Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman, Godzilla, and Friends in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film

I've loved Godzilla and his Brobdingnagian Japanese brethren since I was a kid, and time never dampened my enthusiasm. Now in my 20s, I was there opening day to see Hollywood's takes on the genre with 2013's Pacific Rim and 2014's Godzilla.But I have a confession to make: as time goes by my love becomes more directed to those films made in the '50s and '60s. Not just Godzilla, but the dozens of other Toho films (Mothra, H-Man, Gargantuas - and everything in between), and not just Toho, I also really enjoy those made by other studios as response to Toho's success in that era (the Daimajin films being a particular favorite) as well as the TV shows (like Ultraman). In that era the genre had an energy and spirit that has rarely been duplicated since. I feel that, aside from some exceptions, most Japanese kaiju films made in the last few decades have been analogues to reheated leftovers.Which is what makes this book the best of all the books and magazines on the subject I've come across. In covering Tsuburaya's life and career August Ragone covers the era that interests me most. Eiji was truly the heart of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films in the '50s and '60s. He was the father of special effects in Japan, and the success and iconic stature of these films owes more to him than any other one person. Along the way we learn about his influences, the various personalities he collaborated with to create the movies and shows, like director Ishiro Honda, and we even get some insight into those movies from other companies with which Eiji had no involvement (addressed because the people who did the effects were often former members of Tsuburaya's crew!).... but that is not all! You see, along with all that good stuff I've covered, this tome is basically an art book! Hardly a page goes by without some amazing images. There are many posters and promo stills, but most are behind the scenes shots of the monsters and miniatures being built or incredible behind-the-scenes images showing the monsters and miniatures in the process of filming. It's quite a trip to see so many photo's of Godzilla patiently taking direction from Tsuburaya!Unfortunately, Tsuburaya didn't live past the decade where he did his greatest works, but his legacy lives on in every thudding footstep.Buy this book. You won't regret it!

For a book which first appears to be just a biography of Japan's greatest monster-maker (and I don't say that to diminish its subject, not at all), the reader is also treated to a good glimpse of the filmmaking world Eiji Tsuburaya devoted his life to. Not like the multi-mega-bucks budgets and the high stakes publicity buzz or manufactured star power of Hollywood in the USA, you get the real sense that filmmakers in Japan pursue their craft with a genuine devotion to an art form and a noble profession. Mr. Tsuburaya was clearly no exception. Japan has and has had its media stars, but this book leaves you with the impression that dedication to the work is as or even more important that any public acclaim or fat paychecks. In fact, it is abundantly clear that Tsuburaya's love for his work came at the expense of his health and perhaps longevity in his later years.This book is not just about a guy who made rubber monster suits. It's about a man and the team of loyal and dedicated artisans he assembled that, collectively, with their "sensei's" guidance, expertise, vision and instinct created some of the most impressive cinema visual effects ever. Inventing many and perfecting most of their techniques, often with skeletal production budgets--certainly not with the avalanches of money equivalent Hollywood productions get for their SFX--you can begin to understand the sheer skill and talent these craftsmen had to fool the eye and immerse the viewer in their worlds. Not always; on occasion there might be a scene in a Tsuburaya film which appears rough around the edges or a bit stretched in quality. This can virtually always be attributed to the Tsuburaya production team being pushed or rushed for time, and/or simply not having the budget they were expecting or promised. August Ragone's book conveys these insights well, not just for kaiju films but for everything production Eiji Tsuburaya was involved in: historical pieces, documentaries, dramas, etc. This a focused history book, not just a text and photoplay layout of monster movies.The book is filled with what must be archival photographs of Tsuburaya filmmaking, both pre-production and actual on-set shooting. It's surely true that most of these images have never been seen in the USA, or even anywhere else outside of Japan before August's book gave them to us. They will let you see a view of the painstaking work that went into the detailed miniature sets these Japanese artists created from scratch. And you will get a feeling for the absolute hell it was and still can be for a stunt actor to be inside one of those cumbersome rubber monster costumes. For hours each day of filming. My take-away impression after reading about it was that they did it out of a dedication to their craft and art form, not giant paydays. All of this and more can be learned from the pages of "Eiji Tsubuyara: Master of Monsters" by August Ragone. And be assured, if you love kaiju or tokusatsu movies of any kind, or just are interested in fantasy filmmaking, your first time read-through won't be your last.

EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS is chock full of interesting, obscure, and thoroughly fascinating info on one of the greatest contributors to film & TV visual effects in cinematic history - and a major (if unintentional) contributor to world-wide pop culture. Seriously! His contributions to the industry and their far-reaching effects simply cannot be understated. What this man did with some fairly measly resources never fails to astound me. Eiji Tsuburaya and his trusted, talented team of technicians were able to do more with less back in the day than hundreds of CGI animators armed with the latest cutting edge technology and millions of dollars can do today.If you enjoy old school GODZILLA and his legion of city-smashing brethren or if you're a fan of ULTRAMAN and all of his monster-boxing kin then you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book and discover the ins & outs of the industry and learn the real story of the man who almost single-handedly established the special effects technique most commonly referred to today as Suitmation, (more often lovingly dubbed Man-In-Suit acting). The book is over 200 pages of insight and a veritable treasure trove of really cool pictures, many of which I've never seen before - and I've been collecting & reading about the subject for over 30 years. Author August Ragone is not only well-versed on the subject but brings real legitimacy, being well-entrenched within the Japanese film & TV industry. He's researched & written about the various aspects of the industry for over 25 years. This book comes highly recommended for both casual AND hardcore fans of Japanese giant monsters & heroes. It's a quick read, but the info and the pics are invaluable. 5 STARS

just what the doctor ordered. This is one to have in your collection if you love Japanese sf, lots of pictures , information. a must for any collector of the genre. keep up the great work and let us hope within hope that there will be more. a great idea would be one about the actors, ect . and maybe one about akira ifukube.

LIBRO IN INGLESE!Esistono due versioni di questo libro, una HARD COVER a prezzi inaccessibili, ed una SOFT COVER, che è questa che ho comprato. Il libro parla del genio che ha creato la famosa serie di film giapponesi degli anni 70, con i pupazzoni di GODZILLA e tutti gli altri eroi, con dentro uomini. Il libro descrive la vera propria arte dietro la realizzazione tecnica dei film: non esisteva COMPUTER GRAFICA all'epoca, e tutto veniva realizzato da abili artigiani, che creavano veri e propri mondi miniaturizzati a grandezza umana. Tsuburaya è l'uomo dietro gli effetti speciali, ed il libro ne descrive l'opera in maniera entusiasmante con bellissime foto.Consigliatissimo per gli appassionati del genere

GORGEOUS EDITION - Nice integrated high quality "dust jacket", Tsuburaya's name printed in red along the page edges, gloss, colorful interior pages. Good detail of the breadth of Tsuburaya's career (including his participation in propaganda films for the Japanese military during WWII). Learned about many projects I'd never heard of. A treasure for sci-fi, fantasy, special effects, or kaiju fans.

Get ready to be plunged into a fascinating world of artistry and illusion.August Ragone's Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters is a dream come true. It's a respectfully presented, knowledgeably written, beautifully illustrated treasure trove of information on Tsuburaya, the effects genius behind Godzilla and Ultraman.The genre and the man who helped guide its seminal masterpieces - which are traditionally derided (especially in print) in North-America- finally get the proper respect they are due.One would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable writer than Ragone. His coverage is extensive and also includes contributions by many fellow experts - among them Ed Godziszewski whose legendary memorabilia collection supplies much of the book's saliva-inducing eye candy (posters, production stills, historical artifacts).Until now, people wanting serious information on the genre and its master had to chase after fanzines or sort out the information online. Finally, we have a book worthy of any self respecting film buff's library. It even looks like one of those gorgeous japanese art books selling at over $100 a pop with the added bonus that you can read the text.I highly recommend it to anyone who's ever had even the slightest passing interest in the genre. It may just make you a full convert.If , on the other hand, you already know what the word "kaiju" means, you NEED this book.

For people who love japanese kaiju (monster) movies,this book is absoluteIy a must. Its beautifully illustrated withmany photos, and a treasure box full of interesting information about almost everything in japanese monstermovies.Bound and printed on fine paper. Highly Recommended.