is a
tokusatsu
is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, ''tokusatsu'' mainly refers to science fiction film, science fiction, War fi ...
kaiju
is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with media involving giant monsters. Its widespread contemporary use is credited to ''tokusatsu'' (special effects) director Eiji Tsuburaya and filmmaker Ishirō Honda, who popularized the ''kaiju'' ...
fan film
A fan film is a film or video inspired by a film, television program, comic book, book, or video game created by fans rather than by the source's copyright holders or creators. It is a form of fan fiction. Fan filmmakers have traditionally been ...
shot on
16mm
16 mm film is a historically popular and economical gauge of film. 16 mm refers to the width of the film (about inch); other common film gauges include 8 mm and 35 mm. It is generally used for non-theatrical (e.g., industrial, ...
by
Daicon Films (later Gainax). It was released in December 1985 and runs at 72 minutes. This was the most heavily promoted of Daicon's fan films. It was so successful that it was released on video by
Bandai/Emotion. This film was also a turning point for the career of special effects director
Shinji Higuchi
is a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his ''tokusatsu'' blockbusters, Higuchi is considered one of Japan's leading filmmakers of the 21st century.
Higuchi became known for his work on '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'', for which he won the Spe ...
.
This film was Daicon's epic
parody
A parody is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satire, satirical or irony, ironic imitation. Often its subject is an Originality, original work or some aspect of it (theme/content, author, style, e ...
of the many classic
daikaiju
is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with media involving giant monsters. Its widespread contemporary use is credited to ''tokusatsu'' (special effects) director Eiji Tsuburaya and filmmaker Ishirō Honda, who popularized the ''kaiju'' ...
(giant monster) films, and featured a more
biomechanical-looking version of the mythical eight-headed serpent, the
Orochi
Yamata no Orochi (ヤマタノオロチ, also written as 八岐大蛇, 八俣遠呂智 or 八俣遠呂知) is a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed serpent that appears in Japanese mythology. Both the ''Kojiki'' and ''Nihon Shoki'' record the ...
. This one was created by aliens, which had invaded Earth in ancient times. 2000 years later, they dispatch the Orochi again to destroy
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and the rest of the world. Only a team of the
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The are the military forces of Japan. Established in 1954, the JSDF comprises the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. They are controlled by the Ministry of Defense ...
and a scientist (two other staples in the daikaiju genre), can destroy it.
Cast
*Akiko Kirihara -
Kakumi Takahashi
*Shunsaku Tako -
Tatsuto Nagayama
*Tank Corps General Yoshikawa -
Kenichiro Mera
*Captain Mouri -
Yasuhiro Takeda
:''The Gainax employee Yasuhiro Takeda should not be confused with the professor of the same name at National Defense Academy of Japan.''
is a Japanese anime director and founding member of Gainax; for most of his career, he was General Manager. ...
Staff
*Producer:
Takeshi Sawamura
*Director:
Takami Akai
is an illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator.
Career history
Akai attended Osaka University of Arts majoring in fine art . While studying there, Akai created the character designs for the Nihon SF Taikai, Daicon III openin ...
*Director of Special Effects:
Shinji Higuchi
is a Japanese filmmaker. Known for his ''tokusatsu'' blockbusters, Higuchi is considered one of Japan's leading filmmakers of the 21st century.
Higuchi became known for his work on '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'', for which he won the Spe ...
*Writers:
Takami Akai
is an illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator.
Career history
Akai attended Osaka University of Arts majoring in fine art . While studying there, Akai created the character designs for the Nihon SF Taikai, Daicon III openin ...
,
Aiko Ito
*Miniatures design:
Hideaki Anno
is a Anime, Japanese animator, filmmaker, Film producer, producer, and voice actor. His most celebrated creation, the Neon Genesis Evangelion (franchise), ''Evangelion'' franchise, has had a significant influence on the anime television industr ...
References
External Links
*
''Orochi Strikes Again'' archived with English subtitles
1985 films
Fan films
Kaiju films
Gainax
Films set in Tottori Prefecture
1980s Japanese films
{{1980s-Japan-film-stub