THE RETURN OF GODZILLA to be released on September 13th

You can’t keep a good giant monster down, especially when he’s being very, very bad! Kraken Releasing will continue the tradition of releasing the very best in kaiju (giant monster) entertainment with the first U.S. release of the complete and uncut The Return Of Godzilla®! Available on both Blu-ray and DVD, and featuring both the original Japanese version with English subtitles, as well as an English dubbed version, this special release is the Godzilla® epic that fans and collectors have been waiting for.

With a higher budget and more advanced special effects than any previous film in the series, The Return Of Godzilla returns Japan’s greatest monster to his intended role as an epic force of destruction and the film’s spectacular success re-launched the Godzilla® franchise after nearly a decade in suspended animation. Unfortunately for North American audiences, this direct sequel to the original 1954 feature film has previously only been available in a highly edited version that cut over twenty minutes of original footage and effects, changed key plot points and altered the dark dramatic tone and narrative by inserting additional scenes and humor in an attempt to “Americanize” the film. But now, at long last, the acclaimed kaiju masterpiece finally hits American shores in all its uncut original glory! Get ready for the biggest Godzilla® epic that you’ve never seen as Kraken Releasing unleashes the complete and unedited The Return Of Godzilla!

The Return Of Godzilla will be released on September 13th.

About Kraken Releasing:
KRAKEN RELEASING is a new international video distribution label specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre entertainment for mainstream audiences. Together with sister labels MAIDEN JAPAN (DEN-NOH COIL, PAT LABOR, ROYAL SPACE FORCE) and SWITCHBLADE PICTURES (CORPSE PARTY, IRON GIRL 1& 2, ATTACK GIRLS SWIM TEAM VS. THE UNDEAD) Kraken’s goal is to bring the best filmed entertainment from around the world to our customers.

About Section23 Films:

Section23 Films provides home video marketing and distribution services for a variety of companies, including Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan and AEsir Holdings. With its special focus on genre entertainment, Section23 Films distributes some of the very best anime, martial arts, and horror titles on the market today.

Three Godzilla films from Kraken

It's been a very busy spring for Godzilla.

At the end of April, Rialto Pictures' Godzilla: The Japanese Original opened in New York City. Starting in May it began rolling out in other cities in the U.S. and will continue to do so into this coming August.

On May 16th Gareth Edwards new version of Godzilla opened. It was so successful that a sequel was promptly given the go-ahead.

And early in May, Kraken Releasing published, and Section23 Films distributed, three Godzilla films. The widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) films are available separately on either Blu-ray or DVD, with an SRP  of $14.98 for Blu-rays and $9.98 for DVDs. Each single-disc edition offers two soundtracks: both the English dubbed and the original Japanese version with English subtitles. Extras are limited to each film's Japanese trailer.

The three films, in chronological order of original release, are:

Ebirah™, Horror of the Deep

Directed by Jun Fukuda

Japan, 1966, 88 minutes

 
Ebirah™, Horror of the Deep was originally released in the U.S. in 1968 under the title Godzilla® Vs. The Sea Monster!. Godzilla® and another of Toho’s most popular kaiju, the giant moth Mothra™are paired against a wide variety of adversaries. These include the sea monster of the title, giant birds and a mysterious terrorist organization. Eiji Tsuburaya served as director of special effects.

Godzilla® vs.Hedorah™

Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno

Japan, 1971, 86 minutes 

Godzilla® vs.Hedorah™, released theatrically in the U.S in 1972 as Godzilla® vs. the Smog Monster, pits Godzilla® against the forces of pollution in the form of Hedorah, a constantly mutating, acid-spewing behemoth from outer space.  The film boasts eye-popping 1970’s “mod” costumes, hairstyles and psychedelic visuals that include conventional cel animation alongside the special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Godzilla® vs. Hedoarh™ ecologically focused take on the world’s greatest monster is easily one of the most unique films in the series.

Godzilla® vs. Gigan™

Directed by Jun Fukuda

Japan, 1972, 90 minutes

1972’s Godzilla® vs. Gigan™ ups the giant monster ante once with a series of tag team battles featuring four classic kaiju.   Released theatrically in the United States in 1977 as Godzilla® on Monster Island and again directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano, the film unites Godzilla® and spiny ally Anguirus™ against two of the series’ most popular opponents: the three headed monster King Ghidorah™ and the new alien cyborg Gigan™.

All three of these films are what I call "kiddie-Godzilla" movies. By this I mean that by the time these films were released, Toho had transformed the Big G into a child-friendly monster who's on the side of humanity.

So if you have kids, or the kid in you loves giant Japanese monsters, or if you're a total Godzilla-phile, each and every one of these films will be welcome additions to your collection. Especially at the very affordable prices they're offered at.

About Kraken Releasing:
Kraken Releasing is a new international video distribution label specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre entertainment for mainstream audiences. Together with sister labels MAIDEN JAPAN (TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0, PAT LABOR, ROYAL SPACE FORCE) and SWITCHBLADE PICTURES (BIG BAD MAMA-SAN, ATTACK GIRLS SWIM TEAM VS. THE UNDEAD) Kraken’s goal is "to bring the best filmed entertainment from around the world to our customers."

ACF 1322: Science fiction & giant monsters in Hiroshi Yamamoto's MM9

© 2007 by Hiroshi Yamamoto

NATURAL DISASTERS OF HIGH “MONSTER MAGNITUDE”

THREATEN JAPAN IN MM9 

Special Team Of Scientists Must Save Japan
In A Gripping New Novel
From The Author Of THE STORIES OF IBIS

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint brings a fantastic new tale of science fiction and giant monsters to North American readers with the release of Hiroshi Yamamoto’s novel MM9, available now. The release will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. An eBook edition is also available on the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, the Barnes & Noble’s Nook Books Store, and the Sony Reader™ Store for $8.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

The Japan of MM9 is beset by natural disasters all the time: typhoons, earthquakes...and giant monster attacks. A special anti-monster unit called the Meteorological Agency Monsterological Measures Department (MMD) has been formed to deal with natural disasters of high “monster magnitude.” The work is challenging, the public is hostile, and the monsters are hungry, but the MMD crew has science, teamwork...and a legendary secret weapon on their side. Together, will try and save Japan, and the universe!

“Hiroshi Yamamoto takes on the perennial Japanese science fiction theme—the giant monsters known as kaiju,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru Editor. “The B-movie monsters we know and love are basically treated like meteorological disasters along the lines of hurricanes or earthquakes by the MMD, who measures the “monster magnitude” of the various threats and uses both science and folkloric knowledge to try to save Japan from constant repeated attack. Yamamoto knows his science as well as pop culture—MM9 is both a loving parody of Japanese icons like Ultraman and Godzilla, but gives an intriguing and wild answer to the question of how such enormous creatures could exist without the laws of physics kicking it. The book was very popular in Japan, and the cinematic nature of Yamamoto’s storytelling made it easy for Japanese television to adapt into an action-adventure- science fiction TV show.”

Hiroshi Yamamoto was born in 1956 in Kyoto, Japan. He began his career as a writer and game designer with the game development company Group SNE in 1987. He gained initial popularity with titles such as February at the Edge of Time and the Ghost Hunter series. His first hardcover science fiction release, God Never Keeps Silent, became a sensation among readers and was nominated for the Japan SF Award. Other novels include Day of Judgment and The Unseen Sorrow of Winter and THE STORIES OF IBIS (which is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Haikasoru). Aside from his work as a writer, Yamamoto is also active in various literary organizations as an editor of classic science fiction anthologies and as president of To-Gakkai, a group of tongue-in-cheek "experts" on the occult.

For more information on MM9 and the Haikasoru imprint, visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

ACF 741: GODZILLA comic coming from IDW Publishing early in 2011!!!

Godzilla® Finds New Stomping Grounds at IDW

The King of the Monsters™ returns to comics…
and this time, he’s not alone

The biggest star in motion pictures prepares to wreak havoc once again! IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce a partnership with Toho Co., Ltd. to create all-new GODZILLA comics. Starting in 2011, Godzilla will smash his way back onto the scene with a cast of characters from his films never before seen in comics.

“This new series will be monsters and mayhem, but most importantly, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Yukio Kotaki of Toho. “Godzilla has been gone from comics for too long and we feel that IDW is the perfect company to welcome him back in 2011.”

In addition to the King of the Monsters himself, the new comics from IDW Publishing and Toho Co., Ltd. will feature many of Godzilla’s friends and foes, including MOTHRA™, KING GHIDORAH™, RODAN™ and more that have never before been featured in an American comic book series alongside Godzilla. With an impressive cast of monsters both old and new, IDW’s series will treat fans to both familiar themes and original takes on the pop culture legends that have stomped, smashed, and fought their way across movie screens for over five decades.

“Not only is Godzilla known worldwide, he’s loved worldwide, too. Having a film career with more than 25 movies and going on a 56-year span pretty much solidifies you as a legend, and IDW is really looking forward to contributing to that legacy,” said Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in Chief for IDW Publishing. “We wanted Godzilla to return to comics, but this time we wanted him to have some company. I think fans will be pleased with the monster guest appearances, which will really offer something for every fan of these films. There are the classic characters, but there are also a few surprises, too.”

Debuting in February 2011, fans can expect to see a number of unique storylines from some of the industry’s top creators.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.