Tag: g-cinema

UPDATE #118 (5/14/26): G-Fest 2026 Panels Revealed! Here’s Where You can Spot Me at This Year’s Con

Greetings, cool person!

Ah, May. The birds are beginning to chirp again. Green leaves are slowly but persistently sprouting from tree branches. Tax refunds are being deposited and promptly spent with reckless abandon. Endless fields of “CONGRATULATIONS GRAD!” signs wave in the delicate spring breeze as you drive down any given American suburban street. (If you’re a grad, congratulations!)

And, if you’re a Godzilla fan with a convention budget, you’re likely gearing up for the madness that is G-Fest.

As of this writing, the annual gathering of the kaiju nerds is just around the corner, and as usual, I’ll be a super busy bee at this year’s show! Every summer, the number of panels and events I’m invited to participate in grows, and this year (no joke), I was asked to join nearly 20 different panels. Flattering though that may be (and I sincerely thank everyone who wanted me to be a part of their presentations), doing that many panels would almost certainly put me in the ER. So, after some whittling, the final number comes to seven standard panels, one interview, a workshop, and a few surprises I can’t reveal just yet!

While locations and exact times have yet to be revealed, here’s where you can spot me at this year’s G-Fest:

  • “G-Cinema” Author Daniel DiManna Interview: That’s right… not only am I participating in the usual lineup of film retrospectives and special interest discussions, but (and I’m still pinching myself), I’m actually being interviewed about my new book, “G-Cinema,” live on an opening day panel! Absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be more grateful.
  • Shin Godzilla: 10 Years Later: Hard to believe this stone-cold classic is a decade old! Nick Crispino, John Schuermann, Helmi Abdat, Brendan Morley, and yours truly are teaming up to celebrate this milestone anniversary, complete with some never-before-seen photos from my visit to the film’s 2016 premier in Tokyo!
  • Daimajin 60th Anniversary: Ready to get stoned? Elijah Thomas and I are teaming up to celebrate everyone’s favorite living statue on his big 60th birthday. We’ll be talking about the oft-ignored origins of the 1966 trilogy, the deeper cultural themes that hallmark the series, and a whole slew of post-Showa appearances, homages, unmade films, and much more!
  • Kaiju Writers Unite: G-Fest’s annual writer Q&A is back, and this year, Ryan Collins, Donny Winter, Christofer Nigro, Nathan Marchand, and moi will be answering your questions about kaiju word-crafting. Come curious!
  • Rebirth of Mothra 30th Anniversary: The first installment in this magical, childhood-favorite trilogy is now three decades old, and it deserves a long-overdue spotlight. I’m joining fellow ROM evangelists Donny Winter and Danielle Fey to give this film, and its two sequels, some love.
  • Discussing Brush of the God: This summer, the landmark final film (and directorial debut) of revered monster maker Keizo Murase is coming to Blu-ray. Join SRS Cinema’s Ron Bonk, Elijah Thomas, and I as we tell the story behind this remarkable kaiju masterpiece, the singularly incredible man who made it, and the journey to create its definitive, bonus feature-packed home video release.
  • Godzilla 1994: Before Tristar’s 1998 Godzilla hit theaters, the King of the Monsters nearly had a wilder, more faithful adaptation produced in the mid-nineties. Greg Noneman, Sam Iller, Nicholas Latimer, and I are diving deep into this unmade epic to discuss its production history and why it was never completed.
  • War of the Gargantuas: The Frankenstein Brothers Turn 60: Last year, I had the distinct honor of celebrating the 60th anniversary of Frankenstein Conquers the World at G-Fest. This summer, we’re doing it again for the sequel! Kevin Horn, Brady Johnson, Jr., John Schuermann, and I will be giving this kaiju classic its due with lots of production history and fond memories.
  • PLUS, the Writers’ Workshop is returning for another round of kaiju flash fiction crafting. If you’re a fellow writer who’s looking to hone your skills and have some creative fun, I hope you’ll join us!

As you can see, this is gonna be another packed year for me. I can’t wait to tackle all these panels (plus those extra surprises I mentioned), and as always, I’m incredibly excited to see you in person, too. (If you spot me, don’t hesitate to say hi and chat me up!)

The full G-Fest 2026 panel schedule (complete with confirmed days/times/locations) should be going live soon, so stay tuned to the G-Fest website and social media pages. In the meantime, thank you for being here, and for your amazing support in all my crazy kaiju endeavors. I hope to see you in July!

-Daniel

UPDATE #116 (5/6/26): I’m Officially a Guest of Kaiju Go! in Dallas, TX!

Happy Wednesday, cool people!

It feels like the announcements and reveals are swooping in from all directions these days, and today is no different. Because, dear reader, we’re officially in convention season, and between G-Fest in July and a few other events I’ll be attending, the next few months will be an absolute blur… in a good way!

But before we talk about G-Fest (which should be the subject of the next update), I’m absolutely thrilled beyond words to announce that I’ll be hitting up another event in August. And this one’s incredibly special… because I’ll be attending as an honest-to-goodness guest of the show!

On Saturday, August 15th, I’ll be heading to Dallas, Texas, as a guest of Kaiju Go! This awesome event – organized by the equally awesome Jay Key (he of Toku Toy Town and YHS on Monster Island fame) – is a celebration of all things kaiju, featuring toys, art, and monster films on the big screen.

And that’s where I come in, because (holy cow…) I’ll have the incredible honor of introducing a screening of 1966’s Ebirah: Horror of the Deep (A.K.A. Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster). How amazing is that?! I’ll also be bringing copies of my book for those interested in bringing home a copy (and I might even have a few new cool things to chat about by then, too…).

Here’s the official announcement from the event:

ANNOUNCEMENT: To introduce Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, we are thrilled to announce the Kaiju Go! debut of noted kaiju author, Daniel DiManna! The Ohio native’s recent release, G-CINEMA: AN EXPLORATION AND CELEBRATION OF JAPAN’S MONSTER KING (Fonthill Media), is a detailed and well-researched academic look at Godzilla, his origins, and cultural importance. DiManna’s contributions to the kaiju community have been plentiful over the years, including launching the Godzilla Novelization Project, countless articles in G-Fan, Kaiju Ramen, and Prehistoric Magazine, a frequent consultant for SRS Cinema, and the go-to guest on podcasts and panels throughout the country.

Don’t forget to pick-up G-Cinema at most major retailers, including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/G-Cinema…/dp/1036152146…

Needless to say, this invitation means the world to me. Having the opportunity to host an official theatrical screening of a Godzilla film is a dream come true, and being brought to this show as a guest is an extra-generous helping of icing on an already delicious cake. A massive THANK YOU to my friend Jay Key (whom you should absolutely support by following the hyperlinks above) and the Kaiju Go crew for inviting me to be part of this amazing event. It’s gonna be a great time!

See you in Dallas! (And see you back here for more announcements and updates soon!)

-Daniel

UPDATE #114 (4/13/26): Wait… I’m A Rondo Hatton Award Nominee?! How YOU Can Vote in This Year’s Awards!

Hi there, readers! Time for one of those fun announcements I promised.

Spring has officially, spring, and that can mean only one thing… it’s Rondo time!

Every year, the prestigious Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards recognize and celebrate the very best of the previous year’s horror, monster, and sci-fi creations, ranging from films and TV episodes to books, Blu-rays, podcasts, magazines, writers, artists, horror hosts, and beyond. The Rondos are a big deal, made even more special by the fact that you – yes, you – get to decide all the winners with your votes.

The nominees for the 2026 Rondos were announced a few weeks ago, and I was immediately greeted by two special surprises:

  1. Godzilla got his own section this year, just for books celebrating 70 years of the King of the Monsters (plus a well-deserved appearance by Mothra).
  2. A book I contributed to was one of the nominees!

That’s right, folks… among such heavy hitters as Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski’s incredible Godzilla: The First 70 Years and Jeffrey Angles’ new translation of The Luminous Fairies and Mothra is Peter H. Brothers’ similarly fantastic Gojira 1954: A 70th Anniversary Retrospective, which includes (gasp!) an essay from yours truly!

The essay in question – entitled “Ambiguity in the Key of G: Gojira and the Horror of the Unknown” – explores how the 1954 film’s refusal to fully explain or rationalize Godzilla’s nature (from his destructive motivations to his murky origins) taps into a primal, unknowable fear, and how that terror stands as one of the film’s greatest – if often unsung – strengths. It’s an essay that’s received a lot of wonderful feedback from readers, and it’s meant a lot to see folks enjoy it so much.

It’s a tremendous privilege and honor to be counted as a Rondo-nominated writer for my contribution to this book, and it truly means the world. Congratulations to the many talented writers who supplied interviews and wrote essays, analyses, and retrospectives for this book, and my eternal gratitude to Peter H. Brothers for allowing me to be a small part of it.

Feel free to share the above photo around social media to help spread the word about the awards! And don’t forget: the Rondos are powered by your votes, and there are plenty of amazing kaiju books, articles, magazine covers, and more for you to choose from!

To vote, all you have to do is copy the Rondo ballot (found at the link below) into an email, choose your favorites in the categories you want to vote in (it doesn’t have to be all the categories), and email them to David Colton at taraco@aol.com no later than Friday night at midnight, May 1st, 2026.

Click here for the full ballot and more info on how to vote for your favorites!

Thank you all so much. Your support is one of the big reasons why I get to work on cool stuff like this, and I remain eternally grateful to you for continuing to believe in me.

I’ll be back soon with even more announcements (including info on a documentary I’m working on, more info about my book G-Cinema, G-Fest announcements, additional writing projects, the next GNP short story, and… more books?).

More to come! Until then, stay kind, stay safe, and stay grateful. I’m glad you’re here.

-Daniel

UPDATE #113 (4/8/26): “G-Cinema” Preorder Link Roundup

Salutations, readers. Happy April!

As of today, we are a mere three weeks away from the U.S. release of my new book, G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King. After a two-year journey, it’s hard to believe we’re this close!

Over the last few months, as the book has begun to roll out around the world (Amazon U.K. is already needing to replenish their stock, so THANK YOU to everyone across the pond who grabbed a copy!), I’ve gotten a lot of inquiries from readers wanting to know if the book is coming to their country. I’ve done my best to keep up with all your questions, but figured there might be a more helpful solution.

A few weeks ago, I began rounding up links to every North American and international bookseller I’ve found that’s selling (or will be selling) the book. All those links currently live on the Press & Appearances page on the GNP website, and more are being added as I find them.

So, if you’re curious about where to get the book in your country, that list is your best bet. And if you know of a bookseller that’s not listed and has the book for sale, please let me know and I’ll be sure to add it!

The list (as of the day I’m writing this update) is below, for your convenience:

There you have it! 15 countries, 20 booksellers and counting… it’s pretty surreal to see it all listed out like this. What an amazing experience this continues to be.

I’ll be back with more book updates and announcements (plus some additional BIG projects and opportunities I’m finally able to talk about!) very soon. Until then, stay happy, stay kind, and stay grateful for the blessings and amazing experiences in your life.

Thank you for continuing to join me on this journey. More fun to come!

-Daniel

UPDATE #112 (2/4/26): Full Cover Reveal for “G-Cinema” (And Other Book Info/Shenanigans)

Hi there, GNP readers… welcome to 2026!

Oh, the year started 35 days ago? We’re somehow already a month into 2026? Well, in that case… welcome to February!

All kidding aside, this is the first GNP update of the year, and it’s set to kick off an absolute doozy of an 11 months. There’s so much in the pipeline this year – from massive writing and home video projects to new GNP chapters/books/short stories, convention appearances, and exciting collaborations – that my head is spinning from just thinking about how insane and busy 2026 will be. But don’t worry, it’s the good kind of insane and busy!

And to kick things off, it’s time to talk about possibly the biggest thing on my list: a little somethin’ I wrote that’s finally set to release this year…

That’s right, it’s official… my new book “G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King” has been revealed in all its fiery, pre-orderable, “holy crap this is actually happening” glory!

A few days ago, the book’s publisher, Fonthill Media (a member of the Pen And Sword Books family of publishers) did a full reveal of the newly orange-ified cover (a slight tweak of the lighter-colored version I shared last year – isn’t it friggin’ striking?) and jumped full steam into the promotion process. They were kind enough to share the book via social media, both on their own pages and by sharing links in multiple Godzilla fan groups on Facebook. All the while, they and I worked behind the scenes to finalize everything from copy edits to image proof approvals.

And now, at long last, the final product is done and ready to hit bookstore shelves.

Absolutely. Surreal.

Since I’ve gotten some questions from readers about the specifics of the release, here’s some quick info on what you can expect, when you can expect it, and how all this madness is gonna play out:

  • The book actually has two release dates. Since Fonthill Media is based in the UK, merry old England will be getting the book first, and very soon, since it’s releasing on February 28th! Two months later, it’ll release in the US on April 28th. Think of it like, oh, say, a classic Godzilla film getting released in Japan first, and then popping up in America afterword. If you’ve seen multiple release dates for the book online, that’s why!
  • The book will not just be on Amazon. This is a full release and will be available via multiple online booksellers and – most remarkably – in physical bookstores! Links for a handful of these stores are at the bottom of this post.
  • While currently listed at 224 pages on most websites, “G-Cinema” will actually be 242 pages of text and 274 pages in total (the extra 32 pages are full-color image plates). So, you’ll be getting even more Godzilla history than advertised!

Last but not least, here’s the final synopsis for the book:

He’s iconic. He’s atomic. And at 70 years young, he’s still the King of the Monsters!

Ever since his silver screen debut back in 1954, Godzilla has maintained a mighty hold on the collective imaginations of cinema lovers around the world. Originally conceived as a powerful metaphor for Japan’s fears of nuclear destruction, the character has undergone a complex metamorphosis over an incredible seven decades and more than three dozen films. From allegory to superhero, from atom-age menace to children’s matinee star, from arthouse to grindhouse and back again, Godzilla has survived by adapting and reacting to the changing cultures and generational expectations of the countries—and the filmmakers—that bring him to life. In this exploration and celebration of Godzilla’s first 70 years, the full story of Japan’s kaiju icon is revealed through detailed histories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, cultural connections, and contextualizing thematic analyses. Beginning with his postwar origins and continuing through his many rises, falls, revitalizations, and reinterpretations, this comprehensive companion to the Godzilla franchise seeks to place the character in his proper historical perspective and, by doing so, shed light on the depth, the flexibility, and the fun that’s kept him relevant and beloved for generations.

And, just for fun, here’s the author bio that will appear on the back flap:

Daniel DiManna is a film historian, artist, voice actor, and professional goober. An award-winning marketing writer by day and an unapologetic monster-nerd by night, Daniel is the author of multiple short stories/novellas and creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project, a fan-driven endeavor to write novel adaptations of every Japanese G-flick. His academic writing has been published via multiple magazines/websites. He is a frequent panelist at G-Fest and can be heard hosting audio commentaries for SRS Cinema’s kaiju Blu-rays and guesting on multiple kaiju-related podcasts. Daniel lives in Sylvania, Ohio, surrounded by DVDs, books, and an unhealthy number of monster toys.

I’m truly speechless at how dreamlike and borderline unreal this all is. It’s one thing to sit down at a desk and do some writing – something I do every day of my life – and another thing entirely to see a book with my name on it slowly coalesce and come into being. To craft and publish a book has been a dream of mine since childhood, an aspirational goal that – despite the hard work and good fortune I’d need to get there – I always hoped in my heart was possible.

And now, here it is. An honest-to-goodness book, written by me, available to purchase from just about anywhere books are sold – including physically at several of the world’s largest bookstores.

Just… wow.

Thank you so very much to the amazing people at Fonthill Media and Pen and Sword Books (Jay Slater, Jasper Hadman, editor Tony Walton, cover designer George Kalchev, and a remarkable team of typesetters and artists) for making this book look like a million bucks, and for allowing me to take this journey. You only get to write your first book once, and I’m so fortunate to have done so with this amazing team.

And thank you to you, the readers of the GNP, for following me this far and being the most supportive crew of Godzilla nerds a fella could ask for. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to adequately express how profoundly grateful I am for the opportunity to have brought this dream project to life, and your continuing belief in me is a crucial and humbling cornerstone in that opportunity. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

“G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King” releases in bookstores on February 28th in the United Kingdom and on April 28th in the US of A. You can secure your copy from your bookseller of choice at the links below:

All of these links (and any future ones) will be added to the Press & Appearances page on the GNP website. If you’re looking for a specific place to buy the book, that’ll be your one-stop shop moving forward!

And now, the countdown to release can officially begin! The next few months will be an exciting time; I’m already coordinating interview requests and planning for signings and maybe even a few surprises at this year’s G-Fest. It’ll be a great time, and I’ll keep you all informed and updated as cool things continue to happen. What a gift all of this is, and what an extraordinary year it will be! Thank you for coming along on the journey.

I’ll be back soon with more. Until then, stay happy, stay safe, and stay kind.

All the best,

-Daniel

UPDATE #110: A New Godzilla History Book Written by Me… Coming to Bookstores This Winter!

“Godzilla is special. This is the story of why…”

Hi there, and welcome to one heck of an update!

This announcement isn’t strictly related to the Godzilla Novelization Project; it’s not the reveal of a new chapter, nor does it tease an upcoming adaptation. But it’s safe to say that nothing I’m about to reveal would’ve been possible if not for the incredible community that’s formed around the GNP.

Ever since launching this project seven-and-a-half years ago, I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities to show my love for all things Big-G. Through convention appearances and podcasts, through silly social media posts and, of course, through writing. I’ve gotten to retell my favorite films in prose, explore their stories in unique ways, weave a few original monster tales here and there, and both explore and celebrate the history and meaning of the genre through articles, essays, reviews, retrospectives, and even an audio commentary (with more on the way!). I couldn’t begin to express my gratitude for every amazing bit of it.

And now, close to a decade after starting this journey (and more than two decades since my childhood self was first inspired by the King of the Monsters), my path has led me to the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

I had the surreal pleasure of revealing this dream exactly three weeks ago at G-Fest, during the Writer’s Panel on Friday afternoon. I then spent the next three days, 12 hours, seven panels, and two workshops promoting it for the single best crowd I could’ve announced it to. Literally hundreds of people got to hear the news, and now, it’s time all of you did, too…

I’m incredibly excited to officially reveal my new book: “G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King.”

Across its 224 pages (32 of them in full color with images/artifacts scanned from my personal collection), this book seeks to tell the entire story of Godzilla and – through the “Exploration and Celebration” of the title – answer the question of why Godzilla is so enduring, so beloved, and so incredibly special.

Here’s the official synopsis:

He’s iconic. He’s atomic. And at 70 years young, he’s still the King of the Monsters.

Ever since his silver screen debut back in 1954, Godzilla has maintained a mighty hold on the collective imaginations of cinema lovers around the world. Originally conceived as a powerful metaphor for Japan’s fears of nuclear destruction, the character has undergone a complex metamorphosis over an incredible seven decades and more than three dozen films. From allegory to superhero, from atom-age menace to children’s matinee star, from arthouse to grindhouse and back again, Godzilla has survived by adapting and reacting to the changing cultures and generational expectations of the countries – and the filmmakers – that bring him to life.

In this exploration and celebration of Godzilla’s first 70 years, the full story of Japan’s kaiju icon is revealed through detailed histories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, cultural connections, and contextualizing thematic analyses. Beginning with his postwar origins and continuing through his many rises, falls, revitalizations, and reinterpretations, this comprehensive companion to the Godzilla franchise seeks to place the character in his proper historical perspective and, by doing so, shed light on the depth, the flexibility, and the fun that’s kept him relevant and beloved for generations.

The book is being published through the amazing folks at Fonthill Media, who will distribute it in both the United Kingdom and the United States. I owe them more than I could possibly put into words for allowing me to go on this journey, and I thank them dearly for giving this book a home.

There’s so much more to talk about regarding this book, but for now, mark your calendars… because “G-Cinema” is coming to bookstores (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.) in February 2026!

(Preorders will be opening soon, so keep your eye on the GNP’s social media – and this page on the website – for links when they become available.)

As I said above, I owe so, so much to the amazing readers who’ve supported the GNP for all these years. You’ve allowed me to celebrate Godzilla in ways my childhood self never would’ve thought possible, and now, in seven months’ time, my ultimate celebration of the franchise will be appearing on bookstore shelves. It’s surreal and humbling to even contemplate, and I have to keep reminding myself that it’s real. But real it is, and for making it possible, I thank you so very, very much. I hope you enjoy the book when it releases!

Until next time, please stay happy, stay safe, and stay kind.

With gratitude,

-Daniel