Saturday, August 28, 2021

Barizogon: Hey! That's Not King Caesar!

I was originally going to add today’s entry into my Pachimon Kaiju Showcase series but, considering the long-after-the-fact-parody nature of this article's titular feature, I decided to keep it relatively separated.

Plus, there isn't much to say on the character beyond its origins and obvious appearance.


Amapro is a ridiculously small (seriously, there’s like two or three people running it) independent Japanese toy company that specializes in limited edition vinyl figures based on overlooked and obscure kaiju. In addition to those, Amapro also creates arguably weirder and sillier original characters.

Sitting between these two extremes are figures inspired by the aforementioned Pachimon, taking different elements from more famous movie and television kaiju,  haphazardly birthing supposedly new (rip-off) monsters in turn.

That said, Barizogon is basically King Caesar from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) but with condor-like wings and a third eye in place of Caesar's forehead jewel.


Based on what little I could find online (again, these guys are S-M-A-L-L), Amapro will often repurpose their toy molds to make variations by reincorporating different body parts from different figures like an interchangeable jigsaw. Barizogon seems to be their own King Caesar figure reworked with a pair of wings taken from their numerous other bird-based ones.

There's also the official Sailor Fight channel, based around the robotic heroine from a series of short films that also showcases these same oddball vinyl toys. This channel may-or-may-not have ties to Amapro, seeing how one of its two public faces hosts the aforementioned content.




Sunday, August 22, 2021

Kaiju Videos for August 22nd 2021

We're back again (well, just me and me alone...F*****g typical) to present a huge listing of interesting giant monster-related and adjacent videos from YouTube.

Direct from Brandon Tenold Cult Movie Reviews:

Last time he took on King Kong, now Godzilla faces his toughest foe yet: An adorable butterfly monster.  It's the 1964 kaiju film "Mothra Vs. Godzilla", AKA "Godzilla Vs. The Thing"!

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/MQptUjV-cbo




TitanGoji takes a quick look at 10 unmade live action manga and anime adaptations.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/kC1_HZtu93U

Direct from PBS's Monstrum:

Swooping down from the heavens on a fire ball, the Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of damnation. Most frequently depicted as a demonic, flaming cat, the kanji for ‘Kasha’ actually translates to “Fire Cart”—so why did this malevolent yōkai take on a feline appearance? Featuring the author of numerous yōkai books, Hiroko Yoda, this episode explores the religious and artistic history of the Kasha and takes a look at the significant role of cats in Japanese culture.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/LRNMa65cuEo


Direct from Toy Galaxy:

Mobile Suit Gundam ( 機動戦士ガンダム, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu, also known as First Gundam, Gundam 0079 or simply Gundam '79) was a ratings failure causing the episode count to be reduced and the story cut short. But it did introduce the world to RX-78-2. Then Bandai stepped in with their model kits and created what would eventually be known around the world as Gunpla. Mobile Suit Gundam was eventually imported to the US where it was again a ratings failure... twice!

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/cbZGWJl5-2g


Direct from Kyoto Video:

So you think anime was better in the olden days back when we didn't have cute girls doing thing and just had manly men scream and shoot guns from their giant mecha? Not so fast, it turns that even in the days of VCRs did anime centered around cute girls exist. And out of all them, Twinkle Heart might just be the most cloyingly cute!

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/ktju5ObwXbc

In Japan Hero's latest video, they take a closer look at the history of Shiro Jishi Kamen ( 白獅子仮面 ). Shiro Jishi Kamen / White Lion Mask is an often overlooked TV series from the golden era of tokusatsu heroes.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/4jL35Uzuwbs

Good Bad Flicks takes a look at the history of the 1988 remake of The Blob. Directed by Chuck Russell.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/HL1knEirJXY


For a second-but-no-less-positive opinion on the Blob remake, here's Red Letter Media's take on the film.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/hBOrprigQu8

Direct from Vintage Henshin:

2021 marks the 55th anniversary of Ultraman, and yours truly actually had a hand in the festivities! On this episode of Vintage Henshin EXTRA, we'll take a look at what went into making TokuSHOUTsu's ULTRAMAN DAY ULTRATHON!

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/Y01T6umQegY

Mercury Falcon does a retrospective on the often overlooked yokai and swords fantasy drama Dororo.

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/eZ0qDsbh5nQ

Direct from MONSTROSITIES Tokusatsu Vlog:

Take a trip to Seibeun Amusement Park in Japan and jump on GODZILLA THE RIDE: GIANT MONSTERS ULTIMATE BATTLE! Filmmaker and author Norman England reviews the kaiju attraction which was overseen by film director Takashi Yamazaki (RETURNER, ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET).

Direct Link: https://youtu.be/kVIUcv5Rij8

Monday, August 9, 2021

Kaiju Videos for August 9th 2021

Here's some intriguing kaiju and other giant monster-related videos to for me to share and for you all to enjoy. I will be keeping up this feature as-often-as-possible for the remainder of 2021.

Direct from MONSTROSITIES Tokusatsu Vlog:

The story of how a tokusatsu technique created for the original MOTHRA (1961) was passed on to the original Kamen Rider and continues to be practiced to this very day.

https://youtu.be/Y1U2ixUKlMk



In Japan Hero's latest video, they take a closer look at the history of the Robot Detective TV series ( ロボット刑事 ) including a brief look at some abandoned giant robot concepts.

https://youtu.be/jRJwT0JPOEg



Linkara's History of Power Rangers returns with a relatively (relatively) short and coherent recap of POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS, the first of the Hasbro-era of the franchise but produced with creative talents from the previous vanguard. The whole of Beast Morphers is available on Netflix and I might give it a watch as it's a far better alternative to the one-episode-every-rare-blue-moon-year scheduling Nickelodeon was and still is infamous for.

https://youtu.be/rh4AwC_3lL0



Direct from Toy Galaxy:

Ronin Warriors, known in Japan as Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers (鎧伝サムライトルーパー, Yoroiden Samurai Torūpā), is a Japanese anime series created by Hajime Yatate and animated by Sunrise somewhat riding the popularity of Saint Seiya. Ronin Warriors first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 and subsequently appeared through syndication, as well as the USA Network and later on Cartoon Network as part of Toonami. Besides being known as Ronin Warriors, Yoroiden Samurai Troopers and Legendary Armor Samurai Troopers in some parts of the world it was known as Samurai Warriors.

https://youtu.be/alcszGmKcak


After almost a decade of waiting, the 25-year-old journey finally comes to an end. Here's Yoko Higuchi's review of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time in anticipation for its international streaming release on Amazon Prime Video this Friday.

https://youtu.be/hGT6F_sWs5s



Direct from Ben G. Thomas:

Sometimes the fossil record preserves some truly extraordinary glimpses into the past life on our planet, including traces of prehistoric animal behavior. In this video we're exploring 5 examples of such remarkable fossil finds - moments forever frozen in time.

https://youtu.be/Yru5uzBZOw4



TitanGoji takes a look at the 2005 adult oriented Japanese superhero series GARO which went on to become a successful multimedia franchise.

https://youtu.be/3Ge9UP67XwE



And finally, TitanGoji looks at the legacy of SHIN GODZILLA five years after its debut:

https://youtu.be/z42i49mGizU