MAZIN-GO! "MAZINGER Z" COMES TO U.S. DVD Volume 1 from Discotek Drops April 29, 2014!

マジンゴー！『マジンガーZ』は米国DVD BOX-1発売 2014年4月！

Discotek's package art for the US release of MAZINGER Z!

Created by mangaka Go Nagai, MAZINGER Z (1972-74) was the first anime series to feature a "super robot" — a giant automaton piloted by a human being and not run by remote control — and the dynamic series captured the imagination of an entire generation of Japanese children (as well as children around the world), spawning an entire genre of robot culture in Japan beyond ASTRO-BOY and GIGANTOR — it was not only the most influential robot series of the 1970s, but the most important of the 20th Century. If it weren't for MAZINGER Z, the TRANSFORMERS would simply not exist. It was also highly influential to a young Guillermo del Toro as a foundation in creating PACIFIC RIM, and it's about time to came to the US in its original form!


Panel from Go Nagai's original manga for MAZINGER Z!

Back in October of 2012, I reported that the original MAZINGER Z series had been licensed by Discotek Media for release in the US for a late 2013 drop — which Discotek decided to push back to the first quarter of 2014 and just announced today for a street date of April 29, 2014! Discotek has also announced that another classic Go Nagai series from 1972, DEVILMAN, will also be released under their label before the year is out! The only details we have so far are that Box Set 1 will contain Episodes 1-49 (out of 98) and will feature the original Japanese Audio with English Subtitles. Currently, Discotek has not released any further information on how many discs the first box set will have, how many episodes will be contained on each disc, or the estimated MSRP, so please stay tuned!

THE GREAT "COMIC-CON" KAIJU INVASION: 2013!This Year's Kaiju & Tokusatsu-Related Shindigs

WED-SUN: PLEASE VISIT THE "FAMOUS MONSTERS" BOOTH #1509!


Ben von Strawn's crazy, low-brown Shock Monster eyeball logo!

There's probably not a single human being invading San Diego and its environs this weekend, for Comic-Con International, that doesn't know Godzilla is leading the pack — via the mega-media push by Legendary Pictures for the highly-touted and much-hyped Gareth Edwards creature features set to open worldwide next May. This includes the wildly-anticipated "Godzilla Encounter" exhibit in the Gaslamp District, in which fans will become immersed in a Kaiju-riffic experience covering the entire history, including displays of original monster suits and props. But, there are other Japanese-related events over the weekend at the show.

Here's a list of my picks for Japanese Fantasy Film events at this weekend's convention:

WEDNESDAY — SUNDAY



GODZILLA ENCOUNTER
Legendary Pictures' amazing kaiju experience is located at the corner of 7th & J Streets in the Gaslamp Quarter — but you'll need a pass to get inside. Pick up your ticket from the Legendary booth in the Exhibitor's Hall @ #3920

THURSDAY



ROBOTECH INDUSTRY PANEL
Tommy Yune, director of "Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles" and Steve Yun, screenwriter of "Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles" showcase all the latest live-action and animated "Robotech" projects in production. Thursday July 18, 2013 8:15pm - 9:15pm  Room 6DE

FRIDAY



CYBORG 009 AND THE LEGACY OF SHOTARO ISHINOMORI
Did you know that in 2008 the late Shotaro Ishinomori was named by Guinness World Records as the world record holder for the most comics published by one author? It's true! He created 770 individual stories that were collected into 500 volumes of manga, including "Kikaider," "Kamen Rider," and "Cyborg 009." In a celebration of his legacy, Archaia Entertainment and Ishimori Production Inc. have teamed up to produce a groundbreaking new graphic novel that re-imagines "Cyborg 009" for a new generation! Moderator Stephen Christy (Archaia's editor-in-chief) talks with writers F. J. DeSanto and Bradley Cramp and artist Marcus To (Red Robin, Adventures of Superman) about the process of bringing this graphic novel to life while also diving into Ishinomori's incredible legacy with manga/anime expert Deb Aoki (manga.about.com). Every attendee will receive a free copy of the "Cyborg 009: Chapter 000" preview issue. Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm Room 9



BEYOND THE VALLEY OF TEZUKA:
MANGA LEGENDS YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT SHOULD KNOW
Just as Jack Kirby, Moebius, and Robert Crumb influenced Western comics, many great Japanese manga artists have influenced many who have followed them. Yes, there's Osamu Tezuka, but there are many more worth discovering, such as Shigeru Mizuki, Shotaro Ishinomori, Go Nagai, Gengoroh Tagame, Taiyo Matsumoto, Moto Hagio, Takehiko Inoue, and much more. Christopher Butcher (director, Toronto Comic Arts Festival and manager, The Beguiling), F. J. DeSanto (Cyborg 009 from Archaia Entertainment), Giorgio Tsoukalos (Ancient Aliens), Graham Kolbeins (editor, The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame from Picturebox), Deb Aoki (MangaComicsManga), and possibly a surprise guest or two introduce you to some manga legends you may not know, including many that have recently released or soon-to-be-released works in English, and some that are long overdue to be recognized by Western comics fans. Friday July 19, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm Room 28DE



FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND: STAKE OF THE UNION 2013
Join Famous Monsters publisher Philip Kim and executive EDitor Ed Blair in celebrating the world's oldest monster fan magazine. This year will feature some of FMF's most monstrous announcements to date, including special panelists Frank Frazetta Jr. (son of the legendary artist), Jeff Moore (VP of ESP Guitars), August Ragone (author and kaiju expert), Giorgio Tsoukalos (Ancient Aliens), actors Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker (Dark Shadows) and much, much more. Friday July 19, 2013 7:45pm - 8:45pm Room 5AB

SATURDAY



LEGENDARY PICTURES: GODZILLA
An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston. The screenplay is by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont, and Dave Callaham. Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing with Mary Parent and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher are the executive producers, alongside Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira. The film is from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Saturday July 20, 2013 10:45am Hall H



STAR BLAZERS 2199: CREW & FAN MEETING AND SCREENING
The legendary "Star Blazers" TV series is coming back! Join the crew to learn more about "Star Blazers 2199" at this exciting and riveting panel! You'll have a chance to witness the screening of the first episode of the new show as well as be able to ask questions. Panel guests include producer Hiroaki Ikegami and a guest Cosplayer from Japan playing Yuki Mori. Saturday July 20, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm Room 25ABC

To be sure, there are a lot of other panels and presentations on manga and anime during the convention, but these are just my best picks for this year's show — for further information, please visit the official Comic-Con International website — and have a great con! I know that I will!

BEFORE "PACIFIC RIM" THERE WAS "GAIKING"! Movie Collection from Shout! Factory Out Now

英語版『大空魔竜ガイキング』米国 DVD新発売！ 


Original 1976 promotional poster for SPACE DRAGON: GAIKING!

Before EVANGELION. Even longer before the announced Gale Anne Hurd production, which I reported on December 18th, there was SPACE DRAGON: GAIKING (Daimakuryu Gaikingu, 1976)! While not widely seen, some readers may remember GAIKING as one of the titles under the banner, FORCE FIVE, a package of five different Toei Animation series syndicated in North America during the '80s, later broadcast as feature film compilations on Showtime (followed by subsequent VHS releases via Family Home Entertainment).

GAIKING was part of an explosion of Super Robot animated series during the '70s (including live-action counterparts such as SUPER ROBOT: RED BARON), which rocket-punched their way into Japanese pop culture with Go Nagai's MAZINGER Z in 1972. While Nagai was the master of the genre, creating such memorable series as UFO ROBO: GRENDIZER (1975), GAIKING became a point of contention between Nagai and Toei Animation, in which Nagai walked. Toei brought in animator Akio Sugino (Cat's Eye) to complete the development of the series.

One of the early, and unique transforming robots — including Tohokushinsha's BRAVE RAIDEEN (1975) — GAIKING begat toys that were able to transform as well, leading to the later advent of THE TRANSFORMERS. The series was also notable for featuring a mobile transport for the robot (also housing three support mecha), its maintenance and relief crews, known as the titular "Space Dragon." This conceit allowed the main cast to travel to different countries across the globe to widen the scope of the action, as well as into interplanetary space.

Threatened with imminent destruction from a black hole, the ruler of the distant planet Zela, plots to invade our world. Emperor Darius assembles the "Black Horror Corps" to defeat any resistance and allow the people of Zela to immigrate to Earth. With his first-string "Combat Force" members assassinated, Professor Daimonji puts together a rag-tag team, led by former Red Suns baseball pitcher, Sanshiro Tsuwabuki to repel the invaders. Tsuwabuki's latent psychic abilities allows him to make a neural connection with the super robot, Gaiking, to protect mankind from the hordes of Black Horror Monsters!

On the eve of PACIFIC RIM, Shout! Factory has released GAIKING: THE MOVIE COLLECTION, a three-film compilation of the 44-episode series, with English Dubbing commissioned by Toei Animation, written and directed by William Winckler (Tekkaman, The Space Knight). Because of the failure of similar compilations of the past, Toei assembled a team of in-house writers, directors, and editors to tackle the problem by allowing all of the story's major story arcs and dilemmas to be spread over three films, instead of one — resulting in a more satisfying, coherent viewing experience.

Shout's DVD-only release contains all three compilation films on two discs, running for a total of 326 minutes (approximately 5½ hours) in 2.0 Stereo (with English Subtitles). MSRP: $19.93. Street Date: May 21, 2013. Order from Amazon.com or directly from Shout! Factory!

"MAZINGER Z" & "CUTEY HONEY" ON U.S. DVD! Go Nagai's Classic Anime Series from Discotek

『マジンガーZ』と『キューティーハニー』は米国DVDがもうすぐ！

Japanese DVD release package art for MAZINGER Z! ©Toei Video

Hell has officially frozen over. I thought this would never happen...

Discotek Media, which had specialized in a number of Asian film releases on DVD for the US market, including several significant releases of Japanese live action and anime titles, such as Jun Fukuda's THE WAR IN SPACE (1977) and Rin Taro's GALAXY EXPRESS 999 (1979), recently announced that they had signed a deal with Toei Animation to issue the original 1978 anime series, SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK. And before we knew it, they actually released a complete box set for the Hayao Miyazaki/Yasuo Otsuka-helmed LUPIN THE 3RD series from 1971 (my personal favorite of the long-running franchise). Then, their balls got a whole lot bigger.

Japanese DVD release package art for CUTEY HONEY! ©Toei Video

This past Saturday, Discotek dropped a proverbial Photon Bomb when it was announced that they had secured the rights to not one, but two, classic anime titles created by the manga bad boy himself, Go Nagai: MAZINGER Z and CUTEY HONEY! The epoch-making series that launched the Super Robot genre, MAZINGER Z (1972-74), became a legend around the world (localized for the US market as "Tranzor Z" in the 1980s), and now all 92 episodes are to be issued in two box sets! Meanwhile, all 25 episodes of the original CUTEY HONEY (1973-74) will be issued in a single complete series box set. Both titles, in Japanese with English Subtitles, will drop in 2013.

With all of the other upcoming DVD/Blu-rays of Japanese genre titles which have recently hit the North American market, and those still to come in 2013, it looks like a banner year for U.S. fans, and Discotek isn't pulling any Rocket Punches, either. What's next? GETTER ROBO? GREAT MAZINGER? JEEG OF STEEL? UFO ROBO: GRENDIZER? As a hardcore Old Skool and Go Nagai fan, I can't wait — bring it on, Discotek Media, you magnificent bastards!

COOL JAPANESE TOY ADS OF THE '70s! Popy's "Great Mazinger" Product Line

「人気独占！ポピーのグレートマジンガー シリーズ」


Full-page inside cover from "TV Magazine" (Kodansha, December '74)