by Kiminori Wakasugi. First appearing in the pages of Japan’s Young Animal manga magazine, the manga quickly became a national sensation. The series has already sold more than 2 million copies in Japan. Continued…
How do you top yourself after you’ve made two tremendously popular YAMATO stories for both TV and the cinema, changed the entire world of anime, and taken command of the status quo? If your name is Yoshinobu Nishizaki, you multiply your output by a factor of four.
No joke, this is what made him the hardest working man in anime in the year 1979. Academy Studio, the nerve center of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, benefited more than anyone from the anime explosion after the YAMATO booms of ’77 and ’78. It would have been easy to rest on their laurels, but instead Nishizaki lead his rock-solid creative staff on four nearly-simultaneous voyages. Continued…
From Mamoru Oshii, the world-acclaimed director of GHOST IN THE SHELL, comes an award-winning story of an exciting but endless war with heroes too young to understand the meaning of their battles. A group of eternally young fighter pilots known as Kildren experience the sudden loss of innocence as they battle the enemy in astonishing dogfights above the clouds. With his only childhood memory consisting of intense flight training, the fearless teenage pilot Yuichi’s dogfights coexist with his struggle to find his missing past. When his beautiful, young female commander Suito is reluctant to discuss the fate of the pilot that Yuichi is replacing – or the strangely perfect condition of that pilot’s former aircraft – Yuichi’s curiosity becomes heightened. Continued…
AX has now greatly expanded the Rangers event with the addition of several more heroes and villains from POWER RANGERS: ZEO, POWER RANGERS: TURBO, POWER RANGERS IN SPACE, POWER RANGERS: LOST GALAXY, POWER RANGERS: TIME FORCE, and POWER RANGERS: SPD. With seventeen actors currently scheduled, this event will be one of the largest POWER RANGERS gatherings ever held in the United States.
Anime Expo 2009′s POWER RANGERS reunion will include a panel as well as a booth in the Anime Expo Exhibit Hall where fans can meet, take pictures with and obtain autographed head shots of their favorite convention-attending Rangers. Continued…
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Official Korean press release
Production companies CJ Entertainment and JK Film (formerly Doosaboo Film, Inc.) have released two advance theatrical posters and the teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated Korean disaster film, HAEUNDAE. The movie is about a massive tsunami striking Haeundae, a famous Korean beach area located in Busan. Continued…
VIZ Media invites SciFi Japan readers to visit sigikki.com and test out the beta launch of a brand new collaboration to bring comics the likes of which American audiences have never seen to these shores.
IKKI is a monthly magazine published in Japan that has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga. Since its launch in 2003 IKKI has built a catalog of titles notable for its diversity. From action to comedy to drama, from slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the one common thing these works share is an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the norm.
In partnership with VIZ Media and its “VIZ Signature” line of graphic novels, IKKI is bringing the works of some of its top creators to the English-language audience via a groundbreaking online monthly manga magazine.
The first series featured in this launch is Children of the Sea by Daisuke Igarashi. Each month, new chapters will be offered online in their entirety, for free. After the completion of the online serialization of the first volume, Children of the Sea volume one will become available as a VIZ Signature graphic novel. Continued…
The Wagner/Cuban Companies’ Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that it has acquired North American rights to Peter Ho-Sun Chan’s historical action epic, THE WARLORDS. Boasting an all-star cast, including Jet Li, Andy Lau (INFERNAL AFFAIRS) and Takeshi Kaneshiro (RETURNER, K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK), THE WARLORDS was a huge critical and commercial hit in China, winning eight Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Director for Chan and Best Actor for Li.
Depicting the same historical events that were the basis for the Shaw Brothers classic BLOOD BROTHERS, THE WARLORDS is set in the midst of war and political upheaval during the Taiping Rebellion of the 1860s. Jet Li stars as General Pang, who after a surviving a massacre of his fellow soldiers by playing dead, joins a band of bandits led by Er Hu (Andy Lau) and Wu Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). After fighting back attackers from an helpless village, the three men take an oath to become “blood brothers,” pledging loyalty to one another until death, but things quickly turn sour and the three men become embroiled in a web of political deceit, and a love triangle between Pang, Er Hu and a beautiful courtesan (Wu Jing-Lei). Continued…
In June the Barbican Centre in London continues their JAPANIMATION event series with a night of Mitsuteru Yokoyama’s classic robot anime TETSUJIN 28 on the big screen. The screening will be introduced by anime expert Helen McCarthy (The Anime! Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, and founder of the magazine AnimeFX).
Mitsuteru Yokoyama was one of Osamu Tezuka’s legion of assistants, and shared his scepticism about Japan’s wholesale rush to embrace technology as an unmixed blessing. His best-known work in the West, TETSUJIN 28-GO (screened in the USA in 1966 as GIGANTOR) has the same deep, dark undercurrents as Tezuka’s TETSUWAN ATOM, and just as much of ATOM’s darkness was glossed over for his American debut as ASTRO BOY, the depths of Yokoyama’s original manga were ignored in GIGANTOR’s American TV incarnation.
Luckily, Yokoyama fan Yasuhiro Imagawa provided a definitively dark reading of the manga in his 2004 TV series. The first three episodes lead us in to a world of intrigue, corruption, selfishness and arrogance in which nobody, not even an innocent child, can escape the residual guilt and pain of the war. Continued…
New Release Addresses Questions of Justice, Society, and the Appreciation of Life
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
“Depending on how a person lives their last day, the ikigami can be a death sentence, or an invitation to really live.”
VIZ Media, LLC sends a chill down the spines of readers this month with the North American debut of Motoro Mase’s harrowing and suspenseful manga series – Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit – available now! Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and carries an MSRP of $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN.
In a futuristic dystopian Japan there is new slant on crime deterrence with a sinister policy with an ironic twist. Each day a randomly-selected person is put to death to remind the population of the very value of life. Those who are condemned to die receive an official government notice the day before, called an ikigami, alerting them of impending doom in 24 hours.
“Dear Citizen: You’ve no doubt noticed that the world is a troubled place. People are apathetic, lazy, unmotivated. You’ve probably asked yourself: Why isn’t anything being done to stop this systematic decline? Well, you’ll be happy to know that measures have been taken. We, your government, have decided society needs a wake-up call. So beginning today, we will randomly select a different citizen who will be killed within 24 hours of notification. We believe this will help remind all people how precious life is, and how important it is to be productive, active members of society… CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT…TO DIE IN 24 HOURS!” Continued…
Variety and other news sources have reported that audiences in China are tuning out the popular superhero ULTRAMAN and other Japanese television series. The boycott follows complaints from Communist Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that his grandson spends too much time watching Japanese shows rather than domestic TV programming.
The controversy began with comments made by Wen during a visit to the south China studio Jiangtong Animation. “There are times when I watch TV anime with my grandchild,” he said “but all he ever watches are foreign works like ULTRAMAN and the like. He should watch more Chinese cartoons. We should be cultivating a domestic anime industry.” Continued…
Top Anime and Asian Entertainment Online Service Provides Bone Chilling New Titles from Kadokawa Pictures USA
Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press releases
Special Thanks to Chase Wang
“Kadokawa Tuesdays” continue on Crunchyroll with tales of horror, suspense and the supernatural. New titles launching in May are MAIL, STORY OF THE DETECTIVE, TRAGEDY OF W, ONMYOJI, THE BEAST TO DIE, SAILOR SUIT AND MACHINE GUN, KEKKON ANNAI MYSTERY, EARLY SPRING STORY, GIRL OF TIME, and KADOKAWA MYSTERY & HORROR TALES.
These Kadokawa Pictures titles are available for FREE to all fans and members in the U.S., Canada, American Samoa, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Island regions. Continued…
The German monster magazine Pranke: Das Filmmagazin für Monsterfreaks is back with another fun-filled issue featuring the space kaiju Guilala. The Japanese beast is the focus of two articles; the first a retrospective (written by GUALAGON co-creator Ralf Lorenz) of the films THE X FROM OUTER SPACE and MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!, and the second an interview with recent Guilala suit actor Hariken Ryu conducted by indie filmmaker Jörg Buttgereit.
Also on tap are a look at the 1931 Spanish version of DRACULA, sword and sorcery adventures with an emphasis on CONAN creator Robert E Howard, a review of GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, fantastic cinema from Bollywood, the making of the no budget fan film TROMAGGOT, Univeral Studios’ “Classic Sci Fi Ultimate Collection” DVD set, a review of the GODZILLA UNLEASHED video game, German advertising materials for Japanese monster movies, over 20 movie and DVD reviews, mini-posters for TROMAGGOT and the classic Toho science fiction film THE MYSTERIANS, plus much, much more.
Pranke issue #34 runs 40 pages and has a print run of only 1000 copies. The retail price is 4.40 Euro. The magazine may be purchased from the publisher on ebay or from online magazine retailers such as Andere Welton.
Award-Winning Film about a Married Couple’s Unconventional Relationship is Based on Popular Manga
Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Movie Site: happilymovie.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen
VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release of the live-action feature film – HAPPILY EVER AFTER on May 12th. The DVD will also include the original theatrical trailers, director and cast profiles, and insightful tips on Japanese culture. The DVD will carry a suggested retail price of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN and will be distributed in North America by VIZ Media.
To complement the release, VIZ Pictures has launched a HAPPILY EVER AFTER giveaway contest for a prize package that includes the DVD, film poster, a premium Japanese cotton towel, and an Anime Sampler Pack courtesy of The Right Stuf / Nozomi Entertainment. Fans are encouraged to visit shojobeat.com/moviepack47 for contest details and online entry forms.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER is a visually striking romantic comedy from celebrated director, Yukihiko Tsutsumi (MEMORIES OF TOMORROW, 20TH CENTURY BOYS) and based on a popular manga series created by Yoshiie Gouda that has sold more than half a million copies in Japan. The film stars popular comedic leading man Hiroshi Abe (GODZILLA 2000) and actress Miki Nakatani, who drew international acclaim for her role in TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO (also available on DVD from VIZ Pictures). Continued…
In 2000, writer-director Takashi Shimizu and producer Taka Ichise created the straight-to-video J-horror movies JU-ON and JU-ON 2. The two movies launched a hit franchise that has included two Japanese theatrical films and the American remakes THE GRUDGE (2004) and THE GRUDGE 2 (2006).
2009 is the tenth year of JU-ON/THE GRUDGE films. To celebrate that milestone, three new films— one in America and two in Japan— will be released over the next few months.
First up is THE GRUDGE 3, the straight-to-DVD sequel from Ghost House Pictures and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that will be released on May 12. Directed by Toby Wilkins and written by Brad Keene (THE GRAVEDANCERS), the movie picks up from the events of THE GRUDGE 2, with ghosts Kayako and Toshio Saeki now haunting an apartment building in Chicago.
And on June 27, two new chapters in the Ju-On series— JU-ON: WHITE GHOST (Ju-On: Shiroi Rojo) and JU-ON: BLACK GHOST (Ju-On: Kuroi Shojo)— will be released theatrically in Japan. With Kayako and Toshio currently menacing America, the new Japanese installments instead focus on fresh interpretations of the grudge curse. Continued…
VIZ Media, LLC has announced a diverse collection of new animated and live-action titles scheduled for release throughout the Second Quarter of 2009.
The new releases include DEATH NOTE RELIGHT: VISIONS OF A GOD, which retells the groundbreaking DEATH NOTE psychological crime drama from an entirely new perspective. Also set for release is the concluding DVD Box Set of the DEATH NOTE animated series. New BLEACH episodic and NARUTO box set editions are also scheduled for release, along with the next Box Set compilation of HUNTER X HUNTER. INUYASHA fans will delight in the debut of the final Season 7 Box Set edition containing the series’ cliffhanger finale, while younger fans can look forward to four new POKÉMON DVDS that highlight their favorite characters.
Many of these releases are also available as Special Editions featuring collectible figurines. In the Live Action realm, VIZ Pictures will debut the live-action comedy/drama HAPPILY EVER AFTER. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro. Continued…
Sentai Filmworks announced its forthcoming DVD release of APPLESEED (Appurushido), which brings the dystopian sci-fi thriller back in print for the first time in years. ADV Films handles North American home media distribution for Sentai Filmworks and will release the APPLESEED movie June 30.
APPLESEED was first released in North America by Geneon Entertainment (USA) in 2005. Based on the legendary manga series by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, Dominion) and directed by groundbreaking filmmaker Shinji Arimaki (BUBBLEGUM CRISIS), APPLESEED set a high-water mark for anime features in the 21st century. This outstanding film features a soundtrack including Boom Boom Satelites, Paul Oakenfold, Basement Jaxx and more. Continued…
Author Jiro Asada’s Collection Of 8 Short Stories Explores Themes Of Loss, Love And Redemption
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
The publishing, animation and licensing company VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) continues to introduce English-language readers to some of the best authors of contemporary Japanese fiction with the North American release of The Stationmaster, a collection of eight short stories by award-winning author Jiro Asada. The Stationmaster is available now with a SRP of $22.99 U.S. / $26.99 CAN.
The Stationmaster was a best-seller in Japan and Jiro Asada was given the prestigious Naoki Award for fiction in 1997. The title story was adapted for the big screen in a film released in 1999. It starred 1970s yakuza film icon Ken Takakura, who won a best actor award at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival for his performance. THE STATIONMASTER was Japan’s submission to the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000 for Best Foreign Language Film. Continued…
Legendary Anime Studio’s Historic Franchise to Appear on World Anime Channel
Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release
Special Thanks to Chase Wang
Crunchyroll announced that it is partnering with Bandai Channel to bring the latest series in the historic GUNDAM franchise to Crunchyroll. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 from legendary anime studio Sunrise will begin streaming on Crunchyroll starting today.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 (25 episodes) will be available to viewers in the United States and will be immediately available in its entirety in English dubbed, with the first nine episodes also available in Japanese audio English subtitled versions. The show will be available to all visitors in these territories, free of charge with advertisements, while Crunchyroll Anime Members can enjoy up to 480p high definition streams. Continued…
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