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Episode 108 – ‘Ultraman: The Adventure Begins’ vs. The Cel Cast | The Ultra Journey

Published February 12, 2026
Version 1.0.0

Hello, Kaiju Lovers, and welcome season five! It kicks off with the appropriately-titled Ultraman: The Adventure Begins, an animated movie produced in 1987 by Hanna-Barbera. Yes, the studio that brought you Superfriends and Scooby-Doo made the first all-original Ultraman movie! Nate could think of no better guests for this than Drew Dodgen and Jacob Heron (who also created the cover art for this episode) from The Cel Cast. Given that this episode officially marks MIFV’s induction into the Culture Box Network, it’s even more appropriate. While Nate battles weird headaches all episode, he and them Cel Cast boys dive deep into this failed TV pilot and discuss…“diabeetus.” Yeah, it confused Jimmy From NASA, too. To celebrate the Ultra Series’ 60th anniversary and get the uninitiated up to speed, the Toku Topic is a crash course in the history of the Ultraman franchise. Take your first step on The Ultra Journey!

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, and Francis Chopin.

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)

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

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

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-15:20
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 15:20-26:40
  • Toku Talk: 26:40-2:06:03
  • Culture Box Ad (The Cel Cast): 2:06:03-2:07:12
  • Toku Topic (A Crash Course in the Ultra Series): 2:07:12-3:10:17
  • Outro (listener feedback and housekeeping): 3:10:17-3:22:50
  • Credits: 3:22:50-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #ultraman, #theultrajourney, #tsuburayaproductions

© 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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MIFV 6th Anniversary Livestream | Ft. MIFV Jeopardy with Damon Noyes, Drew Dodgen, and Jake Hambrick

Published October 3, 2025

Join Nathan, executive producer Damon Noyes, Drew Dodgen (The Cel Cast), and Jake Hambrick (Henshin Power V3) to celebrate six years of kaiju/tokusatsu podcasting! Stay tuned for giveaways to audience members in the chat, and watch as Nathan’s guests compete to prove who’s the biggest MIFV fan with MIFV Jeopardy!

Watch the original live video: https://youtube.com/live/GaRJBb6EPt4.

Featuring “10 Minutes of Hypothermia” by Metal Man.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! 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)

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

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

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #Podcast                       #kaiju

© 2025 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 95: “The Zillo Beast Saga” | Ft. The Cel Cast | Star Wars: The Clone Wars & The Bad Batch | Patreon

Published July 10, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In our second Patreon pick of season 4, Nate is joined by Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast (his co-host, Jacob, was too busy planning a wedding to come) to discuss kaiju in Star Wars! Specifically, the Zillo Beast, who appeared in two episodes of The Clone Wars  and three episodes (sorta) of its spin-off, The Bad Batch. This was an episode that grew since it was requested, going from two episodes of TV to five. Nate and Drew unpack all the kaiju tropes and homages throughout the “Zillo Beast Saga,” and Drew gives us a crash course in the history of Star Wars in animation. Meanwhile, MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, pops a few veins with all the prequel talk.

Jimmy’s Notes on this episode COMING SOON on the MIFV website!

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men, The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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)

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

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

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-12:09
  • The Clone Wars (background): 12:09-35:25
  • The Clone Wars – “The Zillo Beast”: 35:25-1:02:03
  • The Clone Wars – “The Zillo Beast Strikes Back”: 1:02:03-1:24:59
  • The Bad Batch – Background and “Metamorphosis”: 1:24:59-1:54:13
  • The Bad Batch – “Flash Strike” and “The Cavalry has Arrived”: 1:54:13-2:13:23
  • Toku Topic: A Brief History of Animated Star Wars: 2:13:23-2:33:46
  • Outro and Housekeeping: 2:33:46-2:54:57
  • Credits: 2:54:57-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 85 Epilogue: “Jake and Drew, Where are You?”

Published March 4, 2024

Nate, Drew, and Jacob decide to test their mettle by going to a haunted tourist spot in Seoul: Yangma Land, an abandoned theme park. After exploring the place until midnight, they come to a carousel that moves by itself—because it’s being ridden by the little girl ghost who haunts the place! She hears Jacob bark like a dog and chases after him, thinking he’s a puppy. The boys hide in a ride, only to barely escape a nine-tailed fox! But is the solution getting these two supernatural beings to meet?

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

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, and Leon Campbell! 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)

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

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

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 85 – Godzilla: The Series | ‘Monster Wars’ | Ft. The Cel Cast | Godzilla Redux

Published February 29, 2024

In case anyone is wondering: Kaguya and I are fine. I know there are rumors going around that we broke up or were on the rocks. We’ve talked things over. It took a while to help her understand some things about how human “cultural frameworks,” as she calls them, work, but she seems to get it now…sorta. Am I still in the doghouse? Yeah. I’m giving her a bit of space. But I have to say, to paraphrase Jack Driscoll, “I think I…” Ahem! Anyway, let’s get into my notes on Episode 85 (Godzilla: The Series – “Monster Wars”), which featured the return of the “cartoon guys,” Drew Dodgen and Jacob Heron, from The Cel Cast.

  • The air conditioning will get fixed…eventually. This walking cobbled-together junk pile has far more pressing issues to fix…like the CD player.
  • As cute as D33-D117 (Deedlit?) is for an AI…Kaguya would kill me! She almost did after we recaptured Utam Goliathon!
  • MIFV’s previous Godzilla: The Series coverage was Episode 45 (“New Family” and “Deadloch”) and Bonus Episode 11 (“The Cameron Winter Trilogy”).
  • I think Drew was referring to Winter’s episodes of the show being before “Monster Wars.” He’s correct…about one. Winter’s first episode was episode five while “Monster Wars” was episodes 15-17.
  • The Martians didn’t know Earth’s bacteria was fatal to them…or was it a bio-weapon? That’s what Alan Moore would want you to believe. I know how much you love that, Nate. 😛
  • These aliens never win beauty pageants and hate being compared to the Harkonnens. Trust me, I’ve run into a few of them.
  • I asked the scientists if Zilla Jr. purrs. They looked at me like I was a weirdo. I am, but still, that was rude.
  • Wingnut?! #DeepCut
  • “Draczilla” That’s a terrifying concept. I’ll tell the Board to ban anyone from Transylvania from visiting the Island.
  • I fought Frussians once. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • Lies! You’ve kink-shamed me!
  • “Play it again, Sam,” is a misquoted line, as Nate explained. While it’s associated with Humphrey Bogart, something like it, “Play it, Sam,” was actually said by Ingrid Bergman.
  • Inspirational temporal displacement? That’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one. And yet another reason I hate time travel.
  • Paris has been attacked by kaiju, but only in Godzilla stories. Specifically, Destroy All Monsters, this three-parter, Godzilla: Final Wars, Godzilla Unleashed: Final Smash, and Godzilla: Rulers of Earth. (Fun fact: there’s a Kaiju No. 8 mural in Paris).
  • Admittedly, I didn’t have much time to search for kaiju attacks on Washington, D.C. (and my internet searches kept bringing up very different sorts of attacks), but much to Nate’s chagrin, the one I did find is an Asylum movie:
  • I might have something to do with the shield D33-D117 found around D.C.…I don’t want to talk about it.
  • You’d be surprised how many trailer park aliens there are in the galaxy. Poverty is universal.
  • We don’t talk about mushrooms on MIFV. For very good reasons.
  • Popcorn ball, Nate, not cornball.
  • Occam’s razor > technobabble. So, I’m with Monique in this case.
  • It’s always too soon for Firefly.
  • I think I met Queen Bleep once. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • “Nilla”? As funny as that is, Dr. Tatopoulos won’t approve that name.
  • The years for crab movies are correct, Nate.
  • It’s not often I’m left speechless about crabs. (Although, I’m thinking of a different type of crabs…).

Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to read Nate’s full research notes!

We’re going to be busy in March at MIFV. We have another impromptu episode (hopefully), which will go over the just-released The Whale God, a semi-obscure Daiei film, with Daniel DiManna and Elijah Thomas. Then we get back to the World Tour with our first South Korean film, Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) with special guest Neil Riebe. We punctuate the month with season four’s first Patreon-sponsored episode courtesy of executive producer Damon Noyes, which will be our first double feature: Attack of the Crab Monsters and Island Claws. From our first Roger Corman flick to an almost-unknown pseudo-remake.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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Episode 85 – Godzilla: The Series – ‘Monster Wars’ | Ft. The Cel Cast | Godzilla Redux

Published February 29, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! You might be wondering, “Aren’t you supposed to cover Destroy All Monsters for Godzilla Redux, Nate?” Yes…but I’m not. For reasons. Anyway, we have the next-best thing: the three-part epic from Godzilla: The Series—“Monster Wars”! And who else could be the guests for animated kaiju shenanigans other than Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast. They and Nate go through each episode beat-for-beat and analyze everything from the writing to the voice acting to the animation. You’ll also hear some great factoids Nate researched about these, the three best episodes of the show. Not to mention he delves into the unmade sequel to Godzilla (1998) that sounds eerily similar to this show!

Check out this episode’s epilogue, “Jake and Drew, Where are You?”

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/02/29/jimmys-notes-on-episode-85-godzilla-the-series-monster-wars-ft-the-cel-cast-godzilla-redux/.

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

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

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, and Leon Campbell! 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)

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

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

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-11:52
  • Main Discussion: 11:52-1:39:34
  • Outro: 1:39:34-1:51:52
  • Credits: 1:51:52-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #GodzillaTheSeries    #GodzillaRedux

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Special Report #5 – ‘Gamera: -Rebirth-‘ | MIFV x The Cel Cast

Published September 20, 2023

Yeah, I’m thinking Gamera is back! And since his return is in anime form, of course Nate invited Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast to join the discussion. Gamera: -Rebirth- is a six-episode anime that just dropped on Netflix, and it’s infinitely better than the fake anime Nate and the Cel Cast boys covered a few months ago. Writer-director Hiroyuki Seshita gets his redemption story in this, proving it really was studio interference that held him back with the Godzilla Anime Trilogy. More importantly, this is definitely in the Gamera tradition, where the Guardian of the Universe has to settle for a second-string studio with a lower budget, so he to do his best with it. Does it rise to the heights of the Heisei trilogy or the lows of the Showa series? Listen and find out!

Watch the original livestream video on MIFV’s YouTube channel!

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

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, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #kaiju            #gamera            #gamerarebirth          

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Special Report #3: ‘Skull Island’ (Netflix “Anime,” 2023) | Ft. The Cel Cast

Published July 22, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! We interrupt our regular episode schedule for a “special report” on the Skull Island “anime” from Netflix and Powerhouse Animation. (Yes, the first “special report” was an experiment and the other a gag, but work with us). Obviously, Nate calls on his animation experts, Drew and Jacob of The Cel Cast, to discuss this, well, train wreck. SPOILER WARNING: It’s the worst thing in the MonsterVerse (although, its place in that shared universe is dubious). It has maybe 1.5 good episodes out of eight. But prepare yourselves, Kaiju Lovers, for Nate to “cross the podcast streams” for the most epic “rantmaster” ever on MIFV! (Take that, Little Orphan Annie!)

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

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

Read Kaiju Ramen Magazine (https://kaijuramenmedia.com/).

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, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matthew Walsh, and Jonathan Courtright! 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)

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

This episode is approved by Cameron Winter and the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-15:47
  • Main Discussion: 15:47-1:42:52
    • Plot: 15:47-32:20
    • Style: 32:20-51:39
    • Theme: 51:39-59:19
    • Characters: 59:19-1:42:52
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:42:52-end

Podcast Social Media:

  • Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslandFilmVault/)
  • Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterislandfilmvault/)
  • Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/nasajimmy?lang=en)
  • Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)
  • Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
  • Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1 (https://twitter.com/CrystalLadyJes1)
  • Follow Dr. Dourif on Twitter: @DrDorif (https://twitter.com/DrDoriff)

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #kaiju            #SkullIslandAnime     #kong  #kingkong       #netflix           #anime

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 73 – Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie’ | Ft. The Cel Cast

Published May 10, 2023

Re-listening to this episode is bittersweet, to say the least. It was broadcast before the tragic death of actor Jason David Frank. This discussion would’ve been much different if it happened afterward. (Listen to the charity livestream [link] to hear that). Regardless, I had a surprising amount of notes on episode 73, which is partly due to my history with the cheeky AI Drew and Jacob have on their show. Can she generate art now? I’m sure she needs a job. Anyway, my notes are:

  • Alliteration or not, you worry me, Nate. (Whatever it was that worried me).
  • You only say I suck at it because my mic is broke. That will be fixed soon.
  • It wouldn’t be the first restraining order I’ve gotten. (D-Let). Some past guests, who shall remain nameless, may have filed some.
  • The “Yes, quite” habit still concerns me, Nate. It still does.
  • I, too, have roommates I don’t like to talk about, Nate.
  • Ninjor is blue, not purple. Get it right, Power Tripper!
  • I also wasn’t a kid when MMPR came out. And yes, Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies. I could rave about it for long enough to travel to the Moon in a standard-issue NASA space capsule.
  • Cutting me off and telling me to call my sidekick?! Your new power has gone to your head, Marchand!
  • Nate always assumes I know nothing…like Schultz. (If you got that reference, I’m impressed).
  • I met the Stepford Teenagers once. They’re the children of the Stepford Wives, naturally, and just as creepy.
  • I met Snoggle once. It might be why he never got to Dulcea. Just saying.
  • I used to use “I’m a frog” as a pickup line. But that was when I was a frog for a while. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • But “Ivan’s Ooze” is real! (beer image) I may have to switch to it in light of recent controversies with certain alcohol companies.
  • First, you’re disgusting, Marchand. Second, they’re “Oozemen,” not “Oozlets.” That’s what Michael incorrectly called them on The Power Trip episode you did on this movie (link).

Now for the mandatory sharing of Nate’s research on the movie in question—much of which was taken from his Power Trip notes.

MMPR The Movie NotesDownload

I’m inching closer to the episodes where I was forced to take a prison time hiatus. It didn’t stop me from being intrepid or a producer. We all know Nate needs me.

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome               #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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