#1960 1969

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Toku of the Day: Monster Prince

Creator: Kazuo Ueshima

Studio: Japan Special Effects Incorporated, P Productions

Aired ON: Fuji TV

Plot Synopsis: After the sudden appearance of a volcanic island beneath a passing by airplane, it is mysteriously brought down. On board the plane was Professor Ibuki, his wife, and newborn twin sons, Takeru and Mitsuru. While the two parents and one child were known to survive, the family could not find the other, losing him in the ocean’s waves. Ten years later, the family has moved passed the tragedy. They had another child, giving their only known surviving twin a little sibling.

Then, news hits the family when they learn of a fisherman who was caught in a giant wave and washed ashore on an island around where their son had been lost at sea. Despite joy that the family has found their lost son again, they are also devastated by the news that a meteor is headed for the island.

Takeru, however, learns first hand that it’s an alien invasion afer the high uranium content of the island. it’s up to him and his dinosaur friends to defnd the island from the menace of these aliens.

Character List (along with actor’s names): list of the characters and their actors

Trivia:

The series was initially titled “Monster Battle” but had been later changed during the pre-production stages

It was fully funded by Tokyu Agency, a major advertising company

This was the first and last work Japan Special Effects Incorporated had produced.

Had the company not dissolved so soon after it’s creation, a sequel film for the series would have been produced

Initial production had been plagued with numerous problems from the beginning and only managed to get better once it had been given to P Productions to fully produce

The initial suit for Nessie was unable to be moved within, which in turn allowed for the creation of a smaller Nessie, which appeared on screen

It’s initial airdate had been postponed during production due to various behinds-the-scenes troubles

The series takes obvious inspiration from Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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Toku of the Day: The Human Vapor

Creator: Takeshi Kimura (writer), Ishiro Honda (director), Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects)

Studio: Toho

Distributed by: Toho (Japan), Brenco Pictures (US)

Plot Synopsis: After a high speed chase between the police and a bank robber ends in a crash, police end up baffled by the sight of no one in the car, or even any evidence of a single person being inside. They even report that there is nothing that links the robbery to any one. There is not a trace of evidence to be found.

However, while investigating the bank, the mysterious thief returns. Yet nothing anyone does can affect him.

Character List (along with actor’s names):

Kenji Okamoto, Assistant Inspector played by Tatsuya Mihashi

Fujichiyo Kasuga, dancer Nichibu played by Kaoru Yachigusa 

Mizuno, the Human Vapor played by Yoshio Tsuchiya

Kyoko Kouno, journalist played by Keiko Sada

Dr. Tamiya played by Hisaya Ito

Tabata, Inspector played by Yoshifumi Tajima

Inao, Detective played by Yoshio Kosugi

Dr. Sano played by Fuyuki Murakami

Hayama played by Minosuke Yamada

Ikeda played by Tatsuo Matsumura

Trivia:

The US release of the film was recut to make the narrative be told in flashbacks. This was a highly praised move by actor Yoshi Tsuchiya, who claimed it highlighted his best work.

Tsuburaya used a combination of an inflated rubber doll and dry ice by deflating the doll and letting the gas from the dry ice escape from the clothing placed over the doll in order to give the transparent appearance for the human vapor.

The composer behind the music for Ultra Q, Kuniyo Miyauchi, made the score used for the film

It was this film that occupied Ishiro Honda during the production for “The Secret of the Telegian,” which he was originally set to direct

A sequel was initially planned called Frankenstein vs The Human Vapor but was instead dropped and replaced with Frankenstein Conquers the World

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Toku of the Day: The Secret of the Telegian (電送人間)

Written By: Shinichi Sekizawa

Studio: Toho

Distributed by: Toho (Japan), Herts-Lion International Corporation (United States)

Plot Synopsis: A murder occurred at an amusement park: a man stabbed twice. All that remained was a piece of cryotron wire, a gold-plated name tag, and a note requesting a meeting between the victim and murderer.

Police and reporter Kirioka begin investigating the murder, leading them to a night club called Military-Land Cabaret, where the drinks are named for weapons like “Missles” and “Hand Grenades” and the servers are dressed in little sailor uniforms. There, they discover a plot based in revenge that’s been brewing since 14 years prior.

Character List (along with actor’s names): 

Masaru Kirioka played by Koji Tsuruta

Kobayashi payed by Akihito Hirata

Akiko Nakajou played by Yumi Shirakawa

Corporal Tsudo/”The Telegian” played by Tadau Nakamaru

Oonishi played by Seizaburou Kawazu

Ryuu-Syougen played by Yoshifumi Tajima

Taki played by Sachio Sakai

Okazaki played by Yoshio Tsuchiya

Dr. Miura played by Fuyuki Murakami

Dr. Niki played by Takamaru Sasaki

Trivia:

In Japan, the title for the movie is 電送人間 (Densou Ningen), which means “The Teleporting Man” it was released as “The Secret of the Telegian” when it was translated and localized for an English-speaking audience.

It was originally set to be released in American theatres to be double billed with Dungeons of Horror, but was instead given a television broadcast.

The television version that did broadcast was identical to Toho’s uncut international English version of the film, including the dubbing.

The special effects were done Eiji Tsuburaya of Giant Monster and Ultraman fame

Ishiro Honda was originally set to direct the film, but the project was then given to Jun Fukuda

This film was also Jun Fukuda’s first tokusatsu work

In 2005, Toho released the film on DVD with an audio commentary by Tadao Nakamura.

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Toku-of-the-Day: Ultra Q

Creator: Eiji Tsuburaya

Studio: Tsuburaya Productions

Aired On: TBS

Plot Synopsis:  The world has been put into a state of unbalance.

Photojournalist Yuriko Edogawa, Aviator Jun Manjome, and his co-pilot Ippei Togawa investigate a number of strange and unusual happenings as they occur in Japan with the help of Professor Ichinotani. Together, they work to solve the mysterious happenings with their own skill and scientific knowledge.

Character List (along with actor’s names):

Yuriko Edogawa played by Hiroko Sakurai

Jun Manjome played by Kenji Sahara

Ippei Togawa played by Yasuhiko Saijou

Professor Ichinotani played by Ureo Egawa

Trivia:

It was originally going to be called Unbalance, but that name was instead used for a horror mini-series.

This was the first entry into the ultra series, which would become famous for Ultraman

Many of the creatures’ costumes had been provided by Toho Production Company, as it was an investor and Eiji Tsuburaya had maintained a close relationship with the company.

The suits would also be later reused for Ultraman.

In 1967, it was licensed to CBS along with Ultraman and had been dubbed in its entirety, yet never aired. CBS had backed out sometime during the process. The series was then licensed to United Artists Television, yet was never aired because it was in black and white.

The style of the show is reminiscent of western shows such as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits

It has had various spin-offs and revivals over the years. In 1990, a live action film had been theatrically released entitled Ultra Q the Movie: Legend of the Stars; a radio show called The Ultra Q Club in 2003-2004 featuring voices of original cast members. Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy, in 2004, an alternate universe of the original series, and Neo Ultra Q in 2013, officially recognized as the second season of the 1966 series, were also produced and aired.

This series initiated Japan’s first “Monster Boom”

You can purchase the complete series from Shout Factory