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Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman and Godzilla Hardcover – November 1, 2007

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August Ragone (Author)
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4.9 out of 5 stars 50 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0811860787
  • ISBN-13: 978-0811860789
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.9 x 11 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,686,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsInformative& Interesting about the creator of Ultraman
By Matt Chevreaux on December 2, 2007
Format: Hardcover
This is one of those gem of a book that crosses genres. August Ragone shows us behind he scenes of the man who created Godzilla and Ultraman. Well written at a level anyone can enjoy, and with a host of never seen before pictures (at least in America) of the behind the scenes making of these icons makes this a great read. Lots of information not readily known outside of Japan. Can't wait for volume 2!
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5.0 out of 5 starsMore than just kaiju
By Peter M. on June 15, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
For a book which first appears to be just a biography of Japan's greatest monster-maker (and I don't say that to diminish its subject, not at all), the reader is also treated to a good glimpse of the filmmaking world Eiji Tsuburaya devoted his life to. Not like the multi-mega-bucks budgets and the high stakes publicity buzz or manufactured star power of Hollywood in the USA, you get the real sense that filmmakers in Japan pursue their craft with a genuine devotion to an art form and a noble profession. Mr. Tsuburaya was clearly no exception. Japan has and has had its media stars, but this book leaves you with the impression that dedication to the work is as or even more important that any public acclaim or fat paychecks. In fact, it is abundantly clear that Tsuburaya's love for his work came at the expense of his health and perhaps longevity in his later years.

This book is not just about a guy who made rubber monster suits. It's about a man and the team of loyal and dedicated artisans he assembled that, collectively, with their "sensei's" guidance, expertise, vision and instinct created some of the most impressive cinema visual effects ever. Inventing many and perfecting most of their techniques, often with skeletal production budgets--certainly not with the avalanches of money equivalent Hollywood productions get for their SFX--you can begin to understand the sheer skill and talent these craftsmen had to fool the eye and immerse the viewer in their worlds. Not always; on occasion there might be a scene in a Tsuburaya film which appears rough around the edges or a bit stretched in quality. This can virtually always be attributed to the Tsuburaya production team being pushed or rushed for time, and/or simply not having the budget they were expecting or promised.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA must-have
By Martin Arlt on July 8, 2008
Format: Hardcover
This book is a meticulous, thoughtful, well-written, and beautifully laid-out tribute to a true master of special effects. It is a fascinating look, not only into Tsuburaya's life and career, but also the way the film industry works in Japan. An interesting read for non-fans; a must-have for fans of the genre.
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5.0 out of 5 starsHusband stunned by the quality of this book
By Susan L. Seidensticker on January 4, 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This book was purchased as a Christmas gift for my husband, who wanted to stop opening gifts so that he could read it! His love of Japanese movies seems to be growing with every page he reads of this book... and I think I may have "created a monster" - husband is promising to show the baby tons of Godzilla & Ultraman dvds.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe father of man-in-suit monsters FINALLY gets some due respect in this informative English language book
By Hose Knows (aka Jinzo Ningen) on February 8, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Finally got around to picking up a copy of this for myself. The hardcover was far too cost-prohibitive, so I opted for the paperback instead. Either version is a must-own. This book is chock full of TONS of interesting, obscure and just thoroughly fascinating info on one of the greatest contributors to film & TV visual effects in history, and a major (if unintentional) contributor to world-wide pop culture. Seriously! His contributions to the industry, and their far-reaching effects simply cannot be understated. What this man did with some fairly measly resources never fails to astound me. Eiji Tsuburaya and a handful of trusted assistants did more with less back in the day than hundreds of CGI animators armed with the latest cutting edge technology and millions of dollars could ever hope to do today.

If you enjoy old school GODZILLA and his legion of city-smashing brethren or if you're a fan of ULTRAMAN and all of his monster-boxing kin... you truly owe it to yourself to buy this book and discover all the ins & outs of the industry and learn more about the man who almost single-handedly established the special effects technique most commonly referred to today as Suitmation, (more often lovingly dubbed Man-In-Suit acting). The book is over 200 pages of insight and a veritable treasure trove of really cool pictures, many of which I've never seen before - and I've been collecting & reading about the subject for over 30 years. Author August Ragone is not only well-versed on the subject but brings real legitimacy, being well-entrenched within the Japanese film & TV industry. He's researched & written about the various aspects of the industry for over 25 years. This book comes highly, highly recommended for both casual AND hardcore fans of Japanese giant monsters & heroes. 5 CITY-STOMPING STARS!!!
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5.0 out of 5 starsVery Fascinating Read.
By Talky Tina on June 4, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I remember my mom taking me to see Godzilla at the local theater back in the early fifties. And now I finally got to learn all about the creative genius (Eiji Tsuburaya) who helped bring all of my favorite Japanese monsters to life on the big silver screen.

This book is very well written and contains a wealth of fascinating information and behind-the-scene-photographs. I believe that it's a must-read for anyone interested in this genre. The book is well worth the price of admission!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book.

Published 25 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Good product!!

Published 2 months ago by Victor H.
5.0 out of 5 starsIf you love Ultra man and King Kong and Godzilla you'll love ...

If you love Ultra man and King Kong and Godzilla you'll love this behind the scenes portrayal. Nice big book to see the photos. Got a great price and fast delivery.

Published 2 months ago by Chuckles
5.0 out of 5 starsA must-read for Godzilla and Ultraman fans!

I tried getting my hands on this book years ago. At the time, it was long OOP and was going for prices north of $100. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Kyle Warner
3.0 out of 5 starsInformative but far from perfect

It's an OK if very dry and by the numbers telling of the history of Toho's master effects wizard. While there is a lot of good information it is often buried in repetitive prose... Read more

Published 9 months ago by RoboGriffey
5.0 out of 5 starsThe True Master of Monsters.

Eiji Tsuburaya is truly a master, when it comes to monster movies. Godzilla and his related characters, revolutioized the monster features in the 1950s and 1960s. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsWORTH IT !!! I WISH I HAD THIS AS A KID IN THE 1970'S

YOU LOVE MONSTERS AND MEN WHO PLAYED THEM IN SUITS..THEN ORDER THIS BOOK. ULTRA MAN IS MY FAVE..THEN GOD ZILLA AND YOG...GREAT BOOK

Published 11 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsAn excellent book and a must for any fan of Toho's ...

An excellent book and a must for any fan of Toho's Showa Era. Great photos to enjoy and an engaging narrative about Eiji Tsuburaya's life, his work and dreams. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Dr Who? Regenerated
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is filled with great pictures, as well

This is a must-have book for any Ultraman fan. Very informative in regards to the origin of the show. This book is filled with great pictures, as well.

Published 11 months ago by S. Ibrahim
5.0 out of 5 starsWhat a book!

In the interest of disclosure: This was recommended to me by an online acquaintance who knows the author. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Randomnerd

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