U.S. trailer for THE MYSTERIANS 「地球防衛軍」 (1957) アメリカ版 予告編
Japanese trailer for THE H-MAN 「美女と液体人間」 (1958) 予告編
Japanese trailer for THE THREE TREASURES「日本誕生」 (1959) 予告編
Scene from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE「宇宙大戦争」(1959)
Japanese trailer for SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN「電送人間」(1960) 予告編
Japanese trailer for THE HUMAN VAPOR 「ガス人間第一号」(1960) 予告編
Japanese trailer for MOTHRA「モスラ」(1961) 予告編
Japanese trailer for GORATH 「妖星ゴラス」(1962) 予告編
Japanese trailer for MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964) 「モスラ対ゴジラ」 予告編
Japanese trailer for MONSTER ZERO (1965) 「怪獣大戦争」 予告編
Tsuburaya's major Fantasy Films include: GODZILLA 「ゴジラ」 (1954), THE INVISIBLE AVENGER 「透明人間」 (1954), GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN「ゴジラの逆襲」(1955), THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN 「獣人雪男」 (1955), RODAN 「空の大怪獣ラドン」(1956), THRONE OF BLOOD 「蜘蛛巣の城」 (1957), THE MYSTERIANS 「地球防衛軍」 (1957), THE H-MAN 「美女の液体人間」 (1958), VARAN 「大怪獣バラン」 (1958), THE HIDDEN FORTRESS 「隠し砦の三悪人砦」 (1958), THE MONKEY KING 「孫吾空」 (1959), THE THREE TREASURES 「日本誕生」 (1959), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE 「宇宙大戦争」 (1959), THE SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN 「電送人間」 (1960), THE HUMAN VAPOR 「ガス人間第一号」 (1960), MOTHRA 「モスラ」 (1961), THE LAST WAR 「世界大戦争」 (1961), GORATH 「妖星ゴラス」 (1962), KING KONG VS GODZILLA 「キングコング対ゴジラ」 (1962), MATANGO 「マタンゴ」 (1963), THE LOST WORLD OF SINBAD 「大盗賊」 (1963), ATRAGON 「海底軍艦」 (1963), MOTHRA VS GODZILLA「モスラ対ゴジラ」 (1964), DOGORA THE SPACE MONSTER 「宇宙大怪獣ドゴラ」 (1964), GHIDRAH THE THREE HEADED MONSTER 「三大怪獣・地球最大の決戦」 (1964), FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD 「フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣バラゴン」 (1965), MONSTER ZERO 「怪獣大戦争」 (1965), THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS 「フランケンシュタインの怪獣・サンダ対ガイラ」 (1966), GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER 「ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ南海の大決闘」 (1966), KING KONG ESCAPES 「キングコングの逆襲」 (1967), SON OF GODZILLA 「怪獣島の決戦・ゴジラの息子」 (1967), DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 「怪獣総進撃」 (1968), LATITUDE ZERO 「緯度0大作戦」 (1969), and many more!
Television
ULTRA Q 「ウルトラQ」 (1966), ULTRAMAN 「ウルトラマン」 (1966-67), BOOSKA THE FRIENDLY BEAST「快獣ブースカ」 (1966-67), ULTRA SEVEN 「ウルトラセブン」 (1967-68), MIGHTY JACK 「マイテイジャック」 (1968), OPERATION MYSTERY 「怪奇大作戦」 (1968-69), LIL' CHIBIRA 「チビラくん」 (1969), UNBALANCE 「恐怖劇場・アンバランス」 (1970), and many more!
Heroes
Ichiro Tsuburaya, Natsu Tsuburaya, Masano Tsuburaya, Art Smith, Seitaro Tamai, Yoshiro Edamasa, Teinosuke Kinugasa, Willis O'Brien, George Pal.
About me: Tim Lucas, publisher and editor of the award-winning Video Watchdog magazine had this to say about the author: "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."
Please check out my blog site THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND GODZILLA for various ramblings and comments on Japanese Cinema and more!
— Upcoming Appearances & Book Signings —
July 3rd-July 5th: G-FEST at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare. Guest of Honor: Kenji Sahara. For more information, go to www.g-fan.com.
July 23rd-26th: COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL at the San Diego Convention Center. I will be signing books at the Chronicle Books booth on Saturday, July 25th @ 1:00 pm and also hosting "Godzilla and the Master of Monsters" on Sunday, July 26th @ 1:30 pm in Room B. For more information, go to www.comic-con.org.
Postponed until 2010: GODZILLA & THE MONSTERS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Stomping into San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre is a weekend celebration of Japan's monster cinema, featuring ten classic films, presented in glorious 35mm, from the producers of the annual SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival.
Our special guest will be the man in the Godzilla suit himself, Haruo Nakajima. From 1954 through 1972, Mr. Nakajima played Godzilla and various monsters on screen and television, and will be in attendance throughout the weekend to meet with fans and sign autographs.
August Ragone's debut book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS, is available at better book retailers near you from the world-renown Chronicle Books. "Who is Eiji Tsuburaya," you might ask? Tsuburaya (1901-1970) was one of the technical pioneers of Japanese Cinema in the Silent Era, who went on to create the visual effects for GODZILLA and ULTRAMAN. This authorized and official 208-page, heavily-illustrated, coffeetable hardcover, is the first fully-authorized book of its kind published outside of Japan, and is the first biography of this important figure of Japanese Cinema ever written in a language other than Japanese!
EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS details the dynamic life and movie career of this legendary film figure, from his early fascination with with movies, aviation, and model building, to his work in he golden age of Japanese Cinema to the ingenious technical innovations that brought miniature worlds and fantastic characters vividly to life.
A must-have, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS features hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya instructing monsters to crush landmark buildings, this highly visual biography also features rare profiles of the master's film collaborators, detailed information key films and shows (most available on DVD), and features on the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.
In the June 2008 issue of Boldtype ("The Monthly Review of Books Worth Reading"), Chelsea Bauch had this to say, "Ragone's account is an insightful look at the innovation and technology behind one of the industry's pioneering craftsmen. Tsuburaya is still widely honored in Japan, but his international recognition is often eclipsed by his iconic creatures... And yet, as Ragone tells it, the story behind their construction is as engrossing as their infamous acts of destruction... MASTER OF MONSTERS is part biography, part coffee-table art book... balancing Ragone's absorbingly detailed account with stunning images of the man in action... Although the subject matter may seem esoteric, Tsuburaya's story is as much about the evolution of Japanese cinema as it is about one of its most pivotal practitioners."
In his February 29th, 2008 entry on his Shuffleboil, writer John Mitchell wrote: "If you want to learn a thing or two about filmmaking, my advice is to put down the books about the likes of Martin Scorsese and other auteur and pick up August Ragone’s stunning survey of the career of the man who gave the world Godzilla... there are surprises galore in his early career, from his childhood in Imperial Japan to his singular technical developments to his body of pre-monster movie work in war films... Tsuburaya’s visual style is as etched in the popular culture of Japan as, say, Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation work is in Great Britain... MASTER OF MONSTERS provides that missing link, providing a cultural context to the silliness and richness that exudes from the Japanese monster genre."
In his January 28th, 2008 column on "Recommended Reading," Claude Lalumière of the respected Locus Online, said, "August Ragone pays tribute to the screen visionary in his gorgeously illustrated and lovingly researched EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS which turns out to be not only about Tsuburaya and his creations but also an involving cultural history of postwar Japan and a fascinating addition to the canon of film and TV history."
In her January 17, 2008 Pop Candy Blog entry for USA Today, Whitney Matheson said, "Finally, fans looking for their monster-movie fix after Cloverfield may want to check out a cool new book about a master of Japanese sci-fi films. EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS examines the visual effects artist who helped bring Godzilla, Ultraman and other legendary creations to the screen. August Ragone's coffee-table book is in stores now and even has a MySpace page."
On January 9, 2008, Paul DiFilippo penned a positive review for the Spotlight section of Barnes & Noble.com, calling it a "... charming, colorful and comprehensive biography... Ragone's text delves minimally into the psychodynamics and day-to-day family life of Tsuburaya, instead focusing on his professional accomplishments; it sings the litany of one lovingly handcrafted monster after another... One suspects that this particular spotlight on the workaholic Tsuburaya is the most accurate and flattering, and it certainly makes for an engrossing narrative."
On January 6th, 2008, noted comic book maverick, Steve Bissette's blog, MYRANT listed EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS as one of his "Fave Books of 2007": "There's been some terrific books in English about the entire Toho daikaiju eiga universe, with Gojira/Godzilla still the mon-star fueling the phenomenon, but EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS by August Ragone is the first comprehensive biography of the man who essentially invented the genre by building the monsters (and the cities they stomped into dust)... As with Mario Bava's career, to consider Tsuburaya's monster/sf films sans the context of his entire to career is to miss half the story; Ragone provides that context... If you are a fan — like me! — you don't need any further explanation. But believe you me, you do need this book!"
In the January 2008 issue of the pop-culture monthly Ink19, columnist Carl F. Gauze wrote, "The book is full of behind the scenes stills, anecdotes, and cultural history. If we regard Japanese monsters as hokey, it's because of our general unfamiliarity with the Japanese cultural and mythical ethos. Bad editing on this side of the ocean didn’t help, but Ragone pulls us above that with tutorials on the cultural 'Why' and detailed specifications on the technical 'How.' The result is a long overdue reappraisal of the style, and after a few chapters, you'll seek out the original uncut versions, even if they’ve been lampooned by MST3K."
In the December 19, 2007 issue of SF Weekly, contributor Aaron Farmer writes: "For the geek in your life, or anyone else who is interested in Japanese culture and cinema, this is an intense and thoroughly researched book that goes behind the scenes of Godzilla, Ultraman, and tons of other sci-fi classics."
On December 13, 2007, none other than TIME magazine featured EIJI TSUBURAYA in a two-page review by Donald Morrison: "August Ragone has produced a fond, generously illustrated biography of the tokusatsu (special effects) genius, who died in 1970. It is the first biography to appear in English. With help from Tsuburaya's family and co-workers, as well as stills supplied by his various studios, Ragone provides a monster maven's feast of detail about Japanese moviemaking in the innocent, pre-digital age."
On December 4, 2007, The Daily P.O.P. wrote: "This fantastic book offers insight to the world of sweaty guys in rubber suits we call monster movies. From the first time we heard that weird trumpet blast from the Lizard King, many if us became Japanese Monster Movie Maniacs, while others just think they’re silly. Nevertheless, they hold a certain mystique that is still hypnotic to this day."
On November 17, 2007, Gerry Donaghy of Powells Books wrote: "Ragone clearly has a passion for his subject, and his knowledge of Japanese tokusatsu (fantasy special effects) entertainment is peerless. The author does an admirable job of detailing Tsuburaya's early life and career and thoroughly describes his cinematic career from Godzilla onwards. Anyone with a taste for reading about frantic production schedules and creative jury-rigging solutions will find much to enjoy in Ragone's text.... At the end of the day, 'Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters' is a wonderful realization of content and design, suitable for fans not only of tokusatsu, but of filmmaking in general. It's the perfect coffee table book for your inner otaku."
In the November 15, 2007 edition of The Library Journal, Blanche Angelo writes: "Ragone expertly weaves biographical anecdotes into his exhaustive accounts of film productions, showing readers how a young aviator and toy designer fascinated by 'King Kong' would, with his singular vision, exorcise the demons of postwar Japan, push the boundaries of television, and launch the careers of many talented writers and designers. A selected filmography and plethora of beautiful photographs of film sets, promotional materials, and figurines based on Tsuburaya's creatures will satisfy hard-core fans and novices alike. Recommended for all academic and large public library film and Asian studies collections."
Chris Eng in an October 2007 issue of Vancover's Tooth & Dagger wrote: "The difference between this book and other coffee table volumes that have covered daikaiju before, though, is the staggeringly researched detail that Ragone has put into the text itself. This is not just a picture book to flip through, nod approvingly at and stick on the shelf; this is a record easily in scale with the monsters Tsuburaya created—a critical and historical look at the creation and output of an industry that spanned (and has continued to span) the decades."
I also had the good fortune of being interviewed by journalist Adam Connors of Radio Australia (the Oz equivalent of BBC Radio or NPR) on the subject of my book, Japanese special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya. There seems to be a problem with the story on the main site, so please go to: Adamconnors.net
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY:EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS is now available — worldwide — at better book sellers near you (Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc.), or you can order today from Amazon.com!
Who I'd like to meet:
MONSTER MOVIE FANS LIKE YOU!
Making a final check before shooting KING KONG VS. GODZILLA.
「キングコング対ゴジラ」(1962)より
THANK YOU to everyone who made this year's San Diego Comic-Con International such a blast — and thanks for once again, giving us another sell-out in books! Cheers!! Thanks also to the staff and attendees of G-FEST XV at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. I had a blast and we sold out all of the copies of the book at the show! I also had the great honor of interviewing Guest of Honor, Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor on stage! Extra big shout out of love to Tom & Diane of Clawmark Toys for everything and the awesome dinner with Mr. Nakajima! See you all in Chicago next year!
Thanks to everyone who attended and hosted all of our book signings so far! From Borders Books in the Stonestown Mall to Clayton Books and Super 7 — you've all been amazing and I am grateful to you all. Special shout out to the staff of the Clay Theater for the hospitality for the March 20th double feature screening of MOTHRA and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE — I had a great time... two gorgeous prints... good turn out... a lot of books signed... Shout outs to April at Chronicle, Steve at Landmark Theaters, Chris and the Staff of the Clay, Bruce of Dead Channels, the gang at Super 7, and to everyone who came out! Even ILM visual effects wizard Dennis Muren was there (and stayed for both films)... At last but not least, thanks to Eiji Tsuburaya for the wonderful movies!
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EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS's Friend Space (Top 39)
EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS has 865 friends.
Thanks for Add me, My Uncle was a Fan of Sci-Fi. When i was a Kid I Grow Up Watching Ultraman was First Time And Godzilla Films. And also I love Toho Sci-Fi Movies.
Free Tommy Chong DVD WITH KING BONG ON JULY 7TH! Get it at fullmoondirect.com!
That's right! Larnell (John Jordan), Luanne (Robin Sydney) and those crazy dudes from EVIL BONG are back for a bigger hit! Suffering from bizarre side-effects caused by smoking weed from the Evil Bong, they travel to South America in search of a cure. Deep in the jungle, they encounter the deadly KING BONG and are soon locked in a trippy - and hilarious - battle with their old nemesis Eebee and the dangerously sexy Poontang Tribe! If you enjoyed "Evil Bong", then you must have been really high! And you'll especially love "King Bong", loaded with gore, weed, and beautiful women making it the ultimate stoner-horror comedy!
Thank you for the friendship. I would like to invite you to check out my fiction blog. I post free stories there as a way of introducing new readers to my work.
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