Comments, news and opinion by August Ragone, "Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Film Award" winning author of
"Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters", host of Shout! Factory TV's "Kaiju Movie Marathon" & "Super Sentai Spectacular", and the guest host of KOFY-20's "Famous Monsters TV"
"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
A 2-meter tall model unveiled in Cinecitta' Theater, Kawasaki.
Rear view with tail shows off amazing detail on this model.
Left side shows distinctly different design than Legendary's Big G.
GODZILLA: PLANET OF THE MONSTERS will premiere November 17th in Japan, while the exclusive worldwide rights are being handled via Netflix, which will stream the picture in 190 territories following the Japanese opening (date yet to be announced). Please stay tuned to the official website - and this blog - for more details as they become available about this exciting trilogy of animated features!
New poster with tagline: "Who Will Be Eradicated? Man Or Godzilla?"
Before this new trailer, scheduled to bow in Japanese cinemas this Friday, August 18th (Japan Time), absolute secrecy on specific details concerning the story of GODZILLA: PLANET OF THE MONSTERS were prohibited from the public - only a basic story outline and character biographies of this animated trilogy were released (read here). Now, more of these details have been unveiled in this new trailer - just released online by Toho Animation via their YouTube Channel and the film's official website. Featuring some of the action and the reveal of the King of the Monsters, himself.
Set the trailer to 1080p and turn up the sound as high as it can go!
The new trailer begins with a monologue by the protagonist, Haruo (Mamoru Miyano), "There came a day in the last summer of the 20th Century when mankind discovered that as rulers of the planet called Earth, they were not alone." After abandoning their homeworld, the humans return only to find, due to space-time dilation, 20,000 years have passed - and now Godzilla is the summit of all life on Earth. He's told, dispassionately, by his friend Metphies (Takahiro Sakurai), that "It doesn't miss the human race," as the ecosystem has since radically transformed because of the monster.
Mankind returns to a hostile Earth to wage war against Godzilla!
GODZILLA: PLANET OF THE MONSTERS will premiere November 17th in Japan, while the exclusive worldwide rights are being handled via Netflix, which will stream the picture in 190 territories following the Japanese opening (date yet to be announced). Please stay tuned to the official website - and this blog - for more details as they become available about this exciting trilogy of animated features! The fateful battle between the human race and Godzilla is about to begin...
Two-time Rondo Award-winning author of EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS. August has commented on Japanese film and popular culture on radio, television, in print, online, and at events for more than three decades. As a teen, he served as Horror Host Bob Wilkins' "Japanese Film" & "Godzilla Expert" at KTVU TV-2. And has lectured at Lucasfilm.
He has contributed liner notes for numerous DVD releases, edited and authored over 150 subtitle scripts, and written for periodicals such as Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Filmfax. Video Watchdog, Asian Cult Cinema, Henshin! Online, Oriental Cinema, G-Fan, Super7, Otaku USA, and Famous Monsters of Filmland.
As an events promoter, the San Francisco-born native hosted the "Japanese Fantasy Film Faire" (1979), the first Anime & Tokusatsu event outside of Japan, and has gone on to produce live music and multi-media events including The Sleazefest, Incredibly Strange Wrestling, The Greaseball, Godzillafest, and Shock It To Me!.
MST3K Vol. XXXVII Shout! Factory, 2016 •On-screen Intro for INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN
GODZILLA (2014) Warner Bros/Target Exclusive •"History of Godzilla" documentary
ULTRA Q: The Complete Series Shout! Factory •Downloadable PDF Liner Notes
MESSAGE FROM SPACE Shout! Factory •16-page Liner Notes Booklet (w/Patrick Macias) + On-screen Actor Biographies and Package Copy
JOHNNY SOKKO & HIS FLYING ROBOT The Complete Series Shout! Factory •24-page Liner Notes Booklet
ULTRA SEVEN: The Complete Series Shout! Factory •24-page Liner Notes Booklet • Package Copy
MST3K Vol. XXIV Shout! Factory •On-screen Intro for FUGITIVE ALIEN
MST3K Vol. XXII Shout! Factory •On-screen Intros for TIME OF THE APES and MIGHTY JACK
MST3K Vol. XXI: MST3K VS. GAMERA Shout! Factory •Interview: GAMERA OBSCURA 30-minute Special Feature
*Nominated for "BEST CLASSIC DVD COLLECTION" in the 2011 Rondo Awards!*
GAMERA VS. ZIGRA w/ GAMERA: SUPER MONSTER Shout! Factory Special Features Producer •Special Features Content
GAMERA VS. GUIRON w/ GAMERA VS. JIGER Shout! Factory Special Features Producer •Special Features Content
GAMERA VS. GYAOS w/ GAMERA VS. VIRAS Shout! Factory Special Features Producer •Special Features Content
*NOMINATED IN THE "BEST AUDIO COMMENTARY" CATEGORY IN THE 2010 RONDO AWARDS!*
GAMERA VS. BARUGON Shout! Factory Special Features Producer •Audio Commentary (with Jason Varney), 12-page Booklet & Ad Copy
GAMERA, THE GIANT MONSTER Shout! Factory Special Features Producer •Audio Commentary, English Subtitle Script, 12-page Booklet & Ad Copy
INAZUMAN: Complete Series DVD Box JN Productions/Generation Kikaida •On-screen Liner Notes, Character Profiles, Song Lyrics & more!
SUPER ROBOT: RED BARON The Complete Series BCI/Ronin Entertainment •English Subtitle Scripts, Lyrics, 20-page Liner Notes Booklet & Ad Copy
IRON KING: The Complete Series BCI/Ronin Entertainment •20-page Liner Notes Booklet & Ad Copy
KIKAIDA 01: Complete Series JN Productions/Generation Kikaida •Extensive On-screen Liner Notes, Program Information, Essays & Ad Copy
KAMEN RIDER V3: Complete Series JN Productions/Generation Kikaida •Dual English Subtitles, Lyrics, Extensive On-screen Liner Notes, Program Information, Essays & Ad Copy
You may send your complaints to august[.]ragone[@]gmail[.]com which will be forwarded to the great entrepreneur, Mr. Kumayama of Happy Enterprises. Thank You!
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