Ryan Reynolds is Pikachu in the live-action film, POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU. Photo courtesy of Toho. © 2019 Legendary and Warner Bros.
Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Pokémon.

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Movie Site: detectivepikachumovie.com (US), meitantei-pikachu.jp (Japan)
Official Movie Twitter: #DetectivePikachuMovie

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided press materials for the Japanese release of POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (名探偵ピカチュウ, Meitantei Pikachū). They will open the film in Japan on Friday, May 3; one week ahead of the international release from Warner Bros. Pictures, and the Chinese launch from Legendary East.
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Preview of the GODZILLA ’94 Graphic Novel final chapter. Artwork courtesy of Todd Tennant. Godzilla © TOHO CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved

It All Ends This Thursday
Official Site: kaijuphile.com/american-godzilla94
Special Thanks to Todd Tennant

In 1994, Sony Pictures hired Jan De Bont (SPEED, TWISTER) to direct an American Godzilla movie written by screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (SHREK, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN series). The project was canceled later that year.
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Photo courtesy of JAKKS Pacific. © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. © 2019 Legendary, All Rights Reserved. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.
MONSTERVERSE TM & © Legendary

Source: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
@JAKKSToys
#JAKKSToys #JAKKSPacific #JAKKSGodzilla
Special Thanks to Rachel Griffin

SciFi Japan is pleased to present our first of several planned promotions for Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, hitting theaters May 31, 2019. JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is offering our readers a chance to win their Giant Size Godzilla figure, which stands 24 inches tall and over 40 inches long!
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Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Official Site: godzillamovie.com
Official Twitter: #GodzillaMovie
Special Thanks to Melanie Klein

Warner Bros. Pictures has provided SciFi Japan with the third TV spot for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. Entitled “Intimidation”, the commercial debuted this past weekend.
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Direct from X-Plus — SciFi Japan has giant, his-res photos of the painted Limited Edition Daikaiju Series: Godzilla (1999) figure!
Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Earlier this month, SciFi Japan posted information and photos of giant monster figures scheduled for release in May 2019 from X-Plus Co., Ltd. X-Plus has now provided high-res pics of the fully painted Limited Edition version of their Toho Daikaiju Series: Godzilla (1999) figure.
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Doraemon and his friends are back on the big screen in DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S CHRONICLE OF THE MOON EXPLORATION.
Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © Fujiko Pro ・ Shogakukan ・ TV Asahi ・ Shin-Ei · ADK 2018

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: doraeiga.com/2019 (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res images from their new anime film, DDORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S CHRONICLE OF THE MOON EXPLORATION (映画ドラえもん　のび太の月面探査記, Eiga Doraemon Nobita no Getsumen Tansa-ki). The 39th movie in the franchise opened in Japan on March 1, 2019 and topped the domestic box office in its first two weeks of release.
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Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and giant, high-res photos of their DefoReal Series: Godzilla (2016) Frozen Ver. figure, which will be released this June.
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Godzilla in GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS is set to rampage onto movie theater screens in May 31, 2019, with the next installment in Legendary’s MonsterVerse giving fans their second look at this incarnation of Godzilla following the 2014 reboot. KING OF THE MONSTERS brings a stellar cast of actors, including Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga and Millie Bobby Brown, face to face with a stunning collection of monsters, although fans of Kong will have to wait a bit longer to see Godzilla taking on its most famous foe once again.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. King Ghidorah, Godzilla, Monster X and Gigan TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Ultraman Leo, Femigon and King Tortoise © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and more than 80 daikaiju-sized photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in May 2019.
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First Title in GKIDS and Fathom Events’ STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2019 Series
Source: GKIDS Inc., Fathom Events, Scoop Marketing press release
Official Site: ghiblifest.com
Special Thanks to Jessica Nelson, Katherine Schwappach, Erik Stein and Lucy Rubin

Image courtesy of GKIDS and Fathom Events. © 2004
Studio Ghibli – NDDMT

GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award-nominated animated features, and Fathom Events are proud to continue their collaboration and deliver celebrated animated films to U.S. movie theaters throughout the year with STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2019.

Featuring nine of Studio Ghibli’s masterpieces, the series kicks off with the 15th anniversary of acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award- nominated fantasy adventure HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no Ugoku Shiro, 2004).

Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a curse on Sophie and turns her into a 90‑year‑old woman. On a quest to break the spell, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent moving castle and into a new life of wonder and adventure. But, as the true power of Howl’s wizardry is revealed, Sophie finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world. Featuring the voice talents of Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, Emily Mortimer, and Jean Simmons.
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Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and giant, high-res photos of their figure based on the Shin Godzilla statue on display in the plaza outside the Toho Cinemas in Hibiya, Tokyo. The figure will be released on March 23, 2019, the first anniversary since the area was renamed “Godzilla Square Hibiya”.
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Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Official Movie Site: detectivepikachumovie.com
Official Movie Twitter: #DetectivePikachuMovie

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the second trailer and poster for POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU.
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JAKKS Pacific will release a wide range of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS action figures, role-play and play sets.
Photos courtesy of JAKKS Pacific. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019 © 2019 JAKKS Pacific, Inc

Source: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Special Thanks to Rachel Griffin

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. has provided SciFi Japan with product info and giant photos of their new line of Godzilla toys inspired by Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, hitting theaters May 31, 2019.
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TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019

Audiences Will Also Experience SHAZAM! and THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA In The Immersive Format; More Titles To Be Announced
Source: CJ 4DPLEX press release
Official Movie Site: godzillamovie.com
Official Movie Twitter: #GodzillaMovie

CJ 4DPLEX, the world’s leading cinema technology company, together with Warner Bros. Pictures, have announced a multi-picture deal that will see up to six new films released globally in 2019 in the immersive 270-degree ScreenX format. The agreement extends the relationship between the two companies that previously included five films in 2018.

Under the agreement, the Studio’s slate of ScreenX releases will include New Line Cinema’s SHAZAM! on April 5th and THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA on April 19th, followed by Warner Bros.’ and Legendary Pictures’ GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS on May 31st, with three additional titles to be announced in the coming months.
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Source: Titan Books press release
Official Movie Site: godzillamovie.com
Official Movie Twitter: #GodzillaMovie
Special Thanks to Polly Grice, Lydia Gittins, Jo Boylett and Abbie Bernstein

Photo courtesy of Titan Books. © 2019 WARNER
BROS. ENT.© 2019 Legendary. All Rights Reserved.
TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM & ©
Legendary

Titan Books is delighted to announce the latest additions to their extensive and long-running official Godzilla publishing program with two new tie-in titles to the highly anticipated new GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS feature film, the latest installment in the MonsterVerse series.

Titan Books in collaboration with Toho and Warner Bros. will be publishing The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters by Abbie Bernstein and Godzilla: King of the Monsters – The Official Movie Novelization by Greg Keyes.
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Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Official Site: godzillamovie.com
Official Twitter: #GodzillaMovie
Special Thanks to Melanie Klein

Warner Bros. Pictures has provided SciFi Japan with the second TV spot for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. The commercial debuted during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17th.
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© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. © 2019 Legendary, All Rights Reserved. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM & © Legendary

Japanese Soft Vinyl Figures Go on Sale in April
Source: Bandai Co., Ltd.

Bandai has released product details and large photos of their “Movie Monster Series” and “Monster King Series” soft vinyl figures from GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, the upcoming movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment.
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Photos courtesy of NECA. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019 © 2019 NECA, Inc.

Source: NECA press release
Special Thanks to Summer Mullins

NECA has provided SciFi Japan with GIANT photos of their next wave of figures from the upcoming, hotly anticipated movie, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment.
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A museum dedicated to FX Director Eiji Tsuburaya has opened in his hometown of Sukagawa, Fukushima. © Eiji Project

Author: Edward L. Holland
Official Site: s-tette.jp

Experience the world of Godzilla, Ultraman and their co-creator, Eiji Tsuburaya, the God of Special Effects, in Sukagawa, Fukushima as the region continues to rebound from the Great Eastern Earthquake. On January 11, 2019, after 5 years in the making, the Sukagawa Citizens Exchange Center tette building opened to hundreds in attendance. During the opening ceremony Mayor Katsuya Hashimoto said, “Our brand-new community center tette (hands) is Sukagawa city’s main place for cultural exchange and citizens’ activities and we are committed to nurturing citizens here long into the future. We also honor tokusatsu (special effects) master, Eiji Tsuburaya born in Sukagawa city, for his accomplishments at the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum, an archival center that will disseminate Japanese special effects to the world.”
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JAKKS Pacific has announced a wide range of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS action figures, role-play and play sets.
Photos courtesy of JAKKS Pacific. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019 © 2019 JAKKS Pacific, Inc

Full Line Debuts at New York Toy Fair 2019
Source: JAKKS Pacific, Inc. press release
Special Thanks to Rachel Griffin

Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc., in collaboration with Toho and Legendary Entertainment, is excited for the global launch of JAKKS Pacific’s new line of Godzilla toys inspired by Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, hitting theaters May 31, 2019.
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Photo courtesy of NECA. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. © LEGENDARY 2019 © 2019 NECA, Inc.

Source: NECA press release
Special Thanks to Summer Mullins

NECA is thrilled to present its first figures from the upcoming, hotly anticipated GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment!
Continued…

Nine of Studio Ghibli’s Most Cherished Films, Including Multiple Anniversary and Star-Studded Titles, Hit the Big Screen Beginning This Spring
Source: GKIDS Inc., Fathom Events press release
Official Site: ghiblifest.com

Image courtesy of GKIDS and Fathom Events. © Nibariki

After kicking off in 2017 and returning for an even more successful 2018, STUDIO GHIBLI FEST is back for 2019. GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award-nominated animated features, and Fathom Events are proud to continue their collaboration and deliver a new and expanded selection of celebrated animated films to U.S. cinemas throughout the year with STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2019.

Featuring nine of Studio Ghibli’s masterpieces, the series kicks off with the 15th anniversary of the Academy Award-nominated fantasy adventure HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no Ugoku Shiro, 2004), and continues with the 35th anniversary of NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (風の谷のナウシカ, Kaze no Tani no Naushika, 1984), WHISPER OF THE HEART (耳をすませば, Mimi o Sumaseba, 1995), the 30th anniversary of KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (魔女の宅急便, Majo no Takkyuubin, 1989), MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro, 1988), THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010), the Academy Award-winning SPIRITED AWAY (千と千尋の神隠し, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001), PRINCESS MONONOKE (もののけ姫, Mononoke Hime, 1997), and concludes with the Academy Award-nominated THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (かぐや姫の物語, Kaguyahime no Monogatari, 2013).
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Contents of the PRINCESS MONONOKE Collector’s Edition Set. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1997 Nibariki – GND

Source: Shout! Factory press release
Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan

Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will issue PRINCESS MONONOKE (もののけ姫, Mononoke Hime, 1997) in a beautiful collector’s edition release on May 14, 2019. The limited-edition set comes housed in an elegant hard slipcase and includes a new 40-page book with stunning art and essays. Featured in a deluxe disc portfolio will be a Blu-ray of the film paired with hours of special features, and the film’s soundtrack made available on CD for the first time in North America. The set is available for pre-order now on ghiblicollection.com.
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Godzilla and Mothra were among the Toho props displayed at the DNA Exhibition in Tokyo. Photo by Edward L. Holland.
© TOHO CO., LTD. © DNA Tokusatsu. All Rights Reserved.

Author: Edward L. Holland
Special Thanks to Takao Sasai

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The DNA Tokusatsu Exhibition held December 19, 2018 to January 27, 2019 in Kamata, Tokyo has come and gone, but plans are already in motion to bring another fantastic showcase of Toho Studios’ prized artifacts from Godzilla films and hero television series to tokusatsu enthusiasts in the not so distant future.
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Source: GKIDS Inc. press release
Official Site: mirai-no-mirai.jp (Japan), MiraiMovie.com (US)

Image courtesy of GKIDS. © 2018 STUDIO CHIZU

Watch the Academy Award-nominated MIRAI (未来のミライ, Mirai no Mirai, 2018) in select theaters nationwide during a last chance screening on February 18.

The Japanese animated film from Mamoru Hosoda, the celebrated director behind THE BOY AND THE BEAST, WOLF CHILDREN, SUMMER WARS, and THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME, and Japan’s Studio Chizu, is an Academy Awards Nominee for Best Animated Feature. It was also a Golden Globe Awards Nominee for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards Winner for Best Animated Independent Feature, and a Cannes 2018 Official Selection, Director’s Fortnight.
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Source: Shout! Factory
Official Site: lunouta.com (Japan), lu-over-the-wall (US)
Special Thanks to Shannon Meehan

Blu-ray + DVD packaging, courtesy of Shout! Factory.
© Lu Film Partners

Shout! Factory is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a GKIDS Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack of Masaaki Yuasa’s fun new musical feature LU OVER THE WALL (夜明け告げるルーのうた, Yoake Tsugeru Ruu no Uta, 2017). The anime film was an official selection of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and winner of the Cristal, the highest prize of the 2017 Annecy International Animation Festival.

Yuasa presents a joyous twist on the classic fairy tale about a little mermaid who comes ashore to join a middle-school rock band and propel them to fame.

After his family moves from Tokyo to a small fishing village, teenager Kai spends his days sulking and adrift. When his classmates invite him to play keyboard in their band, their jam sessions bring an unexpected guest: Lu, a young mermaid whose fins turn to feet when she hears the beats, and whose singing causes humans to compulsively dance. But when an ancient prophecy threatens Lu and the village, Kai and his new friends must save the day in this toe-tapping adventure for the entire family.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Ultraman © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and GIANT high-res photos of their Event Exclusive products sold at this weekend’s Japanese hobby show, Wonder Festival 2019 Winter. In addition to the exclusives, X-plus is exhibiting upcoming releases and offering overstock and imperfect (display figures, damaged packaging, etc) items at reduced prices at their booth, #2-23-01.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla, King Caesar and Hedorah TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Magnedon, Ultraman Tiga, Black Satan and Twintail © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS.

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and more than 75 daikaiju-sized photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in April 2019.
Continued…

Logos courtesy of Bluefin.

Leading Japanese Toy & Collectibles Company Acquires Bluefin Distribution
Source: Bluefin Corp., MediaLab press release
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

BANDAI NAMCO Collectibles LLC, a newly established dedicated division of one of the world’s leading toy and collectibles brands, BANDAI NAMCO, enters 2019 poised to take advantage of significant recent company developments aimed at strengthening and expanding its market share and further enhancing its business geared to the substantial toy and hobby customer base across North America.
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X-Plus’ new King Ghidorah figure will be released in two versions. Left: The standard golden version. Right: The Limited Edition
with alternate colors. Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.

Product Info and Exclusive GIANT High-Res Photos, Direct from X-Plus!
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Shingo Fujimoto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and giant, high-res photos of their Daikaiju Series: King Ghidorah (1964) figure from Toho’s classic GHIDORAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦, San Daikaijū Chikyū Saidai no Kessen, 1964).
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