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After far too long an absence, the popular fanzine Monster Attack Team returns!
Edward Holland and the late Joe Riley began Monster Attack Team (the name taken from the anti-monster team in RETURN OF ULTRAMAN) began in the early 1990s as a fan club for aficionados of Japanese science fiction and fantasy. It soon evolved into a Dallas, Texas cable access television show and a small newsletter that grew to become a fan favorite mag. The print version of Monster Attack Team ran for seven issues, edited by Ed Holland with the assistance of David May and Michael G Keller, and featured articles and contributions by authors such as Ed Godziszewski, Kip Doto, Bob Johnson, Kevin Grays, August Ragone, Daisuke Ishizuka, Norman England, and Damon Foster.
Nearly 15 years after the last issue, Ed Holland and Michael Keller have brought back Monster Attack Team with Issue 8. The editors have rounded up an “all star” group of tokusatsu writers and historians and produced a massive, 132 page edition that matches the quality of those truly great English language genre publications The Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Markalite, and Japanese Giants. Continued…
Toei Hero Dies at Age 59
Author: Keith Aiken and Oki Miyano
Translations: Oki Miyano and Hiro Sono
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to JR Lipartito
SciFi Japan is sad to report the passing of actor Yusuke Natsu, one of the stars of the 1976 Toei Co., Ltd. television series SPACE IRONMEN KYODYNE (Uchu Tetsujin Kyodain), who died at a Tokyo hospital from stomach cancer on January 27th. He was 59 years old.
Besides KYODYNE, Natsu appeared in a number of television shows and movies from Toei, Nikkatsu, Toho, and other studios. A partial list of credits includes CHARGE! HUMAN!! (Totsugeki! Human!!, 1972), SWEET REVENGE (Kiri no Hata, 1977), NEVER GIVE UP (Yasei no Shomei, 1978), THE YAKUZA WIVES 2 (Gokudo no Onna-Tachi 2, 1987), and AFTERNOON WHEN FLOWERS FELL (Hana no Furu Gogo, 1989). He is best known for the TV drama SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION (Tokusou Saizensen, 1977), in which he co-starred with Hiroshi Fujioka of MASKED RIDER fame.
Fujioka only learned of his old friend’s illness shortly before Natsu’s death, when one of his acquaintances told him that Natsu had only a few days to live. On the 27th he told a reporter that, “Natsu’s serious attitude towards acting was impressive. He was still so young… I’ve lost my comrade.” Continued…
SPECTREMAN Star Passes Away
Author: Bob Johnson
Additional Research and Translations: Daisuke Ishizuka
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano and Keith Aiken
2010 got off to a sad and shocking start with the loss of the star of one of Japan’s more unique superhero series. Actor Tetsuo Narikawa died of lung cancer on January 1 in Tokyo, Japan. He was 65 years old.
Narikawa is best known for his leading role as Joji Gamou (aka; George) in the P Productions TV series SPECTREMAN (Supekutoruman) from January 2, 1971 through March 25, 1972. After SPECTREMAN, he went on to guest star in a few other superhero series, notably LION MARU (Kaiketsu Raion-Maru, 1972) episodes 3 and 5, MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1972) episode 63, ROBOT DETECTIVE (Robot Keiji, 1973) episode 25, and ULTRAMAN LEO (Urutoraman Leo, 1974) episode 36. Continued…
A Conversation with the Production Crew of the Upcoming Korean SFX Hero TV Show
Author / Translator: Kim Song-ho
Official website: T3 Entertainment (RAYFORCE website coming soon)
RAYFORCE demo footage on YouTube
Special Thanks to Ko Jeong-jin, Jun Jae-hoon, Hong Gi-hun and the members of Big Monster Club
On October 22, 2009, the Korean game company T3 Entertainment announced the production of a new SFX Hero TV Show called RAYFORCE, WAR RECORD OF TIME AND SPACE (Shigongjeongi Reifosu). Shortly before the official announcement, T3 released a 4-minute video demo of the show on YouTube. The quality of the demo was enough to attract attention from genre fans, and RAYFORCE has become one of the most anticipated SFX shows in Korea.
According to initial news reports, RAYFORCE will be a 2-season show, consisting of 26 episodes for each season. T3 will begin principal photography in next March and the first season of the show will air in September. Continued…
A superhero television series is only as good as the villain they have to confront. For KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT, the producers turned to a veteran television and movie actor who they felt could carry the series as a villain that would appear from the very first to very last episode.
William O’Leary spoke with SciFi Japan as we looked into just what makes a good villain bad and what it is like to go through the hectic and manic schedule of an independently produced television series. Continued…
“Life Size” Statue of Giant Robot in Creator’s Hometown
Author: Daisuke Ishizuka
Official Site: Kobe Tetsujin Project (Japan)
TETSUJIN 28-GO (Tetsujin Nijyu-Hachi-Go) is a popular robot comic (launched 1956) and animation TV series (1963) created by Mr. Mitsuteru Yokoyama. The animated series was aired in America as the English dubbed GIGANTOR (1966).
Mr. Yokoyama was born in Kobe in 1934, and died at the of age of 69 in 1995. His works include Giant Robo (adapted as the live action series JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT), Babel II, Princess Comet (Comet-san) and Kamen no Ninjya Akakage (adapted several times, including the 2001 movie RED SHADOW). Tetsujin is considered to be his masterpiece. The character has become a beloved figure in Japan, starring in several animated series as well as a 2005 live action film. Imagi Studios, the animation house behind the CG films TMNT and ASTRO BOY, has produced test footage for a potential computer animated TETSUJIN 28 movie.
The Kobe area was hit by the Great Hanshin earthquake on January 17th, 1995. Nearly 6,500 people were killed and 300,000 lost their homes. As the 15th anniversary of the tragedy draws near, a full scale, 18 meter (59 foot) tall statue of Tetsujin has been built in Kobe as a symbol of the city’s revival and as a guardian from future disasters. Continued…
Godzilla, King Ghidorah and Gigan feature in classic Toho TV series
Author: Jim M. Ballard
Special Thanks to Keith Aiken, John Paul Cassidy and Oki Miyano
RYUUSEI NINGEN ZOON (Zone The Meteor Man) was a superhero TV series produced by Toho Eizo that aired weekly on the Nippon Television Network (NTV) between April 2nd and September 24th 1973. Toho has registered the series with the United States copyright office under the English title ZONE FIGHTER.
The series is centered around a family of aliens known as the Zone Family, whose home planet Peaceland was destroyed by the villainous Garoga Baron aliens. Seeking refuge on Earth, they take on their new identity as the Sakimori family, but are soon followed by the Garoga who are on a new mission of a conquest!
The series is best remembered for featuring appearances by Toho’s big screen monsters Godzilla, King Ghidorah and Gigan. The events of ZONE FIGHTER were reportedly part of the Showa Godzilla series, taking place between the movies GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (Gojira tai Megaro, 1973) and GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (Gojira tai Mekagojira, 1974). The series features the final onscreen appearances of the original incarnations of King Ghidorah and Gigan.
Join SciFi Japan as we look back at this unique episode of Godzilla’s history! Continued…
Last year, the Tokyo-based camera design, production, and distribution company PowerShovel, Ltd. introduced the Blackbird Fly, a new Twin-Reflex 35mm Plastic Camera made in several different colors. The highly anticipated Blackbird Fly has received glowing reviews from camera and photography aficionados worldwide, and the model has been a strong seller for PowerShovel.
In 2009, the Blackbird Fly received some unexpected and highly visible publicity from MASKED RIDER DECADE (Kamen Raidaa Dikeido), the 19th television series is the popular “Kamen Rider” franchise. Premiering this past January 25 on TV Asahi, the show stars Masahiro Inoue as Kamen Rider Decade’s alter ego, Tsukasa Kadoya. Tsukasa suffers from amnesia and tries to hold onto the world around him by photographing it with his camera of choice… a pink Blackbird Fly.
The camera was featured in many episodes and during the opening credits of MASKED RIDER DECADE. The resulting attention— and consumer interest— convinced PowerShovel to make a Limited Edition production run of a Blackbird Fly inspired by the show. From the “Masked Rider Decade” Blackbird Fly production run, only 50 units will be sold outside of Japan, with Freestyle Photo Supplies in Hollywood, CA the exclusive retailer for this camera in the United States. Continued…
Revolver Entertainment will release the 2007 mockumentary BIG MAN JAPAN (Dai Nipponjon) on DVD in the UK on September 21.
A middle-aged slacker living in a rundown, graffiti-ridden slum, Daisoto’s (Hitoshi Matsumoto) job involves being shocked by bolts of electricity that transform him into a stocky, stick-wielding giant several stories high who is entrusted with defending Japan from a host of bizarre monsters. But while his predecessors were national heroes, he is a pariah among the citizens he protects, who bitterly complain about the noise and destruction of property he causes.
And Daisato has his own problems – an agent insistent on branding him with sponsor advertisements, an Alzheimer-afflicted grandfather who transforms into a giant in dirty underwear, and a family who is embarrassed by his often cowardly exploits. A wickedly deadpan spin on the giant Japanese superhero, BIG MAN JAPAN is an outrageous portrait of a pathetic, but truly unique hero. Continued…
All Masked Riders Return For Heisei Series 10th Anniversary Movie
Author: James M. Ballard
Official Movie Site: www.dcd-shin.jp
With the successful revivial of the Masked Rider franchise with 2000’s MASKED RIDER KUUGA (Kamen Raidaa Kuuga), Toei Company has continued to produce new Masked Rider TV series every year. The current series MASKED RIDER DECADE (Kamen Raidaa Dikeido), which began airing in January this year, celebrates 10 years of the new era of Masked Rider productions, with the titular hero traveling between alternate Masked Rider worlds.
Now, the new movie MASKED RIDER DECADE: ALL RIDERS VS. GREAT SHOCKER (Kamen Raidaa Dikeido Ooru Raidaa tai Daishokkaa) brings together all the leading Riders since the original MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1971) through to the upcoming series MASKED RIDER DOUBLE (Kamen Raidaa Daburu, 2009), due to air in September. Continued…
KAMEN RIDER TV Producer to Make Major Announcement at Special Panel Presentation and Screening on July 26
Source: Kamen Rider Productions press release
Official Site: kamenridertv.com
The hit live action series KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT will hold a special panel presentation and screening at San Diego Comic-Con International set for Sunday, July 26 from 2:45 to 3:45pm at Room 6DE. There will also be an autograph session on the same day from 1-2pm in the autograph area of the convention center.
The KAMEN RIDER Comic-Con presentation kicks off with never-before-seen footage from upcoming KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT episodes, followed by a panel session featuring stars Stephen Lunsford (Kit/Kamen Rider Dragon Knight), Matt Mullins (Len/Kamen Rider Wing Knight), Yvonne Arias (Maya), Scott Bailey (JTC/Kamen Rider Strike), William O’Leary (General Xaviax) and members of the series’ award-winning creative team including directors Steve and Mike Wang. The event closes with an audience Q&A and a raffle drawing awarding 200 Bandai bags including action figures from the eagerly anticipated KAMEN RIDER toy line and KAMEN RIDER packs that include a backpack, cap, and t-shirt. All in attendance will be able to take home a Comic-Con exclusive KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT poster. 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…
Dai Nipponjin is a sixth-generation superhero guarding his country from these outlandish “baddies,” as Daisatou calls them. But while his predecessors were national heroes, Daisatou is a pariah among the citizens he protects. His battles are broadcast late at night to diminishing television ratings while the public bitterly complains about the noise and destruction of property he causes.
And Daisatou has his own problems— an agent insistent on branding him with sponsor advertisements, an Alzheimer-afflicted grandfather who transforms into a giant in dirty underwear, and an ex-wife and daughter who are embarrassed by his often cowardly exploits.
A wickedly deadpan spin on the giant Japanese superhero, BIG MAN JAPAN is an outrageous portrait of a pathetic but truly unique hero.
After an enthusiastically received premiere at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, a successful theatrical run in Japan, and appearances at festivals both in the US and abroad, BIG MAN JAPAN will be released to theaters across America on May 15, 2009. SciFi Japan presents an early look at the film with press notes, photos, poster art and the theatrical trailer, courtesy of US distributor Magnet Releasing. Continued…
Blast off with Anime Expo and members of the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS dynasty as they storm into the Los Angeles Convention Center for one of the biggest Ranger Reunions to date at the nation’s largest anime and manga convention held July 2-5, 2009. More information can be found on the website anime-expo.org.
Power Rangers in attendance include:
· Karan Ashley: Aisha Campbell, the Yellow Power/Ninja Ranger (1994-96)
· Steve Cardenas: Rocky DeSantos, the Red Power/Ninja Ranger (1994-96)
· Walter Jones: Zack Taylor, the original Black Power Ranger (1993-94)
· Catherine Sutherland: Kat Hillard, the Pink Power/Ninja Ranger (1995-96)
· Johnny Yong Bosch: Adam Park, the Black Power/Ninja Ranger (1994-98)
· Robert Axelrod: Lord Zedd (1993-96)
In addition to attending Anime Expo 2009, the MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS Reunion event will include a panel on as well as a booth in the Anime Expo Exhibit Hall where fans can meet, take pictures with and obtain autograph head shots of their favorite convention attending Rangers! Continued…
An interview with KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT Producer/Director Steve Wang
Author: Bob Johnson
Official Sites: kamenridertv.com, Kamen Rider Productions
Special Thanks to Loren Portillo
On the opposite side of every mirror on Earth lies the parallel dimension of Ventara – a world destroyed by the evil alien, General Xaviax. The Kamen Riders were warriors from Ventara who fought Xaviax with armor and abilities powered by their Advent Decks. Unfortunately, Xaviax stole the Advents Decks and defeated all the Riders but one.
Kamen Rider Wing Knight is the sole surviving Kamen Rider – the only man who can stop Xaviax from destroying Earth the same way he destroyed Ventara. To defeat Wing Knight, Xaviax brought the Advent Decks to Earth and tricked ordinary citizens into becoming new Kamen Riders – super-powered soldiers who will carry out his evil plans.
On our Earth, there are also what sometimes seems to be two parallel dimensions, the United States and Japan. Many pieces of each culture cross the Pacific Ocean and become a part of the other, whether it is Japanese eating hamburgers and watching the latest US blockbuster movie or Americans eating sushi and watching anime.
Now Steve and Michael Wang are attempting to bring Japan’s motorcycle riding heroes to the US in a big way with the CW’s new Saturday morning TV series KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT, a show inspired by Ishimori Production and Toei Co., Ltd.’s MASKED RIDER RYUKI (Kamen Raidaa Ryuuki, 2002). Continued…
