Toho`s SHIN GODZILLA International Sales Materials

: 26 July 2016

Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: shin-godzilla.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

With the Japanese theatrical release of SHIN GODZILLA (??????, Shin Gojira, aka GODZILLA RESURGENCE) only a few days away, we thought we would share the English sales materials Toho has prepared for the international marketing of their latest Godzilla movie. The following text is courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd...

? Distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. (Major Release, 446 screens) ? Produced by Toho Pictures Inc. Fueled by Godzilla`s recent global success freshly ingrained in their minds, Japanese creators now brings this iconic monster back to its birthplace and its origins to yield yet another fear of Godzilla. Godzilla, originally conceived in 1954 as a destructive force that is unfathomable by man, resurrects to modern-day Tokyo to haunt civilization. A country that is still tormented by the aftermath of a shattering natural disaster is thrown violently into the catastrophic horrors of Godzilla. Taunted and tested by death and despair, Japan finds in itself power to overcome such challenges. Directors Anno and Higuchi envision Godzilla to resemble the original 1954 version and emphasize a definite departure from the monster vs monster storytelling popularized in previous Toho films. CAST Hiroki Hasegawa (WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL?) Yutaka Takenouchi (OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI) Satomi Ishihara (MONSTERZ) FILMMAKERS PROFILE Hideaki Anno, Director and Screenwriter

Born in 1960, Anno first made a name in anime production, winning acclaim for the God Warrior sequence he animated in NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND directed by Hayao Miyazaki. He would soon become a sought-after animator lending his talent to many highly appraised animations. He moved on to direct anime series such as GUNBUSTER, NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER and NEON GENESIS EVANGELION series to which he now most known. He also curated a touring exhibition dubbed "Tokusatsu -- Special Effects Museum" which celebrated old-school movie and TV special effects. This exhibition helped the practical, miniature-based special effects photography of Japanese filmmaking receive recognition as an important part of Japan`s culture. The Tokyo International Film Festival 2014 had a retrospective to honor Anno as one of today`s most prominent filmmakers, both domestically and internationally. Shinji Higuchi, Co-director and Special Effects Supervisor Born in 1965, Higuchi has worked both in anime and in movie special effects. After being involved in a few episodes of EVANGELION TV series and serving as Special Effects Supervisor on the Gamera Trilogy (1995 - 1999), Higuchi debuted as a feature film director with LORELEI: THE WITCH OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN in 2005. He has fast become one of Japan`s premiere filmmakers, with SINKING OF JAPAN, THE FLOATING CASTLE, GOD WARRIOR APPEARS IN TOKYO and his latest ATTACK ON TITAN to his credit. Higuchi professes that to work on Godzilla has been a lifelong dream and many continue to await the monster that will be created out of his passion combined with his skills in special effects and anime-esque aesthetics. PRODUCTION SCHEDULE ? Pre-production: December 2014 ? Principal photography: October to December 2015 ? Post-production: December 2015 - June 2016 ? Status: Completed (120 minutes, Cinemascope, 3.1ch) ? Japanese release: July 29, 2016

About Toho Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company, Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of twenty-nine Godzilla motion pictures, based upon a character the company unleashed on the world back in 1954, and masterpiece films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Toho has been the number one distributor of motion pictures in Japan for twelve consecutive years since 2003. The company is also, throughout Japan, the leading producer of theatrical works and one of the largest owners of office buildings and theaters.

For more information on SHIN GODZILLA/GODZILLA RESURGENCE, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: