SciFi Japan http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:11:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 20th CENTURY BOYS Production Notes http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/05/20th-century-boys-production-notes/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/05/20th-century-boys-production-notes/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:59:40 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=666 Childhood fantasy and terrifying reality merge in 20th CENTURY BOYS, the first of three new movies based on the acclaimed manga by Naoki Urasawa. Photo courtesy of NTV. ©2008 ”20th Century Boys” Film Partners A Behind the Scenes Look at the Big Budget, Epic Sci-Fi Trilogy Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Movie Site: 20th Boys Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Tzeling Huang One of the biggest events in recent Japanese cinema is 20th CENTURY BOYS, the movie trilogy adapted from the internationally acclaimed sci-fi manga series. The three pictures were filmed together (as with THE LORD OF THE RINGS films) by a partnership of the Nippon Television Network, Shogakukan, Toho Co., VAP, Yomiuri Television, Dentsu, Yomiuri Shimbun, Cine Bazaar, Office Crescendo, and d-rights. Produced at a combined budget of 6 billion yen (approximately $60 million US), 20th CENTURY BOYS is the most expensive film project in Japanese history. The first 20th CENTURY BOYS was released in Japan by Toho on August 30, 2008. It premiered in the #2 spot behind Sony Pictures’ HANCOCK and moved to the top of the box office in its second week of release. By mid-December the film had earned nearly $40 million, making it a major box office hit in Japan. The second movie will open in Japan on January 31. NTV is handling world sales of 20th CENTURY BOYS and the film was screened this past November at the 2008 American Film Market. It has also been picked up for distribution in more than two dozen countries, including the United Kingdom where it will open on February 20. NTV has provided photos, promotional art, and detailed production notes for the first 20th CENTURY BOYS movie which we are pleased to share with SciFi Japan readers. In the next few days we will also be running interviews with the cast and crew of the film, so check back soon for more on one of the most anticipated films to come out of Japan in years. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/05/20th-century-boys-production-notes/feed/ Giant Asian Monsters on the Big Screen in January http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/giant-asian-monsters-on-the-big-screen-in-january/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/giant-asian-monsters-on-the-big-screen-in-january/#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:21:28 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1731 Silver Scream Spook Show, Bloor Cinema
PULGASARI, North Korea's first giant monster movie. © 1985 Korean Film Export & Import Corporation
Giant Asian monsters return to movie theaters in North America this month with the Canadian premiere of the infamous PULGASARI (1985) and a screening of the popular GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (Gojira, Mosura, Kingughidora: Daikaiju Soshingeki, 2001) in Atlanta. At 9:30pm on January 30, the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Canada will open their "Workers Paradise!—The North Korean Film Series" with PULGASARI. The following day, Japan's King of the Monsters returns to Atlanta, GA for a screening of GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK at the Plaza Theatre. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/giant-asian-monsters-on-the-big-screen-in-january/feed/ NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Arrives on Crunchyroll http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/naruto-shippuden-arrives-on-crunchyroll/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/naruto-shippuden-arrives-on-crunchyroll/#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:30:15 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1928 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is now available on Crunchyroll. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/2007 Shippuden Online Anime Distribution Leader Launches One of the Most Popular Anime Titles of All Time Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release Official Site: www.naruto.com Special Thanks to Chase Wang Crunchyroll, the world's largest anime-focused content and social networking service, takes a huge and bold step in making a decisive transition from a platform for user-uploaded content to a platform of professionally-produced content with the historic launch of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN. The first eight episodes of the beginning of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN can be accessed immediately, with eight more catalog episodes added every week Friday. In addition, simulcast of the most recent episode one hour after Japan broadcast will be available starting January 8, 2009. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/04/naruto-shippuden-arrives-on-crunchyroll/feed/ 2008: The Year In Review http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/03/2008-the-year-in-review/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/03/2008-the-year-in-review/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:00:50 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1696 Take a look back at sci-fi and fantasy film highs and lows of the past year! MONSTER X STRIKES BACK © 2008 Guilal Production Committee. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. G © 2008 G-Project and Gokan. Photo courtesy of Kiyotaka Taguchi. SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS © 2008 Super 8 Ultra Brothers Production Consortium. KING KONG VS GODZILLA and NEW PRODUCTION: GO! GODMAN © Toho Co., Ltd. CLOVERFIELD © 2008 Paramount Pictures. A Look Back at Asian Sci-Fi Throughout the Year Author: Aaron Cooper Special Thanks: The entire staff of SciFi Japan 2008 was intriguing in the landscape of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films. To some, it may have appeared very dry; to others it seemed a great boon of varied material. Big names like Godzilla and Gamera were mostly no-shows, but the slack appears to be taken up in a variety of outlets by a wide range of talent depending on your tastes. The staff of SciFi Japan took another moment to ponder over the events of the past year, and attempted to come up with the most defining moments of 2008. You may agree or disagree but regardless, the year held moments for everyone whether you knew it or not! Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/03/2008-the-year-in-review/feed/ REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/01/deep-sea-monster-reigo/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/01/deep-sea-monster-reigo/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:17:59 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=552 The ferocious deep-sea monster REIGO joins Japan's ever-growing pantheon of daikaiju stars. The beast was created by GAMERA 4 fan film director Shinpei Hayashiya. Photo courtesy of producer Show Tsuchida, Option Inc. © 2008 InterMedia Co., Ltd. After Several Years, the Much-Delayed WWII Kaiju Film Finally Surfaces in Japan Author: Keith Aiken Source: Option Inc., Gold View Co., Ltd., various Official Movie Site: REIGO Additional Material and Translations by Oki Miyano and Norman England Special Thanks to Show Tsuchida, Kiyo Joo, Ryo Ikeuchi, Daisuke Ishizuka, Sheldon Warnock, and Shinichi Wakasa

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie.
English language promotional art for the kaiju movie REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. Photo courtesy of Gold View Co., Ltd.© 2008 InterMedia Co., Ltd.
In the midst of World War II, the battleship Yamato, the pride of the Japanese navy, joins with the main squadrons of the Combined Fleet in the South Seas. While lurking in the waters off the Truk Islands, the crew of the Yamato spot what is believed to be an enemy submarine and fire on it. The attack is a success, however what sinks to the sea bottom is not a submarine at all but a massive mysterious creature that will later bring disaster upon the fleet... In November of 2005, the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA had the first screenings of a new daikaiju movie called DEEP SEA MONSTER- REIGO (Shinkaiju Reigo). Made by a highly-regarded fan turned professional filmmaker, and featuring the talents of popular genre performers and FX artists, REIGO was the first Japanese monster picture in years that was not a sequel, remake, or based upon a pre-existing franchise. The film was originally scheduled for release in 2006 but suffered numerous delays— and a title change to REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO — before finally beginning theatrical screenings in mid-2008. SciFi Japan begins 2009 with an exclusive look at REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, featuring production info, story synopsis, cast and crew bios, promotional art, and dozens of photos courtesy of the filmmakers, original production company Option Inc., and international sales agent Gold View Co., Ltd. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/01/deep-sea-monster-reigo/feed/ Crunchyroll Adds EYESHIELD 21, NEO ANGELIQUE ABYSS and CoMix Wave Films Titles http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/31/crunchyrolls-adds-eyeshield-21-and-comix-wave-films-titles/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/31/crunchyrolls-adds-eyeshield-21-and-comix-wave-films-titles/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:22:42 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1609 The hit football anime EYESHIELD 21 has been added to the Crunchyroll lineup. © 2005 NAS, TV Tokyo, Shueisha Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press releases Special Thanks to Chase Wang The online media distribution distribution giant Crunchyroll has announced a new partnership with CoMix Wave Films to provide streaming and subscriptions for the Japanese entertainment company's popular anime titles KAEDE NEWTOWN (available now) and YONNA IN THE SOLITARY FORTRESS beginning in January 2009. In separate deals, Crunchyroll will also begin distributing the hit American football anime series EYESHIELD 21 as well as the video game adaptations NEO ANGELIQUE ABYSS and NEO ANGELIQUE ABYSS SECOND STAGE. ANGELIQUE and the first eight episodes of EYESHIELD 21 will be available for ad-supported free streaming to all users on January 2nd, 2009, while Crunchyroll Anime Members can enjoy a higher quality ad-free experience. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/31/crunchyrolls-adds-eyeshield-21-and-comix-wave-films-titles/feed/ Putting Godzilla in Focus http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/29/putting-godzilla-in-focus/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/29/putting-godzilla-in-focus/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:07:12 +0000 James Ballard http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=600 All 28 titles in Toho's Godzilla series have been restored in high definition ©2008 Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting Corp., © Toho Co., Ltd Restoring the iconic series for the future of high definition Author: James Ballard Official Website: Japanese Movie Speciality Channel Earlier this year, a joint collaboration between Toho and the Japanese Movie Speciality Channel saw the restoration of the entire Godzilla series in high definition. Between October and December, all 28 of the newly remastered titles were broadcast in HD on the Japanese Movie Speciality Channel in Japan. Join SciFi Japan as we take a look at the tremendous work undertaken to prepare Godzilla for the world of high definition! Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/29/putting-godzilla-in-focus/feed/ Koichi Takano: 1935-2008 http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/koichi-takano-1935-2008/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/koichi-takano-1935-2008/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:43:29 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=676 Koichi Takano (standing, center) supervises the filming of Gomora for ULTRAMAN Episode 26, "The Imperial Monster", in 1966. The talented producer and special effects director passed away in November. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions.© 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. Author: Bob Johnson and Brad Warner Translations: Brad Warner Special Thanks to James Ballard, Keith Aiken, Norman England, Shusuke Kaneko and Takeshi Yagi Former Tsuburaya Productions managing director Koichi Takano passed away on November 30, 2008 at a hospital in the Tokyo metropolitan area at the age of 73 from emphysema. Takano started as a cameraman at Toho on films like GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN before being invited by Eiji Tsuburaya to join Tsuburaya Productions in 1963. He worked on ULTRA Q then became a Director of Special Effects on ULTRAMAN. Takano would have a hand in most of TPC’s shows up through ULTRAMAN COSMOS in 2002. SciFi Japan remembers Koichi Takano with a biography and filmography plus rare behind the scenes photos of Takano at work on various Tsuburaya shows. We’re also honored to present personal messages from Takano’s friends and co-workers Brad Warner, Shusuke Kaneko (director of GMK and DEATH NOTE), and Takeshi Yagi (director of the new movie SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS) Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/koichi-takano-1935-2008/feed/ THE TOWER OF DRUAGA-THE SWORD OF URUK to Premiere on Crunchyroll http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/the-tower-of-druaga-the-sword-of-uruk-to-premiere-on-crunchyroll/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/the-tower-of-druaga-the-sword-of-uruk-to-premiere-on-crunchyroll/#comments Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:49:33 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1224 BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release Official Site (Japanese): druaga-anime Special Thanks to Chase Wang
The popular THE TOWER OF DRUAGA characters return in the new series THE SWORD OF URUK. © 2008 NBGI/Izumi Project
On April 1, 2008, Gonzo animation premiered THE TOWER OF DRUAGA- ­THE AEGIS OF URUK (Doruaga no To -ji Ijisu obu Uruku), a 12 part anime television series based on Namco's popular THE TOWER OF DRUAGA video games. The hit show was also simulcast online in Japanese and with English subtitles. Now fans can return to the exciting world of THE TOWER OF DRUAGA in the sequel to ­THE AEGIS OF URUK with the Crunchyroll Anime Membership. Following on the suspense of the original title, the sequel THE TOWER OF DRUAGA-THE SWORD OF URUK promises to continue with many surprises in store. More information can be found at www.crunchyroll.com. Crunchyroll Anime Membership will begin on January 8, 2009-in conjunction with the first ever world wide simulcast of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN and has a SPECIAL pre-order price of $6.95/month. Fans are encouraged to pre-order the subscription plan by January 8, 2009 to lock in the special holiday deal and begin enjoying over 100 fantastic anime titles in January. All fans can enjoy all content on the site for free, including the upcoming THE TOWER OF DRUAGA- ­THE SWORD OF URUK, but Anime Members will enjoy some additional special privileges. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/27/the-tower-of-druaga-the-sword-of-uruk-to-premiere-on-crunchyroll/feed/ Shochiku Announces Production of Yoji Yamada’s OTOUTO http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/26/shochiku-announces-production-of-yoji-yamada%e2%80%99s-otouto/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/26/shochiku-announces-production-of-yoji-yamada%e2%80%99s-otouto/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:18:06 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=1207 Shochiku Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Aki Harimoto
Director Yoji Yamada will soon begin shooting OTOUTO. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Shochiku Co., Ltd. announced today that they would start production of Yoji Yamada’s latest feature, OTOUTO (original Japanese title). The film will start shooting in mid-January 2009. Yoji Yamada now returns to modern drama for the first time in 10 years, following the enormous success of the samurai trilogy that included the Academy Award nominated film THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI (Tasogare Seibei, 2002), THE HIDDEN BLADE (Kakushi Ken, Oni no Tsume, 2004) and LOVE AND HONOR (Bushi no Ichibun, 2006). His last feature was the highly acclaimed KABEI – OUR MOTHER (Kabei, 2008), which premiered at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival in competition and moved the audience to tears with the strong drama of a family's struggles through the hard times of WWII. Shochiku Co. Ltd., will produce and also distribute OTOUTO nationwide in Japan, set for release in early 2010. OTOUTO will mark the 81st film from helmer Yoji Yamada. Continued...
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