Japanese Monster Movies March Madness, Toho Style draconicverses, March 9, 2014 Greetings, Friends and Fiends! Ye Olde Dragon here, bringing you remembrances of Toho Movies past. You might remember that back in December, I posted a list of all the Toho Tokusatsu (special effects films) released that month in past years. Well, after the drought of January and February, here are… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Anniversary, GOJIRA! draconicverses, November 3, 2013 It was 59 years ago today, that the world was introduced to a radioactive, fire breathing, reptilian engine of destruction in Ishiro Honda’s GOJIRA (1954). It was the start of an amazing, near-unparalleled film franchise, spawning 28 (direct) sequels, comics, toys, cartoons, an American-produced ‘remake’ in 1998 and another (MUCH… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy 55th Anniversary, DAIKAIJU BARAN! draconicverses, October 14, 2013 On this date, in 1958, Japanese audiences were first introduced to the third daikaiju (giant monster) to have its own film – Ishiro Honda’s DAIKAIJU BARAN. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a repeat of the success of Honda’s GOJIRA (1954) – even with the same foursome behind it – Director Honda, Producer… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Sirki’s Summons – July 25: Creator of the Oxygen Destroyer draconicverses, July 25, 2013 Greetings from beyond The Veil, O Worthy Friends! Today marks the passing of a Japanese actor, famous in his homeland for multitudes of films and roles, but best known here in the West for his roles in Japanese Monster & Science-Fiction films. Perhaps his most famous role is that of… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday Mechani-Kong draconicverses, July 22, 2012 Today marks the 45th anniversary of the release of Ishiro Honda’s KINGU KONGU NO GYAKUSHU (1967). It would be released 11 months later in the USA as KING KONG ESCAPES (1968). Co-produced by Rankin-Bass, it’s a loose adaptation of the cult classic KING KING SHOW cartoon series, produced by Rankin-Bass… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Anniversary, H-MAN! draconicverses, June 24, 2012 It was 58 years ago today that Japanese audiences were introduced to the latest in the ‘Mutant Cycle’ of Toho Studios, Ishiro Honda’s Bijo To Ekitainingen (1958) (trans. Beautiful Girls and the Hydrogen Man), or THE H-MAN, as it was released in the U.S the following year. H-Man is a… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, GORATH! draconicverses, March 21, 2012 Here’s a BIG anniversary! It was 50 years ago today, that YOSEI GORASU (1962) was released in Japanese theatres. It would see release in the US as GORATH two years later, in May, 1964. This was Ishiro Honda’s third space opera, following BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959) and THE MYSTERIANS… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, TERROR OF MECHAGODZILA draconicverses, March 15, 2012 It was the end of an era, literally. Toho had announced that the movie that debuted on this day in 1975, MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (1975) (aka TERROR OF GODZILLA & TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA in the US) would be the last Godzilla film in the franchise for the time being. It… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Sirki’s Summons – February 28: The Kaiju Director & The Eminent Scientist draconicverses, February 28, 2012 Greetings Effendi! Today marks the anniversary of the passing of two very different men – one behind the cameras and one in front of them. It was on this day in 1993 that Prince Sirki reached out to Japan and claimed the director who had guided many giant monsters through… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies TOHO Anniversaries X 3 Today!!! (and 1 that I missed) draconicverses, August 11, 2011 There are some mighty big Toho anniversaries today! But I would be remiss if I didn’t FIRST mention one that I failed to, back on Monday. August 8 was the 36th anniversary of the release of FURANKENSHUTAIN TAI CHITE KAIJU BARAGON (1965) aka Frankenstein Conquers the World. Sorry about missing… Continue Reading