The Kaiju Movie that's not one | Warning from Space

Today I look at a film put out by Toho's once rival Studio Daiei. Uchūjin Tokyo ni Arawaru (Spacemen Appear in Tokyo) Released to Japanese cinemas in January 1956. The film has the honor of being the 1st Japanese science fiction movie to be in color, and it shines in that aspect as famous Avant-garde artist Tarō Okamoto was selected to be the color designer of the film, as well as the design the alien beings known as the Pairans. The film was later brought to America in 1964 as a TV Movie under the title Unknown Satellite Over Tokyo. Later it would be renamed Warning from Space.
Sources for information
Arrow Video Blu-Ray Audio commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV
Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: Showa Completion (1954 -1989)
Essay on artist Taro Okamoto by Japanese art historian Nick West
Essay on the production of the American edit of the film by David Cairns
Japanese Special Effects Cinema: Godfathers of Tokusatsu: Vol. 1
SF: The Japanese Science Fiction Film Encyclopedia
SCIFIST: Warning from Space Essay
Music
Art of Balance - World A, B, and C Music
Sonic Mega Collection Credits Theme
Fair Use Copyright Disclaimer: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

[@insomnibomb4830]

Yeah the advertisement kinda over sold this movie I think it’s fine as a film but I really do like Pairans it’s a unique design and the scenes in their ship are wonderfully surreal

[@yoda908]

Well the description of giant starfish technically isn't lying. The average sige of a starfish can reach up to 3 feet in diameter. So the size of the starfish in the movie which is about the average size for a human is giant in comparison to the average starfish diameter. From a certain point of view. And the idea of planet R sounds exactly like the whole planet x in real life that was set to collide into Earth a few years ago.

[@Dontuween]

Actually, I loved watching this movie as kid in the 1970s. Anything Japanese sci-fi intrigued me. KTLA Channel 5 played this many times back then, usually during the summer, probably to get a better feel of the intense heat the main characters were going through! I am glad that Arrow Video finally released this on blu-ray last year, so no more inferior public domain viewings.

[@Bishop545454]

They look like star shaped Telletubbies!

[@DanTheMan2150AD]

I really like these new deep dive videos you’ve decided to do. First Half Human and now Warning from Space, great stuff.

[@macdoeman4560]

I actually find the Pairans to be adorable! They look cute ^^ Kinda` hope to see more of them, one day ^^ That said, Starro immediately came to mind, the moment I saw the thumbnail. Glad I'm not the only one who ponders, if the Pairans influenced his design ^^

[@vernonzehr]

OH MY GOD!!! Finally, I find out what movie this was! I have been searching and searching for a movie with this ONE SCENE the only scene that I recalled from it when I was very young, maybe 6 or 7 years old. For many many years, practically my whole life, I would do a search for weird science fiction movies trying to describe my memory to find the title. I had a single scene from this movie in my head that I have never forgotten. For decades I have had a clear memory in my head of someone transforming from a star shaped lump of clay into a woman and also the reverse sequence. For a long time, I assumed since I was very young and my parents would never have let me watch a movie like this I must have turned it on to that one scene, but now I realize I must have seen the whole movie because I have memories of both sequences in my head, the transformation from a Pyran to a woman and woman to a Pyran. This image is so vividly clear in my memory even after 50 years. I do know at the time I was both terrified and utterly fascinated. That transformation as I recall was horrifying to me and I didn't understand it in the context of the plot (I was only 6), what would it be like to change like that? I just now found this whole movie on youtube and watched both sequences... wow... good god you have no idea what it's like to suddenly find a memory like this you haven't seen in 50 years. What a mind bender. Based on my age and where I remember watching this movie it would have to have been the late 60s, so the timing of the US release of this movie would have been right on the money. Straight to television around that same time. I can even remember the style and dirty off white plastic patina of the old black and white television.

[@CourteousKitsch]

I think Daiei had some of the best talent in the film industry, but were probably guilty of major studio interference. This is why their films have some of the most innovative ideas, cinematography, special effects, and design, but something always is off about the plot or it looks like money was not sunk into key effects, or marketing is completely misleading. This film is a great example. But I still love it, and have watched it about ten times.

[@sanguinelynx]

I had honestly forgotten about this movie. Great review, I liked the comparisons between the Japanese and Western releases.

[@Gappasaurus]

While this movie is definitely not the greatest, it is significant in the history of tokusatsu, and I adore it both genuinely & ironically for its wacky blend of alien visitation, mystery/thriller elements, disaster film tropes, and B-movie goofiness, mashed together like only the Japanese can do 😆 Thanks for highlighting this often-disregarded gem, Finz.

[@endofcentury7077]

I'm mostly pretty sure that the SMT Demon Decarabia is based off of the aliens from this movie.

[@gadjiberibimba6799]

Dude, I agree 100% ! Decarabia ! I just wanted to post it but you were quicker...

[@SeantheDracunyan76]

I was looking for this movi3 because of smt's decarabia

[@fredyrodriguez8881]

Never thought I see another Japanese Sea Star creature then Pestar from Ultraman

[@Seantendo]

I immediately recognized the starfish fellas from the Daicon IV video.

[@BlueBeluga]

I have the same dvd collection. I remember when I’d always watch the extras more than the actual movies as a kid lol.

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

Great review and deep dive man. I have only seen bits and pieces of this and it is definitely a odd one. The scene were the Alien shapeshifts into the singer is a pretty cool effect, shame her character wasn't that interesting though. Wonder if she inspired the creators of other alien female characters taking the form of famous models like Lee from Critters 2, Serleena from MIB 2 and Miss Martian from Dc comics etc. haha. Keep up the great work

[@lg6884]

I have that exact compilation, it almost put me off the Gamera franchise since it was my introduction to the Guardian of the Universe, thankfully I couldn't resist getting the Arrow collection while I had the chance. Where I found out that the compilation had the worst version, which Arrow also included for the fans of it, and I was able to enjoy the film subbed. I haven't finished the Showa series yet, but I can see why the Heisei trilogy is frequently considered some of the best kaiju movies ever made.

[@jackhamilton9604]

you should cover more underrated Tokusatsu films, like one you mentioned in this video, Gorath. If you do a review of that could you think of a way Maguma could have been better included

[@michaelconnors7668]

Color films in Japan: Toho and Toei would put Hibari Masora into many color musicals in the mid 1950's. High end historical movies and Toei's All Star Productions would also get color. In the late fifties Toho, Toei, Shochiku, Daiei etc. switched to color to compete with TV. In the mid sixties with the Japanese domestic box office contracting the movie studios would switch back to black and white as a cost savings. Mifune was in black and white movies in the mid 1960's. That was a big mistake by Toho, considering it could sell his movies to foreign markets. Katsu's Yakuza Soldiers series was shot in black and white, and so was Ichikawa Raizo;s Shinobi series. There are others. Daiei was a much smaller studio than Toho. It did not have the facilities or equipment that Toho had. That makes the modeling and effects shots more impressive. In the late 1940's when there was American censorship of Japanese movies the production companies had to come up with some product. Daiei made some American style detective movies and some Universal style monster movies. 1949's Invisable The Man Appears featured the effects photography of Tsuburaya Eiji. Tsuburaya had left Toho sometime before, but he did not like working at Daiei and he would rejoin Toho soon after. This movie also featured the otokoyaku Mizunoe Takiko so the casting is unusual..

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Do you mean Hibari Misora? She was both a legendary Enka singer and a pretty good actress!

[@michaelconnors7668]

@@SlapstickGenius23 Thanks for the catch. Hibari was a huge star for Shochiku and then for Toei. She mostly made musicals, but had a few non misical movies.

[@AmtrakFunkandDiscoFan]

This film is the influence for the 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[@LarryParamedic1]

The quality of the video you displayed is really good!!

[@Dr.Qux3]

Keep up the great work 👍

[@SiblingStoryProdOfficial]

You should Review jhonny sokko aka giant robo aka journey into space 1967 or gappa the Triphibian monster

[@BlUsKrEEm]

I loved Gappa as a kid, but all I remember as an adult is the commercial for the movie that was included in my copy. It was a really catchy ad.

[@Tboydd]

@@BlUsKrEEm there is a blu ray of it

[@Titan52berg]

Guys in cloth costumes with fake eyes attached to the center.... a whole different level of absurd. Oh! How unique! The eyes have lights in them! Now, the 'star creatures' are really formidable! Don'tneed this one in my library....

[@fatangrygeek5746]

0:20 - I used to own that DVD set when I was younger. It introduced me to Gamera after all.

[@michaelchoman1625]

You forgot to mention that Arrow Video officially released this film on Blu-ray in 2021 and in a superior print.

[@callanhutchison1871]

This channel is steadily improving

[@DanDaFreakinMan]

I really like Gorath for some reason

[@queenglamazona8789]

Gorath is sort of like a Japanese Version of a George Pal film.

[@racheledwards2352]

Just discovered your channel. Man, I love it. Keep doing what you are doing.👍👍

[@marcellawong229]

Those starfish aliens appear in the beginning of "The Evil Brain From Outer Space" with Starman !!!⭐🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟

[@marcellawong229]

@@Emmanuel-ms8pr not the same costumes.

[@marcellawong229]

@@Emmanuel-ms8pr ok , bruh.

[@ruffruggednraw]

Basically the first thing when I thought about seeing those starfish aliens was “If Starro was a good guy”

[@compherut]

I love this movie. Such a hidden gem

[@MrJans3n]

I absolutely love the poster shown at 11:28. May have to get a print of that!

[@khaymenbrock645]

I had this set as a kid. The dvd this movie on was missing when I bought it, so I never saw it.

[@queenglamazona8789]

I had it on VHS.

[@biffmercury]

I think the Four Star / AIP-TV version is in the public domain but the film was given a really nice Bluray release by Arrow Films and I guess whoever currently owns the rights to the Daiei library supplied Arrow with a nice clean, uncut copy. It’s still no masterpiece but since all I’d ever seen before were heavily chopped up, faded-looking 16mm TV print transfers, I was very happy to finally get a copy the way it was meant to be seen.

[@ethanreynolds3522]

Hi there Paper Fiz. Love you video's. I enjoyed you vid on Half Human (1955) and I think you should do one on Godzilla vs. Megalon. Considering that it is seen by many as the worst Godzilla film, I've been doing my own Fan-fic on it and I think I can improve it.

[@BasementDweller_]

Would have never known about this film of it wasn’t for you making this video.

[@totalnerd5674]

It would be nice if someone did a remake of this movie, since it is in public domain.

[@orinoco500]

Great review, I don't know if you done it if not can you review the Mysterians. Thnaks

[@salmaabdo]

Kinda reminds me of the movie Arrival

[@calumsanderson6741]

"Neglection" isn't a word. It's already there: "neglect".

[@Soundofsilence-j4d]

I love it for its inocents. I first saw it at ten years old. In 74. At 4pm. And mom rush me to mass on satureday. Ltr i watch it at 8pm. Late seventies with my dad. Then be on late in the morning. I have it on vhs from tv. I miss tv then. It was great not knowen these films and they be on tv.

[@sonic23233]

They look like the Zonder from Gaogaigar episode 23

[@d.s.archer5903]

6:32 Boring, perhaps, but SO easy on the eyes :)

[@queenglamazona8789]

It's weird how these Starfish Aliens also showed up briefly in the Star Man Movies.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Boy, can you review a few films about Tarzan competitors such as Kenya Boy and Buruuba?

[@danielleruigrok576]

I think the aliens from this movie inspired Staryu from Pokemon

[@monsterhunter5403]

"Kaiju" does not necessarily mean giant monsters. It translates from the Japanese as "strange creature". "Daikaiju" is translated as "giant strange creatures". Still a fun film, but no "daikaiju" to be found in it...

[@richardmeaney8408]

GREAT WORK LOVE WATCHING

[@vampsith]

The starfish men were the first super sentai team and you can’t change my mind

[@elmono6299]

They look like Starro the Conqueror from DC. 👁⭐️

[@orinoco500]

Very interesting, can you do The Mysterians?

[@sitarnut]

I always liked this movie...incongruities didn't worry me... also, there is a nice mood to some of the scenes, like the restaurant one at first of movie.

[@grapeshot]

Oh yeah so Suicide Squad like, the updated version. And oh yeah it did mind control Superman on Batman Beyond.

[@CCootauco]

Starmie from pokemon is a combination of ultraman and these pairans.

[@eddieblancher7557]

It kind of reminds of starro from D.C. comics.

[@rainemd6039]

Same

[@Morbfan6189]

The Aliens Look Like Staro The Conquerer

[@Zalachai]

Those starfish look like decarabi from the smt series.

[@SiblingStoryProdOfficial]

No way just started watching this this week!

[@M8tallicJi8ngshi]

LOL I remember watching this when I was a kid!

[@651702471]

I watched this film just out of curiosity, I was expecting something like War of the World Wars, but it end it up more like a disaster film. Not to say I was disappointed with the film, in fact I love the cinematography, and the destruction scene were quite well done!

[@snuggery6486]

0:46 dude holy shit I actually have that dvd

[@animezilla4486]

I was wondering have you played Gigabash yet

[@davebooth5608]

Dude, I have that DVD set!! Ha!! Love your content Ol’ Bud!! Keep it up!!

[@teedup8995]

So do I, plus another video collection of movies from the same company which this movie would have fit in better on.

[@falsehero2001]

It’s either real or it’s a dream there’s nothing that is in between.

[@RudeBoyKyle94]

Now I've seen The Suicide Squad sir! You cannot fool me!

[@RudeBoyKyle94]

We had the exact same exposure to this film actually haha! Great set

[@mikehunt4986]

17:31 The Mysterians was released one year AFTER Warning From Space, not one year prior.

[@chinocracy]

The "Unknown Satellite" title might have been because Sputnik had been launched by the time the movie showed in the US, and "satellite" was just a fashionable space word at the time.

[@TheEpicLeopardSeal]

Daiei and Toho have kinda generic aliens (I'm so sorry). But yeah, I imagine a world where daiei still has all of their monster films (like this one, Daimajin, and Gamera) just long enough to probably be featured in the monsterverse. 😞

[@mrgodzillaraptors8632]

Pretty sure legendary wont brother with daiei

[@M8tallicJi8ngshi]

@@mrgodzillaraptors8632 they wont because daiei and toho are rivals

[@TheDuckyDino]

I wonder if the Star Aliens from Part Time UFO are based off of these

[@YourLocalGummiBearsFan]

Can you Re-Upload One of Your Videos TItled "Why Kaiju Movies Are so Pricey?"

[@kuitaranheatmorus9932]

This video sure was pretty interesting

[@TheRunningLeopard]

Oh hey, I had that same bootleg dvd set!

[@chuk19100]

This movie was so weird

[@loonytunescrazy]

WHen i just saw that monster I just though of Starro from Dc conics

[@sgtmajor5700]

I know this movie as "Astronomers make other scientists look bad"

[@jonatanluna1061]

17:11 I'm clearly not well versed enough in Toho movies because i had no idea Gorath had it's own movie. I only knew it as "the planet from Godzilla Final Wars." It's so cool how many references to older toho projects were stuffed into that movie. Like Manda and the Atragon (Gotengo) too for example.

[@khaymenbrock645]

Gorath is the movie that the giant walrus Kaiju comes from.

[@jonatanluna1061]

@@khaymenbrock645 Alright, now i NEED to watch it.

[@khaymenbrock645]

@@jonatanluna1061 The walrus only shows up for a bit at the end, and is in no way the main plot point, but it's fun!

[@queenglamazona8789]

They put Rockets on the North Pole and move the Planet Earth away from Gorath, Avoiding a Collision. The Science in this Movie is a Bit Wonky.

[@gregormcscrungus9727]

Fun fact: they show up in a Gamera manga

[@limmeingo3428]

Also can you review The Last Dinosaur

[@queenglamazona8789]

Love that Movie. Not sure if the Title refers to the T-Rex in the film, Or to Richard Boone's Character.

[@memonk11]

Glory to Gorzo!

[@TIMWReigo]

I watched this one time and vowed not to watch it again cuz I was bored af watching this

[@theblueoctopus4494]

We need more cyclopeon starfish movies.

[@soysaucetilapia2893]

ah yes t-posing patricks go brrrt zappp pewpewpew

[@BobStoneIsCool3]

Literally pillows 💀

[@Tominatort69420]

The giant starfish reminds of Starro from The Suicide Squad

[@KingOfTheMonsters07]

Starro the Movie.

[@frown]

Iiiii'm fairly certain MST3K/the dudes with Riff Trax did this movie...

[@Gappasaurus]

MST3K never riffed it (yet at least), but Rifftrax did… unfortunately it was a “Rifftrax Presents” release, meaning it was done by guest riffers, which never land for me ☹️

[@frown]

@@Gappasaurus Guest riffers just don't have the chops.

[@thebirdofbludhaven8647]

Looks like staro

[@melissalobao7331]

Why wiki zilla has not let u guest host a video

[@elijahzilla619]

Yeah war of the worlds is basically you have two movies one that is from the 50s and the other is the modern day version

[@thundertits]

just curious what movies are daiei doing today?

[@rileymanders2167]

so smart

[@limmeingo3428]

When is the Darkhorse Godzilla Part 1 coming?

[@eugenegodzilla946]

Starfish monster

[@ghidorahzetto283]

Red Illuminati xd

[@billybatson8657]

It's a Kaiju movie, just not a "dai kaiju" movie.

[@sonic23233]

Is it a cheap toku film?

[@BaldPerspective]

2:32 What's that poster in the middle?

[@PaperFinz]

The Legend of the White Serpent. Toho's 1st color Motion Picture

[@BaldPerspective]

@@PaperFinz Thank you, homie. I would love to hear your take on Gorath eventually. The apocalyptic tone, Maguma, & my difficulty in being able to watch it just have me wildly interested in it.

[@Emmanuel-ms8pr]

I mean I love the plot of this movie when The aliens warned the people of the planet to destroy other planet but seriously they should have send the aliens to USA and the Soviet Union to used their nuclear weapons to stop the planet who is trying to collide with the earth but instead they just went to japan and it doesn’t have nuclear weapons 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@ehlanabelle]

Spacemen Appear in Tokyo: I Was The First Movie to be Officially Shot in Color Toho: Hold My First Ever Kaiju Movie to be Created With Colorization

[@nathansmith8845]

I liked it but the print wasn't so good