The Kaiju Transmissions Podcast

On a special podcast crossover, we are joined by Kaijucast host Kyle Yount to discuss the Zeiram series!  We will talk about tokusatsu auteur Keita Amemiya's breakthrough film Zeiram (1991), its sequel Zeiram 2 (1994) and the anime mini series Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994).  This series of low budget films blended the sci-fi, action, horror, and monster movie genres with Amemiya's unmistakable aesthetic.  They went on to become cult classics on both sides of the Pacific.  Listen and find out how they hold up!  But first, Kyle Y gives us his brief review of the recent film Mazinger Z: Infinity!

At long last, the sequel to Pacific Rim has arrived!  Byrd, Matt, and Tom are joined by special guest Kevin Derendorf (of Maser Patrol) to discuss Pacific Rim: Uprising.  As always, we discuss the production history and give our thoughts on the movie.  We also discuss the spin off novel and comics, Chinese pandering, and more!  So was this sequel worth the wait?  Listen and find out!

Our lead up to Pacific Rim: Uprising continues!  This time, Byrd, Matt and guest host Trev (Days of Future Podcast/If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It) discuss the two Pacific Rim knock-off "mockbusters", Atlantic Rim (2013) and the new release, Atlantic Rim: Resurrection (2018).  Produced by the notorious b-movie studio, The Asylum, these low budget rip offs were made to capitalize on the Pacific Rim movies around the times of their respective releases.  Are these movies merely worthless rip offs or do they offer something more?  Do the Asylum deserve the amount of scorn that they get from movie buffs?  Listen, as we answer these questions and more!  But first, we give a brief history of the studio and some of our favorite Asylum titles!

With a Pacific Rim sequel on the way later this month, Byrd, Matt, and guest host Tom figured it was prime time to look back at director Guillermo del Toro's original Mechs vs Monsters mash.  In addition to giving our reviews, we discuss how the film was conceived, our favorite Kaiju and Jaegers, and how this genre love letter has held up since its 2013 release.  We also touch on Guillermo del Toro's filmography, the Oscars, and kaiju fans acting foolish on social media.  This was a fun one to record, so enjoy the discussion!

Byrd and Matt are back with a look at the Cloverfield series!  We talk about all three of the released films, starting with 2008's found footage giant monster epic Cloverfield.  Then we discuss its follow-up, 2016's 10 Cloverfield Lane and 2018's surprise Netflix release, The Cloverfield Paradox.  In addition to giving our reviews, we discuss how these movies came to be, their intricate and ground breaking marketing campaigns, and the problem with how the Cloverfield name has been rebranded with the two newer films.  We even give you a run down on the Japanese Cloverfield prequel manga!  But first, we announce the winner of our first ever listener contest

For the third and last of our three part look at the beginnings of Tsuburaya's Ultraman franchise, Byrd, Matt, and guest host Eric discuss the third series, Ultraseven!  This was the last show that Eiji Tsuburaya would be directly involved with.  Ultraseven was focused more on hard science fiction and saw our hero fighting off different alien invaders each episode.  It took a much more earnest approach and focused more on story and theme than it did on being a simple monster mash.  Arguably the most critically praised show in the Ultra-series, Ultraseven has a lot to offer.  Tune in and enjoy the chat!

For the second part of our three part look at the beginning of Tsuburaya's Ultra-franchise, Byrd, Matt and guest host Eric look at the original Ultraman!  After the success of Ultra Q, Tsuburaya quickly got to work on a follow up, which introduced the world to the visitor from the Land of Light!  Ultraman quickly became Japan's first real superhero phenomenon!  Listen as we talk about the history of this classic show and discuss our favorite episodes, characters, and monsters.  How does the original Ultraman hold up after 50+ years?  Listen to us sound off! 

We're finally taking our first dive into Tsuburaya's Ultra-franchise!  On this first episode of a three-part podcast series, Byrd, Matt, and guest host Eric discuss the very first Ultra-show, Ultra Q!  Before Ultraman took Japanese airwaves by storm, Tsuburaya combined the Twilight Zone with the kaiju genre and gave us the delightfully weird Ultra Q!  This classic series is still beloved to this day and spawned many of the most iconic Ultra kaiju.  Listen as we trace back to the origins of Tsuburaya Productions and how they developed a hit TV show in the middle of Japan's "kaiju boom."  This series would go on to birth Ultraman and the subsequent shows and films, ushering in a countless amount of live action kaiju and superhero programs.  But first, we have some listener mail, including a follow up to our Blue Christmas episode.  Enjoy!

At long last, we're back with another commentary!  This time, Byrd, Matt, and guest hosts Eric and Trev discuss what some consider the red headed stepchild of the Millenium series of Godzilla films.  Maasaki Tezuka's directorial debut regularly shows up towards the bottom of people's Godzilla movie lists, but is it really all that bad?  Which of our hosts lean negative, and who considers it a gem of sorts?  Listen, as we discuss and debate the merits (or lack thereof) of the second entry in the third Godzilla series.

Byrd and Matt are joined by guest hosts Tom and Trev (of Days of Future Podcast and If It Bleeds We Can Kill It) to dig into the new Godzilla anime film that was just released worldwide on Netflix.  In this film, mankind has abandoned Earth, only to return and find that Godzilla has reigned supreme for 20,000 years.  For years, people have wondered what a Godzilla anime would be like and now we finally have the answer!  So how did the first part in Toho's Godzilla anime trilogy turn out?  Listen and find out!  We also discuss several details about the prequel novel that was released in Japan.  But first, we have the sad news of the passing of veteran actor Yosuke Natsuki.