The Monster Island Film Vault

Moonlighting Ninjas Media

A Podcast Seeking Entertainment and Enlightenment through Tokusatsu. Hosted by the ”kaiju academic” himself, Nathan Marchand.

  1. Episode 108 – ‘Ultraman: The Adventure Begins’ vs. The Cel Cast | The Ultra Journey

    5D AGO

    Episode 108 – ‘Ultraman: The Adventure Begins’ vs. The Cel Cast | The Ultra Journey

    Hello, Kaiju Lovers, and welcome season five! It kicks off with the appropriately-titled Ultraman: The Adventure Begins, an animated movie produced in 1987 by Hanna-Barbera. Yes, the studio that brought you Superfriends and Scooby-Doo made the first all-original Ultraman movie! Nate could think of no better guests for this than Drew Dodgen and Jacob Heron (who also created the cover art for this episode) from The Cel Cast. Given that this episode officially marks MIFV’s induction into the Culture Box Network, it’s even more appropriate. While Nate battles weird headaches all episode, he and them Cel Cast boys dive deep into this failed TV pilot and discuss…“diabeetus.” Yeah, it confused Jimmy From NASA, too. To celebrate the Ultra Series’ 60th anniversary and get the uninitiated up to speed, the Toku Topic is a crash course in the history of the Ultraman franchise. Take your first step on The Ultra Journey! For full shownotes, including a bibliography of sources, go to this episode's post on the MIFV website: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2026/02/11/episode-108-ultraman-the-adventure-begins-vs-the-cel-cast-the-ultra-journey/.  Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, and Francis Chopin. You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Timestamps: Introduction: 0:00-15:20 Entertaining Info Dump: 15:20-26:40 Toku Talk: 26:40-2:06:03 Culture Box Ad (The Cel Cast): 2:06:03-2:07:12 Toku Topic (A Crash Course in the Ultra Series): 2:07:12-3:10:17 Outro (listener feedback and housekeeping): 3:10:17-3:22:50 Credits: 3:22:50-end Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #ultraman, #theultrajourney, #tsuburayaproductions © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    3h 25m
  2. Episode 107.5: MIFV Season 5 – “The Ultra Journey” | PROMO TRAILER

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    Episode 107.5: MIFV Season 5 – “The Ultra Journey” | PROMO TRAILER

    The Ultra Series is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and MIFV is throwing a year-long own party! Join Nate Marchand as he gives on friends new and old to discuss the greatest cinematic outings of Japan’s favorite superhero, Ultraman. Not only that, you get more “Godzilla Redux” and an amazing assortment of Patreon-sponsored episodes! Now, if only Nate can figure out what’s giving him such a headache…. Check out the full list of (tentative) season 5 episodes on the MIFV website: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/episode-list/season-5-the-ultra-journey-coming-soon/.   This trailer’s music was “Ultraman Rap” (artist unknown). Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, and Francis Chopin. You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors…supposedly. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #giantmonsters, #ultraman, #henshinheroes © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    5 min
  3. MIFV Season 5 Prelude: “I Should Be Dead” | Storyline Season Premiere

    6D AGO · BONUS

    MIFV Season 5 Prelude: “I Should Be Dead” | Storyline Season Premiere

    Nate finds himself floating in oblivion. Terror’s teeth tear into his very soul. A bright silhouette reaches for him, and he takes his hand—and wakes up surrounded by Uber-Moguera’s burning wreckage, unscathed. His rescuer, Jet Jaguar, takes him to the Island’s infirmary. Aside from piercing headaches, he has a clean bill of health. But something haunts him. Something that saved him…something that shares his body…something…or someone? Ultraman Nu theme song by SilvrSage (https://silvrsage.com/). Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, and Francis Chopin. You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors…supposedly. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #giantmonsters, #ultraman, #henshinheroes © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    21 min
  4. MIFV Interview Series: A Chat with Rebecca Reynolds, Author of The Ultra Academy Book Series

    JAN 28 · BONUS

    MIFV Interview Series: A Chat with Rebecca Reynolds, Author of The Ultra Academy Book Series

    Rebecca Reynolds is living the life, as far as I care: she gets to write middle grade books about Japan's favorite superhero, Ultraman. Book 1 of The Ultra Academy, entitled Beware the Baleful Baltan, was published last fall by Sky Turtle Press as part of Tsuburaya Productions push to make the Ultra Series an international brand. I discuss the writing process and why Ultraman is more important than ever with Rebecca and her publisher, the Eisner Award-winning Steve Smith. Intro music by Kairi (Shun Yogei). Buy the book: https://a.co/d/4NpSRe1. Watch the original video version of this interview on the MIFV YouTube (link). Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support! You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #giantmonsters, #books, #booktube, #ultraman, #ultraacademy © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    1h 48m
  5. Episode 107 Epilogue: “Ignoble Sacrifice” | Season 4 Storyline Finale

    JAN 21 · BONUS

    Episode 107 Epilogue: “Ignoble Sacrifice” | Season 4 Storyline Finale

    Jimmy From NASA breaks out of Uber-Moguera's last escape pod, which floats in the Pacific near Monster Island. He is rescued by Kaguya on the HEAT Seeker. She tells Jimmy his mecha crashed on the Beta Site, and he demands to be taken there—to find Nate. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support! You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV © 2025. 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    11 min
  6. MIFV Interview Series: Dr. Jeffrey Angles on 'The Luminous Fairies and Mothra'

    JAN 13 · BONUS

    MIFV Interview Series: Dr. Jeffrey Angles on 'The Luminous Fairies and Mothra'

    Nathan sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Angles for a conversation on his next upcoming kaiju novel translation: The Luminous Fairies and Mothra. This short three-part book was the world's introduction to the "Queen of the Monsters," and it has a potent place in Japanese history and literary tradition. Learn about this and more in this interview! Order the book: https://a.co/d/016Tybg. Watch the original video version of this interview on the MIFV YouTube (https://youtube.com/live/NPwJ0zTjPGk?feature=share) or The Worlds of Nathan Marchand YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/live/7IYvHjV2YKA?feature=share). Listen to Nathan and Becky “Bex” Smith discuss Mothra (1961): https://tinyurl.com/MIFV-59-Mothra-1961. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support! You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #Mothra, #LuminousFairiesAndMothra, #giantmonsters, #books, #booktube © 2025 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    2h 52m
  7. Episode 107: 'The Amazing Colossal Man' & 'War of the Colossal Beast' | Patreon | Season 4 Finale

    JAN 12

    Episode 107: 'The Amazing Colossal Man' & 'War of the Colossal Beast' | Patreon | Season 4 Finale

    Hello, Kaiju Lovers. Jimmy From NASA here. I’m writing the shownotes for this episode, because, as you’ll hear, Nate had a hard time during this broadcast. In fact, he’s been having a hard time all season; he was just good at hiding it on the air. I wanted to let you know before hearing this. Anyway, Nate discusses a Patreon-sponsored double feature from former (and future?) MIFV MAX member Brad “Batman” Eddleman with The Amazing Colossal Man and War of the Colossal Beast (1957 and 1958, respectively). These Bert I. Gordon movies hold a nostalgic place of honor for Nate, because these were the first episodes of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 he ever saw. The first one, as Nate argues, is better than most people realize, while the sequel…isn’t. But for MSTies, these are controversial movies thanks to the widow of AIP’s co-founder. You’ll learn about these and more in MIFV’s season four finale! Episode edited by Jesse Blount and Nathan Marchand. For full shownotes, including a bibliography of sources, visit this episode's blog post on the MIFV website: https://tinyurl.com/MIFV-107-Colossal-Man-Movies.  "Jimmy's Notes" on this episode coming soon! Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support! You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Timestamps: Introduction and Background: 0:00-8:13 Main Discussion - The Amazing Colossal Man: 8:13-28:07 Main Discussion - War of the Colossal Beast: 28:07-42:48 Ad (Henshin Power V3): 42:48-44:57 Outro (listener feedback and housekeeping): 44:57-57:13 Credits: 57:13-end Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #AmazingColossalMan, #WaroftheColossalBeast, #BertIGordon, #Patreon, #MIFVMAX © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    59 min
  8. Gamera Saves Christmas | A Belated MIFV Holiday Special

    JAN 6 · BONUS

    Gamera Saves Christmas | A Belated MIFV Holiday Special

    Susan Murphy is dragged by her anthropologist parents to the Arctic so they can study the Eskimo tribe who introduced the world to Gamera. Susan is angry she will miss her last two years of high school while her younger twin siblings, Shawn and Sharon, love that they live closer to the North Pole and Santa Claus. But Susan won’t have any of this “baby stuff” and berates the twins, who run away. Susan is forced by her father to search for them, and she wrecks her snowmobile in a blizzard. When she awakes, she finds herself in the North Pole, which has the twins, Elves, a talking polar bear, and, yes, Santa Claus. If that wasn’t enough, she and her siblings get caught up with an invasion by Santa’s evil brother, Krampus, who commands an army of Goblins and a kaiju reindeer. Gamera intervenes, but he’s left-for-dead by the monstrous reindeer. Now, Susan and her new friends race against time to revive the Friend to All Children with Santa’s magic Wreath crown. But is the teenage girl’s faith strong enough to save the mighty turtle? Also features sound effects by My Soothing White Noise. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support! You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault) Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE! This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors. Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNation (https://podnation.tv/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/) MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 20 monster podcasts! (https://podcasts.feedspot.com/monster_podcasts/) www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com #JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #Podcast, #kaiju, #MIFV, #gamera, #giantmonsters, #christmas, #audiodrama, #holidayspecial, #christmasspecial © 2025, 2026 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

    1h 5m

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A Podcast Seeking Entertainment and Enlightenment through Tokusatsu. Hosted by the ”kaiju academic” himself, Nathan Marchand.