[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabbitman

Like, just tell the girl you will text her later! I don?t remember specifically, but wasn?t a dude literally being eaten by the goop spiders as the guy was texting his friend?!

Not quite. The threat was there, but no one actively got eaten. The mission was to save a guy who'd been captured by the spiders, and they did.

[Rabbitman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Not quite. The threat was there, but no one actively got eaten. The mission was to save a guy who'd been captured by the spiders, and they did.

Ah ok. Well I don?t want to micromanage him if he got the job done, lol. Go ahead and text. I think he had it on silent at least, right. Haha.

[Daikaijuman54]

It's time for Toku Titles! Episode 5: Enfatico, means emphatic or forceful as a direction of music, which is one of the topics of said episode. Episode 7: Omniarch, refers to the ruler of the world or everything, this can be connected to the Kaiju or Godzilla himself specifically. Episode 8: Graftage, is the process, practice, or technique of Grafting, referencing Ashihara's notes. And Episode 9: Erumpent, means bursting forth or through a surface, another reference to Godzilla.

Now, there's a lot to say, so get ready for a long one.

First off, this isn't exactly obvious to many, but this Anime is based off the 1974 Toho Disaster film Prophecies of Nostradamus. Now you all know Nostradamus, the film was basically centered around said prophecies while trying to make sense of the book of the man himself. Very similar to what's going on in this show. However, the same was true for Shin Godzilla, though the key difference is that unlike Shin Godzilla, which was about Godzilla himself, Singular Point has it more in line with the Prophecies of Nostradamus with the future and such.

I've already said how Anguirus is one of my favorite Kaiju, but the Anguirus Spear is also a really neat idea for a weapon. And not only that, Jet Jaguar gets an actual pair of legs! There's a reason people refer to this Anime as the Jet Jaguar Anime, and I'm all for that.

Now, interestingly enough, the other Kaiju are all based off existing Toho Monsters, albeit some with different names. So, first off, the Spiders, whom I think were called Kumanga(?), are based off Kumonga (the Spider Monster that first appeared in Son of Godzilla 1967) and Megalon (from Godzilla Vs Megalon 1973), while its main build is that of Kumonga, Megalon's drills and patterns are shown throughout the design. The blue goop monster is Hanega, based off Hedorah the smog monster (Godzilla Vs Hedorah 1971) and Dogora a giant energy jellyfish from space (Dogora 1964). Salunga is based off Gabara from All Monsters Attack/Godzilla's Revenge (1970), though the one in that film was named after the bully kid, here it refers to the Celestial Bow of the Hindu God Vishnu (remember how I said there was a lot of mythological references?), supposedly also based off Baragon (first appearance Frankenstein Vs Baragon 1965).

As for Godzilla, his Aquatalis Form is based off Titanosaurus from Terror of Mechagodzilla 1975 (apparently there's an actual dinosaur named Titanosaurus, so Toho likely couldn't keep his name trademarked). His Amphibia Form is based off Varan from the 1958 film of the same name (Toho initially tried to make Varan the new star as a replacement for Godzilla but it never really took off, partly due to the poor conditions of the suit). His Terrestris Form is either based off Gorosaurus, a Dinosaur Kaiju who first debuted in 1967 Film King Kong Escapes, or the 1998 American Godzilla. Now, Godzilla evolving was first introduced in Shin Godzilla in 2016, but here, it's more in line with Oni from Japanese Mythology, as some people have pointed out the similarities in the design of Godzilla in this Anime (who might I add, were all designed by the same person who worked on Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle), but the "Goshira" painting is further proof of the Japanese Mythology influence for Godzilla.

I think I've said enough trivia here, so I'll just let you get further in before diving into some more details about this Anime.

[DreamSword]

Not gonna lie, all of that is actually really interesting to know, especially the bit about this being based off of a movie totally unrelated to Godzilla. I honestly never would've even realized had you not told me. Rather interesting choice to make for a show set in a Godzilla universe.

[Rabbitman]

Incredible post, Daikaijuman.

This is the first I am hearing of Prophecies of Nostradamus, and it’s actually uploaded on the internet archive too! I might check it out in the next few days. Although, I have been burned by Japanese films from the 70s, lol, they all end up being porn! Even freaking Terror of Mechagodzilla sort of had some nudity in it.

Also only true intellectuals with good taste like Anguirus. This is the enlightened take!

[DreamSword]

Episode 10: Encipher

My brain hurts.

I hope you love text messaging and science talk, because that's like 90% of this episode as Yun unravels more of the mystery of Ashihara's' research.

The big reason as to why my brain was thrown through a loop though is because most of the science talk involves time travel and various ways one could use it. Not just sending information between time, but people too.

And not just sending stuff back into the past either, but the future at the same time. An exchange, but also not an exchange. Yes it's confusing if you think about it too much. This leads to weird time loops such as getting answers to questions you didn't even know you were gonna ask.

Look, to sum it all up the best I can, there are two main takeaways here: First, that Ashihara, having such a thorough map of the different possibilities in the future, left the key to solving the Catastrophe within the text messages between Yun and Mei, and Second, that somehow, the Professor who introduced Archtypes into the story is actually the future version of Mei.

There's also a bit of backstory provided on those Godzilla bones: They're a part of what kickstarted Ashihara's' research and also belonged to a Kaiju that blew up his hometown years ago, but everyone forgot about it due to the war going on at the time taking precedence. Given the old painting that served as a warning of the Kaiju invasion, I'm guessing that it was another Godzilla, or atleast a Kaiju who was alot like it.

Anyway, despite time travel making no sense as per usual, I still found the overall episode engaging to watch. Sure, I might only understand like half of what they're getting at, but it's presented in such a way that it actively makes me invested and want to know more, so hey, points to 'em. It's the sort of thing I've seen many shows mess up. Plus, seeing Godzilla's' Atomic Breath premiere was a hype moment in and of itself that made me happy.

I am a very simple man with simple pleasures.

[DreamSword]

Episode 11: Relaunch

Jet Jaguar was the key all along.

Turns out that not only was a secret message hidden in those texts between Mei and Yun, but a secret update file for Jet Jaguar was too.

This update actually gives JJ's' AI sentience, and causes it start back at infancy and rapidly age while also revealing another piece of Ashihara's' puzzle. That being that something will appear in the sky above Tokyo Station.

Meanwhile, Mei goes to inspect the supercomputer that Ashihara first used to discover Singular Points directly. And in all of this it turns out that all of the Singular Points are actually one Point, but yet they're not, but they are. It's some weird hivemind thing and I don't wanna think too hard about it.

The main takeaway I got from this is that this last act of the show, wherein we're not both directly but also indirectly dealing with Godzilla, is actually kind of a decent reimagining of the original Godzilla film. The Orthogonal Diagonalizer allegedly being the key to killing it and saving the universe most certainly being a callback to it if nothing else.

Also, maybe my brain turned to mush with all of this science but uh, I won't like, I actually totally forgot that Professor Li died? So when characters began talking about it all throughout the episode I was first like "Wait, did she?" Oh, and before I forget another thing, apparently the journalist who's been popping in and out is also a poacher or something? He stole the original Godzilla bones and waxed philosophy, so I imagine we're not quite done with him yet.

I'm really anxious to see how this all ends. Part of me wants some super-science stuff to go down given the nature of the show, but another part of me is super hungry for some sort of epic showdown between Godzilla and Jet Jaguar.

[DreamSword]

Episode 12: Explorer

You ever put the fate of the world into a Nintendo DS?

The funny thing about this episode is that, while not a whole lot happens in it, what does happen is really trippy to think about.

On Mei's' end, she accesses the supercomputer that's hooked up to the original Singular Point, which in turn causes Pelo II(her AI) to time travel, and just the thought of that alone throws me through a loop.

Meanwhile with Yun, it's discovered that Ashihara planned for the secret to killing Godzilla to appear, well, with Godzilla. More specifically, at the point in which Godzilla finishes its final evolution into The Catastrophe. Cuttin' it uh, cuttin' rather close there, Ashihara.

...And that's basically it? I could easily see people saying that this episode could've easily been half the length, but I dunno, I just kinda enjoyed the ride for what it was, which was just investigation and talking with some neat visuals. I also think this might've been the budget episode of the season though, given that the animation was kinda weird in certain spots.

Well whatever. The grand finale is up next!

[DreamSword]

Episode 13: Together

Crack the code and you'll understand.

Something that's come up a few times throughout the show is the concept of sending information back and forth through time, and what exactly that'd entail.

Well, in this instance, it's something that's utilized by Pelo II and Jet Jaguar, because, as it turns out, while Ashihara laid the foundation for alot of the plot, most of it came about via the time travel antics of the partner AI.

And really, it all makes sense, and had some decent foreshadowing with that opening narration in episode 1. How was Ashihara able to have such an intricate understanding of technology in the future? He didn't. But the two AI sure did, which is why they were able to put everything in motion to begin with.

And keeping with the overall themes of the past and future being directly connected, it turns out that the song heard at the beginning of show, which is not only what started the entire mystery to begin with, was also the key to everything all along. Within it lied the ultimate version of Jet Jaguar, which in turn transforms the robot into a gigantic Orthogonal Diagonalizer.

Going outside of the plot for a moment though, one thing that I definitely appreciated about the finale overall was its sense of scale. Everything about it comes off as Big. From the size of Godzilla, to the escalation of the stakes, to the ending narration that goes into how time affects everyone and everything, and how the universe is one, giant, beautiful contradiction.

...And of course, there was that after-credits scene that totally took me by surprise.

It's a sequel hook that might not come to pass, sure, but it's also a twist that totally makes sense when you consider the story as a whole! Said twist? Ashihara wanted to avoid The Catastrophe, sure, but only so that he could build Mechagodzilla, using the bones stolen by the Poacher Journalist who seemed to have disappeared from the plot entirely. Just because Ashihara didn't want the world to blow up, doesn't mean he was an altruistic guy! And it explains why the bones were transmitting that signal all show.

I'll admit, I don't even know if I fully understand the ending, or even the overall message of the show, but really, isn't that part of the fun, given what show this is? Really, I dunno if I'd've had it any other way.

[Daikaijuman54]

No need to explain the Titles. They're words everyone knows.

Godzilla Ultima, the final, perfect form and symbol of the calamity. Lots of people mocked the design, but I personally enjoyed it. "Thunder Thighs?" Well, as a wise man once said, "Thicc Godziller is Best Godziller." Much like Shin Godzilla, it works to support his massive weight (in some sense) but also works for the dinosaurian build overall. Now for some more fun facts! Oni are shapeshifters, a theme that's present in Godzilla in this show. Unlike Shin Godzilla whose Evolutions were him adapting to the world as he ascended to a perfect godlike creature (which this one does share to), here, it works like said shapeshifting. Even his design bears resemblance to Oni as pointed out by some people and may have indeed been intentional.

A statement I'd like to recall back, I'm not entirely sure Singular Point was based off Prophecies of Nostradamus, which was based off a novel series, but given the similarities between Ashihara's predictions to disaster, I couldn't help but make the connection. Aslo, I've not actually seen the film or read the books, I'm only going off what knowledge I come across.

Now for something I've been dying to talk about is the music. Ken Sawada did a fantastic job making it sound reminiscent of Akira Ifukube's scores while also bringing in something new and modern to it. For example the use of Inuit Ainu language for Godzilla's themes, Inuit Ainu being used in many of Ifukube's works like Varan and King Kong's themes, or Alapu Upala which is sung in Sanskrit (I believe?), I wanted to wait for the Choir Version before talking about it since that's where this song is absolutely beautiful. Again, if I remember right it being in Sanskrit fits into the Hindu Mythology being played into the story.

The Orthogonal Diagonalizer is indeed based off the Oxygen Destroyer from the Original Godzilla, even the initals are the same. As for the "I am become Death" quote, it too comes from Hindu Mythology, Oppenheimer (one of the men behind the Atomic Bomb) says so himself when he recites those lines. So again, lots of Indian Mythology! There's even a group called Shiva!

Now then, the time travel aspect is where everything gets a little confusing, but in a way, I think it makes sense. See, A.I. and technology as it is now, can hold memory, or at least that's how my tired brain is trying to put it with what I remember of the conversation (I should really watch it again). But yet another possible reference might be that the Supercomputer may or may not be based off Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, which if perfected could have become the very first computer, made with steam power. Again, not sure if it was intentional, but I look back and put that connection there, which might just make me look like an idiot.

Now as seen, the A.I. did serve a purpose and it worked so we could get a giant monster fight! Some last-minute cameos here, Mothras appear, you already know her, and the big blue snakelike Kaiju is Manda, an eastern dragon who first appeared in Atragon 1963 (fun fact: this movie inspired Space Battleship Yamato).

Now for that ending. Mechagodzilla. I know of at least one person who likened Ashihara to Dr. Mafune from Terror of Mechagodzilla, and I love how he was right on the money. So Mechagodzilla mainly has the 1974 design prominently, but being made around the bones of a Godzilla or similar monster, it would be more based off Kiryu/Mechagodzilla 3 from 2002. Remember that one title that I likened to Godzilla being a ruler of all? Well, it's possible Shiva might also fit that category, since Mechagodzilla might be some form of controlling the Archetype or something, since I feel like they've been a little dubious from the start.

I've talked enough here; I'll see you for some more fun trivia later!