"There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value — not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English." —Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

Saturday, March 25, 2017

"GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET" IS A G-TRILOGY! Character & Weapon Specs at AnimeJapan 2017

アニメ映画『GODZILLA 怪獣惑星』は3部作構成の大長編 !

Godzilla Kaiju Planet Cast
The main voice cast takes the stage at AnimeJapan 2017. ©Gigazine

Over this past weekend at the AnimeJapan 2017 event in Tokyo, Toho Animation made several announcements during the two presentations concerning the first animated film showcasing the "Big G", GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET, including the cast, characters, setting (in the form of special giveaway file), as well as models of the futuristic powered suits and rife. Perhaps, the biggest news of all is that this will not a standalone, but a full-fledged film trilogy, with the first installment hitting Japanese cinemas this November (followed by a global release on the Netflix streaming service).

Powered Suit Gwyn Campbell
Powered Suit on display at the Godzilla booth. ©Gwyn Campbell

WEAPON SPECS: Powered Suits deployed by the "Earth Union Tau Ceti-e Field Expeditionary Brigade". Originally, created as pioneering exo-planetary heavy machinery with drilling equipment, but is now being introduced into actual combat for anti-Godzilla operations. Heavily armored to protect the operator, both arms have been fitted with 20mm calibre Railguns. Height: 3.9 meters/Width: 2.9 meters/Total Weight: 2.5 tonnes/Maximum Speed (while walking): 80kph

Director Hiroyuki Seshita and Gun
Director Seshita with a EIRI at the Godzilla booth. ©Polygon Pictures

WEAPON SPECS: Electromagnetic Induction Rifle for Infantry. Bullpup-type Sub-railgun. The electromagnetic induction system allows rapid-firing of 6mm cylindrical pellets made from a special alloy. Distance and stopping power is equal to .338 Lapua Magnum ammo [2745 fps-4768 ft lb], making it a formidable combat weapon. In addition, since it employs an electromagnetic system, power is thereby regulated in lowering the firing voltage. While used as a rifle during peacetime, it's also possible, in an emergency, to use the forward of the rifle's grip as a pistol. Total Length: 470mm (Pistol: 120mm)/Total Height: 230mm (Pistol: 170mm)/Weight: 2.7kg (Pistol: 650g)

Haruo Sakaki and Yuko
Strategist Capt. Haruo Sakaki & weapons specialist Sgt. Yuko Tani.

Character Profiles: CAPTAIN HARUO SAKAKI (24), Japanese. Lost his parents during a Godzilla attack, and harbors a strong hatred against the king of the monsters in his heart. Highly intelligent, and despite his slim physique, is highly trained and able-bodied (Voice: Mamoru Miyano). SERGEANT YUKO TANI (19), Japanese. Growing up together, Yuko was Haruo's junior during their childhood schooling. Because of her slight frame, she has a complex in terms of physical prowess, but is a brilliant Armorer and Weapons Engineer (Voice: Kana Hanazawa).

Adam and Martin
Aerospace Pilot Lt. Adam Binewald & Biologist Maj. Martin Lizzari.

LIEUTENANT ADAM BINEWALD (21), German. He was a skilled hover jockey before taking the yoke as the pilot for the landing craft. One of the young officers who holds the actions of Haruo in awe. He has a high degree of mental health and thus is very cheerful (Voice: Yuki Kaji). MAJOR MARTIN LIZZARI (34), Italian-American. Former civilian environmental biologist. He is extremely optimistic with the curiosity of a scholar. As a specialist, he is able to analyze data of the altered global ecosystem in short-order (Voice: Tomokazu Sugita).

Metphies and Galugu
Lt. Col. Metphies of Exif & Engineer Col. Mulu-elu Galu-gu of Bilsard.

CHAPLAIN (Lieutenant Colonel) METPHIES (50, but is physically 25), Exifian. An Archbishop on his homeworld of Exif, he is a universally-respected and admired man of virtue. He speaks philosophically in a soft tone with a gentle smile. Has a keen understanding of Haruo's psyche (Voice: Takahiro Sakurai). COLONEL MULU-ELU GALU-GU (60, but is physically 35), Bilsardian. At one time, this Chief Technology Officer was the most physically superior and unmatched of all the Bilsardian people. This has been channelled into his capability among Engineers, with his striving for excellence in science and rationalism (Voice: Junichi Suwabe).


Did the illustrator work Godzilla's dorsal plates into the teaser art?

The first trilogy in the long-running franchise, GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET is written by Gen Urobuchi (Aldnoah: Zero) and is co-directed by Kobun Shizuno (Knights of Sidonia) and Hiroyuki Seshita (Ajin: The Demi-Human). Please stay tuned to the official website and this blog for more details as they become available for this exciting trilogy of animated features!

Friday, March 24, 2017

SYNOPSIS FOR "GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET" Animated Film Gets New Title & Release Date

この<地球>を必ず取り戻す。『GODZILLA 怪獣惑星』2017年11月

Godzilla Kaiju Planet

With the tagline, "We're going to take back this planet, Earth", the official Twitter account of the animated Godzilla, shared the second teaser poster for the upcoming feature film from Polygon Pictures and Toho Animation, entitled GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET (official English title TBA). The posting also stated a description of the image, which gives a release date of November 2017 (be forewarned there are major spoilers below):

A figure of a young man, Haruo, wearing a "skinsuit" approaches, while above him multiple spacecraft descend, and on the ground there's a bipedal robot, and armed hover bikes at the ready. The planet on which they've landed upon is...

It shows the moment when mankind returns to their homeworld after a long interstellar journey, the tagline expressing the ultimate fate of mankind and the monster. In a first for the long-running movie series, what kind of war will the humans and Godzilla engage in on the stage of an vastly changed Earth in the future? In the coming months, the "evolution" of this new, unexpected Godzilla movie, will capture the imagination of fans around the world.

The official website godzilla-anime.com features a story synopsis:

The last summer of the 20th Century. The day, that human beings learned that they were not the only rulers of the Earth. Giant living creatures, "Kaiju", appeared, as well as the ultimate entity which destroys all monsters: Godzilla. After a half a century of war against these monsters, the defeated human race planned to escape Earth. In 2048, only those selected by the central government's A.I., boarded the interstellar migration ship "Aratrum" for Tau Ceti e, a planet 11.9 light-years distant. Twenty years later, however, they discover that their destination is inhospitable to human survival.

Aboard the Aratrum is Haruno, who saw both of his parents killed by Godzilla when he was four years old. For twenty years, he harbored one thought, return to Earth and defeat Godzilla. With life support deteriorating, and plans for migration crushed, he leads a faction of "Earth Returnists" to majority rule, determined to return through dangerous hyperspace navigation. However, in traveling faster-than-light, the planet they return to is an unknown world, 20,000 years older, where Godzilla reigns atop the ecosystem. Can mankind retake the Earth? And what will be the fate of Haruo?

GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET is written by Gen Urobuchi (Gargantia) based on an outline by Urobuchi and Sadayuki Murai (Space Battleship Yamato: 2199), co-directed by Kobun Shizuno (Knights of Sidonia) and Hiroyuki Seshita (Ajin: The Demi-Human). Assistant director Hiroyuki Morita (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya), production design by Naoya Tanaka (Ponyo) and Ferdinando Patulli (Ajin), character designs by Yusuke Kozaki (Pokémon GO), CG character designs by Yuki Moriyama (Ajin), art direction by Yukihiro Shibutani (The Lost Village), and supervised by Tadahiro "Tady" Yoshihira (Blame!).

Following the premiere of GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET in Japanese cinemas this November, the film will bow globally via the Netflix streaming service. Read my March 13th entry for more info. Stay tuned to this blog for further details as they develop!

Monday, March 13, 2017

NETFLIX ACQUIRES ANIMATED "GODZILLA" MOVIE Streaming Service Distributing Globally in 2017!

アニメーション映画『GODZILLA』Netflixで全世界独占配信決定!

Anigodzi Netflix March 2017
Netflix Japan's tweet announcing the worldwide deal on March 13th.

On Monday, March 13 at 6:30 pm (Japan Time), Netflix Japan's Twitter account posted an announcement, see below and in the above image, concerning the upcoming animated feature from Toho Animation and Polygon Pictures, titled GODZILLA, which was announced via this blog back in an entry on August 18th, 2016. And that announcement is not only true and verified, but also very exciting for Big G fans all across the globe, so here's the tweet, itself:

Netflix Anigodzi Tweet Blog

This is my translation: "Created by the gifted tag team of Kobun Shizuno x Hiroyuki Seshita x Gen Urobuchi and Polygon Pictures, the animated movie 'GODZILLA' will be exclusively distributed worldwide by Netflix! Release date to be announced soon!"

According to Cinema Today, and other Japanese entertainment news services, Netflix will begin streaming the film across the globe after it's theatrical release in Japan (tentatively scheduled for this July; pending official announcement, all dates are subject to change), and will see this new animated feature streaming in 190 countries. As for release on physical media for home video (DVD/Blu-ray) stay tuned to this blog for information as it develops.

concept_img
Concept art set in the mutated forest of Japan's "Old Tanazawa".

The aforementioned talents on this first animated Godzilla feature are responsible for such projects as GARGANTIA (2013), KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA (2014), AJIN: THE DEMI-HUMAN (2016), and STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (Seasons 4 & 5; 2011-2013). Set on a far future Earth, the voice cast includes Tomokazu Sugita (Gintama), Junichi Suwabe (Prince of Tennis), Kana Hanazawa (Steins Gate), and Mamoru Miyano (Death Note). No other credits have yet been announced.

Check out the official website and this blog for further news!