Disc News: Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot Blast Off in March

Disc Announcements

After putting out Ultra Seven, Shout! Factory is bringing more ’60s Japanese TV mega-monster action with Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot: The Complete Series. The show became a sensation in the ’70s when it ran during the era of Godzilla and Gamera creature feature double features on weekend TV. Johnny Sokko is a small boy with a big robot friend that defends the world against threats. This was offered by MGM under their burn on demand program, but now you can get real DVDs full of model stomping fun. Here’s the press release from Shout! Factory:

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JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT: THE COMPLETE SERIES
FEATURING ALL 26 EPISODES, PLUS A 24-PAGE BOOK
IN A SPECIAL 4-DVD COLLECTOR’S EDITION SET
LANDS ON HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES EVERYWHERE
OWN IT ON MARCH 26, 2013 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

“Robot, attack! Robot, destroy!” These commands launched a thousand sci-fi fantasies for budding fans of the genre, just as they brought Johnny Sokko’s Giant Robot into imminent battle action! Under the voice control of young Johnny Sokko, the massive, flying metal behemoth would bring his fiery breath, laser eyes, finger-launched missiles and, above all, his physical strength into battle with countless menacing monsters bent on destroying the Earth!

This epic fantasy series from Toei Studios aired from 1967 – 1968 and garnered even more fans in after-school reruns throughout the 70s. Collected here for the first time on DVD are all 26 episodes of explosive kaiju battles, nefarious alien takeover plots and mind-blowing heroics from jet-packed Johnny Sokko and his equally airborne friend and protector: giant robot! This special 4-DVD collector’s edition includes a 24-page book with special essay by August Ragone.

Pre-order at Amazon.com.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.