Monster Study Group

Mothra changed the game in 1961, nudging Toho’s monster movies in the direction of fantasy and fun. With 16 films under her wings, second only to Godzilla himself, her place in monster movie history is firmly established. This episode provides an overview of the kaiju queen, looking back at the original 1961 epic, going behind the scenes of its making and summarizing the original story treatment. It also features an abbreviated version of an interview with Kyoko Kagawa, who starred in “Mothra” and a number of other significant Japanese films by directors such as Kurosawa and Ozu. Special thanks to J.D. Lees for giving MSG access to the files of G-FAN. Please check out g-fan.com for more information, back issues, subscriptions, fan fiction, and recaps of G-FEST and G-TOURs past. You can find and follow Monster Study Group on Instagram and Twitter, and your written correspondence can be sent to [email protected]

In Episode 8, I didn’t get a chance to talk about Rodan’s ‘career,’ especially his star turn in 2019’s “Godzilla King of the Monsters.” So here’s a quick extra credit session to cover those bases. Enjoy! And please check out g-fan.com for more kaiju coverage.

Episode 8 of Monster Study Group is devoted to Rodan! (In the original Japanese title, the creature named is Radon, as in PteRAnaDON. Get it?) While the flying monster(s) is often assigned second-fiddle status, its 1956 film is extremely important. Not only was it the first ‘kaiju eiga’ to be filmed in color, but it was also the first to be shown in North America with an all-Japanese cast (dubbed, of course) with no patched-in Caucasian actors, arriving in U.S. and Canadian theaters just one year after “Godzilla, King of the Monsters.” For Rodan study purposes, we will examine the work of Peter Brothers from G-FAN magazine # 56. Please check out MSG on Instagram and Twitter, and send your messages to [email protected]. Listen for my Beta Capsule Reviews on @monsterkidradio and my conversations with Seth Breedlove on Monsteropolis, the official podcast of Small Town Monsters. Special Thanks to J.D. Lees of @GFEST_GFAN for permission to use articles from past issues. Visit g-fan.com for subscriptions, back issues, and information about G-FEST, G-TOURs to Japan, fan fiction, and more!

It’s hard to overstate the influence of 1933’s “King Kong.” But this episode isn’t about that film. It’s about the two movies produced by Toho Studios that imported and featured the great ape: “King Kong vs. Godzilla” and “King Kong Escapes.” These are some of the most freewheeling giant monster movies you’ll ever lay eyes on; that may begin to explain their continuing influence. Episode 7 features writing by Mike Bogue and J.D. Lees. Make sure to check out Bogue’s book “Apocalypse Then” published by McFarland as well as G-FAN magazine, published by Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd. g-fan.com Monster Study group maintains social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Also, you can hear me on the podcasts Monsteropolis and Monster Kid Radio. Please send your letters, reports, and pop quizzes to [email protected]

Episode Six is all about Showa Era Gamera! All the Gamera films are reviewed, from 1965 to 1980. The relationship between Gamera and Mystery Science Theater 3000 is discussed. Then, thanks to G-FAN magazine, we hear from Showa Gamera director Noriaki Yuasa. Please visit g-fan.com and look for Monster Study Group on Twitter and Instagram. Write me at [email protected] You can hear Mark on Monsteropolis, the official podcast of Small Town Monsters, and Monster Kid Radio; visit monsterkidradio.net for more.

In this Extra Credit Episode, we follow up on Ep. 5 with a summary presentation of writer Shigeru Kayama’s original Godzilla story, which was adapted as a screenplay by Takeo Murata and Ishiro Honda. The text first appeared in G-FAN #12. Please visit g-fan.com for more information about the Godzilla Society of North America! And, look for Monster Study Group on Twitter and Instagram.

Episode Five takes an in-depth look at the elements that make the original 1954 “Godzilla” so unique, specific, and influential. At the top of the show, I talk about things going on in my connection with Small Town Monsters, including the publication of a book, “Making Monsters.” I also tease a collaboration in the works with the awesome podcast “Monster Kid Radio.” Then, it’s onto Godzilla, a film whose cultural impact is hard to calculate, yet undeniably felt to this present day. Turning to the G-FAN Reading Room, we hear the article “The Making of Godzilla” from Issue # 12, written by Ed Godziszewski. Special thanks to J.D. Lees at G-FAN for permission to use articles for Monster Study Group purposes. Please visit g-fan.com for info regarding subscriptions, G-FEST admissions, and much more. Find MSG on social media! Twitter: @MonsterStudy Instagram: monster_study_group email: [email protected]

This Special Edition of Monster Study Group is a presentation of the article “Abominable Snowman: Honda’s Hidden Gem” by Peter H. Brothers. It was published in G-FAN magazine issue # 69. To learn more about G-FAN please visit g-fan.com. Feel free to send your correspondence to [email protected] and look for us on Twitter & Instagram.

This is Monster Study Group’s first ‘Extra Credit’ episode. It is the transcript of an interview with Yoshimitsu Banno, director of “Godzilla vs. Hedorah/the Smog Monster,” published in G-FAN # 73 as “The Man Who Made Godzilla Fly.” For more exclusive interviews and behind-the scenes information, please visit g-fan.com today! Check out Monster Study Group on Twitter: @MonsterStudy Instagram: monster_study_group email: [email protected] Thanks for listening! #StudyUp #KeepStudyingMonsters

Japanese monster movies and cryptozoology are inextricably linked. Allow me to explain...This episode takes a look at Loren Coleman’s book “Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes in America.” Then we look back at a film from 1958 called “Half Human” and it’s Japanese antecedent “Beastman Snowman” (1955). What’s the connection? Listen in and find out—and find us on Twitter & Instagram and write us at [email protected] & please visit g-fan.com for all things Godzilla!