Defending the Earth with Ultraman,
Godzilla in the Golden Ag
By August Ragone
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Page 1
29.95
03/01/2014
9781452135397
PC:Pop Culture
8 1/2 x 10 1/2 V
Paperback
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5000
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Albee Dalbotten
April Whitney
Elizabeth Steiner
Michael Morris
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3/1/2014
17-OCT-13
Eiji Tsuburaya was a behind-the-scenes hero to anyone who has been thrilled by giant monsters duking it out over Tokyo—the visual effects mastermind behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and numerous Japanese science fiction and fantasy movies and television shows seen around the world.
Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters details the dynamic life and movie career of this legendary film figure, from his early fascination with film, flight, and models to his work in the Golden Age of Japanese cinema and the ingenious technical innovations that brought miniature worlds and fantastic characters to life.
Collecting hundreds of film stills, posters, and character art—and dozens of delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya instructing monsters to crush one building after another—this highly visual biography also features rare profiles of the master’s film collaborators, detailed information about his key films and shows, and special features on his legacy and the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.
SALES HANDLE: This definitive biography is the only book in English on Eiji
Tsuburaya, the visionary Japanese monster movie special effects genius
September 21, 2013 2:01 AM

Consumer
Vision
Author / Artist
Page 2 behind Godzilla—now available in paperback just in time for fan anticipation leading up to big movie event in May 2014.
1. HOW WILL THIS TITLE BE DISTINCTIVE:
- This is still the only book in english on this legendary figure in Godzilla and
Japanese pop culture circles. Packed with photos and fan information. It's an important book and resource, and a visual treat.
2. SPEAK TO THE EXISTING TREND/DEFINE CONSUMER
- New Godzilla movie---which has been getting excellent fan buzz----releasing on May 16, 2014
- HC copies are hot commodities on the resale market ($100 to $300 each).
Great Amazon reviews (see notable reviews)
- Japanese studios—Toho in particular---are difficult to get licenses from, and the book’s very existence is a small welcome miracle.
- The original was published without tying in to any specific event or Godzilla
'moment.' We have a readymade global moment coming next summer.
People are also more interested in Japanese pop culture, and kaiju (ala Pacific
Rim).
3. QUANTIFY VALUE
- Definitive, filled with rare photographs, and set at a price that is easy for consumers
4. NOTABLE AUTHORS OR CONTRIBUTORS
- August Ragone will promote
5. RELEVANT SALES COMPARISONS OR SALES INFO
Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters / F07 / $40 HC / 9780811860789 / 8,617 gross / 7,012 net / 18.6% returns / OSI
- Godzilla fans
- Japanese pop culture fans
- Monster movie fans
This paperback edition of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters is for fans anticipating the upcoming Godzilla film, as well as Japanese kaiju eiga
(monster movie) fans, who want a book that explores the career and artistry of Eiji Tsuburaya, special effects guru behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and other monsters and heroes.
August Ragone has commented on Japanese film and popular culture on television, radio, in print, online, and at film festivals for more than twentyfive years. He has contributed liner notes for numerous DVD releases and written for the Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Video Watchdog, Filmfax,
Asian Cult Cinema, and Famous Monsters of Filmland. He lives in San
Francisco.
September 21, 2013 2:01 AM

Competition 1. Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters / William M.
Tsutsui / Palgrave Macmillan / Sept 04 / PB, 256 pp / $18.00 /
9781403964748 / YTD: 176, RTD: 6,297 / a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar****not licensed, no photos****
2. Godzilla: Past, Present, Future / Dark Horse / March 98 / PB, 272 pp /
$17.95 / 9781569712788 / YTD: 0, RTD: 2,573 / Godzilla comic book
3. Godzilla Volume 1 / Duane Swierczynski and Simon Gane / IDW Publishing
/ Nov 12 / PB, 104 pp / $17.99 / 9781613774137 / YTD: 277, RTD: 412 /
Godzilla comic book
4. The Official Godzilla Compendium: A 40-Year Retrospective / J.D. Lees and
Marc Cerasini / Random House / March 98 / PB, 144 pp / $16.00 /
9780679888222 / YTD: 1, RTD: 335 / an intimate peek behind the cameras and a nostalgic look at all of Godzilla movies
Comparable Titles 1. Trash / Jacques Boyreau / S02 / $19.95 / 9780811834179 / 23,613 gross /
20,492 net / 13.2% returns
2. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters / August Ragone / F07 / $40 /
9780811860789 / 8,617 gross / 7,012 net / 18.6% returns
Notabl e
Review s
Reviews for the hardcover edition:
'It's incredible to think that the Japanese monster boom — Godzilla, Mothra, et al. — all sprang from the mind of one filmmaker: Eiji Tsuburaya. In this illustrated bio, we're shown scenes like the master on a set, in hip waders, directing giant half-immersed crayfish and lizards. My favorite spread shows his most enduring brainchild, Ultraman, preparing to fire his
Spacium Beam at an adversary. Iam slain.' Rated 9/10 stars
- Josh McHugh, Wired http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/multimedia/2007/11/pl_reviews1512?slide=6
&slideView=2
'Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters is a wonderful realization of content and design, suitable for fans not only of tokusatsu, but of filmmaking in general. It's the perfect coffee table book for your inner otaku.'
- Powell's Books http://www.powells.com/review/2007_11_17.html
'[T]his is an intense and thoroughly researched book that goes behind the scenes of Godzilla,
Ultraman, and tons of other sci-fi classics....Monsters is not only an easy read, it offers insight into why the legacy of Godzilla, Ultraman, and others like them have endured.'
- Aaron Farmer, SF Weekly http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-12-19/culture/the-gift-of-reading/full
'By any measure, this is the definitive documentation of the production of Japanese science
Page 3 September 21, 2013 2:01 AM

fiction movies published in North America.'
- scifijapan.com
Amazon customer reviews:
'The first hour I held it I didn't read, I just gasped in awe at all the great, great pics. Highly recommended, period.'
'This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in Eiji Tsuburaya and his work. It is full of biographical information and anecdotes about the man that is best known for bringing
Ultraman and Godzilla to life. -Highly- recommended.'
'This book is a meticulous, thoughtful, well-written, and beautifully laid-out tribute to a true master of special effects. It is a fascinating look, not only into Tsuburaya's life and career, but also the way the film industry works in Japan. An interesting read for non-fans; a must-have for fans of the genre.'
'If you are a fan of Godzilla and/or Eiji Tsuburaya this is the book to get!'
Table of Contents Introduction
Chapter 1: Head in the Clouds
Chapter 2: Innovations, War, and Occupation
Chapter 3: The Roar Heard Around the World
Essay: 'Godzilla Invades America: The Americanization of 'Godzilla' and
'Godzilla Raids Again'' by August Ragone
Chapter 4: Master of Monsters
Essay: 'Collaborating with the Masters' by Ed Godziszewski
Chapter 5: The House That Eiji Built
Essay: 'Eiji's Collaborators: Remembering Ishiro Honda; Celebrating with
Teroyoshi Nakano; Riding with Jun Fukuda; Roaring with Akira Ifukube' by
Guy Mariner Tucker
Essay: 'Gamera, Guilala, and Gappa...Oh My! The Monster Boom of the
1960s' by John Paul Cassidy
Chapter 6: Hero from the Stars
Essay: 'The Ultra Zone: From the Inner Mind of the Outer Limits' by August
Ragone
Chapter 7: The Monsters' Last Hurrah
Essay: 'This is How Godzilla Was Born' by Shogo Tomiyama
Chapter 8: The Ultra Aftermath
Essay: 'Working at the Family Store' by Akira Tsuburaya
Chapter 9: Farewell to the Master
Essay: 'Life with the Tsuburayas' by Brad Warner
Chapter 10: The Legacy
Essay: 'Eiji's Creations: 50 Years On' by Norman England
Essay: 'Collecting Eiji Tsuburaya' by Mark Nagata
Selected Filmography: Key Japanese Films and International Releases
Acknowledgments & Dedications
Index
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