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Godzilla kicked off the Japamese monster traditiion, creating a new film genre. It was not the first monster film, but it was a new kind of monster films associated with nuclear weaponry. Godzilla first appeared in Toho's 'Godzilla' (1954) It was a classic monster film now seen as a masterpiece. Godzilla launched a monster movie franchise that continuew to this day with more than 30 films. 'Godzilla' was a real horror film and justifiably a real classic. It was not suited for children, especially younger children. The subsequent Japanese films were cheesy spin offs, more suited for children with ameturish special effects. Godzilla transioned into a friendly monster and a perenial favorite to Japanese children. The subequent Godzilla films were mostly dreadful Japanese monster movies. They were, however, an important genre of Japanese films. Godzilla was created by Toho, a movie studio, which becme known as the creator and distributor of kaiju (monster) and tokusatsu (special effects) films. Other studios create new monsters to comopete. We are not sure that there must be some deep meaning in the Japanese pshche. Hopefull our Japanese readers can provide us some insights here. In America the films are noted for their cheesy effects that eventully helped them obtain campy atatus. Quite a few of the Godzillka films include boys in the cast. There is even one film with a juvenile Godzilla. The children included in the films provide a good indicator of ordinary boys wear in Japan beginning in the 1950s when the series first appeared. Very commonly the films included children, most commonly boys. The directors seem to feel that childish innosence was needed to offset the terrible monsters and often crass human society. Several of the boys in these films wear the short short pants and knee socks common in Japan at the time. This costuming did not change until the films made in the mid-1990s and we begin to see Japanese children ddessed like their counterparts in the West. And we finally see an imprtant girl character.
Godzilla first appeared in 1954 as an enormous and highly destructive, prehistoric sea monster. He was awakened off Jjapan and empowered by nuclear radiation. With the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Lucky Dragon 5 incident, nuclear radiation was still very fresh in the Japanese consciousness. Godzilla is most commonly seen as a metaphor for nuclear weaponry. [Merchant] The atomic bombs were horific, but a relativelhy minor cauise of death and destruction in World War II, given the more than 20 million people the Japmese killed in the War. It was, however, a way that Japan could transform itself from a merciless, aggressive killer to a victim of the War. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the first film in the Godzilla franchise. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura, with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla. In the film, Japan's authorities deal with the sudden appearance of a giant monster, whose attacks trigger fears of nuclear holocaust during post-war Japan. The inityial Japanese-Indonesian co-production collapsed. Eiji Tsuburaya, thec special effects coorduinator, proposed cionceived as a giant octopus, but this woukld have limited filming to underwater. Toho decided on a more land based dinosaur-like creature. Godzilla pioneered a form of special effects called suitmation, in which a stunt performer wearing a suit interacts with miniature sets. This was a reasonable approach in 1954, but speciall effects did not improive much ovdr the years. The film was released in Japan (1954), but was not notably sucessful at the time. The Godzilla character grdually increaserd in popularity.
A Japanese amusement park becomes a battlefield between Godzilla and his prehistoric enemies from space. We haven't seen this one, but you would assume some boys are involved.
Pollution creates the evil monster Hedora, a kind of huge tadpoll. As with many Godzilla films a little boy is involved--Ken Yano played by Hiroyuki Kawase, symbolizing innosence. His heronis Godzilla. He is the son of a scientist studying the pollution. It was the 11th film in the Godzilla franchise. Godzilla is pitted against Hedorah. The film stars Akira Yamauchi, Toshie Kimura, and Hiroyuki Kawase, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano, and features Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Kenpachiro Satsuma as Hedorah. Satsuma would go on to portray Godzilla in later Godzilla films. There is an enviromental message. Hedorah is unlike Godzilla a malevolent monstr with evil red eyes, the result of pollution in a coastal village affected by industrial pollution. The film was released in Japan (1971). The film was released in the United States as 'Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'(1972). Hedorah feeds on pollution and becomes an acid-secreting sea monster griowing even larger. It attcks Dr. Yano and his son Ken who has visions of Godzilla taking on both pollution and Hedorah who metamorphoses into an amphibious creature. Even Gidzilla has triouble dealin with him. The monster can apparently secrete rivers of sludge. There of course is a showdown fight. Ken wears the short cut short pants that were so popular in Japan. His are rather formal-looking suspender shorts. He appears to be about 6-7 years old. He wears several different oufits, all suspenhder shorts, mostly with knee socks.
A mammoth insect with metal hands is sent to protect the underwater kingdom of Seatopia from the threat of man's nuclear testing. It was the 13th film in the Godzilla kaiju franchise. it features the iconic fictional monster along with Megalon and Giganasc well as the new mecha character Jet Jaguar. One of th main characters is a boy whom looks to be about 10-years old -- Hiroyuki Kawase. The children in these films are always new. Jet Jaguar was the result of a contest run for Japanrse school children. The boy who won was very upset that Jet Jaguar did not look like his drawing or use his name. 'Godzilla vs. Megalon' was released in Japan (1973). The release in the United States came 3-years later (1976). The release and home media as well as the English subtitles became one of the best-known kaiju films in the United States. The film's popularity significantly affected western perceptions of kaiju films as campy, even comedic. There is an extended car cahase but instead iof incolving souoed up carsc the wo chhesiest cars imaginabkle are involved. The film received a second round of popularity when it appeared on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1991). It was rather like James Bond racing in a Yugo.
Godzilla protects the earth from a monster sent by the Seatopians. A boy about 10 years old is involved. Not a particularly good actor, but neither are the adults. He does illustrate the clothes worn by boys at the time. They didn't spend much on cotumin. He wears the same red sweater and short brown plaid shorts with white ankle socks. This kind of outfit was very common for boys at the time. At the beginning of the film he wears a floppy white cap.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (ゴジラ×メカゴジラ) is actually Godzilla vs Mechagodzill III. It was relaeased in Japan as 'Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla' (2002). It was produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 27th film in the Godzilla franchise and the fourth film in the franchise's Millennium period, and Toho's 26th Godzilla film. The film features Godzilla along with an updated version of the mecha character Mechagodzilla who fist appeared in 1974. He is referred to as Kiryu in the film. Toho has no interest in continuity in its films. 'Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla' is a reboot that just ignores the events of every installment in the Godzilla film series except the original classic 1954 'Godzilla'. Toho released a direct sequel, 'Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.' (2003). We finally see an imprtant girl character as well as major woman character in the fighting. Most female characters are locked into the stereotypical mother, girl friend, and wife roles. Here a young woman, maser-cannon technician Lieutenant Akane Yashiro is unable to kill Godzilla, now reffered to as a member of the Godzilla species during her first fight and then knocks a team vehicle down the mountain leading to thhe car and occupants being crushed by Godzilla. She is blamed for the fiasco. The young girl is Kana Onodera playing Sara Yuhara The young girl is a real charmer who helps get her scientist father change his mknd about building a mechanical Godzilla--so see can get into the baseball dugout to meet the players. This is a rare departure, most of the important child charactrs in Godzilla films are boys. Here a gurl has a major role. We think these films are more popular with biys than girls. Perhaps Sara and Lieutenant Yashiro will attract more girls.
'Godzilla's Revenge' is also called 'Calling all moinsters'. Japanese children are commonly pictured in many Godzilla film, sometimes with only minor roles. Other times they are main characters. This one focuses on one boy more than most of the other Godzilla films. It stars a little Japanese boy who is the main character. He dreams a lot and his dreams take him to Monsster Island. Here he sees many differenht monsters and meets a little Godzilla--Minilla. The boy is picked on and bullied by his schoolmates. And Minilla is picked on as well by the other monsters. All of the bully boys wear short pants, mostly with ankle socks. Minilla helps the boy muster the courage to confront the bullies.
Merchant, Brian. "A Brief History of Godzilla, Our Never-Ending Nuclear Nightmare". Vice
(August 25, 2013).
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