For nearly 30 years, Bandai has been producing and amazing variety of vinyl figures based on characters from the Godzilla, Toho, and Gamera films.
Photos courtesy of Mike Russo, Bob Johnson, and John DeSentis. © Toho Co., Ltd. © Bandai Co., Ltd.

An Overview and Price Guide for the Bandai Godzilla Toy Market
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Special Thanks Mike Russo, Jean Carbajal, Brandon Shields, Bob Johnson, Greg Cordaro, Andy Shields, and James Bond

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Tag for Bandai’s Godzilla 1984, one of the earliest
figures released in “The Godzilla Collection”.
© 1984 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1984 Bandai Co., Ltd.

Welcome to the market overview and price guide to Bandai Godzilla collectibles. The Bandai Company for decades now has been the standard for producing toys based on popular Japanese characters; they are essentially the Mattel of Japan. As it pertains to this article, they began producing toys based on characters in the Godzilla Series in 1983. Over the years since, both the output and quality of the company has steadily increased. The figures themselves are made of vinyl and have been primarily produced in two sizes, 6 inch and 8 inch scale, with the 8 inch scale being the most popular with collectors. There are also larger figures which vary between the 14 and 24 inch scale.

The decision to focus on the Bandai market is due to the company’s immense popularity among Godzilla fans and a general need to know where the toys currently stand as far as pricing and rarity. We have done research and kept our eyes on general trends from sales on the internet and at shows throughout the year such as G-Fest (the annual celebration of Godzilla and Toho Sci-Fi), the San Diego and New York Comic-Cons, Chiller Theater (the legendary toy and horror film expo in New Jersey), and other collector shows and marketplaces such as Frank & Son (in California) and the like. We also keep our eye on shops in the major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Finally, we also go to the people closest to the toys— dealers and collectors— to get their opinions and observations.

Also included in this market report is pricing on GODZILLA-related Bandai figures such as the REBIRTH OF MOTHRA trilogy, the GAMERA series, and even Toho’s YAMATO TAKERU (OROCHI THE EIGHT HEADED DRAGON). We are not, however, pricing DX (deluxe), battery operated, or candy toys. This article strictly covers the standard figures in their various scales.
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Voltron Lands this Summer
Source: Privateer Press press release
Official Sites: monsterpocalypse.com, voltron.com

An early look at the packaging for the new VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE
battle miniatures game. Photo courtesy of Privateer Press. © 2010 Privateer
Press, Inc. Voltron is © 2010 World Events Productions, Ltd.

Privateer Press has announced that the highly anticipated VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game (PIP 50030) for MONSTERPOCALYPSE will be released July 2010 with an MSRP of $49.99.

The VOLTRON game will include everything two players need to stage epic battles between the forces of Voltron and the Galaxy Alliance and Lo-Tron of the fiendish Drule Empire. Part of the popular MONSTERPOCALYPSE line, VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE will be completely compatible with all current MONSTERPOCALYPSE series.

In celebration of the release, Privateer Press is offering the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Launch Kit (PIP 50033, MSRP $399.92) to brick-and-mortar retailers. The kit includes eight copies of the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE battle miniatures game and two limited edition Mega Voltron figures for use in promoting the game’s release in the store. Retailers can pre-order the VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Launch Kit through their distributor now.
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Source: Privateer Press press release
Official Site: monsterpocalypse.com

An early look at the Unit Booster and Monster Booster game packs for April’s
MONSTERPOCALYPSE SERIES 5: BIG IN JAPAN. Photos courtesy of Privateer Press.
© 2010 Privateer Press, Inc.

Privateer Press of Bellevue, WA has announced that the next expansion for its collectible miniatures game MONSTERPOCALYPSE will be released in April 2010. The expansion, SERIES 5: BIG IN JAPAN, takes the monsters and minions of MONSTERPOCALYPSE to the heart of Japan with new iconic buildings from the Tokyo skyline. BIG IN JAPAN will be available in Monster Boosters and Unit Boosters.

To celebrate the release of BIG IN JAPAN, Privateer Press is offering two special promotions to retailers and players. Players can get a limited edition Mega Mechathugrosh figure free from participating retailers by ordering the BIG IN JAPAN Mega Kit (PIP 50915). The kit includes one case of BIG IN JAPAN Boosters, one case of BIG IN JAPAN Unit Boosters, and one Mega Mechathugrosh figure.

The second promotion is available to retailers who order the BIG IN JAPAN Launch Kit (PIP 50916). The kit includes six of the BIG IN JAPAN Mega Kits and two free limited edition Mega White Dajan figures for the retailer to use in supporting the launch of BIG IN JAPAN. Both the BIG IN JAPAN Mega Kit and the BIG IN JAPAN Launch Kit are limited, and players and retailers are encouraged to pre-order so as not to miss out on these special offers.
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Japan’s yokai as they appeared in the classic YOKAI MONSTERS trilogy made by Daiei Motion Picture Company in the 1960s. © 1968 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Authors: Melanie Bourgeois and Dan Ross
Source: VIZ Media
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Author Matt Alt signs Yokai Attack! for fans at the Yokai University exhibit.

From October 23rd though November 6th, Viz Media and the New People Center in San Francisco’s Japantown hosted a spooky gallery of Japanese goblins known as yokai. The “Yokai University: San Francisco Campus” exhibit located in the lobby of Viz Cinema showcased original woodblock prints from classic Ukio-e master Hokusai to more contemporary manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, creator of GeGeGe No Kitaro. Along with the prints were video reels of yokai street parades and in glass cases, many classic and modern netsuke and toys. All in all a colorful, fun and educational display.

On October 31st at Viz Cinema, Matt Alt, founder of AltJapan and co-writer of the book Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide, gave a free presentation on what yokai are all about. My wife Melanie and I attended. After Matt’s informative and fun talk and a book signing in the lobby, Melanie and I caught up with him for a few minutes to talk about the presentation from both our perspectives, and also looked in on the latest happenings at AltJapan.
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Director Shusuke Kaneko is in Korea for the 2009 Megabox Japanese Film Festival, which will screen all three 1990s Gamera films.
Photo courtesy of Megabox. GAMERA 3: AWAKENING OF IRYS © 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Heisei Trilogy will be screened at Japanese Film Festival in Korea
Author: Kim Song-ho
Official Site: The 6th Megabox Japanese Film Festival

Poster art for the 6th Megabox Japanese Film Festival.
Photo courtesy of Megabox. © 2009 Megabox

The Heisei Gamera trilogy — GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (Gamera: Daikaiju Kuchu Kessen, 1995), GAMERA 2: ADVENT OF LEGION (Gamera 2: Region Shurai, aka GAMERA: ATTACK OF LEGION, 1996) and GAMERA 3: AWAKENING OF IRYS (Gamera 3: Iris Kakusei, aka GAMERA: REVENGE OF IRIS, 1999) — will be screened in Korea at the 6th Megabox Japanese Film Festival, running November 11 to 15 (Korean date). Shusuke Kaneko, director of the Gamera trilogy, is visiting Korea for the festival and will meet the audience in person for most of the showings.

Megabox Japanese Film Festival (J-MEFF) is a collaboration between Megabox Cineplex, a large cinema chain in Korea, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. Since the premiere festival in 2004, J-MEFF is held in November. Each year it introduces both new and classic Japanese films to Korean audiences and is now one of the most well-known Japan-related film festivals among Korean film buffs.

Kim Song-ho previews what attendees can expect to see at this year’s Megabox Japanese Film Festival, and looks back at the history of Gamera in South Korea.
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The giant monster Geharha faces off with mankind’s new superweapon in GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER. The film is now available on
Japanese DVD and Blu-ray. © 2009 NHK ‘Geharha’ Project.

2009 TV Kaiju Movie on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray with English Subtitles
Author: James Bonney
Official Site: Geharha (Japan)
Special Thanks to James Ballard

GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER (Chouhatsu Daikaiju Gehara, 2009), the short, shot for television film that tells the bizarre story of a mysterious monster that rises up from the depths to wreak havoc on Japan has been released onto DVD in it’s native country. It is a treat for kaiju fans worldwide… that is if you can get past region code blockage and the rather expensive conversion rates and shipping, which is a typical situation amongst foreign buyers of Japanese DVDs.
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Space Station Gamma III is menaced by THE GREEN SLIME. The Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention is hosting a 40th anniversary
screening with stars Robert Horton and Luciana Paluzzi. © 1969 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

Stars Robert Horton and Luciana Paluzzi to Attend Screening at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention
Official Site: Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention

US poster art for THE GREEN SLIME. © 1969 Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Japanese/US/Italian co-production THE GREEN SLIME (Gamma Sango Uchu Daisakusen, 1968) with a special screening and appearance by two stars of the sci-fi cult classic at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention. The convention will show a rare film print of THE GREEN SLIME at 12:00pm on Sunday, November 8th. Actors Robert Horton and Luciana Paluzzi will attend from 11:00am-4:00pm to sign autographs and take part in post-screening interview about the making of the movie.

This weekend’s screening will be included as part of the general admission for the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention. Robert Horton and Luciana Paluzzi are charging for autographs, but each signatures includes a choice of photo.
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The Killer Mutant Boar Continues the Hunt Next Month on Home Video
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: OZ DVD, Madmad
Official Movie Site: CHAW

Cover art for the Korean Region 3 DVD of CHAW. © 2009
Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

On November 4, the Korean killer wild boar movie CHAW will be released on DVD in its native country. Along with the movie itself, the 2-disc edition will feature a variety of added materials such as a director and cast audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, Korean theatrical premiere footage, poster gallery, and trailers.

The DVD will also include English subtitles.

Previously, the German company Ascot Elite Home Entertainment announced the Blu-ray release of of CHAW, due in that country on December 10. No news of a Korean Blu-ray (or an American) release has been announced.
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Advertisement for the VIZ Cinema screenings of BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 2009 Kamogawa Horumo Film Partners

NEW PEOPLE Yokai Event Celebrates the Halloween spirit Japanese style!
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Kitaro and his yokai friends appear in promotional art
for the free “Yokai University San Francisco Campus”
exhibit starting this week at NEW PEOPLE. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2009 VIZ Media, LLC

Did you know that the Japanese yokai (immortal spirits) are attending their fall semester in San Francisco?

NEW PEOPLE, the new pop culture center in San Francisco’s Japantown, delivers Halloween— Japanese style— as it opens “Yokai University: San Francisco Campus”, a fun and spooky free exhibition of demons, monsters and other creepy creatures running October 23rd through November 6th at the VIZ Cinema lobby. The event will feature yokai related books, art prints and other media, including Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints by master artist Hokusai Katsushika, and artwork by yokai manga pioneer Shigeru Mizuki, creator of the popular series GeGeGe No Kitaro.

To complement the exhibit, VIZ Cinema will host a special premiere of the new yokai combat action-comedy film BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO (Kamogawa Horumo, 2009).

As part of the two week celebration, NEW PEOPLE invites the public to an informative free yokai lecture by Tokyo-based writer Matt Alt, who chronicled Japan’s long love affair with monsters and spirits in Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide, the first-ever English language yokai guidebook. Matt Alt gives history and insights on its culture on Saturday, October 31st from 1:00 – 2:30pm at VIZ Cinema. His book and a special collection of yokai themed products will also be available for purchase.
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Live Action Movie Based on Hit Anime Streets October 20
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire

DVD cover art for BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE.
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Ent. © 2009
East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ.

From a producer of HERO and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON comes BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, based on the cult hit anime. Demons have infested Earth, and only one warrior stands between the dark and the light: Saya, a half-human, half-vampire samurai who preys on those who feast on human blood. Joining forces with the shadowy society known as the Council, Saya is dispatched to an American military base, where an intense series of swordfights leads her to the deadliest vampire of all.

Now after 400 years, Saya’s greatest hunt is about to begin. She’s here… and there will be blood.

Following a US theatrical run this past summer from Samuel Goldwyn Films, director Chris Nahon’s (KISS OF THE DRAGON) martial arts horror thriller BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE will be released on DVD and Blu-ray this month by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
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DVD Now Available; Debut Screening at Monster Fest on October 10
Source: Horse Archer Productions press release
Official Site: virginiacreepersmovie.com
Special Thanks to Sean Kotz

Poster art created by George Chastain will also grace the cover of the DVD. Photo
courtesy of Horse Archer Productions. © 2009 Horse Archer Productions, LLC.

After 18 months of production, Horse Archer Productions will release its much anticipated documentary, VIRGINIA CREEPERS: THE HORROR HOST TRADITION OF THE OLD DOMINION, with a debut at Monster Fest 6 in Chesapeake, VA on October 10.

The film, which looks at more than 50 years of hosting horror movies on the Virginia and DC airwaves features extensive interviews with all known living hosts, previously unheard audio and video footage from shows not seen by the public for nearly four decades.

“We have put a lot of research and leg work into this film,” said Sean Kotz, co-producer and co-director of the full length feature documentary, “but we have also been fortunate to find passionate people with photos, audio and video that would have otherwise been lost.”
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The Tengu Police prepare to administer a little rough justice to Daddy Eyeball in KITARO, the live action adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki’s beloved yokai manga.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2007 KITARO Film Partners.

Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: GeGeGe (Japan)

DVD cover art for the UK release of KITARO. Photo
courtesy of The Associates. © 2007 KITARO Film Partners.

Shochiku’s 2007 box office hit KITARO (Gegege no Kitaro) has been released on DVD in the UK by Manga Entertainment.

The live action adaptation of the phenomenally popular manga series created in the late 1950s by Shigeru Mizuki, KITARO is a colourful, fun and highly inventive fantasy adventure about the Japanese folklore creatures known as yokai, or spirit monsters, and their interaction with the human world.

Previously adapted several times as various animated TV series, movies and video games, this latest version brings vivid new life to Mizuki’s bizarre characters and creations. Written by Daisuke Habara (HULA GIRLS; THE PRINCE OF TENNIS) and directed by Katsuhide Motoki (DRUGSTORE GIRL), the film stars Eiji Wentz (CAPTAIN TOKIO; LOVE COM), Mao Inoue (KAIDAN), Lena Tanaka (DRUGSTORE GIRL) and Yo Oizumi (GAMERA 2, SPIRITED AWAY).

Katsuhide Motoki’s film is a delightful vision that combines live-action with eye-popping CGI effects to portray what happens when the fantasy world of the yokai collides with the reality of modern day Japan. A hugely enjoyable romp for all the family, KITARO will appeal to fans of other recent Japanese fantasy movies such as Takashi Miike’s THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (Yokai Daisenso, 2005) and Akihiko Shiota’s DORORO (2007).
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment, NTV (Nippon Television Network)
Official Movie Site: Evangelion 1.0 (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE promotional
art courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2007
Khara/Gainax

On October 4, 1995, the animated TV series NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion) premiered on the Japanese station TV Tokyo. Produced by the animation studio Gainax Co., Ltd., EVANGELION started slowly in the ratings but soon became a international hit that spun off successful videos, books, and toys as well as two feature films; EVANGELION: DEATH AND REBIRTH (Shin Seiki Evangelion Gekiji-ban: Shito Shinsei, 1997) and THE END OF EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion Gekijo-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni, 1997).

A decade later, the franchise returned to theaters with EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Jo), the first of four new movies labeled the “Rebuild of Evangelion” (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) series. The movie immediately shot to the top of the Japanese box office. FUNimation Entertainment acquired the North American rights to the film, and EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE is currently playing in US and Canadian cinemas (check the FUNimation Films website for a list of theaters and dates) with the Region 1 DVD scheduled for November 17, 2009.
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Korean Killer Wild Boar Movie Takes a Bite out of European and Asian Territories
Author: Kim Song-ho and Keith Aiken
Source: Finecut Co., Ltd., Ascot Elite Home Entertainment
Official Movie Site: CHAW
Special Thanks to Lim Ji-yoon

Cover art for the upcoming German Blu-ray disc of CHAW.
© 2009 Polygon Entertainment LLC/Soo Jack Films

On September 11, the South Korean international film sales company Finecut Co., Ltd. announced that their new monster movie CHAW had been picked up for release in the UK. Finecut had signed the agreement with British distributor Optimum Releasing during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Finecut also held a private screening of CHAW at the event.

Released in Korea on July 15, CHAW is the tale of various oddball characters who have gathered to hunt down a giant, man-eating wild boar. The film mixes both horror and comedy, and was written and directed by Shin Jeong-won, a former music video producer and art director who had made a successful debut with his first feature TO CATCH A VIRGIN GHOST (Sisily 2km) in 2004. The movie recorded approximately 1.8 million admissions during its domestic theatrical run.

The UK deal marks the latest international sale for CHAW, which had already been picked up for release in Germany, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Brunei, Austria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Thailand.
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CG test shot of the original Gwoemul created by Macrograph Co., the Korean FX studio that will be handling THE HOST 2. © 2009 Chungeorahm Film,
Macrograph Co., Digital Actor Research Team of Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute, KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology

Korean Ministry of Culture Backs Sequel to Award-Winning International Horror Hit
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Korea Creative Content Agency, Yonhap News, Chosun Ilbo, Joynews 24

The Korea Creative Content Agency, a public institution which oversees the country’s cultural and entertainment industries, announced on September 1 (Korean date) that it will support technical development of the upcoming monster movie THE HOST 2 (Gwoemul 2). The movie was chosen as the winner of ‘2009 Global Project Technical Development Support Enterprise’, which is part of a research and development project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea.

Winning the award enables Chungeorahm Film— the production company behind the original THE HOST (Gwoemul, 2006) and the new sequel/prequel— and Macrograph Co.— the company in charge of the film’s visual effects— to be funded at the amount of 2 billion Korean won (approximately 1.61 million USD) over the next 2 years. The notable feature of this funding is that it is not intended for the actual production costs of the movie. Instead, the money will be spent wholly on developing needed technology for special effects in THE HOST 2, mainly for creation of the CG monster.
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