RAGONE HOSTS "ULTRAMAN" 50TH ANNIVERSARY A 12-Episode Marathon Streaming on July 31st!

「ウルトラマン50周年記念マラソン」ストリーミングイベント！


Shout! Factory TV’s ad for this upcoming 50th marathon event.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ULTRAMAN this Sunday! On July 31st at Noon Pacific, I'll be hosting "The Ultraman 50th Anniversary Marathon" on Shout Factory TV. I've hand-picked 12 of my favorite episodes for this live, streaming tribute for my favorite teleseries of all time. In addition to an informative intro on the series, at the top of each episode, I'll share anecdotes, factoids, on the specific stories, and a whole lot more!

This only happens once every 50 years, so be sure to watch all the Ultra action on Shout Factory TV and on Pluto TV (Channel 515) or get the Pluto TV app for tablet and TV devices (Roku, Amazon Fire, Fire TV Stick, Android, Chromecast, and Apple Airplay), mobile (iOS, Android and Amazon), and on the web via your Desktops or Laptops, Macs and PCs. And don't forget to join us in the Ultra Twitter convo with the hashtag #Ultraman — SHUWATCH!

Schedule of Episodes*
12:00 pm – Ultraman 101 with host August Ragone 
12:15 pm – Episode 01: "Ultra Operation No. 1"
12:45 pm – Episode 03: "Science Patrol, Move Out!"
01:10 pm – Episode 07: "The Blue Stone of Villarge"
01:40 pm – Episode 15: "Terror of the Cosmic Rays"
02:10 pm – Episode 16: "Science Patrol Into Space" 
02:40 pm – Episode 17: "Passport to Infinity" 
03:10 pm – Episode 25: "Cyphon, the Mysterious Comet" 
03:40 pm – Episode 27: "Monster Majesty"
04:00 pm – Episode 28: "Human Specimens 5 & 6"
04:30 pm – Episode 33: "The Forbidden Words"
05:00 pm – Episode 36: "Arashi, Don’t Shoot!" 
05:30 pm – Episode 39: "Farewell, Ultraman!"

*Times listed are Pacific time, approximate and subject to change.

RAGONE HOSTS "SUPER SENTAI SPECTACULAR" 2! Shout Factory Marathon Streaming on May 21st

DISCOVER THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE "POWER RANGERS"!


Dynamic ad for Shout! Facotry TV's new Super Sentai Spectacular!

For our fourth marathon with Shout! Factory TV, I'll be back hosting a three-hour streaming event featuring the original Japanese episodes of FIVE STAR TASK FORCE: DAIRANGER (1993), which will be blasting out onto digital screens across the web this Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 9:00 am Pacific/Noon Eastern at Shout Factory TV — for free!

This new marathon will feature the first seven episodes from one the original series that inspired the "Power Rangers", in Japanese with English subtitles. After fans have watched these first episodes during the "Super Sentai Spectacular", immediately following, all 50 episodes of DAIRANGER will become available on Shout! Factory TV.

As a returning host, I'll discuss the history of Super Sentai, setting the context as a long-time fan. My first experience with Super Sentai was watching the one that started it all: SECRET TASK FORCE: GORANGER in 1976 through 1977 on Sacramento's KMUV-31, San Francisco's KEMO-20 and Honolulu's KIKU-13. So, I'm a real OF (Original Fan).

As with our previous marathons, this will also be interactive: Join in on the conversation with myself and other Super Sentai fans, using the hashtag #Dairanger while you watch on Twitter, Facebook, and on Pluto TV (Channel 515), or get the Pluto TV app for tablet and TV devices (Roku, Amazon Fire, Fire TV Stick, Android, Chromecast, and Apple Airplay), mobile (iOS, Android and Amazon), and on the web.

So, what's FIVE STAR TASK FORCE: DAIRANGER about?



The three Tribes of the Daos Empire — Shura, Dai and Gorma — were peaceful until the Gorma set out to conquer the planet, launching a magical war between the Gorma and Dai Tribes that lasted for 5,000 years. In the end, both civilizations were lost… until now. The evil Gorma have returned. Now, it’s up to Master Kaku to assemble a team of kids with high levels of Qi to become the protectors of the Earth known as the Dairangers!

Schedule of Episodes:*
09:05 am – L-e-e-et’s Tenshin!!!
09:30 am – I-i-i-it’s Qi-Power!!!
10:00 am – Your Souls, Please!
10:25 am – We’re Naïve!
10:55 am – The Jewels Have Come!
11:25 am – Wind, Cut Through!
11:50 am – Traito-o-or!

*Times listed are Pacific time, approximate and subject to change.

Charge up your Aura Changers, prepare to Qi Power Changeover, and join us for the "Super Sentai Spectacular" on Saturday, May 21st!

RONDO HORROR AWARDS SEASON IS HERE AGAIN And here I am... Begging for more votes. Sorry.

第14回「ロンド • ハットン クラシックホラー賞」始まる！


Kerry Gammill's awesome statuette of the late Rondo Hatton.

Here comes the Rondo Awards! Forget the inanity of the Academy Awards® and those flaccid Oscars© — it's time to vote for this year's nominees in 14th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards! Over the last year, I've been working with Shout Factory TV on several online marathons of Kaiju movies and Super Sentai teleseries, which pretty much qualifies me as a de-facto "Horror Host" — we're also planning more for this year, so stay tuned.

While I have not been nominated in that said category ("20. FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2015"), you can write me in on your ballots (which is not compulsory to complete; just vote for what or whom you want to). So, as for this "Favorite Horror Host" category, I suggest writing in: "August Ragone (San Francisco, Shout Factory TV's 'Kaiju Movie Marathon')".

Meanwhile, my blog has been officially nominated for the seventh consecutive year under "16. BEST WEBSITE OR BLOG OF 2015", which I also would love and appreciate your support. With that being said, I don't think I'll win — it's wonderful to keep receiving that "Honorable Mention" every year — it's just great being considered (perhaps I need to step my work on the blog?).

Another write-ins that should probably be recognized is our MONSTER ZERO/WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS double-feature, which I hosted last September at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver (write-in under "19. BEST FAN EVENT"). While you're at it, feel free to write me in under these, "26. MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR" and "27. THE MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME". I mean, why not? I've put in a lot of years into this game.

Putting myself aside, there are a great number of very talented folks who are up for nominations this year, so please (if you have the time) please give them your support for their amazing efforts. This is not mandatory, but it certainly would be kind of you — especially if you appreciate their fang-tastic work.

In order to submit your votes, simply copy the ballot after the jump and make your picks by highlighting your selection, or by putting an X by your selections, or by typing out your picks separately. Whatever is easiest. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE IN EVERY CATEGORY. Please e-mail your picks by April 10, 2016.

Cheers and thanks — here's the ballot for 14th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards!

RAGONE HOSTS "SUPER SENTAI SPECTACULAR"! New Marathon Streaming Live on January 23rd

DISCOVER THE ORIGIN OF THE "POWER RANGERS"!


Dynamic poster for Shout! Facotry TV's Super Sentai Spectacular!

For our third marathon with Shout! Factory TV, I'll be hosting a three-hour live streaming event featuring the original Japanese episodes of DINOSAUR TASK FORCE: ZYURANGER (1992) which will be blasting out onto digital screens across the web on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 9:00 am Pacific/Noon Eastern at Shout Factory TV!

This new marathon will feature seven episodes of the original series that inspired the "Power Rangers" franchise, presented in Japanese with English subtitles. After fans have watched these first episodes during the "Super Sentai Spectacular", all 50 episodes of ZYURANGER will be available on Shout! Factory TV for free streaming.

As a returning host, I'll discuss the history of the franchise, setting the context as a long-time fan. My first experience with Super Sentai was watching the first show that started it all: SECRET TASK FORCE: GORANGER in 1976 through 1977 on KMUV-31 (Sacramento), KEMO-20 (San Francisco) and KIKU-13 (Honolulu). So, I'm an OF (Original Fan).

As with our previous marathons, this will also be interactive: Join in on the conversation with myself and other Super Sentai fans, using the hashtag #Zyuranger while you watch on Twitter, Facebook, and on Pluto TV (Channel 515), or get the Pluto TV app for tablet and TV devices (Roku, Amazon Fire, Fire TV Stick, Android, Chromecast, and Apple Airplay), mobile (iOS, Android and Amazon), and on the web.

So, what's DINOSAUR TASK FORCE: ZYURANGER about?

When the sinister witch Bandora is released from her prison after 170 million years, five ancient warriors are woken from suspended animation to once again defend Earth from Bandora and her evil horde. Armed with enchanted weapons and giant mechanical deities known as the Guardian Beasts, it’s up to these warriors to defeat Bandora and her monsters before she can exact revenge upon the Earth for the death of her son.

Schedule of Episodes:*
09:05 am – The Birth
09:30 am – The Revival
10:00 am – Fight in the Land of Despair
10:25 am – Reawaken, Legendary Weapons
10:55 am – Scary Riddles
11:25 am – Arise, Daizyuzin
11:50 am – I Can See! I Can See!

*Times listed are Pacific time, approximate and subject to change.

Grab your Dino Bucklers, fire up the Guardian Beasts, and join us for the "Super Sentai Spectacular" on Saturday, January 23rd!

"NEW GAMERA" WILL BE REVEALED AT NYCC '15! October 8th on the Live Stage (Booth #656)

明日に角川映画はNYコミコンで新作『ガメラ』を発表します。

Gamera's getting off his back and going to New York Comic-Con.

Everyone has been awaiting a new Gamera film for the half-century Anniversary, and Kadokawa Daiei Studios Co., Ltd. (which owns the entirety of the Daiei Studios and their catalogue, including Gamera) was prepping a big announcement last May for a release in 2015 — which I covered, here — but never materialized. Most non-Japanese fans wondered why, not knowing the megalithic Kadokawa Group (the biggest publisher and film producer in Japan) was going through a series of major upheavals.

On June 22, 2013, nine subsidiary companies in the Kadokawa Group were merged (eight of them now operating as branding companies) and rechristened Kadokawa Corporation, while Kadokawa Productions was subsequently dissolved and integrated into their intellectual properties business headquarters. The restructuring continued when Kadokawa merged with Dwango, which owns Niconico (the Japanese version of YouTube), forming a new holding company, Kadokawa Dwango on May 14, 2014.

New York Comic-Con's listing for Kadokawa's Gamera presentation.

Now that the dust has settled, the plan to celebrate the colossal chelonian's 50th Anniversary is moving forward. Tomorrow, reps from Kadokawa Daiei will be hosting a half-hour presentation on the NYCC Live Stage (Booth #656) at the New York Comic-Con to announce a new "pilot film". What that intimates is a test film or a teaser for a full-blown feature film, that obviously, will not be ready in time for Gamera's official anniversary this year (the original film was released on November 27, 1965).

With the announcement taking place in less than 24 hours, there's no need to fret or speculate; I'm sure we'll see the announcements flow via the interwebs, tomorrow...

Sponsored by Shout! Factory and Famous Monsters of Filmland!

Meanwhile, don't forget I'll be hosting another "Kaiju Marathon" for Shout! Factory TV on October 17th — this time, we're presenting "Gamera's Revenge"! — streaming eleven of the terrible terrapin's feature films all day, absolutely free, starting at 8:00 am Eastern (stay tuned for more information)!

HOSTING SHOUT'S "KAIJU MOVIE MARATHON" 24-Hours of Japanese Monster Movies and Me!

新番組『怪獣映画大会』登場！


The monstrous event starts this Saturday at Midnight, Eastern Time!

Prepare yourselves for something monstrous on July 18th...

Shout! Factory TV has teamed up with the original monster fan magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, to bring you the Kaiju Movie Marathon! Featuring nine classic Showa-era kaiju eiga (Japanese monster movies) from Toho Studios, spotlighting Godzilla, including hand-picked episodes of Tsuburaya Productions' ULTRA Q (1966) and ULTRA SEVEN (1967), streaming live for 24 hours on July 18th (from midnight to midnight Eastern Time). Hosted by Yours Truly!

Back in March, I was approached by a creative team at Shout! Factory to see if I wanted to be involved in this project, and I couldn't say no. Not only because this would be a fantastic opportunity, but because it was a chance to become a full, red-blooded, American Horror Host, just like my childhood hero, Bob Wilkins of "Creature Features" fame (if just for one day). They forwarded a rough script and told me to "make it your own." And that's exactly what I did.

We shot all of my segments in late June and I hope that everyone will enjoy them — I tried to keep it light, have fun with the material, but also be informative, drop some little known facts, and be completely respectful to the films and the genre (why wouldn't I? I love these films). I brought along some of my favorite Bullmark figures, several original movie posters, and some "Creature Features" tributes to decorate the set (shot at Chronicle Books in San Francisco).

Director Brian Blum, Cameraman Michael Bloom, and I had a blast!

This weekend's event will stream at www.shoutfactorytvlive.com. For mobile, tablet and connected TV devices the marathon is accessible via the Pluto TV app. The marathon is also available via Pluto TV (CH 427) in the living room (Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Chromecast and Apple Airplay), on the go (apps for iOS, Android and Amazon) and at your fingertips on PCs, Macs via the web.

THE "KAIJU MOVIE MARATHON" SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):

12:00 am — GODZILLA: The Uncut Japanese Original (1954)
01:45 am — ULTRA Q (1966)
05:15 am — ULTRA SEVEN (1967)
06:30 am — GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (1954)
08:15 am — ULTRA SEVEN (1967)
09:00 am — RODAN (1956)
10:30 am — ULTRA SEVEN (1967)
11:15 am — GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955)
12:45 pm — ULTRA SEVEN (1967)
01:30 pm — GODZILLA VS. THE THING (1964)
03:15 pm — GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964)
05:00 pm — MONSTER ZERO (1965)
06:45 pm — GODZILLA'S REVENGE (1969)
08:15 pm — TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975)
10:00 pm — Repeat: GODZILLA: The Uncut Japanese Original (1954)
11:45 pm — Repeat: GODZILLA'S REVENGE (1969)
01:15 am — Repeat: TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975)

Just a note on the episodes I picked for this special presentation; all of them were not picked as the best of their respective series, but as the best of the kaiju-oriented episodes of each show. So, tune in for the kaiju calamity on July 18th, and live tweet with #godzilla. Shout! Factory TV and Famous Monsters of Filmland will be giving away prizes to fans and viewers of the marathon, including a $100 gift certificate for Shout! Factory merchandize.

In the words of Bob Wilkins, remember to "Watch Horror Films... Keep America Strong!"

(Viewers outside North America can view via Channel 427 on Pluto TV.)

SHOUTING KAIJU & STREAMING SUPERHEROES ULTRA Q & ULTRA SEVEN on Shout! Factory TV!

ストリーミング『ウルトラQ』と『ウルトラセブン』VOD !


Watch episodes of ULTRA Q online anywhere or on your TV via Roku!

Launching this past February, Shout! Factory TV is a free "premiere digital entertainment streaming service that brings timeless and contemporary cult favorites to pop culture fans," with the "highest quality video available for all titles," free-to-consumer ad supported, original videos, special bonus behind-the-scenes featurettes, and live programming (such as the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Marathon).


Watch episodes of ULTRA SEVEN online or on your TV via Roku!

On July 1st, the service uploaded all 28-episodes of the classic 1966 kaiju-fantasy series ULTRA Q (click link to start viewing), precursor to ULTRAMAN, and 48-episodes of the 1967 sci-fi superhero series ULTRA SEVEN (click to start viewing), which followed ULTRAMAN, produced by Eiji Tsuburaya's world-renown Tsuburaya Productions, and are fully subtitled in English!

So, for any of those of you in North America who passed on picking up the either or both of these series on DVD from the Shout! Factory label — here's your chance to see both of these classic series and find out what all the fuss is about. So, tune in and kaiju out!