Kaiju Transmissions Podcast

To kick off our weekly King Kong spectacular to lead up to the release of Kong: Skull Island, we set our sights on the Japanese King Kong films. Join us as we discuss Toho's King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and King Kong Escapes (1967) at length. We also touch on the two lost Japanese Kong films, the American/Japanese cartoon The King Kong Show, Kong's appearance on Toho's Go! Greenman, unmade Japanese Kong films, and even some of the many King Kong manga! The King of the Apes has a rich history with Japan and we wanna tell you all about it! But first, we have the latest news regarding Godzilla 2 and Legendary Pictures!

For the second part of our interview, director/writer/critic/translator/photographer Norman England tells us all about the art of subtitling, working with Takashi Miike on the film Yakuza Apocalypse, his time working with Sushi Typhoon, being an American film critic in Japan, Japan's treatment of foreigners, the Japanese film industry, why he isn't currently directing another film, and the amount of effort that goes into making a movie. We also touch on Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and the time Norman found a rare Son of Godzilla poster tacked to a wall in the middle of nowhere!

Kaiju Transmissions welcomes its first Guest of Honor by welcoming (all the way from Japan!) writer/director/critic/translator/photographer Norman England to the show! As many fans know, Norman wasn't only the director of the Bringing Godzilla Down To Size documentary, but he's also spent MANY hours on Japanese film sets, including Gamera 3 and many of the Godzilla films (in addition to countless other Japanese genre films). In this first part of a two part interview, Norman shares many stories from his 100+ days working with the Toho crews, as well as his experience making what is arguably the definitive Godzilla documentary. In addition to that Norman also tells us about several books he's working on, nationalism, his thoughts on Shin Godzilla, and misconceptions that fans have about Japan. But first, we discuss Norman's inexplicable love of Howard the Duck and what it was like seeing movies in the torn down grindhouse theaters of 42nd Street in New York City back in the 80s.

Byrd and Matt are joined by musician and film music connoisseur Chris Marti of Cosmic Monster to discuss the music of kaiju films! We go discuss the various composers of kaiju films, our favorite composers and scores, and just how important music is in kaiju films. We follow that up with a monster music playlist that Chris put together for us, which includes well known tracks and oddball obscurities! Intro music: -Cosmic Monster- "Up From The Depths" -Marasu Sato- "The Appearance of MechaGodzilla" Kaiju Music Playlist: -Akira Ifukube- "Godzilla Comes Ashore" -Kunio Miyauchi- "Ultra Q Theme" -Masaru Sato- "Yacht, Hurricane and Monster" -Riichiro Manabe- "Monster Match III" -Erven Jereb- "Godzilla's Revenge Title Credits" -Magnetic System- "Cozzilla Main Theme" -Isao Tomita- "Great Prophecies of Nostradamus" -G.H.Q.- "Give Back The Sun" (cover)

In the holiday spirit, Byrd, Matt and Eric give the gift of an intro to the world of kaiju collecting! They discuss what their first Godzilla collectibles were, and how their collecting habits have evolved with age. Matt and Eric talk their love of kaiju toys and Byrd discusses why he loves Japanese kaiju books that he can't read. Matt and Eric also give advice for people new to collecting kaiju toys. They also discuss their favorite items in their collections, and the ones that mean the most to them. This episode also features the debut of "Up From The Depths," the official Kaiju Transmissions theme song by Cosmic Monster!

To celebrate the release of a new Star Wars film this coming weekend, Byrd and Matt got together at 2:00 AM to take a delirious, sleep deprived look at two completely bonkers Japanese Star Wars knock-offs from the 1970s. Toho's War in Space (1977) and Toei's Message From Space (1978) were both put into production to capitalize on the success of the original Star Wars, which was going to be released in Japan in the summer of 1978. Listen as the two exhausted hosts discuss horned wookiees, flying battleships, rapist lizard men, and drunk Vic Morrow to ultimately decide- which studio made the better Star Wars rip off?

On our very first audio commentary, Byrd, Matt and Tom tackle Ishiro Honda's Godzilla's Revenge (aka All Monsters Attack)! This oddball kids movie is far and away one of the most maligned entries in the Godzilla series. We'll discuss the history and sociopolitical themes of the film, as well as the pros and cons. Does this movie deserve its reputation as one of the worst kaiju movies ever or should it get more credit? Listen and find out! We might just surprise you!

On this special post-Election Day episode, Byrd and Matt are joined by Japanese culture guru and musician Chris Marti (of the one man band Cosmic Monster) to discuss the loaded messages behind Shin Godzilla. Arguably the most politically charged Godzilla film to date, what exactly is the film trying to say? And how much of it has been overlooked or misinterpreted by fans outside of Japan? What made Prime Minister Shinzo Abe so attracted to the film? Join us as we answer those questions and discuss Fukushima, nationalism, international affairs, censorship, post-WW2 Japan, Shinzo Abe, and how the message in this film compares to previous Toho classics!

Our October horror series concludes with our Halloween episode! Byrd and Matt are joined by Trev (of If It Bleeds We Can Kill it and Days of Future Podcast) to talk about Nobuhiko Obayashi's HOUSE, one of the oddeste genre films in Toho's Showa filmography. Based on a story by his ten year old daughter, Obayashi's film is truly one of the most unique cinematic experiences one could hope to see. HOUSE remains a cult classic to this day due to its carefree childlike spirit and its use of every practical effect in the book. Join us as we discuss how this oddity came to be and why it continues to be a cult favorite the world over. We also touch on Obayashi's aborted "A SPACE GODZILLA" project. But first, we discuss the success of Shin Godzilla in the US, the Power Rangers trailer, and the passing of director Kensho Yamashita.

NEW EPISODE: On this installment of our October horror series, we are once again joined by Tom of the Second Run Podcast to look at Ishiro Honda's cult classic Matango (aka Attack of the Mushroom People) from 1963. This is stylish horror film is arguably the most layered (and bleak) monster movie to come out of Toho in the Showa era. Join us as we discuss the movie's themes of isolation, societal breakdown, sexuality, and grotesque body horror. We also discuss Honda's relationship with screenwriter Takeshi Kimura, and how Kimura's works reflected his personal struggles. We'll even touch on the original short story by William Hope Hodgson, which the film was based on. Join us, but please don't eat the mushrooms!

For the next spooky October episode, Byrd and Matt are joined by Tom of the Second Run Podcast to take a look at Toho's Dracula Trilogy (aka The Bloodthirsty Trilogy) of the 70s. Many people are aware of Toho's interpretations of King Kong and Frankenstein, but their stylish Dracula films got lost in the shuffle here in the States with only the second and third films getting brief television runs and VHS releases in the 1980s and early 1990s. So how does Toho's loose take on the Bram Stoker mythology add up? Listen and find out!

On this episode, we take a super thorough look at Shin Godzilla, the latest entry in the franchise. After 12 years, Toho have come back to release a what is arguably the most divisive and unique entry in the long running series. There is SO much to talk about wiht this movie that we had to get some special guests to help us! Join Byrd and Matt with special guests Eric, Tom (from the Second Run Podcast), and Trev (from If It Bleeds We Can Kill It and Days of Future Podcast) as they unpack every aspect of the movie. We dissect everything from the political themes, the changes to the Godzilla character, the effects, and the state of the franchise to the reaction the movie has been getting on both sides of the pond. This is a long and contentious episode, so strap yourselves in!

Happy October! To kick off a month of horror-centric episodes, we will be looking at Toho's take on the Frankenstein Monster by examining 1965's Frankenstein Conquers The World, and its sequel The War of the Gargantuas. We are joined by special guest Jelli of the Second Run Podcast to talk about both movies in depth and even touch upon the Gargantuas' incredibly odd post-film appearances. With the classic monsters on everybody's minds this month, it is only proper to give some attention to Toho's interpretation of the most famous monster of all time! Intro- Akira Ifukube- "Horror Theme from Frankenstein vs Baragon" Outro- Devo- "The Words Get Stuck In My Throat"

Just in time to get us caught up to Shin Godzilla's US theatrical release, we are joined on this episode by special guest Eric to wrap up our Godzilla Recap. We'll be diving into 2014's big budget Hollywood Godzilla reboot from Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. We discuss the movie's long origin, the pros and cons, MUTOs, and we debate whether or not Ford Brody is the worst human character in Godzilla history.

The newest installment focuses on the third Japanese series of Godzilla films. After the Tristar movie, Toho took matters into their own hands and started a new series of films, which lasted from 1999-2004. How do these six films hold up over a decade later? Listen and find out!

Our Godzilla series recap continues with the most despised entry in the series. Roland Emmerich's GODZILLA (1998)! Far and away the most divisive take on Godzilla and the most maligned entry in the series by G-Fans. But does the movie deserve this reputation? Is it as bad as everyone says? And does any of it hold up all these years later? Would it REALLY be a better movie without the "Godzilla" title? Listen and find out as Matt and Byrd dissect one of the most hated giant monster films ever made. We also touch on the animated television series sequel to the movie, as well as the unmade pitch for Godzilla 2. But first, Matt has some thoughts on the new Voltron series, and we discuss the several starts and stops that Tristar's Godzilla project had to endure before the Emmerich film was greenlit.

Byrd and Matt go all the way back to the giant ape that started it all. 1933's classic KING KONG! We talk about the origins of the film, as well as how it and its (also 1933) sequel SON OF KONG hold up after over 80 years. We also discuss how King Kong changed the cinema landscape and the massive impact it had on Japanese special effects artists and film makers. Do Byrd and Matt find the movie as good as it is influencial? Listen and find out!

Byrd and Matt talk their way through all 7 Heisei Godzilla films. Now that these movies are 20-some years old, how do they hold up? Listen and find out as we dissect each Godzilla movie from Godzilla (1984) through Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995). Before we talk movies, we discuss news and events with the announcement of the Godzilla anime film and Byrd reports back from the Mothra Rifftrax event and a local Godzilla art gallery in Detroit. Plus, an intro with an unexpected tangent about Jason X, the Leprechaun films and the weird phenomena of movie novelizations!

On this episode, Byrd, Matt and special guest and Gamera super-fan Eric discuss the Showa Gamera series in all of its weird wackiness. With the benefit of Eric's gift to take the original Gamera films seriously, they discuss the merits (or lacktherof depending on who you ask) of all 8 original films. Spinning turtles! Hot alien girls! UFOs! Dictator sharks from space! Maggot infested elephant trunks! The Gamera series had it all. As the plots of these films get crazier and crazier, the hosts get more and more sleep deprived. By the end we're all delirious, which is only fitting for a podcast about the craziest run of kaiju films ever.

On this episode, Byrd and Matt are joined by special guest Eric to discuss their summer convention experiences! Byrd reports back from G-Fest 2016. Matt and Eric discuss their experience at FandomFest where they met and dined with three Godzilla suit actors and Ultraman himself! But first, a news roundup with Shin Godzilla's opening weekend box office, the trailer for Kong: Skull Island, the trailer for The Great Wall and its "whitewashing" controversy, and some news on Legendary Pictures' merger with China's Wanda Entertainment.