MEET THE "GODZILLA RESURGENCE" COMPOSER The Prolific Shiro Sagisu Picks Up the Baton!

鷺巣詩郎は『シン・ゴジラ』の音楽を作曲されました！


Recent portrait of GODZILLA RESURGENCE composer, Shiro Sagisu.

The selection of well-known arranger, composer, and music producer, Shiro Sagisu, to create the soundtrack for Toho's upcoming GODZILLA RESURGENCE, written and directed by mavericks Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, may well be the least shocking aspect of this highly-debated film. Because Sagisu has a deep connection with the Big G, which goes back before he was born.


Director Shinji Higuchi (left) with Composer Shiro Sagisu. ©Gainax

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Godzilla fans outside of Japan are either completely unfamiliar with Sagisu, or only know the composer from his scores for Anno's on-going NEON GENESIS EVANGELION series and movies or Shinji Higuchi's recent pair of live action ATTACK ON TITAN films. But, Sagisu's life has been filled with kaiju — more than anyone may have ever guessed.


Sagisu's first single from his debut album, "Eyes", released in 1978.

His father was a close friend and comrade of the master of Japanese visual effects, Eiji Tsuburaya: Tomio Sagisu (who also created manga under the pen-name Shoji Ushio). A member of Tsuburaya's effects crew, the elder Sagisu worked on numerous films at Toho (largely uncredited), until he founded his own company in the early 1960s, known as P-Productions.


"Summer-colored Diary" (1983) arranged by Sagisu for Chiemi Hori.

The elder Sagisu's company produced visual effects and animation for a number of movie studios and television networks, and pioneered their own productions, such as AMBASSADOR MAGMA (shown in the US as THE SPACE GIANTS), SPECTREMAN, LION MARU, DENJIN ZABOGA, to name a few. Today, in addition to being a composer, the young Sagisu is the President of his father's company.


Sagisu has arranged for contemporary artists such as May'n (2011).

Born on August 8, 1957, Sagisu cut his teeth working for his father's company, and was soon put in charge of directing, writing, music and sound effects for live "monster shows" to promote the P-Productions brands in the mid-1970s. He also collaborated with his father in the production of a pilot film, which was never picked up, for a proposed sci-fi film/series entitled SILVER JAGUAR in 1980.


Shiro Sagisu's Original Soundtrack for MEGAZONE 23 (1985).

The young Sagisu broke out on his own varied and wide-ranging music career in 1978, including his own instrumental releases, composing and arranging songs for some of the more successful Idol Singers, starting in the early 1980s, as well as more popular vocalists, with nearly a hundred successful collaborations over the years. Sagisu has also racked up scores of soundtracks for films and television shows.


First Soundtrack to NADIA, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE WATER (1990).

Some of his more notable television themes and scores include GOOD LAUGHS, MY FRIEND (1982-14), SAKICHI, THE FALLING STAR (1984), KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD (1986-87), NADIA: THE SECRET OF THE BLUE WATER (1990-91), MACROSS II: LOVERS AGAIN (1992), NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1995-96), HIS AND HER CIRCUMSTANCES (1998), BLEACH (2004-12), and MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC (2012-14).


Third volume in the Original Soundtrack series for BLEACH (2006).

Sagisu's feature credits are Noboru Ishiguro's MEGAZONE 23 (1985-89), Kunihiko Yuyama's LEDA: FANTASTIC ADVENTURE OF YOHKO (1985), Yoshiyuki Tomino's GARZEY'S WING (1996), Kim Sung-su's MUSA (2001), Kazuaki Kiriya's CASSHERN (2004), Jo-Dong Oh's THE RESTLESS (2006), Noriyuki Abe's BLEACH (2006-10), and Toshiyuki Kubooka's BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC (2012-14).


Poster for the South Korean fantasy film, THE RESTLESS (2006).

With more than 37 years of experience with mountains of credits to his name — and as a fan of his earlier soundtracks (such as NADIA, EVA and CASSHERN), it will be interesting to see what Sagisu will bring to the kaiju eiga canon with his music for GODZILLA RESURGENCE, which opens nationwide in Japan on July 29, 2016.

Here are my previous reports on GODZILLA RESURGENCE:
December 10, 2015: The "Godzilla Resurgence" English Poster!
December 9, 2015: Japanese Press Reveals Shin Godzilla's Size
December 9, 2015: Scoop! Teaser for "Godzilla Resurgence"
December 9, 2015: Here's Your Big G in "Godzilla Resurgence"!
November 12, 2015: "Shin Godzilla" Promo Reel Screens at AFM!"
September 22, 2015: Toho Announces Three Principal Cast Members!
September 6, 2015: Shooting Begins on Toho's "Godzilla 2016"!
August 1, 2015: Did These Men Design Toho's New Big G?
April 1, 2015: The Directors of "Godzilla 2016" Speak!
March 31, 2015: "Evangelion" Creator Helms New "Godzilla"!
December 7, 2014: The "Japanese Godzilla" Will Rise Again!

NEXT GODZILLA NOW ENTITLED "SHIN GODZILLA" Toho Announces Three Principal Cast Members!

長谷川博己主演で最新作『シン・ゴジラ』！


Hiroki Hasegawa will star as an unspecified "Government Official".

Next summer, the first Japanese Godzilla in 12 years will be released, and on September 22nd, the main cast for the contemporary film was announced. The lead star is Hiroki Hasegawa (some mistranslating his given name as "Hiromi"), who will play a "government official" dealing with monster's rampage. The 38 year-old Hasegawa, aka "Hasehiro", has acted on stage, television and film, recently starring as Ryoichi Suzuki in Shion Sono's LOVE & PEACE (2015) and Shikishima in Shinji Higuchi's ATTACK ON TITAN (2015).


Popular Yutaka Takenouchi will also play a "Government Official".

Hasegawa's male co-star is Yutaka Takenouchi, who began his career as a model, and made his acting debut in the television drama, MY FIRST JOB (1994). In 2002, the 44 year-old Takenouchi received a Best Actor nomination by the Japanese Academy Awards for Isamu Nakae's CALMI CUORI APPASSIONATI (2001). Also in demand for television and commercials, he recently starred as Captain Sakae Oba in Hideyuki Hirayama's Pacific War saga, OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI (2011), as well as Yukihiko Nishino in Nami Iguchi's THE TALE OF NISHINO (2014).


Satomi Ishihara's role was described by Toho as a "U.S. Agent."

Winning numerous acting awards, Satomi Ishihara was voted Vogue Japan's Woman of the Year in 2010, ranked as 25th and 32nd by T.C. Candler's Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces in 2014 and 2013, and received Jewelry World's Best Woman of the Year award in 2015. The 28 year-old model first made her screen debut as Sanju in Toshiro Saiga's HOGI-LALA (2002), under the stage name "Kuniko Ishigami". With numerous television and screen credits, Ishihara recently starred as Kanoe Kumoi in Hideo Tanaka's MONSTERZ (2014) and as Hange in Shinji Higuchi's ATTACK ON TITAN (2015).


The official katakana title logo in the style of the 1954 original.

While the supporting cast has yet to be revealed by Toho, principal photography has already begun, under the title "シン・ゴジラ" (Shin Gojira), which was announced as official during the press conference on September 22nd. This title has been rendered in katakana, the writing system usually reserved for foreign words — with "Gojira", of course, being "Godzilla" — while "Shin" is a triple-entendre reading of the kanji characters for "新" (new), "真" (true), "神" (god), according to the film's Supervising Director Hideaki Anno, best known to fans throughout the world for NEON GENESIS EVANGELION.


Shooting panic scenes in Tokyo's Ota Ward. Photo by Shimpei Kanada.

Toho is confident in Hasegawa abilities in being the pillar of SHIN GODZILLA's cast, in representing the best Japan has to offer, to which the actor stated, "It's no exaggeration to say that he's world-famous, so who wouldn't want to be involved in a Godzilla production?" and shouted, "I want to give this role all I've got!" His fellow cast member, Takenouchi declared that after 61 years since the original, this will be the 29th and best of them all, "With a deeper message." While she received the offer over the phone, Ishihara shouted "Alright!", but now she's feeling the pressure from all of her English dialogue. She admitted, "Sometimes it's so frustrating, I just wanted to cry."


What will the new Japanese Godzilla look like? The world awaits!

It was previously stated that the Big G appearing in SHIN GODZILLA would be taller than the 108-meter long creature appearing in Gareth Edwards' GODZILLA (2014). Undoubtedly, when this new Godzilla is finally revealed, for the first time in twelve years, he'll garner even far more attention than the human cast. More importantly, what will this new "Shin Godzilla" look like? Are the rumors of his design and designers true? And how will he be brought to life? So, stay tuned for more details as it develops, as the true King of the Monsters returns to the screen once again!

Based on various Japanese news reports including Sanspo.com and the official "Shin Godzilla" website.

Previous reports on SHIN GODZILLA:
September 6, 2015: Shooting Begins on Toho's "Godzilla 2016"!
August 1, 2015: Did These Men Design Toho's New Big G?
April 1, 2015: The Directors of "Godzilla 2016" Speak!
March 31, 2015: "Evangelion" Creator Helms New "Godzilla"!
December 7, 2014: The "Japanese Godzilla" Will Rise Again!

SHOOTING BEGINS ON TOHO'S "GODZILLA 2016" Extras Flee For Their Lives In Tokyo's Ota Ward!

出った！『シン•ゴジラ』が蒲田駅に襲来 !!


Co-Directors Anno (left) and Higuchi (right) on location in Tokyo.

Just a few hours ago, dozens of extras fled from the Big G down the commercial street at Kamata Station's East Exit in Tokyo's Ota Ward, as Toho's first domestic Godzilla film in nearly twelve years finally commences production. Now tentatively titled, "Shin Gojira" (New Godzilla), the film is being co-directed by modern mavericks Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion), who also penned the screenplay, and Shinji Higuchi (Attack on Titan).

Already proving to be one of the most highly-anticipated kaiju eiga productions in over a decade (with next to nothing known about the upcoming film's plot, cast, or other particulars), inside sources are saying that this iteration of the world-famous king of the monsters threatens to be "frightening"; harkening back to the original 1954 film, while co-director Higuchi promises, "I'll give you the greatest worst nightmare!"

According to this author's sources, "New Godzilla" will premiere in Japanese Cinemas on Saturday, July 23, 2016.* Please stay tuned for confirmation of release date and other details as they develop!

(Above photo Tweeted by Cast Co., Ltd.)

Previous reports on "Godzilla 2016":
August 1, 2015: Did These Men Design Toho's New Big G?
April 1, 2015: The Directors of "Godzilla 2016" Speak!
March 31, 2015: "Evangelion" Creator Helms New "Godzilla"!
December 7, 2014: The "Japanese Godzilla" Will Rise Again!

*Release date has been confirmed as July 29, 2016.

"TITANS" SET TO ATTACK NORTH AMERICA Hollywood World Premiere on July 14th!

実写版『進撃の巨人』7月15日にアメリカ上陸！


July's World Premiere in Hollywood will supersede Japanese debut.

The first of director Shinji Higuchi's two-part ATTACK ON TITAN live action feature films will be released theatrically throughout North, Central and South America this fall by US-based label, Funimation Entertainment, who is also partnering with Toho to host the World Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on July 14th (before its Tokyo premiere on July 21st and general public Japanese release on August 1st).


Leading man, Haruma Miura, will attend the Hollywood premiere.

Director Higuchi (SINKING OF JAPAN), the man who's gearing up to shoot Toho's next Godzilla film, will be joined on the red-carpet by the film's stars, Haruma Miura and Kiko Mizuhara. Before the big premiere in Hollywood, Mr. Higuchi will be promoting the film this year's San Diego Comic-Con International by signing autographs at the Funimation Entertainment booth (#4135) on July 12th.


Co-star Kiko Mizuhara will also walk the red carpet on July 14th.

ATTACK ON TITAN will also be hitting Australian cinemas in August via Madman Entertainment, while the second film, END OF THE WORLD, will have its Japanese bow on September 19th. At this time, there has been no word of a release for the second film on this side of the Pacific (although it's a safe bet to say its in the hands of Funimation). Stay tuned for more information and news as it develops!

(Source: Funimation Entertainment)

"ATTACK ON TITAN" MOVIE POSTER REVEALED! Two-Parter Stomps Into Theaters Next Summer

その大きさは…超ド級のGODZILLA超え！


Just-revealed advance poster art's tagline, "The world is cruel."

Director Shinji Higuchi's highly anticipated live action adaptation of Hajime Isayama's manga and anime series will hit Japanese cinemas nationwide next summer, with not one, but two consecutive feature films bowing in August and September 2015. Today, Toho Company Ltd., which is producing and distributing the film, has revealed the advance movie poster on their official movie website.

Written by Yusuke Watanabe (20th Century Boys) and critic Tomohiro Machiyama (working with Isayama), both films will feature visual effects directed by veteran Katsuro Onoue (Sinking of Japan), and not Director Higuchi, who is supervising the entire project. Earlier this year, Higuchi teased the film with a viral car commercial featuring a tie-in promotion with the franchise, which led people to believe that he was also directing the visual effects.

Toho's PR department also unveiled the tagline, "Its magnitude is... beyond ultra-grade GODZILLA!", capitalizing on the successful Gareth Edwards film adaptation of the Big G, which did impressively at the domestic box office in Japan. And this hyperbole isn't all hype: The film's titular titans tower at 120-meters (390 feet), twice as tall manga and anime counterparts, while Godzilla is 350-feet high.

Not to be confused with the second anime feature to be released June 26, 2015, ATTACK ON TITAN 2: WINGS OF FREEDOM, audiences will have to see how this colossal conflict between these naked gargantua and the last bastion of humanity plays out next year — will the live action films be a monstrous success or a titanic failure? My money is on Director Higuchi.