Godzilla & Toho Kaiju: Q & A & Discussion Thread
 

Noticed that there isn't a specific thread for this either.

After looking at SHOUT! Factory's Let's Talk Toku and Ep. 3, which delves specifically into Godzilla, I'm kinda curious about the franchise as a whole.

In addition, Magic The Gathering is releasing Godzilla cards into their official play canon.

Also, I've heard a rumor that the Showa-Era Films might be available for stream on HBO Max.

This thread can encompass anything regarding Godzilla in a general sense: movies, toys, comics, cartoons & anime, trading cards.

What is your favorite Godzilla film? What is your least favorite film?

Yes, the American Godzilla films are viable subjects.

This isn't limited to Godzilla, as Toho has other kaiju to consider like Rodan and Mothra and Gigan.


Let's Talk Toku on SHOUT! Factory: http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/playli...18a20001f55c20

List of Godzilla and Toho Kaiju in Magic The Gathering: https://toy-wizards.com/2020/04/03/i...odzilla-cards/

Criterion's Showa-Era Godzilla Set: https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/26...ilms-1954-1975

Rumor of Showa Godzilla on HBO Max: https://comicbook.com/anime/news/god...lection-anime/

Godzilla Comics: https://graphitecomics.com/s/Godzilla

Favorite Godzilla film Destroy All Monsters, least favorite Godzilla's Revenge, it's just too out there for my taste.

As far as 98 goes, for a movie anout a giant monster rampaging in New York it's not half bad but as a Godzilla film no, just no.

Favorote non Godilla/Toho movie?

The original Godzilla from 1954 is absolutely incredible. There are some minor parts that haven't help up well, but the film is a must-watch by anyone interested in cinema at all.

The soundtrack is iconic and has impacted music far and wide. Just check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ytoUuO-qvg

It is a great movie on it's own but understanding the context of the film and the tension between a post WWII Japan and occupying America, results in a piece of true human of history.

10/10 and probably the reason I got into Toku as a child.

Unfortunately, costume modeler Eizo Kaimai has passed away at 90!

He worked on the '54 original, several of the sequels, Ultra Q, and even some of the Showa-Era Ultraman.

http://ukiyaseed.weebly.com/ukiyasee...as-passed-away

https://tokusatsunetwork.com/2020/05...way-at-age-90/

Final Wars Godzilla is still my favorite suit of Big G. I wish Bandai would make a MonsterArts out of it.

It's now clear that HBO Max will have Criterion Collection material when the service goes live, including Godzilla and other Toho Kaiju films!

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/18/2...dio-date-price

With the release of HBO Max, we have a list of available Godzilla and Toho Kaiju films for those who are interested.

- Godzilla: The 1954 original which started everything!

- Godzilla, King of the Monsters!: The Americanized Version with Raymond Burr.

- Godzilla Raids Again: The Japanese Version and not the American Dub.

- Mothra vs. Godzilla

- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

- Invasion of Astro-Monster

- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

- Son of Godzilla

- Destroy All Monsters

- Godzilla vs. Hedorah

- Godzilla vs. Gigan

- Godzilla vs. Megalon

- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

- Terror of Mechagodzilla

- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (The 2019 Legendary Version)

- Rodan

- The War of the Gargantuas

Other locations for streaming Godzilla include Netflix, which has the animated films and the 1998 Sony film.

Godzilla 2000 is available on Crackle.

As many know, Criterion released a plethora of Showa-Era Godzilla and many are also on The Criterion Channel, including All Monsters Attack (which isn't on HBO Max)!

Original Source (which I have independently verified to be essentially accurate): https://comicbook.com/anime/news/God...ide-hbo-max/#3

Kamen Rider is getting some new apparel available to Western fans and so is Godzilla!

https://tokusatsunetwork.com/2020/07...ion-announced/

New Amazon-Exclusive Merch for Godzilla!

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/ama...dise-monsters/

Checked the TokuSHOUTsu Channel and it was showing "Godzilla VS. Megalon"...and I'm a little confused. When did they get the rights to Showa-Era Godzilla Movies!?

Oh, they have some Showa films up? That's sweet. I do sometimes get the hankering for some cheesy Godzilla stuff from time to time.

I did a check and saw that Showa-Era Godzilla is also available on Tubi.

I confess I still have never seen a Godzilla film, which feels wrong to me! I think one day for an introduction I might watch the first ever one either in Japanese or the US version that apparently just added one actor. I likely will initially steer clear of the 1998 CGI one though, which was a bummer to read about given that I normally love that year in fields like TV, film, music etc!

I'd say start whichever you think looks best to you. But starting with the original, either the 1954 Japanese or the 1956 King of the Monsters, is a good start. The latter is a probably one of the best "Americanized" cuts, because the added character doesn't directly interfere with the story and acts more of an eyewitness we follow through the movie, the former for being the original, with some scenes cut from the latter, and also has a more somber feel.

Also, don't let general opinions drive you away from the ones many consider "bad," as it's mainly up to you whether you like it or not (I may consider doing a whole Godzilla Thread, where I talk about the movies, but I haven't decided). Heck, I've found enjoyment in the 1998, despite that I don't think it's bad nor really good, and even the Polygon Anime Trilogy has it's positives for me, it all comes down to what interests you (or anyone else looking to get into Godzilla).

Zone Fighter is the series which is in "continuity" with Showa Godzilla, right? With appearances by Ghidorah and Gigan?

Sounds like a cash grab on Toho's part!

I want to watch Zone Fighter someday, but on the topic of Godzilla's inclusion, it's mainly because Zone Fighter's ratings weren't anywhere near Ultraman, or Kamen Rider levels, so Toho decided to throw in Godzilla, Gigan, and King Ghidorah (which also chronicles Showa Gigan's death) to try and save the show.

Of course, the show was eventually cancelled and left incomplete, and yet, Zone Fighter has a cult following and is even still remembered by Toho to this day.

The matter of Gigan's death is interesting. There was an implied contradiction with Ghidorah dying in Destroy All Monsters and then having a follow-up appearance in the Gigan Movie! One account is that DAM is set in 1999 and the Gigan film is set '72. Does this mean that Zone takes place in late '90s by the same token!?

Aside from that, was Zone ever subbed by anybody?

Gigan was never killed in Vs. Gigan or Vs. Megalon, so in a way, it fits. Destroy All Monsters takes place in 1999, so being alive in Vs. Gigan also fits, though his inclusion in the film is also because Toho initially planned him and Megalon to appear alongside Gigan, as well as a few movies afterwards, but never took off, since the 70's were not the best time for Godzilla and if you pay attention, the suits weren't in the best conditions, making it difficult to bring in for more than necessary. Zone Fighter likely also takes place in the '70s, and from what I've read, Ghidorah flees after being defeated in the show proper, though I can't confirm, since I've yet to see the show.

As for subs, I haven't found anything, maybe there are subs out there somewhere, yet I haven't stumbled into anything of that nature.

The Showa Timeline is wonky enough, but the Heisei Timeline just turns everything on its head!

In VS. King Ghidorah, time travel is used to prevent Godzilla's rise, but it ultimately just changes the nature of how Godzilla came to be with the implication that every film beforehand (including the cinematic achievement of the '54 original) has been quietly erased.

VS. SpaceGodzilla implied a relationship to Biollante, but the Godzilla from that film came from the Returns film which is supposed to be a direct sequel to the '54 original! Again, timeline is wonky.

In VS. Destoroyah, the film is not only a follow-up to every Heisei film but a follow-up to the '54 original. This creates the biggest contradiction of all!

If the '54 version did happen, then did the time travel stupidity fail with them transporting the wrong Gojirasaurus? Did they change only the '54 Godzilla, but NOT the '84 Godzilla?

Sorry folks- there is NO CONTINUOUS STORYLINE.
I thought I was a Godzilla nerd. But no, there is no real continuity in Godzilla, just thrown together stuff that stuck. Don’t try to string together something that doesn’t exist

I did it for Scooby, I'll do it for this!
reeeeee

time to binge

Noticed how the TokuSHOUTsu Channel occasionally plays old Showa-Era Godzilla films?

Another option is upon us with a 24-hour Godzilla Channel on Pluto TV, which as always follows the free-but-with-ads model.

Look for the new channel on July 1st.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/god...lusive-movies/

The following entries are reportedly going to be available, including the new exclusive home of some Heisei/Millennium Era entries:

- All Monsters Attack (Godzilla's Revenge)

- Godzilla 1999*

- Godzilla 2000

- Godzilla (1954)

- Godzilla Raids Again

- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)

- Mothra

- Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster

- Mothra vs. Godzilla

- Invasion of the Astro-Monster

- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster)

- Son of Godzilla

- Destroy All Monsters

- Godzilla vs. Hedorah

- Godzilla vs. Gigan

- Godzilla vs. Megalon

- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

- Terror of Mechagodzilla

- The Return of Godzilla / Godzilla 1985*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. Biollante*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. Mothra*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Godzilla vs. Destroyah*(Pluto TV Exclusive)

- Rebirth of Mothra

- Rebirth of Mothra 2

- Rebirth of Mothra 3

- Godzilla: The Series

- Godzilla vs. Megaguirus

- Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack

- Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla

- Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

- Godzilla: Final Wars*

Enjoy!

Toho needs make a new original Kaiju.

For Godzilla or independent?

Both.

We are getting a new Japanese Godzilla Movie this year on November 3, which will be finally revealed on July 12, so we'll see if any new monsters show up, assuming there are any (then again, given how Godzilla 1984 was criticized for lack of monster fights and we've had Shin Godzilla and the Anime Trilogy that were more Godzilla focused, it's likely, also given the rumors of it being a "Natural Godzilla vs a "Mutated" Godzilla).

Then there's Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, which we know of at least one new monster.

Personally, I'm more excited for the Japanese Godzilla than I am for The New Empire, but we shall just have to wait and see...

Godzilla suit actor has passed away.

http://ukiyaseed.weebly.com/ukiyasee...as-passed-away

Kenpachiro Satsuma portrayed Hedorah in the Showa Era, but took over for Big G himself during the Heisei Era.

He was 76 years old.