SciFi Japan has a photo gallery from the insane new manga adaptation, INUYASHIKI. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd.
© 2018 “Inuyashiki” Production Committee © Hiroya Oku/Kodansha

Press Notes For New Live-Action Manga Adaptation From The Director of GANTZ
Source: Toho Co., Ltd., Fuji TV
Official Site: inuyashiki-movie.com (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res photos from their upcoming release, INUYASHIKI (いぬやしき). Described as the “sensational new virtual movie”, the live-action adaptation of Hiroya Oku’s remarkable sci-fi action manga opens in Japanese cinemas on April 20th. INUYASHIKI is also being offered to foreign distributors by sales agent Fuji TV Motion Picture.
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Conan Edogawa and his friends are back on the big screen in the 22nd Detective Conan movie, DETECTIVE CONAN: ZERO THE ENFORCER.
Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2018 GOSHO AOYAMA/DETECTIVE CONAN COMMITTEE All Rights Reserved.

New Anime Film Now Playing in Japan
Source: Toho Co., Ltd., TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Official Site: conan-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho and TMS Entertainment have provided information and high-res images from their new anime film, DETECTIVE CONAN: ZERO THE ENFORCER (名探偵コナン ゼロの執行人（しっこうにん）, Meitantei Konan Zero no Shikkohito (Shikkonin)). The 22nd movie based on the Detective Conan manga by Gosho Aoyama was released nationwide in Japan on Friday, April 13th.
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Toho’s 1970s vampire movies THE VAMPIRE DOLL, LAKE OF DRACULA and EVIL OF DRACULA are finally coming to Blu-ray in North America. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.

Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Inspired by the runaway success of the British and American gothic horror films of the sixties, Toho studios brought the vampiric tropes of the Dracula legend to Japanese screens with THE VAMPIRE DOLL (幽霊屋敷の恐怖 血を吸う人形, Yuurei Yashiki no Kyofu Chiwosuu Ningyo, 1970), LAKE OF DRACULA (呪いの館 血を吸う眼, Noroi no Yakata Chiwosuu Me, 1971) and EVIL OF DRACULA (血を吸う薔薇, Chiwosuu Bara, 1974) — three spookily effective cult classics collectively known as The Bloodthirsty Trilogy (血を吸うシリーズ, Chiwosuu Shiriizu).
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Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © Yoshito Usui/Futabasha ・ Shin-Ei ・ TV Asahi ・ ADK 2018

26th Shin-Chan Anime Film Opens in Japan This Friday
Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: shinchan-movie.com (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho has provided information and high-res images from their new anime film, CRAYON SHIN-CHAN 2018, opening in Japan this Friday, April 13th. The movie is the 26th feature film based on the manga series created by Yoshito Usui, and follows the comedic misadventures of Shinnosuke “Shin-chan” Nohara, a mischievous five-year-old who often says inappropriate things and cannot resist pretty ladies, regardless of their age.
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Source: Funimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Scott Barretto

Image courtesy of Funimation. © 2016 Fuji Television
Network, Shueisha, J Storm, Toho, Robot © Yusei Matsui
/ Shueisha

This afternoon, Funimation made several announcements during their Industry Panel at C2E2, Chicago’s Comic & Entertainment Expo.
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SciFi Japan’s Daisuke Ishizuka takes a look at the two Godzilla statues now on display in Hibiya, Tokyo. Photo by Daisuke Ishizuka.
TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.

The Original Godzilla Statue Returns to Join Shin Godzilla on Display
Author: Daisuke Ishizuka

Last week, SciFi Japan reporter Daisuke Ishizuka shared photos of the new Shin Godzilla statue unveiled in Hibiya, Tokyo. Daisuke is back this week with additional pics of the statue plus a look at the original 1995 Godzilla statue in its new home.
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A new Shin Godzilla statue is now on display in Hibiya, Tokyo. Photo by Daisuke Ishizuka. TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.

Author: Daisuke Ishizuka

Many Tokusatsu fans have visited the Toho Plaza in Hibiya, Tokyo to see the Godzilla bronze statue, which was built in 1995 to commemorate the monster’s death and the (temporary) end of the film series in GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH (ゴジラVSデストロイア, Gojira Tai Desutoroia). But the statue was removed from the square in 2017 (it will be placed inside Toho Cinemas Hibiya in late March), and in 2018, the Godzilla bronze was born again.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Chameleking, Zoffy and Ultraman Great © Tsuburaya Productions. Mognetudon © P-Production

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 100 daikaiju-sized photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in May 2018.
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Image courtesy of Japan Society.

Retrospective Series at Japan Society and MoMA Features Masterpieces and Rarities in 35mm & a World Premiere Restoration of Yasujiro Ozu’s FLOATING WEEDS
Source: Japan Society press release
Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett

Working intimately with directors like Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kon Ichikawa on some of their most important films, Kazuo Miyagawa (1908-99) pushed Japanese cinema to its highest artistic peaks through his lyrical, innovative, and technically flawless camerawork. Considered the greatest cinematographer of postwar Japanese cinema whose career endured through the 1990s, Miyagawa has influenced generations of leading filmmakers around the world.
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Source: McFarland & Company, Inc. press release
Special Thanks to Mike Bogue

Image courtesy of Mike Bogue. © Mike Bogue

Publisher McFarland & Company, Inc. is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a copy of the book Apocalypse Then: American and Japanese Atomic Cinema, 1951–1967 from author Mike Bogue (G-FAN, Scary Monsters Magazine).

The United States, the only country to have dropped the bomb, and Japan, the only one to have suffered its devastation, understandably portray the nuclear threat differently on film. American science fiction movies of the 1950s and 1960s generally proclaim that it is possible to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. Japanese films of the same period assert that once freed the nuclear genie can never again be imprisoned. In this book, Bogue examines genre films from the two countries released between 1951 and 1967 — including GODZILLA (1954), THE MYSTERIANS (1957), THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957), ON THE BEACH (1959), THE LAST WAR (1961) and DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) — to show the view from both sides of the Pacific.
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Source: McFarland & Company, Inc. press release

Image courtesy of Mike Bogue. © Mike Bogue

Classic sci-fi movie fans should pick up the film history Apocalypse Then: American and Japanese Atomic Cinema, 1951–1967 from author Mike Bogue and publishers McFarland & Company, Inc.

The United States, the only country to have dropped the bomb, and Japan, the only one to have suffered its devastation, understandably portray the nuclear threat differently on film. American science fiction movies of the 1950s and 1960s generally proclaim that it is possible to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. Japanese films of the same period assert that once freed the nuclear genie can never again be imprisoned. This book examines genre films from the two countries released between 1951 and 1967 — including GODZILLA (1954), THE MYSTERIANS (1957), THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957), ON THE BEACH (1959), THE LAST WAR (1961) and DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) — to show the view from both sides of the Pacific.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Hedorah TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Arstron © 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

No sooner did we run our report on X-Plus Co., Ltd’s Giant Monster Figure Lineup for April 2018, then they announced a few more daikaiju for the month. The Japanese collectibles company has now provided SciFi Japan with information and daikaiju-sized photos of their latest additions.
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Episodes from Hit Toho Series to Stream Same Day and Date as Japanese Broadcast
Source: Funimation Entertainment press release
Official Site: heroaca.com (Japan), funimation.com/myheroclass (US)
Special Thanks to Scott Barretto

Image courtesy of Funimation. © Kohei Horikoshi /
Shueisha ・ My Hero Accademia Production Committee

Classes are back in session and anime’s favorite super heroes in training have returned to U.A. High School for another exciting season of MY HERO ACADEMIA (僕のヒーローアカデミア, Boku no Hiiroo Akademia). Funimation has today that Season 3 of the top-rated series will premiere on Saturday, April 7, 2018. As with last season, the first six episodes of MY HERO ACADEMIA will simultaneously stream on the same day and date as the Japanese TV broadcast — in SimulDub on FunimationNow in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, New Zealand and Australia and in subtitled simulcast on Hulu and Crunchyroll. All 25 episodes of MY HERO ACADEMIA Season 3 will stream in SimulDub on FunimationNow and in subtitled simulcast on both Hulu and Crunchyroll.

“From rankings to polls to awards, MY HERO ACADEMIA was without a doubt, universally recognized — by both fans and media alike — as the best in anime in 2017. The series truly resonates with the superhero lore and pop culture representations that North American audiences grew up with and continue to gravitate to,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “We’re excited to be premiering Season 3 on April 7 and to be able to once again simultaneously stream the first six episodes of MY HERO ACADEMIA in SimulDub on the same day and date as the Japanese broadcast.”
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. King Crab © Tsuburaya Productions. Gaira, Sanda and Godzilla 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 70 daikaiju-sized photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in April 2018.
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Two High School Geniuses Fall In Love — But Refuse To Admit It — In This Clever New Romantic Comedy
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Elizabeth Ellis and Erik Jansen

Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. KAGUYA-SAMA WA KOKURASETAI
～TENSAITACHI NO REN’AI ZUNO SEN～ © 2015 by Aka Akasaka
/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the release of the new romantic comedy Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War on March 6th.

The series, by creator Aka Akasaka, is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will be published under the SHONEN JUMP imprint. Volume 1 carries a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War also launches digitally via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future volumes of the series will be published by VIZ Media on a bi-monthly basis.

As leaders of their prestigious academy’s student council, Kaguya and Miyuki are the elite of the elite! But it’s lonely at the top… Luckily for them, they’ve fallen in love! There’s just one problem — they both have too much pride to admit it. And so begins the daily scheming to get the object of their affection to confess their romantic feelings first… Love is a war you win by losing.
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New Hardcover Art Book Edition Features Vivid Illustrations, Concept Sketches, And Interviews From The Beloved Film
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Elizabeth Ellis and Erik Jansen

Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2010 Studio Ghibli – NDHDMTW

VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, expands its renowned Studio Ghibli library with the release of a new hardcover edition of The Art of THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on March 6th.

The vividly illustrated art book will be released exclusively in print with an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $46.99 CAN. It features story notes, commentary, and artwork from THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty). Based on the classic novel by Mary Norton, the 2010 film was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the youngest director to ever helm a film for Studio Ghibli. The studio’s founder, Hayao Miyazaki, also supervised the production of ARRIETTY as a developing planner. Yonebayashi has gone on to direct WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (思い出のマーニー, Omoide no Maanii, 2014) and Studio Ponoc’s first feature film, MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER (メアリと魔女の花, Meari to Majo no Hana, 2017).
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Author: Richard Pusateri

Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa
presents a definitive look at the life of the famed
director. © Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski

Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa, the first English language biography of the Japanese director, is also a history of Japanese cinema in the twentieth century and a thumbnail sketch of Japanese society during that tumultuous century. Authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, describe the social and, to a lesser degree, political path that led director Ishiro Honda to be a social progressive and committed pacifist whose beliefs subtly shaped the characters in his films.

Ryfle and Godziszewski, two of the founding fathers of English language scholarship of Japanese science fiction, and specifically the giant monster movie genre (or kaiju eiga in Japanese), wanted to pay tribute to Ishiro Honda, the director of the most fully realized of those movies. Achieving that required many years of research including traveling to Japan, interviewing Japanese principals, watching Japanese movies, delving into studio archives and using source material written in Japanese. Ryfle and Godziszewski spent that time carefully researching Honda’s life and the product of their labors is a well-crafted, concise and eminently entertaining overview of a fine director’s career beyond kaiju eiga that has been overlooked in North America.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Garamon © 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 toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their Event Exclusive products to be sold at the upcoming Japanese hobby show, Wonder Festival.
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Author Steve Ryfle will talk about the life and career of director Ishiro Honda at Japan Society. Courtesy of Honda Film, Inc..

Author Steve Ryfle Gives New Insights into Japan’s Most Famous Movie Monster Maker at Japan Society
Source: Japan Society press release
Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett

On February 21st, the Japan Society in New York welcomes author Steve Ryfle (Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla to Kurosawa) to pull back the curtain on GODZILLA creator Ishiro Honda.
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MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER is back by popular demand. © 2017 “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” Film Partners

Source: GKIDS Inc. press release
Official Site: maryflower.jp (Japan), gkids.com/films/mary-and-the-witchs-flower (US)

After an incredible first run (GKIDS biggest release to date!), GKIDS is bringing back Studio Ponoc’s dazzling debut film, MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER (メアリと魔女の花, Meari to Majo no Hana, 2017) for two encore shows nationwide, with special filmmaker interview and other surprises!
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Front and back cover art for the POKÉMON THE MOVIE: I CHOOSE YOU! Blu-ray. Images courtesy of VIZ Media.
© 2018 Pokémon. © 1997 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. TM, ® Nintendo.

New Animated POKÉMON Feature Film Offers An Action-Packed Retelling Of Ash And Pikachu’s First Adventure
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the home media release of POKÉMON THE MOVIE: I CHOOSE YOU! (劇場版ポケットモンスター キミにきめた！, Gekijoo-ban Poketto Monsutaa Kimi ni Kimeta!, 2017).
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Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton, the Film Arrives in Theaters in May 2019
Source: Source: Universal Pictures press release

Pikachu goes live-action in 2019. © 2018
Pokémon. © 1997-2018 Nintendo/Creatures
Inc./GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR
Kikaku. TM, ® Nintendo.

Legendary Entertainment and Universal Pictures announced that principal photography began January 24th on DETECTIVE PIKACHU, the first live-action film based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise.

Starring Ryan Reynolds (DEADPOOL series), Ken Watanabe (GODZILLA), Justice Smith (JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM) and Kathryn Newton (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI), the film is from director Rob Letterman (GOOSEBUMPS, GULLIVER’S TRAVELS) and writers Nicole Perlman and Letterman — with Eric Pearson and Tom McCarthy having completed the production polishes. DETECTIVE PIKACHU arrives in theaters in North America on May 10, 2019.

Pokémon has delighted fans of all ages around the world for over two decades. With more than 300 million video games sold worldwide, 23.6 billion Pokémon TCG cards shipped to 74 countries, and an animated series spanning 20 seasons, Pokémon is one of the most successful entertainment properties in the world.

Universal Pictures will handle distribution of DETECTIVE PIKACHU outside Japan. Toho will distribute in Japan, as it has done in its partnership with Legendary on the blockbuster monster reboot for GODZILLA.
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Detective Kyoichiro Kaga (Hiroshi Abe) is back on the case in THE CRIMES THAT BIND. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd.
© 2018 The Crimes That Bind Film Production Committee © Keigo Higashino/KODANSHA All Rights Reserved.

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: inorinomaku-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res photos from THE CRIMES THAT BIND (祈りの幕が下りる時, Inori no Maku ga Orirutoki), opening in Japan on January 27, 2018.
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Nobita, Shizuka and Doraemon set sail for adventure in DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S TREASURE ISLAND. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd.
© Fujiko Pro ・ Shogakukan ・ TV Asahi ・ Shin-Ei · ADK 2018

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: doraeiga.com/2018 (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided another round of high-res images from their upcoming release, DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S TREASURE ISLAND (映画ドラえもん のび太の宝島, Eiga Doraemon Nobita no Takarajima). The 38th entry in the anime film series opens in Japan on March 3, 2018.
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Toho’s anime film GODZILLA: PLANET OF THE MONSTERS is now streaming worldwide on Netflix. © 2017 TOHO CO., LTD.

First Godzilla Anime Film
Source: Netflix
Official Site: godzilla-anime.com (Japan), Godzilla | Netflix Official Site (US)
Twitter: @GODZILLA_ANIME
Special Thanks to Ami Yamaguchi

Following a Japanese theatrical release last November, the anime film GODZILLA: PLANET OF THE MONSTERS (GODZILLA 怪獣惑星, Gojira Kaijuu Wakusei) is now streaming worldwide on Netflix. Netflix is offering the film with Japanese, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian audio tracks and optional English, Spanish, French, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese subtitles.
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A woman learns her boyfriend’s entire life is a lie in THE LIES SHE LOVED. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2018 “THE LIES SHE LOVED” Film Partners

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: usoai.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res photos from THE LIES SHE LOVED (嘘を愛する女, Uso wo Aisuru Onna), opening in Japan on January 20, 2018. The film is a love story inspired by news reports about woman who discovered her husband had fabricated everything she thought she knew about his life.
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Doraemon and his friends take to the high seas in DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S TREASURE ISLAND. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd.
© Fujiko Pro ・ Shogakukan ・ TV Asahi ・ Shin-Ei · ADK 2018

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: doraeiga.com/2018 (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res images from their upcoming release, DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA’S TREASURE ISLAND (映画ドラえもん のび太の宝島, Eiga Doraemon Nobita no Takarajima), opening in Japan on March 3, 2018.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla and Anguirus TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Pandon, Stegon, Ultraman Leo and Astra © 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

Earlier this month, SciFi Japan posted a look at X-Plus’ giant monster figures for March 2018 that included information and exclusive photos provided by the manufacturer. X-Plus has since added more items to their lineup, so we’re back with an update covering (hopefully) all of March’s giant monster figures with nearly 50 HUGE high-res pics!
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A normal girl gets magical powers for a night in MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd.
© 2017 “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” Film Partners

New Anime Film Opens in North America and Australia on January 18th
Source: Toho Co., Ltd., GKIDS Inc., Madman Entertainment, Fathom Events
Official Site: maryflower.jp (Japan), gkids.com/films/mary-and-the-witchs-flower (US), madmanfilms.com.au/mary-and-the-witchs-flower (Australia)

MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER (メアリと魔女の花, Meari to Majo no Hana, 2017) — the first film from Studio Ponoc — opens in theaters in North America (from GKIDS and Fathom Events) and Australia (Madman Entertainment) on January 18, 2018.

SciFi Japan is pleased to share the film’s English Production Notes from GKIDS, along with images and promotional artwork provided by GKIDS, Fathom Events, Madman and Japanese distributor, Toho.
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Photos courtesy of X-Plus. Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Stegon and Pandon © 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 daikaiju-sized photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in March 2018.
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