Godzilla contains multitudes, and we're not just talking about the people he eats.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chat log are not the views of Anime News Network.
Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead.
Netflix streams Godzilla Minus One , Godzilla Singular Point , and Godzilla Planet of Monsters.
HBO Max streams Godzilla (1954) and Shin Godzilla .
Hey, Jairus! Just want to say I'm happy to finally get to do a column with you! Here's to many more to come. And since it's only your second "This Week in Anime" ever, I thought we could ease you into the swing of things with a nice, easy, and small topic we can cover quickly and comprehensively: © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. Godzilla. Hey, Jairus! Just want to say I'm happy to finally get to do a column with you! Here's to many more to come. And since it's only your second "This Week in Anime" ever, I thought we could ease you into the swing of things with a nice, easy, and small topic we can cover quickly and comprehensively:Godzilla.
Glad to be here with you! Spooky season might be over, but Big G monster fever is eternal, so there's always time to talk about the big guy. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. I am not the most knowledgeable person about Godzilla and will mostly just smile and nod if you try to explain what a Mothra or Jet Jaguar is. Still, it's always been fascinating to see just how much his shadow has continued to loom over the broader media landscape. Glad to be here with you! Spooky season might be over, but Big G monster fever is eternal, so there's always time to talk about the big guy.I am not the most knowledgeable person about Godzilla and will mostly just smile and nod if you try to explain what a Mothra or Jet Jaguar is. Still, it's always been fascinating to see just how much his shadow has continued to loom over the broader media landscape.
Godzilla Minus Zero Indeed! I would also hardly consider myself a Godzilla Guru, but he's a difficult figure to lose sight of. Everyone knows who Godzilla is, even if it's just through osmosis. Plus, this is an apt time for us to highlight this big angry radioactive lizard, what with smashing records this past weekend. I have yet to catch a showing myself as of the time of writing, but I'm planning to see the big guy in IMAX before he saunters off those screens here. I want him to loom as large as possible, after all.
TOHO and everything! Why not?? This is a fun example our editor Rebecca let us know about, and it's exactly what it looks like: Godzilla using his big steppers to ruin a bunch of classic fairy tales. Officially sanctioned byand everything! That is one of the really fun and interesting qualities of Godzilla. That he can be both a gigantic monster/metaphor as well as a universally beloved pop culture figure. Godzilla is both an avatar of wanton destruction and a big blorbo whom I buy merchandise of to gift to my Godzilla-obsessed friends. He contains multitudes, and I'm not just talking about the people he eats.
Shin Godzilla that serve as an allegory for all the hand-wringing of Japanese bureaucracy, and many a time you'll get big vehicles of spectacle like the recent run of Legendary films, which mainly just seem like an excuse to crash a bunch of giant monster figurines together and see what happens. © Toho Co., Ltd. ⓒ Legendary Take note: this is an endorsement, not a complaint. I, too, enjoy the delicate art of watching giant monsters pummel each other for 90 minutes. Indeed. Godzilla stories can come in a variety of flavors. Sometimes you'll get ones likethat serve as an allegory for all the hand-wringing of Japanese bureaucracy, and many a time you'll get big vehicles of spectacle like the recent run of Legendary films, which mainly just seem like an excuse to crash a bunch of giant monster figurines together and see what happens.Take note: this is an endorsement, not a complaint. I, too, enjoy the delicate art of watching giant monsters pummel each other for 90 minutes.
Godzilla was a solid Hollywood blockbuster. I actually thought King of the Monsters was a lot of fun. And I just found out that next year's entry is going to be titled Godzilla x Kong: Supernova , which might be the best film name of all time. I know these American 'Zillas don't tend to be as highly regarded as their Japanese counterparts, especially in our weeb-saturated circles, but they nevertheless have their defenders—many of them! And I think that's cool that they can go toe-to-toe with the "original" in some ways. There are many worse reasons to hit the movies. And honestly, now that the dust is settling on the 2010s' cinematic universe obsession, Legendary's "Monsterverse" has ended up being one of the better examples, if you ask me. 2014'swas a solid Hollywood blockbuster. I actually thoughtwas a lot of fun. And I just found out that next year's entry is going to be titled, which might be the best film name of all time.I know these American 'Zillas don't tend to be as highly regarded as their Japanese counterparts, especially in our weeb-saturated circles, but they nevertheless have their defenders—many of them! And I think that's cool that they can go toe-to-toe with the "original" in some ways.
Minus One on TWIA back when it came out (mostly because it's hard to screenshot a movie theater screen). And since many people, including the two of us, have revisited it recently, I think it's worth delving a little deeper into its contents. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. Incidentally, I used this opportunity to watch the "minus color" version for extra retro vibes. It works pretty well! And I think it makes the special effects look and feel even more impressive, under this veneer of an "older" film. Right? It occurred to me as we were planning this column that we never really coveredon TWIA back when it came out (mostly because it's hard to screenshot a movie theater screen). And since many people, including the two of us, have revisited it recently, I think it's worth delving a little deeper into its contents.Incidentally, I used this opportunity to watch the "minus color" version for extra retro vibes. It works pretty well! And I think it makes the special effects look and feel even more impressive, under this veneer of an "older" film.
Netflix , so I've only ever seen this film in color, but the look of it is still impressive either way. In particular, one element of the film that immediately stands out visually is how much it doesn't shy away from showing just how devastating the aftermath of the air raids was, and the levels of extreme poverty Japanese civilians were left in. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. A lot of the impact of that aftermath can also be felt in the film's protagonist, Shikishima, who is constantly going through it. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. Unfortunately, I rewatched this via, so I've only ever seen this film in color, but the look of it is still impressive either way. In particular, one element of the film that immediately stands out visually is how much it doesn't shy away from showing just how devastating the aftermath of the air raids was, and the levels of extreme poverty Japanese civilians were left in.A lot of the impact of that aftermath can also be felt in the film's protagonist, Shikishima, who is constantly going through it.
extremely direct tackling of Japan's immediate post-war era is what gives Minus One a lot of its flavor. In the West, we tend to forget that Tokyo was firebombed basically to hell, which was not that far removed from the destructiveness of the atomic bombings. Here, though, the firebombed ruins of Tokyo show up well before Godzilla wreaks any metropolitan havoc. And of course, Shikishima's shame at being a "failed" kamikaze pilot hangs over his head and his interactions with the other characters throughout the film. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. In both cases—the background ruins and the foreground anger/depression—they act as mirrors for the pain many Japanese citizens were feeling after World War II. He is the movie's Little Beepo, and his misery is increasing constantly. And yes, the narrative'sdirect tackling of Japan's immediate post-war era is what givesa lot of its flavor. In the West, we tend to forget that Tokyo was firebombed basically to hell, which was not that far removed from the destructiveness of the atomic bombings. Here, though, the firebombed ruins of Tokyo show up well before Godzilla wreaks any metropolitan havoc. And of course, Shikishima's shame at being a "failed" kamikaze pilot hangs over his head and his interactions with the other characters throughout the film.In both cases—the background ruins and the foreground anger/depression—they act as mirrors for the pain many Japanese citizens were feeling after World War II.
Minus One keeps an acerbic sense of humor about this. Godzilla takes literal bites out of warships. Fragile international relations get in the way of an effective response. And the people on the ground find their bravado quickly humbled by Godzilla's awful spectacle. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. The war is very much "the monster" that continues to trample on people's lives well past its end date. Which goes part and parcel with Godzilla's common thematic purpose as a consequence of the war, nurtured on radiation and ready to attack the species responsible for it. And like many of the more "serious" takes on Godzilla,keeps an acerbic sense of humor about this. Godzilla takes literal bites out of warships. Fragile international relations get in the way of an effective response. And the people on the ground find their bravado quickly humbled by Godzilla's awful spectacle.
extremely critical of the suicidal ideology that ran through the core of the Japanese military at the time, and wholeheartedly rejects it. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. That also ties in pretty well with how Shikishima's arc concludes, as after spending the majority of the film hovering on the edge of death, he finds the strength to instead choose to live despite the uncertainty of the future. © 2023 TOHO CO., LTD. Yeah, I've certainly seen those kinds of criticisms leveled against this film, as well as the notion that it is ultimately a very nationalist film. I can certainly agree with the notion that the film doesn't do nearly enough to reconcile with Japan's own role in the war, but I do think that framing that as a form of nationalism is also being a bit dishonest. If anything, the film iscritical of the suicidal ideology that ran through the core of the Japanese military at the time, and wholeheartedly rejects it.That also ties in pretty well with how Shikishima's arc concludes, as after spending the majority of the film hovering on the edge of death, he finds the strength to instead choose to live despite the uncertainty of the future.
Naoki Satō 's ascendant soundtrack. Seriously, hearing this in a theater was spine-tingling. Yeah, the third act of the movie is immaculate, buoyed by's ascendant soundtrack. Seriously, hearing this in a theater was spine-tingling. Admittedly, on rewatch, I did have a brief guffaw at Shikishima seeing his little Dead Wife Vision (with the flowing white sheets and everything) right before slamming his plane into Godzilla's gaping maw (especially considering their reunion soon after). But aside from that hiccup, the action and drama of taking Godzilla down hit their marks. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd.
Minus Zero follows this act, now that it is laden with Minus One's accolades and expectations. Making a sequel to a surprise hit is never easy. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. For my money, though, my favorite 21st-century iteration on the 'Zilla formula remains Shin Godzilla . And at least 80% of that favor is due to the existence of this little fella. © 2016 Toho Co., Ltd. Indeed! I'm eager to see howfollows this act, now that it is laden with's accolades and expectations. Making a sequel to a surprise hit is never easy.For my money, though, my favorite 21st-century iteration on the 'Zilla formula remains. And at least 80% of that favor is due to the existence of this little fella.
We'll have to see if Minus Zero can live up to the pedigree of its predecessor, but if there's one certain thing, it's that Godzilla can survive anything, so come what may, I'm sure he'll continue stomping around for decades to come.
Shin Godzilla as anime, since it's directed by Hideaki Anno and includes a bunch of visual and musical cues from Evangelion . © 2016 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016 Toho Co., Ltd. And his stomping grounds aren't limited to the silver screen! Given Godzilla's Japanese origins, it's no surprise that he's graced the realm of anime more than once. I mean, if we want, we can even countas anime, since it's directed byand includes a bunch of visual and musical cues from
With how much every weeb I know has been singing its praises since it came out, I certainly wouldn't argue against it.
Netflix from the twisted mind of Gen Urobuchi and the 3DCG wizards at Polygon Pictures . While I have not watched them myself, I'd encourage all of you to take a trip down memory lane and read these My weeb ass has watched it at least five times, including twice in theaters, and I will continue to do so. Meanwhile, I wouldn't blame people for forgetting these, but we also got a trio of Godzilla movies onfrom the twisted mind ofand the 3DCG wizards at. While I have not watched them myself, I'd encourage all of you to take a trip down memory lane and read these TWIA columns of yesteryear
franchise . Which is not at all surprising given the identity of its writer, Toh Enjoe . He's a gonzo sci-fi author whose book Self-Reference Engine remains one of the most unique reads I've ever done. He also penned the two weirdest Space Dandy episodes and recently worked on Science SARU 's adaptation of The Ghost in the Shell . And I think it's really cool when a long-running franchise like this takes a chance on something experimental. Especially when the protagonist's character design is this good. © 2021 Toho Co., Ltd. But before we close out, I think it's only appropriate to cast our glance backwards in time to where it all began. The original stomping grounds. Because if you've never seen the 1954 Godzilla, or if you haven't seen it recently, you ought to. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. The title does not lie, because it is absolutely one of the most singular takes on the. Which is not at all surprising given the identity of its writer,. He's a gonzo sci-fi author whose bookremains one of the most unique reads I've ever done. He also penned the two weirdestepisodes and recently worked on's adaptation of. And I think it's really cool when a long-runninglike this takes a chance on something experimental. Especially when the protagonist's character design is this good.But before we close out, I think it's only appropriate to cast our glance backwards in time to where it all began. The original stomping grounds. Because if you've never seen the 1954, or if you haven't seen it recently, you ought to.
Godzilla has taken many forms, from a cool monster anti-hero to an unknowable divine force beyond mortal understanding, but at his core, he's a warning of the kind of destruction human hubris can bring about, and for as much has changed over the decades, I'm glad that there are still audiences who see something in that message.
Godzilla has stood the test of time and changed the world. A guy in a rubber suit and a metaphor as blunt and satirical as the "Oxygen Destroyer" still hit hard today. We may be further temporally removed from the atrocities that gave birth to Godzilla, but we're no closer to properly reckoning with our own capacity for self-annihilation. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. Until that day comes, we might as well band together with our mutual love for this ferocious fellow. © 2023 Toho Co., Ltd. Yeah, for over 70 years and counting, the originalhas stood the test of time and changed the world. A guy in a rubber suit and a metaphor as blunt and satirical as the "Oxygen Destroyer" still hit hard today. We may be further temporally removed from the atrocities that gave birth to Godzilla, but we're no closer to properly reckoning with our own capacity for self-annihilation.Until that day comes, we might as well band together with our mutual love for this ferocious fellow.