Lesson to Legendary Pictures: "HE HAS TO BE A GUY IN A SUIT!"

Chicago cartoonist turned Brooklynite Art Babe Jessica Abel's latest post is a look back to the dimly remembered '90s. Read and learn.

TOY KARMA 4 Rotofugi Gallery, Chicago — October 5-27, 2013

Kuzutetsu Hakai Daikaijyu Garakutagigas, photograph by tatsrus 

Emi Ito, RIP

Ito Emi, one of the twin sisters known as The Peanuts (ザ・ピーナッツ), has passed away. She was 71 years old. The Peanuts debuted in 1959 with “Cute Flower” (Kawaii Hana), launching a string of pop hits built on the sisters’ vocal harmonies that carried them through their retirement in 1975. Many of their songs contain an international flavor, such as “Coffee Rhumba” (1962), their cover version of “Moliendo Café.”

The Peanuts were also an omnipresent on Japanese television in the 1960s. They made numerous appearance in the U.S. and Europe, as well. Readers might recall their rather odd recurring role as miniature fairies in the Mothra monster movies.

The Peanuts’ music holds up remarkably well today: terrific harmonies, attractive arrangements, and excellent choice of material. I thought about including a chapter on them in my book, Sayonara Amerika, Sayonara Nippon: A Geopolitical Prehistory of J-Pop, but in the end ran out of time. Maybe someday I’ll get around to writing about them: they are essential figures in the history of Japanese popular music.

RIP, Ito Emi.

http://bourdaghs.com/blog/2012/06/27/rip-ito-emi/

Ray Bradbury 1920-2012

Original 1951 illustration by James R. Bingham for Ray Bradbury’s short story, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. The story was the basis for the 1953 film with special effects by Bradbury’s friend Ray Harryhausen. After its initial publication in The Saturday Evening Post in 1951, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms was renamed The Fog Horn for subsequent anthologization in Bradbury’s The Golden Apples of the Sun.

More Goji Guignol

Veteran Godzilla suit-actor Haruo Nakajima poses with a Mosugoji Guignol during shooting of Godzilla vs The Thing (1964).

Shodai Gojira Guignol!

Yamada Masami Blog has an amazing set of photos of the 1954 Shodai Gojira Guignol (essentially "puppet" in the sense of a marionette). Certainly this must be a recreation rather than a perfectly surviving prop from 58 years ago! Go to the link for more amazing detailed photos.

A Rake's Progress

Running late but running to the finish. More photos soon.

Garakutagigas Update

Thanks to Kirkland at Toybot Studios for the review found here.

Garakutagigas 2nd: Red Mercury — Order Info

SALES INFORMATION Soft vinyl Monster Garakutagigas 2nd 

A very limited number of Garakutagigas toys in RED vinyl have arrived and will be ready to ship in early October. The standard edition is called Red Mercury and will be painted in metallic green, silver, gold and purple. There will be only 15 pieces of the standard edition available, priced at $125 each,  one per customer please. In addition, 5 pieces will be painted as one-offs and available by lottery; the price is $250 each. 

Size: 8.5 inches vinyl color: Red

Limited production. $125.00 + postage

For the standard edition, please email with "Garakutagigas 2nd" in the subject header.  $125.00 + postage

For a chance at one of the 1-offs, please email with "Garakutagigas Lottery" in the subject header. $250.00 + postage. Lottery winners will be drawn Friday, Sept. 23 and notified by email.

Please supply the following in your email:

Name

Address

Country

Telephone number

PayPal address

I will reply with an invoice of total including postage to your location.

Payment  by PayPal please.

Orders open Sept. 19, midnight • Payment deadline Sept. 30 • Shipments begin October 15

Toy Karma 3 Garakutagigas Customs

Once all the Fire and Storm models from the first release were completed I found I had a few strays left over. And since I needed some pieces to put into Toy Karma 3 I got a chance to experiment with some variant color treatments. The Red model below is an advance sample; watch this blog for the announcement of Garakutagigas 2nd to be released in red vinyl. The other pieces are painted head to toe over the the first release gray vinyl. Check the Rotofugi blog to see Atelier G-1 sculptor Shigeki Okuda's two Garakutagigas customs.

Toy Karma 3 at Rotofugi

Mark Nagata and Yo Miyamoto, together once more with the unstoppable Whitney and Kirby Kerr, the Dynamic Duo that is Rotofugi, have another hit show that will shine as a beacon to vinyl madness. A very limited selection of highlights follow; you can view the entire show here. There were so many amazing pieces ---- my poor camera couldn't do justice to more than a few.

Pico Pico, Mecha School Girl, Custom Painted Resin Figure

Monster Worship Red Rub Greasebat flanked by Earth Altar Beasts

Karz Works / Kazumitsu Akamatsu, Baalzebub, Custom Painted Vinyl Figure

Garakutagigas takes flight!

All the boxes have been shipped and are on their way to new homes. Garakutagigas is in flight right now from Chicago to New York, Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. There were a number of glitches and delays getting this baby out the door. Thanks to everyone for your patience! I 'm confident  that all the challenges that slowed down this first release have been resolved and the future for my little junk monster looks bright...even metallic. Look for the announcement of the release of Garakutagigas 2nd--a new vinyl color and paint colorway---in the next few weeks.

Alex Wald X Atelier G-1: Hyper Hobby interview

Garakutagigas visits San Diego Comic Con, Wonder Festival

Geof Darrow holds the two color demos of Astromonster no.1: Garakutagigas.

Itokin Park, Alex Wald meet at SDCC 2011. Photo courtesy Kirkland Jue

Garakutagigas, Atelier G-1 Wonder Festival 2011 release painted by Shigeki Okuda

Garakutagigas in process

I returned from San Diego Comic Con late Sunday night, totally exhausted. Monday, like clockwork, the shipment of unpainted gray Garakutagigas vinyls landed at Astromonster HQ in Chicago. Painting will proceed this week and continue as orders are filled. There are only 9 vinyls not yet spoken for in this first release---if you've been on the fence about ordering, don't wait! To all of you who ordered Storm or Fire, my sincere thanks! I'm very encouraged by your enthusiastic responses. I will post photos of the paints in progress after the weekend.

Sunday in Japan was Wonder Festival and Atelier G-1 sold  a short run of unpainted red Garakutagigas. I've requested an order of red vinyls too and waiting to learn from Mr. Okuda  how soon he can fulfill the next order.

Garakutagigas Order Info

July 20, 2011

Soft Vinyl Monster Garakutagigas SALES INFORMATION


Size: 8 inches Vinyl color: Gray

Limited production.  $125.00 + postage

Please email your order to: astromonster@sbcglobal.net

Please give the following info:


(1)  Name
(2)  Address
(3)  Country
(4)  Telephone number
(5)  Indicate color choice: STORM or FIRE. (Please see photos below)
(6)  Your PayPal address

I will reply with an email invoice of total and postage to your location.

Payment will be via PayPal.


Orders open July 20  •  Payment  deadline  August 1  •  Shipments begin August 12

Garakutagigas: Fire

Garakutagigas colorway no. 2 is gray vinyl with red, black, metallic green, silver and gold.

Garakutagigas Orders Open Tonight

Colorway no. 2 Fire was painted last night. Photos are still in preparation. I will post photos of both colorways and order info tonight at midnight, July 20.

Garakutagigas: Storm

Garakutagigas colorway no. 1 is"monster green" base with gold, silver, red and black.

Garakutagigas...Countdown to Birth

The test shots are here. Behold, Garakutagigas—naked came he into our world. Paint planning is in the works. Preorder announcement soon! Astromonster Garakutagigas brings the heat this summer.