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BONUS – Kaiju 101 and Other Tales from Ramen-Con 2022

Published October 4, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! Over the weekend, Nathan made a day trip up South Bend, Indiana, to attend Ramen-Con—which is about anime, not cooking…most of the time. The theme this year was kaiju, so he had to go. He gave a panel presentation called “Kaiju 101,” which was a crash course in the basics of giant monsters. That’s what most of the audio is in this bonus recording is from. Before that, Nate talks about the rest of his experiences at the con—including representing Moby Dick against Rhinoblaster in Kaiju Court!

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, and Brad “Batman” Eddelman! Thanks for your support!

See the PowerPoint.

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

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BONUS – All Podcasts Attack Special: Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack Convention

Published September 12, 2022

Welcome, kaiju lovers, heroes of the internet, and listeners with attitude! This past weekend, Nathan and his Power Trip co-host, Michael Hamilton, met each other in real life for the first time (and the world somehow didn’t explode). They attended a small upstart “spin-off” convention called Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack, which was held in Indianapolis. This bonus episode is a late-night postmortem chat they had afterward, and it’s being shared on the feeds for Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men, and The Power Trip because the guest line-up was relevant to all three shows! Hear about them meeting Gamera’s best girl, Ayako Fujitani, Bin Furuya, the original Ultraman suit actor, and the OG Red Power Ranger himself, Austin St. John.

Learn more about the con on its website.  

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, and Wynja the Ninja! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop)

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 54: Bex vs. ‘Gamera the Brave’

Published December 14, 2021

“The Year of Gamera” is officially over. As a Gamera kid—a “Kenny,” if you will—I’m going to miss it. Mostly because I was entertained by Nate’s cringing as he watched those movies. Well, until he got to the good ones, anyway. He may rant about the Heisei Trilogy and The Brave, but nothing compares to the dramatization of me and Masao helping Gamera save the world from that dastardly bastard Viras. Regardless, here are my notes from episode 54 on Gamera the Brave.

  • You’d be surprised who I know, Nate. The organizers for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are just a few. I’ve lived a storied life and met many storied people. I have quite the network.
  • I’m clueless on Pokémon gens. Mostly because I was way too old to get into it. (I know, I know—“Okay, boomer,” right?)
  • I started a tradition. Hot damn! I’m still going to insist that Nate reading my Entertaining Info Dumps be kept in his contract. Speaking of which, both his and mine are coming up for renewal soon.
  • The Leotard Ladies are playing the Denham Theater on Monster Island next spring. 😛
  • You kept mixing up Toru and Toto, Nate. It’s easy to confuse them, I know, but still, one is a kid and one is a cutesy turtle.
  • Here’s that “proof of concept” Gamera film Nate mentioned:
  • I’ll see what I can do about instant-instant ramen. That will probably require consultation with physicists, engineers, and cooks. But we would give humanity one of its greatest gifts.
  • Bangiku (Late Chrysanthemums) was directed by Mikio Naruse and released in the U.K. with two more of his films. Criterion doesn’t have it.
  • It turns out there are two versions of Oodles the ramen cup Funko Pop: regular and “spicy.”
  • I tried to build a lead zeppelin once. Jimmy Page saw it and started a band based on it.

Now, to fulfill my contractual obligations (or keep with MIFV tradition?), here are Nate’s leftover notes with my riff-tastic annotations.

  • It says Kadokawa and not Daei.
  • SFX director: Isao Kaneko. Any relation? (Given that no relation was mentioned in the film’s commentary, I’m guessing, no. –Jimmy)
  • Talk of the Monster Council is similar to the Heisei Trilogy. Pays lip service to government response but is focused on Toru. (They’re still around and quite busy. But this is Japan, after all. –Jimmy)
  •  I thought Toto would bite Toru’s finger to wake him up. (I pet-sitted a lizard one time that did that. I dumped that girl the next day. –Jimmy)
  • I love how little Toto likes to sit on Toru’s head. “Kawaii!” (Nate…you sure you didn’t turn into a certain magical girl? –Jimmy)
  • The scene with the sailor getting pulled under and killed—with the sea turning red with blood—is effectively eerie, especially since it has no dialogue or music. Let that be a lesson to horror filmmakers.
  • I wonder if the disbanding of the Monster Council was a bit of a commentary on the kaiju genre/fandom?
  • There’s also a weird Ultra Q episode about a boy and a flying turtle.
  • This works very well as a self-contained story.
  • The animatronics for “adult” Toto are quite good. The CGI for little Toto is good, too.
  • The red stone reminds me of the opal egg from Gamera vs. Barugon.
  •  The kids wear lots of English-language shirts.
  • I love the shot of Toto poking his head out of his shell while in a house. Lots of detail.
  • Toru connects with Toto, but it’s earned and makes sense. (And my connection to Gamera wasn’t?! –Jimmy)
  • Poor Toto gets stabbed in the hand like any good Gamera.
  • The glow of the stone was added in post.
  • The kids stand against the adults to protect Toto. Again, it feels earned. The innocence and faith of children.

COMMENTARY BY KEITH AIKEN AND BOB JOHNSON

  • A novelization called Friends: Gamera the Brave was released as a tie-in. Gyaos blew off Gamera’s jaw. Other Showa Gamera kaiju were present in it but didn’t make it due to budget constraints.
  • The executive producer wanted to make an original monster for kids, but the studio insisted on a Gamera film.
  • The actor playing Toru’s father was also in Masked Rider: The First and Shin Godzilla.
  • The actress playing Toru’s mother (Megumi Kobayashi) was Moll in Rebirth of Mothra.
  • Kadokawa did try to make a Godzilla vs. Gamera film before this.
  • They had 13 different turtles on this, including a real turtle: an African spur tortoise. They also used a vinyl turtle for the stunt scenes. When he gets big, Toto is based on a loggerhead turtle, which is native to Japan and the only turtles that have teeth. The real turtle didn’t listen to direction.
  • This film had a tie-in with the Ministry of the Environment, who told people not to abandon their pets. They used Toto as an example. (But what if your pet is a kaiju? –Jimmy)
  • “Why did the turtle cross the road?”
  • The special effects director—Kaneko—was a former animator and assistant director.
  • They were wrong about Spock’s blood color. They said it was blue, but it was green! (Nice call there, Nate! You get 50 nerd points. –Jimmy)
  • Kadokawa wanted to make another Daimajin movie, but they scrapped it and made a TV show instead after this movie flopped.
  • The commentarors played the old Showa music during the relay, and it ruined it! (Agreed—except, you know, my life story. –Jimmy)

ARROW VIDEO SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Director Tasaki has a lecture as a special feature where he explains the filmmaking process by comparing it to cooking and restaurants. This also has interviews with the unsung heroes from departments like lighting, cinematography, and the physical effects. I recommend watching it.
  • They interviewed the kid actors, and the boy was surprisingly thoughtful. Kaho even said it was different because she doesn’t have a kid brother.
  • The full-size Toto puppet was operated by a technician with a hand up its rear, it looks.
  • The director says they portray Toto’s feelings toward Toru ambiguously, but he does say Toru is special to him. (Duh? I’m a bit confused by this. Does he care or not? –Jimmy)
  • It was unusual to film a kaiju movie mostly in the day.
  • Some audiences thought the film was “too cute.” This was compared to kids being too scared of the Heisei films.
  • They at first couldn’t get cooperation from the JSDF, so they had to put limitations on them to avoid discrepancies.

ARROW BOOKLET

MACIAS

  • Daiei changed ownership again in 2002 when Kadokawa bought them. The trilogy’s creative team had moved on to other projects, so they brought in a new one to do what hadn’t been done since 1980: a Gamera film for children.
  • Magical realism of the trilogy with kids’ POV of Showa series.

FLOWERS

  • The first editions of the Media Blasters dub had an error that misaligned the music and sound effects. That was corrected by Arrow.

OTHER SOURCES

LEMAY – Big Book Vol. 2

  • The concept of a child raising Gamera may have come from a 1993 Ito script that had a group of children do it.

Toku Topic: Japanese Ramen Culture

  •  “Although ramen is now an iconic Japanese dish, it’s actually an immigrant, and the names originally used for it made that perfectly clear. Chūka soba and Shina soba both basically mean “Chinese noodles” but have very different connotations. Chūka soba became the most-used term after World War II and is having something of a revival. It replaced shina soba as the political connotations of “shina” became controversial, since it was the word used for China when Japan was an imperialist power in Asia. But there’s no dish in China that closely resembles today’s Japanese ramen, so the story is much more complicated than a simple borrowing.” (Fransisco)
  • “Ramen soup began gaining its huge popularity in the 1920s and the 1930s due to the great demand for food that is both hearty and quickly cooked. The industrialization encouraged thousands of Japanese people to work in the cities and have no time for preparing food. Eating outside became more common, and nutritious food was needed to give enough strength to the workers. Ramen soup became a successful solution as it was widely served all over the country and had more calories than traditional Japanese meals did. Therefore, ramen became an essential part of urban culture.” (IvyPanda)
  • Jordan: “Nearby in Yokohama is the Cupnoodles Museum. This location is similar, but focuses on Nissin Foods and their inventions of Instant Ramen and Cup Ramen. Here, you also have the opportunity to try ramen from around Japan, as well as customize your own Cup Noodles (both the exterior cup and the flavors of the ramen inside)! Lastly, if you’re lucky enough to be in Tokyo around late October through early November, you’re in time for one of my favorite food festivals, the Tokyo Ramen Show! In 2020, the event will host 18 ramen vendors for the first 6 days, and a completely different set of 18 ramen vendors for the last 5 days! That’s 36 different ramen shops to try! Entry into the park’s grounds is free, and a ticket for a delicious bowl of ramen is only ¥800!”

There you go. More information about than you ever wanted to know about the food we all ate in college because we couldn’t afford anything else. Do you feel enlightened or entertained?

The next episode is the season two finale—and I don’t know what it is. All I know is it’s courtesy of Michael Hamilton on MIFV MAX (Patreon). That should theoretically make it more exciting—assuming I let Michael come here. Then again, he’s one of the many guests attending Nate’s Board-funded Kaiju Podcasters Banquet, so I guess I can’t stop that. Oh well. Michael just needs to stay out of my garage. Then in January, we begin season three—Ameri-kaiju!

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Episode 54: Bex vs. ‘Gamera the Brave’

Published December 9, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! With this episode, we reach the end of the “Year of Gamera.” Depending on who you talk to (like Nate), it’s a bittersweet occasion because, on one hand, many bad movies were endured, but on the other hand, today’s subject is 2006’s Gamera the Brave. Becky “Bex” Smith from the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel joins Nate to discuss what is, as of now, the last Gamera film. It is sadly overshadowed by everything that came before it. It’s a shame because this is a Showa Gamera movie—except good! Think of it as a Gamera film made by Pixar. So, it’s emotionally honest and will make you cry. Even Nate had to summon all of his manly discipline to keep control. Bex, on the other hand, did not. The Toku Topic, since much of the movie takes place at a restaurant, is Japanese ramen culture.

Before the broadcast, Nate was…graced with the return of his pseudo-sister, Jessica. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate her bone-crunching glomp and told her off. That got him a lecture from Jessica’s bestie, Bex. Afterward, Nate is all but forced to indulge Jessica and let her sing a karaoke of a popular anime theme song. You can probably guess which one.

Check out the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Jessica Returns,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Becky Smith.

Guest stars:

  • Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Elijah Thomas, and Eric Anderson! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors…maybe.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue, “Jessica Returns (Part 1)”: 0:00-5:10
  • Intro: 5:10-16:15
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 16:15-23:19
  • Toku Talk: 23:19-1:25:32
  • Ad: 1:25:32-1:26:58
  • Toku Topic: 1:26:58-2:10:30
  • Housekeeping, Epilogue (“Jessica Returns, Part 2”), & Outro: 2:10:30-end

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 52: Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Published November 17, 2021

Finally…Jimmy has caught up…with his blogs! And it only took two weeks…I think. I would’ve posted this sooner, but I kept getting harassed by Dr. Dourif on Twitter. (The weirdo can’t even spell his name right). Anyway, here are my notes from Kaiju Kim’s visit in episode 52 (Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris).

  • This movie is old enough to drink in the U.S. Fun fact: the drinking age in Japan is 20.
  • “Stumped.” (insert It meme “haha!”)
  • Torii gates were discussed in Episode 24.
  • Link to Gamera 4 clips.
  • I’m not so sure I like Amazon using my drones. Mostly because disgruntled customers have shot them.
  • Given what I know is coming up for the show, Nate, saying, “No,” to Clifford would be questionable. But I don’t want to talk about it.

Now for the ridiculous pile of notes Marchand didn’t get to. Good grief, how many research rabbit holes did he fall into? Alice in Wonderland is looking at him and thinking, knock it off! Anyway, prepare over for a data overload! (You’ve been warned!)

  • The award-winning Nagamine is back!
  • Gyaos comes back, and it’s dead. Sets the tone and shows a greater threat is upon us.
  • Sub = “Kaiko.” Meaning? (I looked it up, and it’s interesting. –Jimmy)
  • The subtitles say, “Dead Gameras.” I liked the English line (dub?) that said, “Gamera graveyard.” It deepens the mythology and builds on the hubris theme from Guardian. These are dead saviors.
  • The credits roll over black-and-white stock footage from Guardian. Stylistic. Moody. Then we get a flashback.
  • Chinese divided the cosmos into 28 houses. 7 in each quadrant.
  • We get a proper Gyaos about 22 minutes in. Gamera in 24.
  • Hirasaka named the creature Iris after her cat. It’s endearing and ironic given how dangerous the monster is.
  • Man on street says US can’t fight Gamera for them. Japan should fight its own battles.
  • In a way, this is not unlike the atomic bomb. He causes damage but ends up saving the world in the end. Is it worth it? Tough question.
  • Asagi’s last name is significant. Kusanagi was the name of a sword used to slay Orochi in mythology (see episode 13 of MIFV on The Three Treasures).
  • This baby Iris puppet is incredibly expressive and lifelike.
  • The news reports tell us that the Gyaos are a worldwide problem. It also seems like kaiju are bit more of a normal thing. (Aren’t they usually? –Jimmy)
  • “Beer hasn’t tasted this good in a long time” –Osako. A nice callback to the past films (especially Gamera 2).
  • There’s some horror elements in this, but when the dead body drops from the ceiling. (Better than G84).
  • Interestingly, Nagamine, the woman of science, prays for the corpse.
  • Asagi looks quite grown up in this.
  • The shot of Iris rising above the clouds with the moon in the background does look cool despite the CGI.
  • Unlike Gamera’s previous opponents, Iris’s lasers can cut through Gamera’s shell.
  • The shot of the fire transition from Gamera to Iris to Ayana is brilliant.
  • The integration of the tokusatsu effects and the live action…it’s so good! There are movies with 10, 20, 30 times the budget that don’t look this good!
  • At this point in the film, Ayana only says Iris’s name.
  • Ayana wakes up in the rain. Water = life. Also, Gamera roars.
  • Ayana in the end whispers Gamera’s name like she did Iris’s.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Commentary by Ryfle and Godzizsewski

  • They started with the idea of making a trilogy.
  • It had a long production schedule. Kaneko said in an interview that while money is s blessing, having more time produces better films. This had a budget of $8.5 million.
  • They argue that Kaneko’s approach to filming is straightforward, but he does sometimes have some visual flare.
  • Kaneko said that using fantasy elements helps explain plot devices that would normally be difficult to explain absurd concepts.
  • Shibuya is one of the busiest places in Tokyo.
  • The news reports feature real journalists, a tradition going back to old Toho.
  • Kaneko’s wife makes a cameo during the “man-on-the street” interviews.
  • In Guardian, they felt like Godzilla was their competition. In Gamera 2, they felt Guardian was their competition. In this, they felt it was Ultraman Gaia because they had lots of composite photography.
  • Gamera saves Ayana when she cries out. She’s a damaged child.
  • Ayana could be seen as symbolic of children orphaned by wars and natural disasters.
  • Ryfle wonders if this film was inspired by Frankenstein Conquers the World and War of the Gargantuas.
  • The ending is ambiguous because people weren’t sure if the world would end at the time.
  • Otani said that writing the music for the ending was so stressful, it gave him stomach problems.
  • It grossed $15 million at the box office and was screened at the Toronto Film Festival.

ARROW BOOKLET

Macias

  • Kaneko: “In the past, Gamera was always the children’s hero, and the president (of the studio) always wanted to keep it that way, but I was kind of sick of that.”
  • Ito went on to work on the .hack series.

England

  • Claims the budget was 15 billion yen ($11 million), but producer Miyuki Nanri says it would cost $50 million to make in the U.S. He went on to say it has no ego-stroking or frivolity like a Hollywood film. The budget is the budget, so they can’t play games.

One of these days I should find out which of my blogs is the longest thanks to Marchand.

Anyway, next week you’ll hear Nate’s broadcast with my former nemesis, Michael Hamilton, from Kaiju Weekly. They discuss Godzilla Raids Again, which was Michael’s first Godzilla film. What a bunch of banana oil! Then the “Year of Gamera” concludes with guest Bex from Redeemed Otaku and Gamera the Brave. If you don’t like that film, you’re dead inside. Trust me.

See you next week! I have to tune up my mechs in my garage.

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 51: Dallas Mora vs. ‘Gamera 2: Attack of Legion’

Published November 13, 2021

Is it Saturday? Damn, what was in that beer I had last night at the Monster Island Tavern? That’s the last time I go drinking with Dr. Dourif. No wonder I didn’t finish my promised “Jimmy’s Notes” blog on episode 51 (Gamera 2: Attack of Legion). Nate isn’t the only one trying to get back on schedule. Thankfully, with this, I’ll be caught up after all of the Board’s shenanigans. Surprisingly, I didn’t take many notes during that broadcast. They were:

  • Yes, the beginning of this film was nostalgic for me. I miss NASA. I thought about getting a job there again during Nate’s time in orbit. I may still need to if business dries up for the Island. Good thing I still have connections there.
  • I did some digging, as Dallas requested, and I couldn’t find any staff members who worked on both Gamera 2 and Parasite Eve. However, the 1997 movie adaptation of the original Japanese novel was distributed by Kadokawa Shoten, which is owned by the same parent company that bought Daiei (and Gamera) in 2002.
  • It was a girl who was crying over Gamera, not a boy, Nate! Use the right pronoun!
  • The Maccabean Revolt was in the second century B.C. and was against the Seleucid Empire, which was Greek
  • Dallas is bothered by my tight T-shirts? It’s not my fault I need to change my wardrobe after hitting the Kaiju Gym as hard as I have. 😛

Now for the overabundance of leftover notes Marchand has on this movie. I don’t think I’m contractually obligated to share these anymore (it’s all in flux after recent events), but being that he’s my friend, here you go.

  • The detective is back! But now he’s a security beer warehouse. And he still can’t get away from kaiju! His interview by the cops on video made me think of The Terminator. I wonder if Kirin Beer sponsored the movie? (Maybe. I should have some Kirin beer delivered to the Island. So we can ask them to sponsor us, of course! -Jimmy)
  • This movie likes horizontal wipes. (Kinda like one of my favorite space movies…. –Jimmy)
  • Interesting that the evacuees run through a torii gate (see Daimajin episode of MIFV). It marked the entrance to a sacred place. Shelter?
  • I love the effects when Gamera inhales to shoot a plasma ball. You see gas go in his mouth and his throat light up.
  • Again, there are real consequences. Legion corpses on the beach after Gamera swims away.
  • Netscape and the old internet. Quaint.
  • Asagi shows up 40 or so minutes in.
  • A second flower as a set piece does seem a bit repetitive.
  • All those hats on that long rack!
  • Asagi’s hat says, “Invisible,” in English. It describes her because she goes unheeded by most people. (You freaking English major. 😛  –Jimmy)
  • Breaking Legion’s horn actually makes things worse. Pacing and escalation. Legion goes red-eyed and angry.
  • SHINKU…HADOKEN! This is crazy, anime-esque, and doesn’t get explained until the next film. Otherwise, it’s totally left field. “If his chest had been a cannon, he’d have shot his heart upon it.” (Again, FREAKING ENGLISH MAJOR! –Jimmy)

COMMENTARY BY KYLE YOUNT

  • Opened between Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and Rebirth of Mothra, so the kaiju scene was a bit stale.
  • First act is set in Hokkaido, which is a bit unique for a kaiju film. Northernmost island.
  • The scientists and military actually get along.
  • The crew had to pull the beer bottles by hand because their rig didn’t work. Had to paint their fingers black so they wouldn’t show up on camera.
  • The doctor who dissects the Legion soldier was an actual professor.

INTRO BY RAGONE (ARROW VIDEO)

  • Mahiro Miyeda, who helped design Legion, also did concepts for Mad Max: Fury Road.

A TESTIMONY OF 15 YEARS (DOCUMENTARY)

  • One of the producers on the trilogy, Morio Akawa, didn’t even like monster movies and preferred movies for older audiences as a kid. He credits the trilogy with stretching him.
  • (Ito wouldn’t show his face in his interview. Instead, we saw his dog. Why?) (Because you writers are weird? 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Ito calls the trilogy his “coming-of-age” as a screenwriter. He says there’s a clear difference between his writing before and after the trilogy. He used to be associated Mamori Oshii, and now he’s associated with this trilogy.
  • Otani says Masaru Sato saw the first film and said, “There’s no one in Japan who writes like this, at full throttle!” Otani says that’s how he works.

MACIAS (ARROW BOOKLET)

  • Guiron and Barugon were discussed to return, but the filmmakers decided to go with a new monster—Gamera’s first original foe since 1971—Legion. (I think Barugon wants to know…why was he replaced? –Jimmy)
  • Gamera was redesigned slightly by Tomo Haraguchi, an effects wizard and film director).
  • This time, the JSDF supports Gamera.

 “BRINGING UP GAMERA” BY ENGLAND (ARROW BOOKLET)

  • As a teen, he (Higuchi) got a part-time job with Toho and worked with Koichi Kawakita on Sayonara Jupiter (see MIFV episode 41) and Return of Godzilla.
  • He storyboarded for many productions, including anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion (Anno named the series’ main character after him).
  • He wanted a project at the time that fit into what he envisioned—that is until screenwriter Ito got him the job on Guardian of the Universe. He’d never done it before, so Daiei was taking a risk.
  • He wasn’t able to redesign Gamera as much as he wanted, which brought him into conflict with the studio. He wished he could’ve gotten away with what the filmmakers did on Godzilla (1998). However, in Gamera 2, he got to do it by making Gamera more like a sea turtle with flippers.
  • With designing Legion, he said he wanted to make something memorable like old school kaiju, because he felt modern kaiju had “muddled characteristics.”  He started with an idea of having the skeleton on the outside, which led to having two men in the suit since human joints are fixed and he wanted to avoid the human shape.
  • The suit was heavy, and it took the actors ten minutes just to get in it, and they could only wear it for ten minutes at a time. The principle actor, Mizuho Yoshida, went on to play Godzilla in GMK (and previously played Zeiram in those films). He’s biased, but Higuchi thinks Legion is one of the five best kaiju designs ever.

FLOWER – ENGLISH LANGUAGE GAMERA

  • It was released on DVD by ADV in 2003 with a dub written and directed by Kyle Jones. The also produced the infamous “Lake Texarkana” dub where the actors read their lines as southern hillbillies.

LEMAY (BIG BOOK)

  • Also considered having Viras (Jimmy wanted to be in that one). (YES! And I’d still kick his @$$! –Jimmy)
  • Legion’s head was supposedly inspired by Guiron.
  • In an homage to the Showa series, Gamera bleeds more and is initially taken out by the Legion seed pod.
  • It grossed about the same amount of money as the first and won Best Special Effects from the Japanese Academy.
  • There’s a manga sequel that may or may not be canon, which is a Heisei retelling of Barugon.
  • There was a short-lived rumor that Disney might distribute the film.

TOKU TOPIC: THE EXORCISM OF THE GERASENE DEMONIAC

  • The demon’s name refers to a Roman legion, which could comprise up to over 5,000 soldiers. Some also connect it to Isaiah 65:4, which has God referring to obstinate Israel defying Him: “who sit in tombs, / and spend the night in secret places; / who eat pig’s flesh, / and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;”

And there you have it.

As of this writing, our next two episodes will feature my former nemesis Michael Hamilton as the guest for the next “Godzilla Redux” episode, which covers the first sequel to Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again. Then the “Year of Gamera” comes to an end with Gamera the Brave, which will have Bex from the Redeemed Otaku podcast as the co-host. I confess I might miss the big turtle.

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Episode 52 – Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Published November 12, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After nearly a year of surviving inane MST3K fodder and watching the first two entries of a fantastic trilogy, Nate reaches one of kaiju eiga’s zeniths with Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. He’s joined by YouTuber and (ironically) Godzilla enthusiast Kaiju Kim to discuss this masterpiece. As Nate puts it, this is one of the rare trilogies where each entry gets better—in fact, everything gets cranked to 12 in this. They discuss the amazing story, incredible characters, impressive special effects, absolute badassery, and the many, many cultural elements that may go over western fans’ heads as crazy fantasy. Speaking of which, choosing a Toku Topic was difficult, but Nate landed on the Four Symbols and mana, because they play the big roles in this film and the rest of the trilogy.

Check out Kim’s video on Gamera 3 here.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, and Elijah Thomas! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors…maybe.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-9:09
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 9:09-18:11
  • Toku Talk: 18:11-1:25:42
  • Ad: 1:25:42-1:26:34
  • Toku Topic: 1:26:34-1:54:13
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:54:13-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 51 – Dallas Mora vs. ‘Gamera 2: Attack of Legion‘

Published November 5, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After a harrowing and riff-tastic adventure in space, Nate and Jimmy return to Monster Island to find the podcast in chaos. Not only did their nemesis WHG3 try to replace MIFV with his own podcast, he canceled all of their guest invitations. Thankfully, Jimmy was able to get Geek Devotions co-founder Dallas Mora to come on to continue the “Year of Gamera” with Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (or “Attack of the Legion” or the much-cooler-title-that-should’ve-been-kept “Advent of Legion”). Nate and Dallas discuss its amazing traditional tokusatsu effects and Christian symbology, among other things. Did you know Gamera is a Christ-figure? Find out how in today’s episode! Along those lines, the Toku Topic is the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, the Bible story that gave Legion her name.

After the broadcast, Nate goes to the Monster Island Chapel, where he’s greeted by Rev. Mifune. The chaplain tells Nate that Karone—the former “Miss Perkins”—had been hiding in the chapel since before Nate was shot into space. Nate then has a heart-to-heart talk with the former supervillainess and Power Ranger.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Moving Forward,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Daniel DiManna as Dr. Dourif
  • Nate Chen as Rev. Mifune
  • Celeste Mora as Karone

Additional music:

  • “A Maiden’s Prayer” by RebeccaETripp

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, and Elijah Thomas! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is NOT approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue, “Moving Forward, Part 1”: 0:00-3:21
  • Intro: 3:21-13:06
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 13:06-21:49
  • Toku Talk: 21:49-1:37:55
  • (Dr. Dourif’s Call: 24:04-30:41)
  • Extra Life 2021 Charity Stream Promo: 1:37:55-1:39:13
  • Toku Topic: 1:39:13-2:02:47
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 2:02:47-2:18:20
  • Epilogue, Moving Forward, Part 2”: 2:18:20-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 48: The Tourists vs. ‘Gamera: Guardian of the Universe’

Published September 15, 2021

So, the Board made me sit out an episode. Again. They apparently thought it was great hardly hearing me in episode 46. Just ignore the fact that there have been other episodes where I didn’t say much, and it wasn’t because of a bet with some overworked Godzilla author. Oh well. It’s done. I listened to episode 48 (Gamera: Guardian of the Universe) while helping Raymund Martin with paperwork. Actually, I did all of it while he hid in his office. He’s still reeling from losing Gary. I was happy to hear Jet Jaguar stick up for me when Nate and his guests let the riffs fly against me.

Regardless, I took some notes while listening:

  • I appreciate the shout-out…IN SPACE! Also, I do know those pigs Tim mentioned. They’re crazy. I’m amazed they haven’t crashed their ship into the moon.
  • John LeMay compared Heisei Gamera to the Dark Knight Trilogy, Nate, not Batman ’89. I know this, and John and I don’t get along!
  • Gyaos is female, Joe…most of the time? Maybe? It’s weird. We’ve gotten into the habit of using “they/them” to refer to that kaiju for obvious reasons.
  • We all need hazard pay. Except Jet. He doesn’t need money. I’ll take his cut. 😛
  • The name of the author of “The Last Hope” is Josh B’Gosh. And yes, he also shared your crazy theory about me, Nate.
  • It’s probably best Joy and I didn’t meet on the air again. We did bump into each other on the Island, though. … I don’t want to talk about it.
  • It was episode 32 on the first Gamera movie that you talked about environmentalism, with Nick, Nate.
  • According to several sources, the Japanese title for this film was Gamera: Daikaijū Kūchū Kessen, which translates literally to “Gamera: Giant Monster Midair Battle.” So, Nate was a little off. (But so was Matt Frank, who said “Dogfight” in his commentary on the Arrow blu-ray set).
  • The explanation for the Atlantis-destroying comet that became Venus is simple: it’s bull@#$%.
  • Nate was a little off about the U.K. dub. It was released by Manga Entertainment, but they commissioned Arrival Films to make it.

Here are Nate’s leftover notes (my contractual obligations are fulfilled). For once, he got through all his notes on the Toku Topic, which saves me some time and space (pun intended).

The Film

  • Distributed by Toho, ironically. (I’m sure they relished the irony. –Jimmy)
  • Nuclear weapons, radiation, and “another country’s submarine” are all mentioned in the beginning.
  • Already the score by Kow Otani is incredible. Is it any wonder I used a remix of one of his tracks as the show’s theme? Kaneko didn’t give him much direction, and he composed it quickly (within a day or two). (It’s a crime you didn’t mention this, Nate, especially since we use a remix of one of his music tracks for the show! –Jimmy)
  • Asagi’s dad doesn’t like Scotch. That would disappoint WHG3. (I wish you’d mentioned this just to annoy him. –Jimmy)
  • “Right here—on this M&M.”
  • I like the old-school frame shifts (fades).
  • Gyaos appears about 14 minutes in.
  • The government and the JSDF act without consulting the scientists about the Gyaos. They simply make demands for the Gyaos to be captured.
  • There are a few underwater shots that are obviously in a pool, sadly.
  • “Harry Hawk” and “Hercules One.” Those sound like movie titles. Hudson Hawk. (Let’s not talk about those. –Jimmy)
  • Japanese ibis. (What about them? –Jimmy)
  • They keep calling Gyaos a bird, but I’m not sure she is. Reptile and bat, too. (It’s confusing for all of us, including the scientists. –Jimmy)
  • Anyone get flashbacks to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on the bridge? (Yes, and I wish I hadn’t. –Jimmy)
  • Gamera is clearly the hero since he takes a shot from Gyaos to save the characters.
  • Gamera crashes on Mt. Fuji, which is where he fought Gyaos in 1967.
  • How hard is it to hit a giant turtle, guys? Freaking Stormtroopers. (Accurate. –Jimmy)
  • The cab driver worries me. He must be with Uber. Crashing through a barricade and laughing.
  • The powers that be want to capture Gyaos despite it eating people but want to kill Gamera? Compared to a T-Rex.
  • Asagi and Mayumi are the big stars, but they don’t outshine or demean the men. This is how you do “strong female characters.”
  • Asago loves Mary Poppins, apparently. Japanese poster on door.
  • “She says Gamera is coming.” “He’s here.”
  • Gamera is a second-round fighter: he loses the first time and comes back later to win.
  • The miniature playground is incredibly detailed.
  • The buildings have small details like tiny furniture.
  • Gyaos shoots his own foot off just like in 1967.

Ragone Intro

  • Originally conceived as a 60-minute children’s film.
  • One-third of the budget of a Toho Godzilla film? (Some sources say one-half. –Jimmy)

England

  • Kaneko did go independent in 1987 and made several dramas. He also contributed to Necronomicon, a horror anthology film. He says horror is the lower form of entertainment in Japan—even lower than roman porno. Japan doesn’t have the same horror tradition as America.
  • Ayako Fujitani was quite shy. Kaneko had the actors audition by looking up and shouting, “Gamera!” Fujitani was red-faced before doing it. He gave her the role based on her dark personality (he says).
  • The crew felt like they had to compete with Godzilla.
  • When he got the project, Kaneko’s wife told him, “You know, you may as well kiss Godzilla goodbye.” #irony

Frank Commentary

  • The dismembered Gyaos were made by eating fried chicken bones and then bleached.
  • The mantra on set was, “What would Honda do?” Kaneko admired the director. The bridge scene is similar to one in Mothra.
  • The filmmakers thought exploding monsters were more viscerally satisfying. That was more of a TV thing than a movie thing.
  • Kaneko didn’t like the critical accolades the film got because he’d never had those before.

Arrow Special features

  • Kaneko: “Monster movies are an expression of man’s need to destroy something.”

LeMay – Big Book

  • Kaneko went on to direct the Japanese live-action Death Note films.
  • Didn’t make as much money as Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. (Tragic. It must’ve been the name recognition.  –Jimmy)

LeMay – Lost Films

  • Ito’s first draft was more similar to classic Gamera, complete with a child protagonist, and while some elements from this made it into Guardian and later The Brave, it was reworked when Kaneko came on.

LeMay – Writing

  • Ito didn’t like the children in the old Gamera movies because they acted like adults and bossed the grown-ups around.

That was some brisk reading compared to some of my recent blogs, right?

Next week, I’m back in the producer booth for another Patreon-sponsored episode. This one is brought to you by MIFV MAX member Damon Noyes, who had us discuss Toei’s crazy 1966 fantasy film The Magic Serpent. I normally don’t get excited for films like this, but this one was eerily similar to one of my favorite films. What was it? Listen to find out! Then we get to episode 50 and the show’s second anniversary. We have big plans for that one, but we’re keeping them top secret to surprise all of you, listeners. Stay tuned!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives       #WeShallOvercome

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