SciFi Japan » Tribute http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:32:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Satoshi Kon: 1963-2010 http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/26/satoshi-kon-1963-2010/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/26/satoshi-kon-1963-2010/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:20:03 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16833 Three of the amazing works created by anime director Satoshi Kon. MILLENNIUM ACTRESS image courtesy of The Associates. © 2001 Chiyoko Committee. TOKYO GODFATHERS courtesy of Sony Pictures. © 2003 Satoshi Kon, Madhouse and Tokyo Godfathers Committee. PARANOIA AGENT courtesy of The Associates. © 2004 Satoshi Kon • Madhouse / Paranoia Agent Committee. Internationally Acclaimed Anime Director has Died Author: Kyle Byrd Source: Tokyo Shimbun, Anime News Network, Polymetrica, Sony Pictures Classics, The Associates, various
Satoshi Kon died this past Tuesday.
On Tuesday, August 24, renowned anime director Satoshi Kon passed away from pancreatic cancer at the young age of 46. Along with films like Katsuhiro Otomo's AKIRA (1988) and Mamorou Oshi's GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995), Kon’s films such as PERFECT BLUE (1997) and PAPRIKA (2006) helped popularize mature-themed Japanese animation in the United States by showing the West that animated films didn’t have to be for children. Kon’s films were often subversive, complex, and surreal examinations of the human condition, and he would prove to be an influence on filmmakers the world over. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/26/satoshi-kon-1963-2010/feed/ 0 Peter Fernandez: Industry Loses an Unsung Hero http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/18/peter-fernandez-industry-loses-an-unsung-hero/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/18/peter-fernandez-industry-loses-an-unsung-hero/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:30:40 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=15888 Peter Fernandez at the 2008 premiere of SPEED RACER during the Tribeca Film Festival. On Thursday July 15, 2010, the television and movie industry lost one of its truly unsung heroes. Peter Fernandez passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 83. Although fans of international films and TV know his name and his contributions, Hollywood as a whole has passed over a little-known industry that made it possible to import many foreign efforts that we would have never otherwise seen. The dubbing of international product was a thankless chore and an underpaid one in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Peter Fernandez was a tireless pioneer and turned out some of the most memorable and highest quality dub tracks of a generation. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/18/peter-fernandez-industry-loses-an-unsung-hero/feed/ 0 Peter Fernandez (1927-2010) http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/15/peter-fernandez-1927-2010/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/15/peter-fernandez-1927-2010/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:05:28 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=15855 Writer, director, and voice actor Peter Fernandez died today. SciFi Japan was just informed that Peter Fernandez passed away this morning from lung cancer. Long acknowledged as one of the best in the business, Fernandez was a voice actor and dubbing director for the American versions of dozens of films and television series... his long list of credits include such favorites as ULTRAMAN, ASTRO BOY, GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, THE SPACE GIANTS, SON OF GODZILLA, GIGANTOR, STAR BLAZERS, the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns... and even a "clean version" of George Romero's DAY OF THE DEAD. He may be best known for his work on SPEED RACER, in which he voiced both Speed and Racer X and also wrote the English lyrics for the show's theme song. Our condolences to Peter's family and friends. SciFi Japan will be following with a full tribute soon, but in the meantime please see our 2009 interview with Peter in which he discusses his life and career, and our overview of Peter's work on SPEED RACER.
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/15/peter-fernandez-1927-2010/feed/ 0 Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/06/29/happy-birthday-ray-harrhausen/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/06/29/happy-birthday-ray-harrhausen/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:03:26 +0000 Bob Johnson http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=15439 Ray Harryhausen poses the original MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, a movie that launched his film career. Stop motion animator and visual effects legend Ray Harrryhausen celebrates his 90th Birthday today June 29, 2010. With a film career that has spanned approx forty years, fifteen feature films and various short subjects, Ray Harryhausen is a without question a living legend. Ray's illustrious career has been well documented over the years. His film credits include such classic titles THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, VALLEY OF GWANJI, ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. and THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, which was a direct inspiration for the original 1954 Japanese film GOJIRA. After his 1981 film CLASH OF THE TITANS, Ray officially announced his retirement from the film Industry to concentrate on his own foundation, which helps preserve his animation puppets and sculpture work. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/06/29/happy-birthday-ray-harrhausen/feed/ 0 KYODYNE Star Yusuke Natsu: 1950 -2010 http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/30/kyodyne-star-yusuke-natsu-1950-2010/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/30/kyodyne-star-yusuke-natsu-1950-2010/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:00:23 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=11229 A recent photo of actor Yusuke Natsu. 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...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/30/kyodyne-star-yusuke-natsu-1950-2010/feed/ 0 In a Flash – Tetsuo Narikawa: 1944-2010 http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/28/in-a-flash-%e2%80%93-tetsuo-narikawa-1944-2010/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/28/in-a-flash-%e2%80%93-tetsuo-narikawa-1944-2010/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:26:25 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=11223 Actor Tetsuo Narikawa prepares to transform into Spectreman. ©1971 P Productions. 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...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/01/28/in-a-flash-%e2%80%93-tetsuo-narikawa-1944-2010/feed/ 0 Creeping into the Past and the Future with Virginia’s Horror Hosts http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/11/08/creeping-into-the-past-and-the-future-with-virginia%e2%80%99s-horror-hosts/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/11/08/creeping-into-the-past-and-the-future-with-virginia%e2%80%99s-horror-hosts/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:23:41 +0000 Bob Johnson http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=9603 Virginia Creepers Movie
Virginia Creepers lobby card. ©2009 Horse Archer Productions.
Like most Americans, my first exposure to Japanese science fiction was on television back in the day when local TV was an integral part of most people’s lives, primarily through my local TV horror hosts. It was those shows that gave me my love for films in general and horror and sci-fi in particular. At Chesapeake’s Monster Fest in 2007, I had the privilege of moderating a panel comprised of several Virginia TV horror hosts, past and present. This was a very funny, very talented group of people... some of whom were still playing their characters after more than 30 years... who bore witness to more than 40 years of changes in television. I had grown up watching these guys (including Dr. Madblood’s first show in 1975) and was currently watching the newer hosts online, and on the heels of VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE and AMERICA SCARY, I suddenly became aware that this was the stuff of documentaries. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/11/08/creeping-into-the-past-and-the-future-with-virginia%e2%80%99s-horror-hosts/feed/ 0 A Ghoulish Night of Baseball http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/08/22/a-ghoulish-night-of-baseball/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/08/22/a-ghoulish-night-of-baseball/#comments Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:48:54 +0000 Bob Johnson http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=7663 Source: Bay Area Film Events Bay Area Film Events, Creatures at Large, and The San Francisco Giants present Creature Features Night at AT&T Park on Saturday August 29, 2009! During the 1970s and 1980s, KTVU Channel 2 in Oakland, California had a ratings-busting duo as they featured both the San Francisco Giants and CREATURE FEATURES. Now, both Bay Area legends are reuniting for one fright-filled night of baseball, zombies, and fun! The batty evening begins with the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies as they continue this season’s battle for the Wild Card. Between innings, classic clips from CREATURE FEATURES will be shown featuring both Bob Wilkins and John Stanley. After the game, fans can make their way onto the playing field for a special showing of the iconic horror film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD on the HD scoreboard screen. Also on the field will be our very special guests: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD star actress Judith O’Dea, and CREATURE FEATURES host John Stanley. Both Judith and John will be signing autographs and selling merchandise from both NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and CREATURE FEATURES. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/08/22/a-ghoulish-night-of-baseball/feed/ 0 Important note from the Wilkins family http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/23/important-note-from-the-wilkins-family/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/23/important-note-from-the-wilkins-family/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:13:06 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=2607 Bob Wilkins on the set of KTVU's CREATURE FEATURES. We have received the following message from the family of Bob Wilkins... Fans of Bob Wilkins, Saturday's memorial service is for family, invited friends and co-workers. The church is small with limited parking and the Wilkins family is concerned that hundreds of people will show up only to be turned away. There will be a couple of fan tributes in March that you won't want to miss. SciFi Japan will provide details on the March fan tributes as soon as they become available.
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/23/important-note-from-the-wilkins-family/feed/ 0 The Loss of a Local Legend http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/11/the-loss-of-a-local-legend/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/11/the-loss-of-a-local-legend/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:40:47 +0000 Bob Johnson http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=2167 CREATURE FEATURES host Bob Wilkins 4/11/32 - 1/7/09. "Don't stay up late, it's not worth it," Bob Wilkins warned as he would lean back in his yellow rocking chair, smoke wafting from his big cigar. But monster movie fans in Northern California stayed up with him every Saturday night anyway. From 1971 through 1979, Bob Wilkins brought the best and worst of fantasy, horror and science fiction to audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, in the Sacramento Valley, and nationwide through KTVU’s status as a cable super station. His dry wit and deadpan humor won over audiences, and CREATURE FEATURES would often beat SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in the local ratings. On January 7, 2009 Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area lost one of its most beloved television icons after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Continued...
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