PREVIEW: HERE ARE THE FIRST 9 MINUTES OF "YAMATO: 2199 ~ ARK OF THE STARS"!

ああ「宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199 星巡る方舟」本編冒頭映像 !


Click over to YouTube to watch this video full screen and in 1080p!

The Shochiku Motion Picture Company has just uploaded the first nine minutes and thirty-three seconds of the highly-anticipated animated feature-length film, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 ~ ARK OF THE STARS, opening nationwide in Japan on December 6th. This all-new adventure takes place between Episodes 24 & 25 of the hit remake of the 1974 space opera, in which the Yamato, returning from Iscandar, encounter a vanguard of Imperial Gatlantis (known in the US as the Comet Empire)! Meanwhile, a rouge force of the Gamilas Empire are pursuing her for revenge... Just watch it, already!


One of the spectacular theatrical images heralding the new film!

For the film, composer Akira Miyagawa has penned an instrumental arrangement of the famous theme song, collaborating with world-renown violinist, Taro Hakase, best known outside of Japan for the Celine Dion's song, "To Love You More" (off the album, "Let's Talk About Love"). On December 3rd & 4th (Japan Time), the full feature was previewed for 4,000 lucky Japanese fans over the Bandai Channel streaming service — three full days before the theatrical premiere — but thankfully, Shochiku has kindly allowed fans outside of Japan the chance to preview this first reel of ARK OF THE STARS, so enjoy! Japanese-language only.

COMET EMPIRE RETURNS IN NEW "YAMATO" FILM! Details & Trailer for ARK OF THE STARS (2014)

白彗星帝国出現！新作劇場版『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199 星巡る方舟』


Beautiful textless poster art for the rise of the Comet Empire!

"They lied to us!"* In a brilliant move, producers of the new SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 franchise, kept insisting that they were not going to attempt a remake of the 1978 film, FAREWELL YAMATO, and the television version, YAMATO 2, both telling the story of the White Comet Empire threatening the Earth (familiar to American fans as the second season of STAR BLAZERS). Most of these deflections did indeed have a kernel of truth behind them — director Yutaka Izubuchi was quoted that he wasn't interested in adapting the later YAMATO stories into the new universe they had created for YAMATO: 2199, and that the upcoming film would still be set within the year 2199 (the original Comet Empire stories were set in 2201).


First teaser trailer: Tagline, "The new enemy is... Gatlantis!"

Finally, after months of a veil of secrecy, the plot details of the new production has finally been broken: Entitled SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 ~ ARK OF THE STARS (bowing in Japanese cinemas on December 6th), the all-original theatrical motion picture will not be a full-blown remake of the Comet Empire story that fans around the world are most familiar with, but will instead focus on an incident with the Comet Empire that occurs during the Yamato's voyage home from Iscandar. Details, herein are based solely on just-posted announcements by the official websites (which may be subject to change) — here's my translation of the official story synopsis:

Starting out on their journey home, after retrieving the Cosmo Reverse System from the planet Iscandar, the Yamato encounters the vanguard of a mysterious space fleet on the outer rim of the Large Magellanic Cloud, which suddenly appears before them. Identifying themselves as "Gatlantis," they demand the Yamato to surrender. With time running out for the Earth, the Yamato attempts to avoid an engagement, but an unknown lifeform materializes to bar their retreat. By a hairbreadth, the Yamato warps — into an otherworldly, grey-and-white space, where a strange planet hovers before them...

Is this mysterious planet the artificial interstellar citadel of Emperor Zwordar: Gatlantis? And could this strange, "gray-and-white-space," be the center of the White Comet? Or is it the "Ark of the Stars"? Stay tuned to this blog and Our Star Blazers for future news and updates!

*Star Wars reference. If you don't get it, you suck. ;)

NEW "YAMATO: 2199" TEASER SCREENING IN MAY Trailers Featured During Special Yamatalk Event

特別総集編「追憶の航海」について語る! 5月13日ヤマトーク開催!!


The new YAMATO: 2199 features will be the Yamatalk topic in May!

After the big news broke out of Tokyo this past Sunday, concerning the two new YAMATO: 2199 feature films coming in October and December, the official "Yamato Crew" website announced early this morning that previews for both VOYAGE OF RECOLLECTION (October 11th) and ARK OF THE STARS (December 6th) will be screened during the next "Much Yamatalk Night" event at Tokyo's Shinjuku Piccadilly Theater on Tuesday, May 13th.


Title design for YAMATO: 2199 ~ VOYAGE OF RECOLLECTION.

While the original theme of this "Yamatalk" event was dedicated to the "Battle at Rainbow Star Cluster," it was announced this past Monday, the main staff of VOYAGE OF RECOLLECTION, writer Shigeru Morita and director Takao Kato, will be in attendance to discuss the new compilation film, which will serve as a primer and a reminder of the events and characters over the 26 episodes of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 (while ARK OF THE STARS is entirely new).


Title design for YAMATO: 2199 ~ ARK OF THE STARS.

But wait! There's more! There are currently plans afoot to unveil the advance poster for VOYAGE OF RECOLLECTION as well as screen the official trailer, at this event in mid-May. Additionally, the producers are planning on screening the first footage from the new production of ARK OF THE STARS in the form of the film's initial teaser trailer. This will be the first, exclusive public showing for those attending this special Yamatalk Night event:

YAMATALK SHINJUKU: "Decisive Battle! The Rainbow Star Cluster"

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the Shinjuku Piccadilly Theater

9:00 PM: Episodes 18 - 20

10:15 PM: Yamatalk

10:50 PM: Event Closes

Special Guests: Screenwriter Shigeru Morita & Director Takao Kato

MC: Osamu Kobayashi

For further information on both of these exciting feature films, stay tuned to this blog and Our Star Blazers for news and updates!

PATLABOR: THE NEXT GENERATION (2014) The Legendary Anime Series Goes Live!

2014.4.5 この現実＜リアル＞に参加せよ

The just-unveiled advance poster for THE NEXT GENERATION!

Originating in the late 1980s, MOBILE POLICE: PATLABOR, is a long-running animated series created by a collective calling themselves Headgear, consisting of director Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL), writer Kazunori Ito (GAMERA 2), mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi (YAMATO: 2199), character designer Akemi Takada (GATCHAMAN), and manga artist Masami Yuki (BIRDY THE MIGHTY). The extremely popular story has spawned several OVAs, television series, feature films, and manga, centering on the exploits of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2 — which use the titular Patrol/Labor robots against crime and terrorism. Now, these beloved characters will come to life in an all-new series of live action films, which take place in 2013, several years after the original PATLABOR adventures took place.

Initial teaser poster unveiled earlier this year at the Anime Fair.

During the Tokyo International Anime Fair on March 21, 2013 at the, Tohokushinsha Co. Ltd., made the announcement of a live action PATLABOR: THE NEXT GENERATION for 2014, which was followed by a press conference streamed over the Nico Nico Live website on September 25, 2013. In a similar distribution style to SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199, there will be seven theatrical films released through Shochiku, made up of twelve 48-minute episodes, plus a ten-minute prologue (Episode Zero), commencing on April 5, 2013 in six-week intervals (May 31, July 12, August 30, October 18, November 29, and January 1). While the cast and crew have been announced, there has yet been no listing for a visual effects director.

Crew prepping to shoot one of the full-scale Ingram AV-98 props.

Produced on a budget of ¥2 billion (approximately $19,222,000 USD), PATLABOR: THE NEXT GENERATION began shooting in June 2013 under the watchful eye of Supervising Director Oshii, who also wrote all of the episodes with Kei Yamamura (THE IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR), while individual episodes are being helmed by Oshii (directing 0, 6, & 12), Takanori Tsujimoto (BUSHIDO MAN) directs 2, 4, & 8, Kiyotaka Taguchi (NEO ULTRA Q) directs 9 & 10, and Hiroaki Yuasa (MOON) directs 3, 5, & 11. And fans can rejoice that the original PATLABOR composer, Kenji Kawai (GUNHED), is also returning for this new production. To insure realism, two impressive, full scale AV-98 Type Ingram Labors, standing a full 8 meters tall (approximately 27 feet), along with their heavy towing equipment, built for in-camera interaction with the cast.

Director Oshii (far right) with the main cast of the new PATLABOR.

Actress and singer Erina Mano (KAMEN RIDER × KAMEN RIDER WIZARD & FOURZE: MOVIE WAR ULTIMATUM) headlines as Akira Izumino (taken from Oishii’s “parallel world” Patlabor novel published in 2011), Seiji Fukushi (ASK THIS OF RIKYU) as Yuma Shinobara, Rina Ota (BRAIN MAN) as Kasha, Toshio Kakei (BAYSIDE SHADOWN: THE FINAL) as Captain Keiji Gotoda, Shigeru Chiba (DRAGON BALL Z: BATTLE OF GODS) reprises his role as Maintenance Chief Shigeo Shiba, and Yoshikatsu Fujiki (KAMEN RIDER BLACK-RX) as Yoshikatsu Buchiyama. Principal Photography on PATLABOR: THE NEXT GENERATION is set to wrap this month. Additionally, an all-original live action feature film, written and directed by Oshii (with a running time of 100 minutes), will follow during the Golden Week holiday in 2015.

Watch the first teaser trailer, here!

Please visit the official Japanese website, here!

Stateside fans can also catch up on the phenomenon as US-based anime label, Maiden Japan recently scored the license for the animated MOBILE POLICE: PATLABOR television and OVA series — check out their website, here!

"YAMATO: 2199 CHAPTER 6" BOWS JUNE 15th! Blu-ray & DVD Release Follows On July 26th

「宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199」第六章、6月15日上映！


Promo heralding the final two chapters and the television broadcast.

Opening in sixteen Japanese cinemas this weekend (up four from the previous theatrical release), is the highly-anticpated 6th Chapter of the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 feature films, REACHED! THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD (Totatsu! Dai Mageran) — featuring the decisive confrontation at the Rainbow Star Cluster in order for the Yamato to complete her mission. The release of the Blu-ray and DVD will follow on July 26th, while the 7th and final chapter, AND THE SHIP SAILS ON (Soshite Fune-wa Yuku), will follow on August 24th.


The amazing 120-second Chapter 6 trailer with English Subtitles!

Conceived as a remake of the classic 1974 series, known in the US as STAR BLAZERS, the story follows the "Quest for Iscandar" story arc, with a number of changes and additional characters, but entirely grounded in the original look and sound, to great dramatic effect. Where other remakes fail, YAMATO: 2199 soars — going above and beyond the term "remake" — exceeding all expectations and pulling the viewer, both old fan and those discovering Yamato for the first time, right into the drama, action, and top-shelf animation.


Juzo Okita, Captain of the Space Battleship Yamato.

While the story may be familiar to Old Skoolers, Supervising Director Yutaka Izubuchi (RahXephon) has not only gained their respect in keeping the basic designs of the original intact, from characters to ships, but also adding to that universe, making it larger in scope and far richer in depth. All the while retaining key elements and incidents, as a first-generation fan, Izubuchi has made it surprisingly fresh without sullying our memories, and manages to strike all the proper cords — in a truly sincere and non-manipulative way.


General Domel of the Great Gamilas Empire, the Wolf of Space.

Izubuchi truly loves what he calls "First Yamato" and that shines through in every facet of the production, and makes YAMATO: 2199 brilliant — pulling elements from not only the wealth of movies and teleseries, but also from various abandoned story ideas, manga adaptations, novels, and other official Yamato ephemera of the first wave. This allows YAMATO: 2199 to stand on its own foundations — and if I dare say, it's the best science fiction anime in decades. But, as another first-generation fan (before Star Blazers), I'm prejudiced.


What is the mysterious past of Operations Officer Yuki Mori?

Using a business model made popular by GUNDAM UNICORN, YAMATO: 2199 was planned as a 26-episode series, which would be cut into a series of seven feature films, screened for two weeks in select theaters every two months, with respective home video releases following six weeks later (as individual episodes). The series began weekly broadcast this past April on MBS television network affiliates to cultivate a third tier of viewers. This success has helped to fuel the production, giving fans a sense of involvement.


Bandai's new 2199 SOC of the famous space battleship due in winter.

Other platforms promoting the new series has included special online previews and VOD sales. Not only has this contributed to the success, but so has the careful and calculated planning and release of a wide variety of merchandise, including items sold exclusively in theaters — including limited edition Blu-rays and DVDs. Hobby monolith, Bandai, has also followed suit with a series of high-quality model kits, with more on the way, including Bandai's third large-scale diecast and plastic Soul of Chogokin edition of the Yamato coming this winter.


Vol. 6 jacket art by Nobuteru Yuuki featuring Dessler and Celestra.

The home video release of Volume 6 will contain a total of four half-hour episodes (19-22), plus a selection of special features, clocking in at 126 minutes of content for ¥8,190 for the Blu-ray (BCXA-0490, Region-free) and ¥7,140 for the DVD (BCBA-4321, Region 2). The DVD will be presented in 16:9 Anamorphic, Dual Layer, and Dolby Digital Stereo. Conversely, the Blu-ray will be presented in AVCHD, BD50G, 1080p, 16:9 Anamorphic, and Linear PCM Stereo.

Veteran illustrator Naoyuki Kato's exciting first pressing slip cover.

Special Features will include an Audio Commentary with voice actors Akio Otsuka (General Domel), Shinpachi Tsuji (Bem Haidern) and director Izubuchi, a Chapter 4 Digest, Commercial and Promotional Video Collection 2, Theatrical Feature Previews Part 2, and a special insert booklet. Both releases will feature the same jacket art by character designer Nobuteru Yuuki, and a slipcase by legendary Yamato illustrator, Naoyuki Kato. While the DVD contains all of the same extras, only the region-free Blu-ray boasts the most special feature of all: English Subtitles.

Here are the episodes included in Chapter 6/Volume 6:

HERE BE SPOILERS: WARING! WARING! WARING!

Episode 19. THEY'VE COME (彼らは来た): Finally. the Yamato reaches the Large Magellanic Cloud, therein lies their destination: Iscandar. Meanwhile, Lord Dessler of the Great Gamilas Empire plans to block their way, and orders the infamous General Domel to intercept them. But, what secret orders has Dessler bestowed upon Domel?



Episode 20. UNDER THE RAINBOW SUN (七色の陽のもとに): In a treacherous area of the cosmos, known as the Rainbow Star Cluster, the Yamato faces Domel's carrier fleet. In an all-out battle, the Yamato knuckles under the mercy of Domel's clever strategy. In a dire situation, Captain Okita takes a desperate measure...



Episode 21. PLANETARY CONCENTRATION CAMP #17 (第十七収容所惑星): Planet Reputapoda is where the Great Gamilas Empire imprisons its dissidents and prisoners of war. Far away from the homeworld, the institutionalized abuse of prisoners is routine, until the ship of the Inspector General of Gamilas arrives...



Episode 22. HEADING TOWARDS A DISTANT STAR (向かうべき星): The Yamato heads for Iscandar, the Star of Hope. But, it is revealed that it is a binary planet — with Gamilas! So, their destination has taken them right into the center of enemy territory. Calling all hands to battle stations, Captain Okita orders a direct warp to Iscandar...

You can pre-order your copy of YAMATO: 2199 Volume 6, here to visit Amazon Japan (with English language support)! Stay tuned to this blog and the Cosmo DNA website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, on shiny discs of blue!

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199: CHAPTER 4 Theaters January 12 & BD/DVD February 22!

『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199』Vol. 4 BD/DVD 2月22日発売！


Kato and Yamamoto grace the package art by Nobuteru Yuuki.

With the third installment of the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 saga, "The Endless Voyage", opening in twelve select cinemas across Japan this weekend (two additional from the previous releases), the official YAMATO: 2199 website has announced the release of the fourth film, "Defense of the Galactic March", featuring Episodes 11-14, opening January 12, 2013. The Blu-ray and DVD release will follow on February 22nd.


Slipcase art for Volume 4 by Yamato veteran, Naoyuki Kato.

The home video release of Volume 4 will contain a total of four half-hour episodes (11-14), plus a selection of special features, clocking in at 130 minutes of content for ¥8,190 for the Blu-ray (BCXA-0488, Region-free) and ¥7,190 for the DVD (BCBA-4319, Region 2). The DVD will be presented in 16:9 Anamorphic, Dual Layer, and Dolby Digital Stereo. Conversely, the Blu-ray will be presented in AVCHD, BD50G, 1080p, 16:9 Anamorphic, and Linear PCM Stereo.



Special Features will include a conversation between director Yutaka Izubuchi and anime legend Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, an Audio Commentary with voice actors Cho (Analyzer, Yabu, Gantz), Aya Uchida (Yuria Misaki), and director Izubuchi, Clean Opening ("Normal Full Version"), Chapter 2 Digest, CM & PV Collection 1 (featuring commercials and promotional videos), and a special insert booklet. Both releases will feature the same jacket art by character designer Nobuteru Yuuki, and a slipcase sleeve by legendary Yamato illustrator, Naoyuki Kato. While the DVD contains all of the same extras, only the Blu-ray boasts the most special feature of all: English Subtitles.



Venturing into unknown deep space, the Yamato continues on it's voyage to Iscandar. With a prisoner aboard, they are unknowingly being hunted by one of Gamilas' greatest military minds, General Domel! Will the Yamato be able to defend themselves when Captain Okita succumbs to his illness? These new episodes will be expanding beyond the original 1974 story, so we can all look forward to this fresh and fully-realized remake of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO!

The episodes on Volume 4 will include:



Episode 11. TO SEE A WORLD GONE BY (いつか見た世界): The crew argues over the fate of the captured Gamilas Pilot, Melda Dietz, being held aboard the Yamato. During the ruckus, both Melda's fighter and a Cosmo Falcon are launched. But, who are the pilots!?



Episode 12. WHAT LIES AT THE END OF THE ROAD (その果てにあるもの): First Contact with made with the Gamilas leaves Kodai and Shima full of angst. Okita confides in Yamazaki about the nature of his illness... Meanwhile on the Gamilas homeworld, Dessler orders the renown General Domel to pursue and destroy the Yamato.



Episode 13. THE WOLF OF SUBSPACE (異次元の狼): An unseen enemy attacks the Yamato. It is a Subspace Submarine, commanded by Captain Frakken, under the directive of Domel. While at the mercy of their torpedo attacks, Okita's emergency surgery is put in jeopardy. Making a desperate gamble, Kodai violates direct orders to save the Yamato.



Episode 14. THE SORCERESS WHISPERS (魔女はささやく): As Kodai and Yuki return from a recon mission in the Type 100, they see a drifting Yamato floating in the void. Aboard, the ship seems abandoned, until Kodai sees his dead parents. Where has Yuki gone...? The apparitions extend them an invitation from the sorceress' shadow. Can Kodai and Yuki save the Yamato?



You can pre-order your copy of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 Volume 4, by clicking here to visit Amazon Japan (with English language support)! Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, on shiny discs of blue!

GOKE, GUILALA, & LIVING SKELETONS, OH MY! Criterion Unleashes the "Shockiku Horror" Box

出た！「松竹SF／ホラー」DVDボックスはアメリカに来る！



Finally, after years of waiting — far too long — a four odd-ball genre films made by Shochiku Studios in the late 1960s, are finally seeing the light of day on home video in North America! And I'm glad it's Criterion! For over a decade, Janus Films/Criterion has held the rights to a large number of obscure, weird, and unknown Japanese films in it's coffers, and only recently began making some of them available on DVD through it's Eclipse budget label, but also for view on their Criterion Collection page hosted over the streaming video service, Hulu. And now, at last, all four are coming to DVD! On November 20th, Eclipse Series 37: "When Horror Came to Shochiku", will hit store shelves — a set containing all four of the studio's gritty, crazed, and disparate science fiction, horror, and fantasy films from the late 1960s: THE X FROM OUTER SPACE, GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL, THE LIVING SKELETON, and GENOCIDE — with excellent liner notes by the redoubtable Chuck Stephens — this is an epic box set that cannot be missed!



Shochiku threw its hat into the genre film ring during a pop cultural convergence in Japan that the media branded, “The Monster Boom” of 1966 — kicked off by Tsuburaya Productions' hit television series, ULTRA Q. Every movie studio and television network was rushing to get a piece of the Monster Boom pie, and more monsters began filling the screens of Japanese cinemas nationwide, with films such as Shigeo Tanaka’s GAMERA VS. BARUGON (Gamera tai Barugon), Hajime Sato’s TERROR BENEATH THE SEA (Kaitei Daisenso), Ishiro Honda’s THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (Sanda tai Gaira), Jun Fukuda’s GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER (Nankai-no Daiketto), THE MAGIC SERPENT, and all three DAIMAJIN films — it seemed that all of Japan was deep in Monster Mania. ULTRAMAN premiered on July 17, 1966, and dominated the airwaves along with P-Productions' THE SPACE GIANTS (Maguma Taishi), and Toei TV Productions’ LIL’DEVIL (Akuma-kun). Before this, it was Toho Studio's territory — now, the flood gates were opened.



With the dawn of New Year’s 1967, the Monster Boom of the previous year had not yet shown any signs of slowing: ULTRAMAN’s ratings were still skyrocketing, and Godzilla, Gamera, Gappa, Guilala, and others, smashed their way across cinema screens, while television networks rushed to have their own small screen versions, followed by publishers and toy makers who jumped happily into ground zero. Everywhere you looked there were monsters, monsters, and more monsters — while children, and adults alike, couldn’t get enough. Daiei Studios saw the lighted fuse first, and started ahead of the game with Noriaki Yuasa's GAMERA (Daikaiju Gamera, 1965), which launched not only a series starring the colossal chelonian, but two trilogies about stone idols coming to life, and the shenanigans of native goblins or Yokai. Daiei also had a long history of Kaidan or Ghost Story films, even though most studios made Kaidan, a traditional genre, they weren't necessarily considered fantasy films. Nikkatsu Studios, mostly known for it's modern action films, produced Haruyasu Noguchi's GAPPA, THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER (Daikyoju Gappa); released directly to the airwaves by American International Television as "Monster from a Prehistoric Planet".



Shochiku couldn't pass up the Monster Boom and went, head-first, into a series of wild and delirious films — some of which are quite unfamiliar to those outside of Japan, simply because they received spotty releases, or none at all. The best known of these films, Kazui Nihonmatsu's THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daikaiju Girara, 1967), was released directly to television by AIP-TV, where it melted the brains of young Japanese Monster freaks for nearly two decades. The film follows the familiar pattern of the giant monster movie — an interplanetary spacecraft on a routine mission, unwittingly brings back a spore to the Earth, which grows into a titanic, radiation-absorbing beastie, who goes on a path of destruction to feed its insatiable appetite for atomic materials. The resultant daikaiju is a sight to behold — best described as a cross between Godzilla and a plucked chicken — "Guilala" (christened in a naming contest run in a children's magazine), steals the show. Most viewers find the creature's design ludicrous, but I personally find him sublime. Add a teenaged American model-cum-actress, Peggy Neal, as an Astrophysicist (!), and Eiji Okada, star of Alain Resnais's HIROSHIMA MON AMOR (1959), and you have a real wackadoo of picture — and I'm not kidding, it's pure joy!



What can I say about Hajime Sato's GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL (Kyuketsu Gokemidoro, 1968)? Well, if you thought THE X FROM OUTER SPACE was crazy — wait until you see this picture (which was visually referenced by Quentin Tarantino in KILL BILL VOL. 1)! A rash of flying saucer sightings portend impending doom for our world. An airliner is forced to crash-land in a remote area, after colliding with a massive flock of birds, and soon its passengers find themselves face-to-face with an alien being that desires to possess their bodies and souls — and perhaps take over the entire human race. Criterion heralds, "Filled with creatively repulsive make-up effects — including a very invasive bloblike life-form — GOKE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL is a pulpy, apocalyptic gross-out." Each of the passengers carries their own baggage — the corrupt politician, the desperate criminal, a twisted psychiatrist, a woman on the verge, etc. — playing out like Sato's condemnation of mankind, as each of them fall victim to the extraterrestrial menace. This is really outre filmmaking that is 1/4 ZERO HOUR (1957) + 1/4 INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) + 1/4 MATANGO (1963) + 1/4 INVADERS FROM MARS (1953), all adding up to make GOKE a truly bizarre and otherworldly viewing experience — trust me.



Oh, GENOCIDE (Konchu Daisenso, 1968)... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Kazuhi Nihomatsu returns after THE X FROM OUTER SPACE with a deliriously sleazy and nihilistic science fiction-horror-doomsday thriller, starring the respected Yusuke Kawazu (CRUEL STORY OF YOUTH). En route to a mission over Vietnam, a nuclear-armed US Bomber is mysteriously downed over a small Japanese island. When a small American search party arrives to retrieve the bomb, they come face-to-face with a plot to destroy all of mankind — employing mutant, killer insects! The extent of their mutation, and who created them, would spoil the fun of the "I-didn't-see-that-one-coming" revelation! With a climax that is, by any definition, big and terrible, GENOCIDE (aka WAR OF THE INSECTS) is resplendent with throughly unlikeable characters; everyone one of them is either mad, twisted, perverse, or throughly disgusting — my kind of picture! As the search for the ticking bomb (I did mention that, didn't I?) presses on, the claustrophobic atmosphere of this humid and oppressive island, is all the more suffocating, in sweaty, and over-saturated Eastmancolor. If I say any more (and I know you can easily look up spoiler-filled reviews), it would simply ruin experiencing the lurid, trashy wonders of GENOCIDE for yourself. And then there's Chico Roland. Yes, it's that good.



Now, we come to the real jewel among the gems of this set, an atmospheric tale of supernatural revenge from briny deep, Norio Matsuo's THE LIVING SKELETON (Kyuketsu Dokoro-sen, 1968)! As a kid in the '70s, I read about this film in the pages of Greg Shoemaker's Japanese Fantasy Film Journal and Dennis Gifford's book, A Pictorial History Of Horror Movies, but I had to wait until the film surfaced on Laserdisc in the early '90s (properly letterboxed to highlight Masayuki Kato's effective black-and-white cinematography). And, I was not disappointed — and neither should you. The Ryu-Oh Maru, a freighter carrying a valuable cache of gold is raided, and vanishes without a trace. Three years later, the sister of one of the victims, now bereft of family, is living under the care of the kindly Catholic Priest, in a quiet seaside church. Not far away, five of the murderous pirates are living their lives with the ill-gotten gains, until one day, when a fog-enshrouded Ryu-Oh Maru drifts into view... Soon, everyone's lives begin to unravel, as the ship beckons for its pound of flesh. Starring the haunting Kikko Matsuoka (BUSHIDO: CRUEL CODE OF THE SAMURAI), THE LIVING SKELETON draws from numerous sources, from Euro Horror to Kaidan Eiga, and just a dash of Krimi, topped with an impressive ending that is far more devastating than the previous outtings. In the words of the late, great Bob Wilkins, "I think you're going to like it."



This essential, must-have DVD Box Set, Eclipse Series 37: "When Horror Came to Shochiku" (there is no Blu-ray release scheduled), will contain each film on individual discs with it own case (as previous Eclipse releases), and is retailing for $59.95 — or only $47.96 from the online Criterion Store. While there are no special features to speak of, aside from Chuck Stephen's liner notes booklet, there is also no word at press time whether the THE X FROM OUTER SPACE, GOKE, or GENOCIDE will feature their respective English Dubbed tracks (it's unclear if LIVING SKELETON was ever dubbed). All four films are expected to be presented in their original Japanese language with English Subtitles. Hey, after all this time, I'm just glad that we're going to be exposed to these truly unique and insane genre entries — hammering home that there's far more to the Japanese Fantasy Film than Godzilla. Really, there is.

Special thanks to Chuck Stephens

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 (2012) DVD & BD Volume 3 Coming November 22!

『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199』Vol. 3 DVD/BD 11月22日発売！


Analyzer, Niimi and Sanada grace this jacket art by Nobuteru Yuuki!

UPDATED WITH NEW PHOTOS! With the second installment of the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 saga, "Desperate Battle in the Heliosphere", opening in ten select theaters in Japan this weekend, Bandai Visual has announced the third volume of their home video release. Volume 3 will contain a total of four half-hour episodes, plus special features, clocking in at 130 minutes of content for ¥8,190 (Blu-ray Disc) and ¥7,190 (R2 DVD). The DVD will be presented in 16:9 Anamorphic, Dual Layer, and Dolby Digital Stereo. Conversely, the BD will be presented in AVCHD, BD50G, 1080p, 16:9 Anamorphic, and Linear PCM Stereo.


Evocative slipcase art by Yamato veteran, Naoyuki Kato!

Special Features are to include an Audio Commentary (details to be announced), an interview with singer Isao Sasaki, a "Director's Cut" of the "Yamato: 2199 Special 2", and a special insert booklet. Both the DVD and BD releases will feature beautiful jacket art by character designer Nobuteru Yuuki and a slipcase sleeve by Naoyuki Kato. While the DVD version will basically contain all of the special features of the BD, there's one very important exception: English Subtitles. Since the US and Japan are in the same Region Encoding for BD, this is yet another major incentive to snag the BDs from Bandai Visual. The theatrical version of Episodes 7-10, "The Endless Voyage", opens in Japan on October 13th.



Leaving our Solar System behind, the Yamato finally embarks on it's voyage into deep space. Meanwhile, with the Gamilas base on Pluto destroyed, Shultz relentlessly tracks them, while Dessler throws the Yamato into an even more deadly situation — will the Yamato survive? In addition, these new episodes will be expanding beyond the original 1974 story, so we can all look forward to this new interpretation of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO!



The episodes on Volume 3 will include:



Episode 7. BID FAREWELL TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM (太陽圏に別れを告げて): The Yamato proceeds to breech the boundary between the heliosphere and interstellar space, known as the "heliopause". Before they proceed, the crew is allowed, one at a time, to communicate with their family to bid their farewells. Despite this festive occasion, Kodai, who lost his family in the war with Gamilas, tastes nothing but ennui. However, one amongst them is not human...



Episode 8. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR (星に願いを): At Balares, the Capital City of Gamilas, Leader Dessler decides to exercise his power in front of his ministers by unveiling his own plan to sink the Yamato. His strategy involves pitting the Yamato between the deadly solar flares of Gliese 581, and a vaporous creature of his own design, to crush her. Will this strategy seal the Yamato's fate!?



Episode 9. A CLOCKWORK PRISONER (時計仕掛けの虜囚): AU09 (aka Analyzer) is called into duty to extract information from Alter, a mechanical solider of Gamilas, which has been captured. Soon, the two machines begin to develop a relationship akin to a human friendship. But, when Alter begins to escapes, Security Chief Ito tries to destroy the mysterious Gamiloid... Can a machine truly have a soul?



Episode 10. THE COSMIC GRAVEYARD (大宇宙の墓場): The Yamato becomes trapped in a dimensional faultline, where they discover a vast graveyard of alien spacecraft. Meanwhile, a Gamilas ship, also trapped in the cosmic drift, seeks permission to communicate with the Yamato. They soon discover that in order to extricate themselves, they must cooperate, or both crews with perish...



You can pre-order your copy of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 Volume 3, by clicking here to visit Amazon Japan (with English language support)! Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, on shiny discs of blue!

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 (2012) New Trailer for 2nd Chapter Opening June 30th!

出た！『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199 第二章「太陽圏の死闘」』予告編

After much hand-wringing and anticipation, Shochiku Films uploaded the new trailer for the second — and highly anticipated — theatrical release of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199, "Desperate Battle in the Heliosphere" (comprising Episodes 3-6), opening in a two-week limited theatrical engagement on June 30th! For long-time YAMATO and STAR BLAZERS fans, this preview is 120 seconds of unmitigated joy, with eye-popping footage and action from this truly spectacular remake of the original — and time-honored —1974 series. I dare you not to love it.

Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, and never want to come back!

BANDAI's GIANT MONSTER APPAREL! Designer Daikaiju from Yoshihito Sugahara

バンダイの大怪獣 Tシャツ!


Sugahara breaths new life into the original! ©1954 Toho Co., Ltd.


A dynamic design of the golden triple-threat! ©1964 Toho Co., Ltd.


The original flying terrapin of terror! ©1965 Kadokawa Pictures


Guilala from THE X FROM OUTER SPACE! ©1967 Shochiku

These amazing high-end t-shirts, designed and executed by noted artist Yoshihito Sugahara, have been commissioned by Bandai's apparel division, and are available online and through various brick-and-mortar outlets in Japan only. Sugahara has designed a number of shirt for Bandai; everything from Ultraman through Toei Heroes, and are pretty damned impressive. While they may be well-worth tracking down for the hardcore fan, be forewarned: they range in price from $30-$39 USD.

I'll be also be featuring more samples of Bandai and Sugahara's tokusatsu t-shirt designs in future posts — stay tuned!