Born from the horrors of World War 2 and the fear of the atomic bomb, Godzilla has been stomping through cities and laying waste to towns for seventy years.
2024 marks seventy years since Toho released the original 1954 Godzilla film in Japan. This anniversary has been a great time of celebration among fans of the monster with a re-release of last years Oscar winning Godzilla Minus One hitting select cinemas, as well as a full global home video release of the film being released to coincide with the re-release.
Starring in over thirty five films, multiple television shows and a handful of adverts, Godzilla has carved his way into pop culture. And the hearts of fans around the world. Godzilla has undergone many evolutions during his time on screen. Starting as a man in a suit in 1954 before transitioning to the stunning fully CGI rendered monster he’s known as today in Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise.
Though his looks have changed, the core concept has stayed the same across all projects. Whether he’s the protector of earth or its destroyer, he’s a monster born from mans failure.
“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man”
Image credit: Toho Pictures
Godzilla appeals to the masses for multiple reasons. Most people just love seeing him level a city with his atomic breath. Or break apart skyscrapers with his devastating tail. But for other’s his devastation is a reminder of the horrors man is capable of creating.
Though dated by modern standards, the destruction the monster creates in Godzilla (1954) is just as devastating as the carnage he unleashes in the modern films. Arguably, the devastation is far more real in the original film.
The director of Godzilla (1954) Ishirō Honda used a lot of his experience fighting in World War 2 as influence for the film. After he returned home a Chinese prisoner of war, he was exposed to the large scale destruction caused by the nuclear bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
In Godzilla (1954) the scientists of the film discover that Godzilla is over two million years old. But has grown and changed due the recent Hydrogen bomb testing done in the waters just outside of Tokyo. This plot point was rooted in reality as in 1954 the first ever hydrogen bomb was tested in Bikini Atoll. The detonation far exceeded the previously assumed blast radius directly hitting Japanese fishing boat Lucky Dragon No 5.
News about Lucky Dragon No 5 would eventually reach Toho. The company were in pre-production for a monster movie that would eventually become Godzilla(1954).
“Helpless people on subway trains scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them”
Image credit: Toho Pictures
Godzilla has taken many forms over the years, starting as the destructive monster born from the H-Bomb, changing to the modern protector of earth he is known as in the Legendary series of films.
However, the heroic origins of Godzilla date further back, with much of his early appearances after the first film seeing him take on a saviour role, attempting to protect humanity from other monsters, most notably, in Ghidor. The Three-Headed Monster Godzilla saves Japan from the titular evil monster, beginning his journey to become Japan’s protector.
This change came only a decade after the first films release and large character changes became part and parcel for the franchise there on after.
Japan’s Godzilla hit a wall in the 90’s with many of the films released during the decade failing to connect with the core fanbase. During this time an American adaptation was released which also failed to connect with fans as it was too different from what Godzilla was known to be.
It’s only been in the last decade that Godzilla has returned to being a household name and a monster worth fearing. This new found success is owed heavily to director Gareth Edwards(Rogue One, Monsters) excellent Godzilla(2014). The film was a fresh take on the monster that brought life back to the long thought dead franchise. Bringing the “King of the Monsters” to new heights that paved the way forward for new films in the MonsterVerse.
Hollywood weren’t the only ones determined to bringing the king back as in 2016. Toho Pictures unveiled a modern take on the monster, inspired by the Fukishima meltdown that occurred a few years before the film was released, the film was titled Shin Godzilla.
From the moment the first images of the redefined monster hit the internet fans fell in love almost universally. The original Bi-pedal hunched look was kept, but Shin was clearly more monstrous in its look. Featuring cracked blistered scales that emanated a primordial red glow and a tail that was far larger than his body, Shin Godzilla looked far more ferocious and disturbing than his American counter-part.
Shin Godzilla was born from the mind of Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) his take on the monster was as memorable as it was it was horrifying. Shin was critically acclaimed and loved by fans, the success of the film led to a statue of the monster being built in Tokyo in 2018.
“Oh no, there goes Tokyo. Go go Godzilla!”
Image credit: Warner Brothers Pictures
The franchise hasn’t slowed down in the last few years with two Godzilla films released within six months of each other. Those films being Godzilla Minus One and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Though GxK wasn’t very well received its goofy action and large fight scenes fit right in with the rest of the MonsterVerse.
Godzilla Minus One on the other hand was a far more serious film that saw the series go back to its roots with Godzilla returning as an antagonist, hell bent on destroying a post nuclear Japan. Both films were successes in their own rights but Minus One has gone down in history as a modern classic. It’s an excellent re-imagining of the original Godzilla story, but it’s also a story full of heart.
The team behind Minus One have confirmed they are working on a sequel to the Oscar winner and the next MonsterVerse film is set to release in 2027.
There’s no better time to be a fan of Godzilla, and as a treat for fans, Toho put together a special ‘Godzilla: 70 Years Strong‘ video that compiles footage from every Godzilla film into a short four minute video that can be watched here.
Featured image credit: Toho Pictures
Fourth year Film and Journalism student
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