Overview

You've seen books dedicated to the special effects of Japanese monster movies, but this is perhaps the first tome to take an in-depth look at both the writers and the writing process behind these films. This book charts the wild developmental process of all of Japan's many monster films. Learn how Gamera was born when the Daiei Studios president looked out his airplane window and saw a cloud shaped like a turtle; how King Kong vs. Godzilla began as King Kong vs. Frankenstein; and how Ultraman originally started out with the name and design of one his future opponents! Discover a floppy-eared Godzilla; a blue-scaled, rainbow-winged King Ghidorah; and a transforming Mechagodzilla! Marvel at Gorgo's roots as a Japanese co-production called Kuru Island; puzzle at a spoof of Godzilla 1985 starring Leslie Nielsen; thrill to Mothra's secret origin in The Luminous Fairies and Mothra; and be amazed at Miki Saegusa's surprising backstory in an early treatment for Godzilla vs. Biollante . And that's not all, this book has bios on writers like Shinichi Sekizawa, Niisan Takahashi, Yukiko Takayama, and Kazuki Omori plus appendices including a comprehensive script guide, and even comparisons between the films and their manga adaptations!

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9781734154658

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Nonpareil! LeMay--distinguished trailblazer lighting our way. -Allen A. Debus, author of Dinosaurs in Fantastic Fiction: A Thematic Survey Scores of kaiju books center on directors and actors, but in Writing Japanese Monsters, John LeMay shifts the spotlight to writers. LeMay not only provides informative writer profiles, but also guides us through the mazes screenwriters must negotiate-for every Development Hell, there are few corresponding Development Heavens. LeMay documents the grit and flexibility of Japanese genre writers who, despite the pressures and disappointments, persevere to get their visions filmed. Fascinating, insightful, and engaging, Writing Japanese Monsters is a must-buy. -Mike Bogue, Scary Monsters Magazine Just when you think you know it all about Japanese monster movies and television shows, John LeMay will prove you wrong with Writing Japanese Monsters! - Neil Riebe, author of the kaiju novel I Shall Not Mate

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