Tuesday, July 6, 2010

New Viral Video And Images From Shinji Higuchi's MONSTER MAGNITUDE 9 (MM9)

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Undead Backbrain / MM9 Official Website / Avery Guerra

If J.J. Abrams, and now Steven Spielberg, have taught us anything is that the best way to promote any new movie, or television series in this case, is to launch some kind of 'viral' promotion. You know the drill, mystery trailers, video clips that turn to static just before the monster pokes his head out from behind a building. Stuff designed, on purpose, to provoke more questions than answers.

Well, now Japanese producer and special effects master, Shinji Higuchi (Heisei Gamera Series), has opted to pursue the same kind of marketing strategy for his giant monster filled late-night television series, "Monster Magnitude 9", by producing a series of 'mystery' video clips that are supposed to give clues to the origins of some of the series titanic terrors. Along with these rather brief images, several Japanese websites have posted sporadic verbal messages that also are designed to get amateur sleuths clicking their mouses to try and piece together tid-bits into tangible information about the show.

What fun!

Unfortunately for us English speaking types, all of this stuff is in Japanese, so unless you are fluent in that language, all of this stuff will be rather useless to you.

Sorry for the tease.

Just in case you missed my earlier article about "MM9" here is a recap:

Japanese special effects master, Shinji Higuchi (Heisei Gamera Series), has developed a brand new giant monster television series for late night television called, "MM9" (Monster Magnitude 9).

The series will take place in an alternate universe, where Japan is constantly attacked by monsters. MM9 is a special unit of Japan Meteorological Agency who's job it is to predict the arrival of these monsters in very much the same way that the National Weather Service predicts rain and snow.

When the monsters do show up, and you know that they will in every episode, a team of monster specialists called “Kitokutai” are dispatched to combat them. Only one problem, these specialists are not from the military, so they don't have any weapons. The group will have to rely on their skills, knowledge, and experience to prevent the monsters from reducing Japan to toothpicks.

"MM9" stars Anna Ishibashi as the teams rookie, Sakura Fujisawa, along with Machiko Ono as Sakura's mentor, Mikazuki. Rounding out the cast are Issei Takahashi, Yasuhi Nakamura, Satoru Matsuo, Sarutoki Minagawa, Takako Kato, and Yutaka Matsushige.

"MM9" also has a great list of directors lined up, including Tomoyuki Furumaya, Kiyotaka Taguchi and Ataru Oikawa. So far all of the shows episodes have been written by Kazunori Ito (Patlabor, Gamera).

The first episode of "MM9" is scheduled to air tonight.

Here is the trailer, all of those viral videos I mentioned above (pieced together by Robert Hood of the Undead Backbrain website), some photos from a press event, and a photo of a "MM9" themed iPad that will be featured on the show. From what I gather, these babies are also for sale in Japan as well.











See Also: Shinji Higuchi Bringing Monster Magnitude 9 To Television
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"LEGENDARY PICTURES TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE BASED ON TOHO COMPANY’S ICONIC MONSTER, GODZILLA

Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.

Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan."

"Godzilla" is coming back -- this time, with Legendary Pictures taking the lead, co-producing and co-financing with Warner Bros. for release in 2012.

Legendary announced Monday it had obtained rights to the iconic monster character from Japan's Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 "Godzilla" films. Toho will release the pic in Japan.

Legendary said it's planning to announce a director shortly.

In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will exec produce.

"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise," said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

Legendary noted the film will fall under its co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary's productions with Warners have included "The Dark Knight," "300" and "The Hangover."

Speculation about a new "Godzilla" has been active since last summer. The Bloody Disgusting web site reported in August that the project was in development.