{"id":3423,"date":"2009-07-15T21:41:30","date_gmt":"2009-07-15T10:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/?p=3423"},"modified":"2009-07-15T21:41:30","modified_gmt":"2009-07-15T10:41:30","slug":"daimajin-comes-to-life-once-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/2009\/07\/15\/daimajin-comes-to-life-once-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Daimajin Comes to Life Once More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 1966, Toho rivals Daiei Studios produced three excellent <em>daikaiju<\/em> films in a subgenre of their own invention, combining giant monsters with <em>jidaigeki <\/em>or period drama<em> &#8212;<\/em> a fantasy extravaganza that held a unique appeal. The films were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dai Majin<\/strong> [trans. Great Majin] (1966; dir. Kimiyoshi Yasuda) <em>[aka Majin, Monster Of Terror; Majin, the Hideous Idol (US, 1968), Daimajin]<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Dai Majin ikaru<\/strong> [trans. The Giant Majin Grows Angry] (1966; dir. Kenji Misumi) <em>[aka The Return of the Giant Majin (US, 1968)]<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Dai Majin gyakushu<\/strong> [trans. The Great Majin&#8217;s Counterattack] (1966; dir. Issei Mori) <em>[aka Majin Strikes Again]<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/cover_daimajin_1_jp.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3424 aligncenter\" title=\"cover_daimajin_1_jp\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/cover_daimajin_1_jp.jpg\" alt=\"cover_daimajin_1_jp\" width=\"402\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/cover_daimajin_1_jp.jpg 690w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/cover_daimajin_1_jp-258x300.jpg 258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These films have an authentic <em>chambara<\/em> feel about them, and though they work on a smaller scale than Godzilla and his ilk, the lead <em>kaiju<\/em> &#8212; a giant stone statue that comes to life in response to injustice or at least in the cause of divine retribution &#8212; is a truly magnificent creation. Though played by a man-in-a-suit, the design and the eerie contrast of statue-like suit and real human eyes is highly effective in conveying an uncanny anger that cannot be stopped until a debt of honour has been duly paid.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin8-original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3429 aligncenter\" title=\"daimajin8-original\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin8-original.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin8-original\" width=\"460\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin8-original.jpg 600w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin8-original-300x132.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin480.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3430\" title=\"daimajin480\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin480.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin480\" width=\"460\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin480.jpg 479w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin480-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now we learn that Kadokawa Publishing, who obtained the rights to <em>Daimajin<\/em> from Daiei back in 2002, is remaking the films as a TV series called <em><strong>Daimajin Kannon<\/strong><\/em>, produced by Shigenori Takatera, who cut his teeth on various <em>Kamen Rider<\/em> series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon-logo.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3425 alignnone\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" title=\"daimajin-kannon-logo\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon-logo.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin-kannon-logo\" width=\"194\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon-logo.jpg 288w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon-logo-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A fuller history of attempts to resurrect the <em>Daimajin<\/em> franchise can be found on <em>daikaiju<\/em> expert <a href=\"http:\/\/augustragone.blogspot.com\/2009\/04\/giant-majin-strikes-again-new.html\" target=\"_blank\">August Ramone&#8217;s blog<\/a>. The only information regarding the series seems to come from the pages of a Japanese magazine, Kadokawa Publishing&#8217;s <em>Newtype: The Live<\/em>. As the text is in Japanese I can&#8217;t read it myself, but August has made this comment about it:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>While the <em>Newtype: The Live<\/em> article was very coy at divulging details, it does state that DAIMAJIN KANNON will be contemporary, instead of the feudal period-setting of the feature films, and will be aimed squarely at adult viewers, most likely guaranteeing a late-night broadcast (a network has not been announced). The article features an &#8220;image sketch&#8221; by To-ru Watanabe (<em>Master of Epic<\/em>), of a young girl, most likely the titular &#8220;Kannon&#8221; (or &#8220;Goddess of Mercy&#8221;), an avatar for Daimajin\u2014following the template of the first film. Kadokawa describes the production as a &#8220;VFX Fantasy&#8221; remake of the original film.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In another post, August reveals the following image of the new daimajin, which seems to indicate that the show is set in modern times:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin071409a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3431\" title=\"daimajin071409a\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin071409a.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin071409a\" width=\"326\" height=\"471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin071409a.jpg 400w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin071409a-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Kaiju Search-Robot Avery has been scouring the internet and has unearthed the following images from the <em>Newtype<\/em> article:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon03.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3428\" title=\"daimajin-kannon03\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon03.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin-kannon03\" width=\"288\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon03.jpg 288w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon03-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon02.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3427\" title=\"daimajin-kannon02\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon02.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin-kannon02\" width=\"288\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon02.jpg 288w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon02-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon01.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3426\" title=\"daimajin-kannon01\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon01.jpg\" alt=\"daimajin-kannon01\" width=\"288\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon01.jpg 288w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon01-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/majin_03.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3432\" title=\"majin_03\" src=\"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/majin_03.jpg\" alt=\"majin_03\" width=\"460\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/majin_03.jpg 800w, https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/07\/majin_03-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Source<\/strong>: <a href=\"http:\/\/augustragone.blogspot.com\/2009\/07\/daimajin-kannon-revealed-sneak-peek-at.html\" target=\"_blank\">August Ramone<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/ameblo.jp\/dm-kanon\/\" target=\"_blank\">ameblo.jp<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1966, Toho rivals Daiei Studios produced three excellent daikaiju films in a subgenre of their own invention, combining giant monsters with jidaigeki or period drama &#8212; a fantasy extravaganza that held a unique appeal. The films were: Dai Majin &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/2009\/07\/15\/daimajin-comes-to-life-once-more\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12,4,44,54,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3423"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3423"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3433,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3423\/revisions\/3433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}