Kadokawa: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Kadokawa Corporation Logo.jpg | {{Disclaimer|Daiei Co., Ltd., Daiei Film Co., Ltd. and the Kadokawa Corporation are three separate companies. They are covered together for convenience.}} | ||
[[File:Kadokawa Corporation Logo.jpg|right|250px]] | |||
'''Daiei Co., Ltd.''' {{Nihongo|大映株式会社|Daiei Kabushikigaisha}} was a [[Japan]]ese film studio, founded in 1942 as a conglomerate of Shinko Kinema, Daito Film and [[Nikkatsu Corporation|Nikkatsu]]. The company produced various [[kaiju]] and [[tokusatsu]] films until its bankruptcy in 1971, most notably the ''[[Gamera (franchise)|Gamera]]'' and ''[[Yokai Monsters Series|Yokai Monsters]]'' series. The company consisted of two studios, '''Daiei Kyoto Studio''' {{Nihongo|大映京都撮影所|Daiei Kyōtō Satsueijo}} and '''Daiei Tokyo Studio''' {{Nihongo|大映東京撮影所|Daiei Tōkyō Satsueijo}}, which produced movies independently. Daiei was acquired by Tokuma Shoten, who reestablished the company as '''Daiei Film Co., Ltd.''' {{Nihongo|大映映画株式会社|Daiei Eiga Kabushikigaisha}} in 1974. | |||
The '''Kadokawa Corporation''' {{Nihongo|KADOKAWA株式会社|Kadokawa Kabushikigaisha}}, or simply '''Kadokawa''' (stylized '''KADOKAWA'''), is a Japanese media conglomerate. It currently owns all of the assets of Daiei Film Co., which now operates as the corporation's film-making branch, '''Kadokawa Daiei Studio Co., Ltd.''' {{Nihongo|株式会社角川大映スタジオ|Kabushikigaisha Kadokawa Daiei Sutajio}}. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Daiei | ===Daiei Co., Ltd.=== | ||
[[File:Daiei Logo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Daiei logo]] | [[File:Daiei Logo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Daiei logo]] | ||
Founded in 1942 as '''Dai Nippon Film Co., Ltd.''', Daiei went on to become one of the largest and most successful Japanese film studios in the postwar era. Daiei frequently distributed foreign pictures in Japanese theaters, including the re-release of ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''. Daiei became well-known for producing the popular ''Zatoichi'' films, some of legendary director Akira Kurosawa's early pictures, and in the 1960's began producing [[kaiju]] [[:Category:Films|film]]s. Daiei's first kaiju film was ''[[Gamera (film)|Gamera]]'' in [[1965]], which capitalized on the success of [[Toho]]'s popular [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla films]]. ''Gamera'' was successful, and Daiei went on to produce many sequels over the next several decades. The [[1966|next year]], Daiei produced the ''[[Daimajin (film)|Daimajin]]'' trilogy. In the late 1960's Daiei began to experience financial problems, so in June of 1970 Daiei and [[Nikkatsu Corporation]], which was also facing financial problems, merged to share distribution costs and formed '''Dainichi Film Distribution Co., Ltd''' {{Nihongo|ＤＮ ダイニチ映配株式会社|Dainichi Eihai Kabushikigaisha}}. This partnership would last until August of 1971, when Nikkatsu withdrew from this deal. On November 29, 1971, Daiei filed for bankruptcy, and in [[1974]] was purchased by Tokuma Shoten. Under Tokuma's ownership, Daiei attempted to produce a new Gamera film, ''[[Gamera: Super Monster]]'', in order to revive the series. The film was produced on a slim budget and relied mainly on stock footage from previous entries in the series, and also included obvious attempts to cash in on the ''Superman'' and ''Star Wars'' films that were popular at the time. The film was a commercial and critical failure, and Daiei did not produce another Gamera film for over a decade. | Founded in 1942 as '''Dai Nippon Film Co., Ltd.''', Daiei went on to become one of the largest and most successful Japanese film studios in the postwar era. Daiei frequently distributed foreign pictures in Japanese theaters, including the re-release of ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''. Daiei became well-known for producing the popular ''Zatoichi'' films, some of legendary director Akira Kurosawa's early pictures, and in the 1960's began producing [[kaiju]] [[:Category:Films|film]]s. Daiei's first kaiju film was ''[[Gamera (film)|Gamera]]'' in [[1965]], which capitalized on the success of [[Toho]]'s popular [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla films]]. ''Gamera'' was successful, and Daiei went on to produce many sequels over the next several decades. The [[1966|next year]], Daiei produced the ''[[Daimajin (film)|Daimajin]]'' trilogy. In the late 1960's Daiei began to experience financial problems, so in June of 1970 Daiei and [[Nikkatsu Corporation]], which was also facing financial problems, merged to share distribution costs and formed '''Dainichi Film Distribution Co., Ltd''' {{Nihongo|ＤＮ ダイニチ映配株式会社|Dainichi Eihai Kabushikigaisha}}. This partnership would last until August of 1971, when Nikkatsu withdrew from this deal. On November 29, 1971, Daiei filed for bankruptcy, and in [[1974]] was purchased by Tokuma Shoten. Under Tokuma's ownership, Daiei attempted to produce a new Gamera film, ''[[Gamera: Super Monster]]'', in order to revive the series. The film was produced on a slim budget and relied mainly on stock footage from previous entries in the series, and also included obvious attempts to cash in on the ''Superman'' and ''Star Wars'' films that were popular at the time. The film was a commercial and critical failure, and Daiei did not produce another Gamera film for over a decade. | ||
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In [[2015]], Kadokawa screened a [[Gamera (short)|four minute-long short]] at New York Comic-Con to commemorate Gamera's 50th anniversary. The short may have been intended as a proof-of-concept for a potential new entry in the franchise, but so far no new film has come of it. | In [[2015]], Kadokawa screened a [[Gamera (short)|four minute-long short]] at New York Comic-Con to commemorate Gamera's 50th anniversary. The short may have been intended as a proof-of-concept for a potential new entry in the franchise, but so far no new film has come of it. | ||
== | ==Selected productions== | ||
===1940's=== | ===1940's=== | ||
*''[[Invisible Man Appears]]'' (1949) | *''[[Invisible Man Appears]]'' (1949) | ||
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*''Invisible Demon'' (1960) | *''Invisible Demon'' (1960) | ||
*''The Demon of Mount Oe ''(1960) | *''The Demon of Mount Oe ''(1960) | ||
*''[http://www.coolasscinema.com/2014/08/buddha-1961-review.html Buddha] ''(1961) | *''[http://www.coolasscinema.com/2014/08/buddha-1961-review.html Buddha]'' (1961) | ||
*''[[Kujira Gami (film)|Kujira Gami]]'' (1962) | *''[[Kujira Gami (film)|Kujira Gami]]'' (1962) | ||
*''Wind Velocity 75 Meters'' (1963) | *''Wind Velocity 75 Meters'' (1963) | ||
*''[[Gamera (film)|Gamera]] ''(1965) | *''[[Gamera (film)|Gamera]]'' (1965) | ||
*''[[Daimajin (film)|Daimajin]] ''(1966) | *''[[Daimajin (film)|Daimajin]]'' (1966) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Barugon]] ''(1966) | *''[[Gamera vs. Barugon]]'' (1966) | ||
*''[[Return of Daimajin]] ''(1966) | *''[[Return of Daimajin]]'' (1966) | ||
*''[[Daimajin Strikes Again]] ''(1966) | *''[[Daimajin Strikes Again]]'' (1966) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Gyaos]] ''(1967) | *''[[Gamera vs. Gyaos]]'' (1967) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' (1968) | *''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' (1968) | ||
*''Yokai Monsters: One Hundred Monsters'' (1968) | *''Yokai Monsters: One Hundred Monsters'' (1968) | ||
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*''The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch'' (1968) | *''The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch'' (1968) | ||
*''Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare'' (1968) | *''Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare'' (1968) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Guiron]] ''(1969) | *''[[Gamera vs. Guiron]]'' (1969) | ||
*''[[Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts]]'' (1969) | *''[[Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts]]'' (1969) | ||
===1970's=== | ===1970's=== | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Jiger]]'' (1970) | *''[[Gamera vs. Jiger]]'' (1970) | ||
*''The Invisible Swordsman''(1970) | *''The Invisible Swordsman'' (1970) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Zigra]]'' (1971) | *''[[Gamera vs. Zigra]]'' (1971) | ||
===1980's=== | ===1980's=== | ||
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*''[[Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris]]'' (1999) | *''[[Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris]]'' (1999) | ||
===2000's=== | ===2000's=== | ||
*''The Great Yokai War'' (2005) | *''[[The Great Yokai War]]'' (2005) | ||
*''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' (2006) | *''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' (2006) | ||
===2010's=== | ===2010's=== | ||
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===2020's=== | ===2020's=== | ||
*''[[Nezura 1964]] '' (2020) [licensed to 3Y Co., Ltd.] | *''[[Nezura 1964]] '' (2020) [licensed to 3Y Co., Ltd.] | ||
==Cancelled films== | |||
==Cancelled | |||
*''[[Nezura|Giant Horde Beast Nezura]]'' | *''[[Nezura|Giant Horde Beast Nezura]]'' | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. the Space Icemen]]'' | *''[[Gamera vs. the Space Icemen]]'' | ||
*''[[Wyvern|Gamera vs. Two-Headed Monster W]]'' | *''[[Wyvern|Gamera vs. Two-Headed Monster W]]'' | ||
*''Sinking of Japan'' (1972 Daiei production) | *''Sinking of Japan'' (1972 Daiei production) | ||
*''[[Gamera vs. Phoenix]]'' | *''[[Gamera vs. Phoenix]]'' | ||
*''[[Godzilla vs. Gamera ( | *''[[Godzilla vs. Gamera (unmade 2002 film)|Godzilla vs. Gamera]]'' | ||
*''Daimajin'' (2008, Takashi Miike) | *''Daimajin'' (2008, Takashi Miike) | ||
==Television== | ==Television== | ||
Revision as of 19:47, 21 June 2020
- Disclaimer: Daiei Co., Ltd., Daiei Film Co., Ltd. and the Kadokawa Corporation are three separate companies. They are covered together for convenience.
Daiei Co., Ltd. (大映株式会社 Daiei Kabushikigaisha) was a Japanese film studio, founded in 1942 as a conglomerate of Shinko Kinema, Daito Film and Nikkatsu. The company produced various kaiju and tokusatsu films until its bankruptcy in 1971, most notably the Gamera and Yokai Monsters series. The company consisted of two studios, Daiei Kyoto Studio (大映京都撮影所 Daiei Kyōtō Satsueijo) and Daiei Tokyo Studio (大映東京撮影所 Daiei Tōkyō Satsueijo), which produced movies independently. Daiei was acquired by Tokuma Shoten, who reestablished the company as Daiei Film Co., Ltd. (大映映画株式会社 Daiei Eiga Kabushikigaisha) in 1974.
The Kadokawa Corporation (KADOKAWA株式会社 Kadokawa Kabushikigaisha), or simply Kadokawa (stylized KADOKAWA), is a Japanese media conglomerate. It currently owns all of the assets of Daiei Film Co., which now operates as the corporation's film-making branch, Kadokawa Daiei Studio Co., Ltd. (株式会社角川大映スタジオ Kabushikigaisha Kadokawa Daiei Sutajio).
History
Daiei Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1942 as Dai Nippon Film Co., Ltd., Daiei went on to become one of the largest and most successful Japanese film studios in the postwar era. Daiei frequently distributed foreign pictures in Japanese theaters, including the re-release of King Kong. Daiei became well-known for producing the popular Zatoichi films, some of legendary director Akira Kurosawa's early pictures, and in the 1960's began producing kaiju films. Daiei's first kaiju film was Gamera in 1965, which capitalized on the success of Toho's popular Godzilla films. Gamera was successful, and Daiei went on to produce many sequels over the next several decades. The next year, Daiei produced the Daimajin trilogy. In the late 1960's Daiei began to experience financial problems, so in June of 1970 Daiei and Nikkatsu Corporation, which was also facing financial problems, merged to share distribution costs and formed Dainichi Film Distribution Co., Ltd (ＤＮ ダイニチ映配株式会社 Dainichi Eihai Kabushikigaisha). This partnership would last until August of 1971, when Nikkatsu withdrew from this deal. On November 29, 1971, Daiei filed for bankruptcy, and in 1974 was purchased by Tokuma Shoten. Under Tokuma's ownership, Daiei attempted to produce a new Gamera film, Gamera: Super Monster, in order to revive the series. The film was produced on a slim budget and relied mainly on stock footage from previous entries in the series, and also included obvious attempts to cash in on the Superman and Star Wars films that were popular at the time. The film was a commercial and critical failure, and Daiei did not produce another Gamera film for over a decade.
In 1995, Daiei hired director Shusuke Kaneko to direct a reboot to the Gamera series. Distributed by Toho, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe was a huge success with critics and in the box office. Daiei produced two sequels to the film, Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, both of which were critically acclaimed.
In 2002, Daiei was purchased from Tokuma Shoten by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., a subsidiary of the Kadokawa Corporation. Daiei was merged with the corporation's film studio, Kadokawa Pictures, to form Kadokawa-Daiei Film Company, Ltd.
Kadokawa Pictures
Kadokawa Pictures (角川映画 Kadokawa Eiga) was founded in 1975 as the film division of Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. Between 1976 and 1993, it produced close to 60 films. In 2002, it was merged with the acquired Daiei Motion Picture Company, Ltd. to become Kadokawa-Daiei Film Company, Ltd. The merged studio produced the twelfth Gamera film, Gamera the Brave, in 2006 to celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary. Over the next decade, the company went through various restructurings and name changes, and in 2013 became Kadokawa Daiei Studio Company, Ltd.
In 2015, Kadokawa screened a four minute-long short at New York Comic-Con to commemorate Gamera's 50th anniversary. The short may have been intended as a proof-of-concept for a potential new entry in the franchise, but so far no new film has come of it.
Selected productions
1940's
- Invisible Man Appears (1949)
1950's
- Claws of Iron (1951)
- Warning from Space (1956)
- Invisible Man vs. Human Fly (1957)
1960's
- Invisible Demon (1960)
- The Demon of Mount Oe (1960)
- Buddha (1961)
- Kujira Gami (1962)
- Wind Velocity 75 Meters (1963)
- Gamera (1965)
- Daimajin (1966)
- Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)
- Return of Daimajin (1966)
- Daimajin Strikes Again (1966)
- Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967)
- Gamera vs. Viras (1968)
- Yokai Monsters: One Hundred Monsters (1968)
- The Snow Woman (1968)
- The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (1968)
- Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968)
- Gamera vs. Guiron (1969)
- Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts (1969)
1970's
- Gamera vs. Jiger (1970)
- The Invisible Swordsman (1970)
- Gamera vs. Zigra (1971)
1980's
- Gamera: Super Monster (1980)
- Virus (1980)
1990's
- Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)
- Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion (1996)
- Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999)
2000's
- The Great Yokai War (2005)
- Gamera the Brave (2006)
2010's
- GAMERA (2015) [short]
2020's
- Nezura 1964 (2020) [licensed to 3Y Co., Ltd.]
Cancelled films
- Giant Horde Beast Nezura
- Gamera vs. the Space Icemen
- Gamera vs. Two-Headed Monster W
- Sinking of Japan (1972 Daiei production)
- Gamera vs. Phoenix
- Godzilla vs. Gamera
- Daimajin (2008, Takashi Miike)
Television
- Seishi Yokomizo Series (1977-1978) [co-created with Toho and Mifune Productions]
- Daimajin Kanon (2010)
Publishing
Kadokawa originated as a publishing company known as Kadokawa Shoten (角川書店) that was founded in 1945, and to this day remains active as the publishing branch of the Kadokawa Corporation. Kadokawa has published numerous kaiju and tokusatsu-related books and manga, including books covering both the Gamera and Godzilla franchises. These include:
- Gamera vs. Barugon (2002)
- Gamera 2006: Hard Link (2006)
- Cloverfield/KISHIN (2008)
- Daiei Tokusatsu Movie Chronicle (2010)
- Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters (2016)
- Shin Godzilla Walker: Perfect Form (2016)
- GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse (2017)
- GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla (2018)
- GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters (2018)
- GODZILLA: The Planet Eater (2018)
Gallery
Daiei logo
Dainichi Eihai Co., Ltd. logo
External links
- Kadokawa Pictures website
- Kadokawa Corporation website
- Offcial Twitter page
- "The History of Daiei" by Greg Shoemaker (1979)
Comments
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