The Godzilla F.A.Q. [Frequently Asked Questions]

This Godzilla FAQ was originally created by Chia-Ning Kao on May 7, 1996 and is used here with his kind permission. For years I have resisted the urge to make any changes to the FAQ, but have recently decided to update it a bit. Specifically, I have added extra information about the U.S. release of the later Godzilla films [which, at the time this FAQ was originally written, were not available in the U.S.]. Also, due to the ever changing nature of the Internet, many [if not most] of the "on-line Godzilla resources" originally included in the FAQ have gone the way of the world and, rather than try and update the information on a regular basis, I have simply deleted that entire section. Finally, I have updated some of the "rumors" mentioned in the FAQ to reflect later developments.

OVERVIEW

I.     INTRODUCTION
       Why is there a FAQ?
II.    GENERAL QUESTIONS
       Commonly asked questions and answers.
III.   MOVIE LIST/INFO
       All Godzilla movies listed with Japanese and English
       titles, release dates, running times and a brief synopsis.
IV.    KAIJU LIST/INFO
       List of all kaiju (monsters) that appear in Godzilla
       movies with list of appearances and origins (if known).
V.     RUMORS
       Various unsubstantiated bits of info.  Take 'em with a
       grain of salt.
VI.    DID YOU KNOW...
       Godzilla trivia!!
VII.   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITS
       Thank yous, credits, etc.
 
 

I. INTRODUCTION

Why is there a FAQ? Because there's a need. Godzilla has been around for over 40 years and is still one of the best-known movie images. With the recent publicity surrounding the "last Godzilla film ever", GODZILLA VS DESTROYER as well as recent developments regarding the long-promised U.S. Godzilla movie, posts and inquiries about Godzilla on the internet have become more and frequent. Many are surprised that the most recent Godzilla movie is not GODZILLA 1985. Whatever the reason, the popularity of Godzilla is on the rise.

This FAQ attempts to answer many questions commonly asked about Godzilla as well as provide a pointer on how to get Godzilla toys, information, movies, etc. This FAQ is not to be taken as "the final word" or a definitive guide. This FAQ is always a work in progress and suggestions, comments, corrections, monetary donations, criticisms, etc. are all welcome. E-mail 'em all to ckao@uceng.uc.edu. And now, on with the FAQ!

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

Q: Who or what is Godzilla?

A: Godzilla is a HUGE, nearly invincible dinosaur-like creature with incredible strength and a destructive fire/atomic blast who visits Japan on a regular basis to destroy everything in it's sight. Godzilla has starred in 22 movies produced by Toho Co., Ltd. (a major Japanese movie studio) from 1954 to the present.

Q: To the present?? The last Godzilla movie I remember is GODZILLA 1985!

A: GODZILLA 1985 was the last film released in the theaters in the U.S. Toho has released a new Godzilla movie every year from 1989 to 1995 (except 1990) in Japan. GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (1989) is the most recent movie available in the U.S. and was only released on video. Movies after GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE were not OFFICIALLY released in the U.S. but note the emphasis on "officially".

Q: So what movies were made after GODZILLA 1985??

A: See Section III, "Movie List/Info".

Q: Where'd Godzilla come from???

A: Take your pick from the following:

a) Godzilla is a cross between a stegosaurus and tyrannosaurus rex that was frozen for millions of years until awakened by atomic testing

OR

b) Godzilla is a survivor of a race of ancient creature who existed at a time when hot volcanic activity was prevalent

OR

c) Godzilla is a "godzillasaurus" (a type of dinosaur) that survived into modern times and was mutated by atomic radiation

OR

d) none of the above

The current series of Godzilla movies go with "c" but with the lack of continuity in the Godzilla universe, you can make a strong argument for any of the possibilities.

Q: Aren't Godzilla movies kind of childish and dumb? I see them on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" all the time!

A: Actually, the first Godzilla movie, GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS, was very serious in tone. As time went on, the movies got sillier and sillier as Toho tried to target a younger audience and production, SPFX, etc. got cheaper and cheesier. The new movies have much more serious storylines and feature greatly improved SPFX. However, I've personally noticed a disturbing trend toward kiddiness in recent Godzilla films, namely with GODZILLA VS MOTHRA and GODZILLA VS MECHA-GODZILLA. The recently released GODZILLA VS DESTROYER seems to reverse this trend but I haven't seen the movie so I can't really say.

Q: In the recent films, Godzilla isn't a nice monster like he was in the 60s and 70s! Did he get mean or what?

A: Ummm, well.....y'see the new films have kinda rewritten history. The new movies, beginning with GODZILLA 1985 and on, treats all movies between GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS and GODZILLA 1985 as if they never existed. Sorry.

Q: What do you mean "never existed"!!!

A: Toho has apparently created two timelines. The only common thread is the first movie. The original timeline picks up right after GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS and goes from GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN to TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA and stops. The revised timeline skips to GODZILLA 1985 and goes from there, i.e.:

          
                        /--->  GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN to
                        |        TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
    GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS--
                        |
                        \--->  GODZILLA 1985 to
                             GODZILLA VS DESTROYER (present)

Q: Why did Toho create two timelines?

A: After the release of TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA in 1975, Toho realized that dismal audience numbers for recent Godzilla films and poor economic times made it impossible to continue releasing make Godzilla films year after year. Nine years after TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA, a decision was made to make a new Godzilla movie to coincide with the up-coming 40th anniversary of the movie that started it all, GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS. It was decided that the new movie would return to Godzilla's roots as a destructive force instead of the friendly monster in recent movies so all movies after GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS would be ignored. The new movie would be a direct sequel to the first. So in 1984, the movie that was retitled GODZILLA 1985 in the U.S. was released, heralding a new era for Godzilla.

Q: What's all the hoopla about GODZILLA VS DESTROYER?

A: It's the latest Godzilla movie. 'Nuff said.

Q: Yeah but there wasn't this much buzz about the last couple of Godzilla films.

A: For starters, the producer, screenplay writer and special effects supervisor from the most successful Godzilla movie to date, GODZILLA VS MOTHRA, teamed up for GODZILLA VS DESTROYER. Akira Ifukube, considered the finest Godzilla music composer, came out of retirement to score GODZILLA VS DESTROYER. Plus this is the last Godzilla film "ever" and Godzilla dies.

Q: What happens in GODZILLA VS DESTROYER?? I wanna know!!

A: The plot for GODZILLA VS DESTROYER can be found at the Temple of Godzilla Review Page or you can pick up G-Fan #19/20 for complete details.

Q: Does Godzilla really die? Is Toho going to stop making Godzilla films?

A: "Yes" and "yes". Notice the quotation marks. It appears that Big Godzilla does die BUT the fate of Little Godzilla is unknown. Toho has stated that they will stop making Godzilla movies for now but around the turn of the century, they will continue the Godzilla movies with Little Godzilla as the lead. [UPDATE: Toho has announced they WILL be making a new Godzilla movie, due out in December of 1999. For more information, go HERE.]

Q: OH NO!! No new Godzilla movies! What will I do!

A: Wait for the Mothra movie due out on December 14, 1996.

Q: What Mothra movie? Any news on it??

A: A trailer for the Mothra movie is shown before GODZILLA VS DESTROYER. Details are sketchy at this point. However, it is known that Mothra will battle "Death Ghidorah" (King Ghidorah with some skeletal heads) and computer graphics will be used. It has also been confirmed that we'll see Mothra's egg, larval form, cocoon, adult form plus Fairy Mothra, Infant Mothra, Little Monster Garugaru and Black Suspicious Spirit Berubera. See Section VII, "Rumors" for some more unsubstantiated info.

Q: What about the U.S. Godzilla movie?

A: From the beginning: the film was to be a big-budget movie released in the summer of 1996 with trailers running in theaters now. Godzilla was to be 100% computer animated, no suitimation. The original script called for Godzilla to be the product of genetic engineering by an alien race far in the past and put in suspended animation. Godzilla is found in Alaska and is accidentally freed. He rampages through Seattle and San Francisco but is subdued and flown to New York to be studied.

However the Gryphon, a monster also created by the aliens, arrives from space to menace the world. Godzilla and Gryphon have a big showdown in New York City.

Jan De Bont, the director of "Speed", signed on as director but re-signed when Tri-Star set a maximum of $100 million for the film. The movie went back into development, presumably to cut costs.

Q: Uh-oh. What's going on now?

A: Some good news at long last. On May 2, Tri-Star announced the signing of Roland Emmerich as director and Dean Devlin as screenwriter for the Tri-Star Godzilla. The Emmerich/Devlin team worked together on the successful movie STARGATE and they are the team behind the upcoming sci-fi alien invasion movie INDEPENDENCE DAY, considered to be one of the most anticipated movies this summer.

The plot for the movie is unknown at the time but Emmerich is not bound to use the previous Tri-Star scripts. Devlin has been quoted as saying Godzilla would be "meaner, leaner, faster, scarier" and would "wreck havoc on the major cities of the world." Devlin is also on the record as saying that "...we're going back to the original Godzilla movie, and remaking that -- a complete, page 1 rewrite" Preproduction has already begun and the movie is slated for a Summer 1998 release! [UPDATE: Unless you live on Pluto, you know that the movie did, in fact, come out in May of 1998. For more information, go HERE.]

Q: I saw [insert movie name #1] and [insert movie name #2]! They're both the same!!

A: The title of Godzilla films often varies from theater release to video release and sometimes, video to video. For a list of movie titles, see Section III, "Movie List/Info".

Q: Why does Godzilla always look different each movie?

A: The suits used for each movie varied. Sometimes, an older suit would be used for fight scenes and water scenes. G-Fan #16 has an excellent feature on this subject.

Q: What are the best/worst Godzilla movies?

A: That's a question of personal choice. GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, GODZILLA VS THE THING and GODZILLA VS MECHA-GODZILLA are often cited as the best Godzilla movies. On the other hand, GODZILLA'S REVENGE, GODZILLA VS MEGALON and GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND are often singled out as the worst. However, it all comes down to individual preferences.

Q: What does the word "kaiju" mean?

A: Kaiju is translated literally to "mysterious beast/animal". This is somewhat like monster but with a supernatural overtone. Japanese monster movies are often called "kaiju eiga". This is used for ALL Japanese monsters (even Gamera).

Q: Which is correct: Ghidrah or Ghidorah? Angurus or Angilas?

A: Well...both. There are several correct spellings but I would venture to say "Ghidorah" and "Angilas" to be the most popular.

Q: Aren't there two endings to KING KONG VS GODZILLA? I heard that King Kong wins in the U.S. version and Godzilla wins in the Japanese version.

A: The only difference in the endings is that after King Kong swims out to sea, you hear Godzilla's roar, then Kong's roar. The screen goes black and then "The End" appears in Japanese.

Q: What color is Godzilla?

A: Color varies depending on the movie but it's generally acknowledged that Godzilla is a greyish-brown hue.

Q: I think I saw a Godzilla figure at a toy store!

A: You did! You did! An American company, Trendmasters, is producing a line of Godzilla toys from action figures to playsets to sponges. The line-up originally included Godzilla, Rodan, MechaGodzilla, King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah and Mothra. Sales for the Godzilla line have far surpassed Trendmasters' expectations and many other monsters have been added such as MOGERA, Gigan, Biollante, a charcoal-grey Godzilla and more items are being added all the time. You can find Trendmasters' Godzilla line at most toy stores, including Toys-R-Us and Wal-Mart. You might also want to check out the Trendmasters WWW site.

Q: So how can I find the non-U.S. released movies?

A: English dubbed or subtitled videos can be found from various video sources. [UPDATE: All of the newer Godzilla movies have now been commercially released on video in the U.S. with the exception of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, which is slated to be released in July or August of 1999.]

III. MOVIES LIST/INFO

GOJIRA (GODZILLA).................................................1954, 97m
GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS....................................1956, 80m
    Nuclear testing awakens Godzilla whose rampage through Japan
    can only be stopped by one scientist.
 
GOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (COUNTERATTACK OF GODZILLA)....................1955, 82m
GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER aka GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN aka
GODZILLA'S COUNTERATTACK..........................................1959, 78m
     Another Godzilla, named Gigantis, and an "Anguilasaurus" are
     freed from suspended animation and battle to the death in Osaka.
 
KINGU KONGU TAI GOJIRA (KING KONG VS GODZILLA)....................1962, 98m
KING KONG VS GODZILLA.............................................1963, 90m
     Godzilla is freed from his imprisonment in an iceberg and 
     encounters a recently escaped King Kong.  The two monsters
     battle in Tokyo.
 
MOSURA TAI GOJIRA (MOTHRA VS GODZILLA)............................1964, 89m
GODZILLA VS THE THING aka GODZILLA VS MOTHRA......................1964, 90m
     Godzilla awakens from his subterranean slumber and must be
     subdued by Mothra.
 
SANDAIKAIJU CHIKYU SAIDAI NO KESSEN (THREE GIANT STRANGE
CREATURES GREATEST DECISIVE BATTLE ON EARTH)......................1964, 93m
GHIDRAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER.................................1965, 85m
     The powerful space monster Ghidrah attacks the earth and the 
     earth's only defense is the combined might of Godzilla,
     Rodan and Mothra.
 
KAIJU DAISENSO (STRANGE CREATURE GIANT WAR).......................1965, 94m
MONSTER ZERO aka GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO aka INVASION OF
THE ASTRO-MONSTER.................................................1969, 94m
     Aliens from Planet X attempt to conquer the earth by
     controlling King Ghidorah, Godzilla and Rodan.
 
NANKAI NO DAIKETTO (SOUTH SEAS' GIANT DUEL).......................1966, 87m
GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER.......................................1966, 85m
     Shipwrecked sailors discover a secret nuclear weapons plant
     and it's defender Ebirah.  They also find and awaken a sleeping 
     Godzilla.
 
GOJIRA NO MUSUKO (GODZILLA'S SON).................................1967, 86m
SON OF GODZILLA...................................................1967, 86m
     An egg is found on tiny Sogel island which hatches a baby
     Godzilla, Minya.  Godzilla arrives to protect his offspring from
     mutated insects.
 
KAIJU SOSHINGEKI (STRANGE CREATURE ALL ATTACK)....................1968, 89m
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS..............................................1968, 89m
     In the year 1999, monsters have all been confined on Monster
     Island until one day, eleven monster simultaneously attack the
     major cities of the world.
 
ORU KAIJU DAISHINGEKI (ALL STRANGE CREATURES GIANT ATTACK)........1969, 70m
GODZILLA'S REVENGE aka GODZILLA'S LEVERAGE........................1971, 70m
     A young boy on the run from criminals learns about courage
     from Godzilla and Minya in series of dreams.
 
GOJIRA TAI HEDORA (GODZILLA VS HEDORAH)...........................1971, 85m
GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER......................................1972, 85m
     Godzilla must defend Japan from a monster created by rampant
     pollution.
 
CHIKYU KOGEKI MEIREI GOJIRA TAI GAIGAN (EARTH DESTRUCTION
DIRECTIVE GODZILLA VS GIGAN)......................................1972, 89m
GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND aka GODZILLA VS GIGAN..................1978, 89m
     Godzilla and Angilas must stop an alien invasion led by King 
     Ghidorah and a new adversary, Gigan.
 
GOJIRA TAI MEGARO (GODZILLA VS MEGALON)...........................1973, 82m
GODZILLA VS MEGALON...............................................1976, 82m
     The undersea city of Seatopia sends their monster god,
     Megalon, and Gigan to conquer the surface.  Godzilla 
     must end their attack with the help of the robot Jet Jaguar.
 
GOJIRA TAI MEKAGOJIRA (GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA).................1974, 84m
GODZILLA VS THE COSMIC MONSTER aka GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA aka
GODZILLA VS THE BIONIC MONSTER....................................1977, 84m
     A mechanical Godzilla is constructed by aliens to destroy
     the real Godzilla and his ally, King Seesar.
 
MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (COUNTERATTACK OF MECHAGODZILLA)...........1975, 83m
TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA aka THE TERROR OF GODZILLA................1979, 83m
     Invaders from the Third Planet of the Black Hole rebuild 
     MechaGodzilla and enlist the aid of a scientist to send
     Mecha-Godzilla and the newly discovered Titanosaurus against
     Godzilla.
 
GOJIRA (GODZILLA).................................................1984, 103m
GODZILLA 1985.....................................................1985, 90m
     30 years after GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS, Godzilla
     reappears, more powerful and deadlier than before.
 
GOJIRA TAI BIORANTE (GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE)......................1989, 104m
GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE............................................1989, 104m
     Godzilla is freed from his volcanic imprisonment and only a
     strange product of rose, human and Godzilla DNA can stop Godzilla.
 
GOJIRA TAI KINGU GIDORA (GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH)..............1991, 103m
GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH........................................1998, 89m
     Time travelers tamper with Godzilla's past and create King 
     Ghidorah to decimate Japan.  Japan's only hope is Godzilla.
 
GOJIRA TAI MOSURA (GODZILLA VS MOTHRA)...........................1992, 103m
GODZILLA VS MOTHRA: THE BATTLE FOR EARTH.........................1998, 102m
     Two monsters, Mothra and Battra, resume their centuries-old
     battle while Godzilla rampages through Japan.
 
GOJIRA TAI MEKAGOJIRA (GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA)................1993, 108m
***   no U.S. release at this time   ***
     The United Nation Godzilla CounterMeasures Center (UNGCC)
     creates an awesome robot to end the threat of Godzilla and the newly 
     discovered Rodan.
 
GOJIRA TAI SUPESU GOJIRA (GODZILLA VS SPACE GODZILLA)............1994, 105m
GODZILLA VS SPACE GODZILLA.......................................1999, 108m
     A sample of Godzilla cells are sucked into a black hole and
     the result, a hideous monster, attacks Godzilla and the newest
     UNGCC anti-Godzilla robot, MOGERA.
 
GOJIRA TAI DESUTOROIA (GODZILLA VS DESTROYER)....................1995, 103m
GODZILLA VS DESTROYER............................................1999, 90m
     A monster born of the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon used to
     defeat Godzilla decades ago, battles a Godzilla on the verge of a
     nuclear detonation.

IV. MONSTER LIST/INFO

"O" - original timeline (pre-80s)
"st" - stock footage appearance
"R" - revised timeline (post-80s)
"ca" - cameo appearance

Godzilla movie abbreviations
----------------------------

GKOM - GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS
GFM - GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER
GvsKK - KING KONG VS GODZILLA
GvsThi - GODZILLA VS THE THING
Ghi - GHIDRAH, THE 3 HEADED MONSTER
Gvs0 - GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO
GvsE - GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER
SOG - SON OF GODZILLA
DAM - DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
GsR - GODZILLA'S REVENGE
GvsH - GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER
GvGi - GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND
GvsMeg - GODZILLA VS MEGALON
GvsCM - GODZILLA VS THE COSMIC MONSTER
TOM - TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
G85 - GODZILLA 1985
GvsB - GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE
GvsKG - GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH
GvsM - GODZILLA VS MOTHRA
GvsMG - GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA
GvsSG - GODZILLA VS SPACE GODZILLA
GvsD - GODZILLA VS DESTROYER

ANGILAS (GFM, DAM, GsR st, GvsGi, GvsMeg, GvsCM)

* (O) a species of ankylosaurus mutated by radiation

BARAGON (DAM ca)

* (O) a triceratops-like monster of unknown origin

BATTRA (GvsM)

* (R) a "black Mothra" created by the Zen of the Earth Lifeforce in response to the balance of nature being upset

BIOLLANTE (GvsB)

* (R) a strange plant/animal creature created by combining human, rose and Godzilla DNA

DESTROYER (GvsD)

* (R) a creature created by the mutative effect of the Oxygen Destroyer on sea life

EBIRAH (GvsE, GsR st)

* (O) a huge lobster of unknown origin

GABORAH (GsR)

* (O) either an imaginary creation of a young Japanese boy or a ogre-like monster of unknown origin

GIGAN (GvsGi, GvsMeg)

* (O) a cyborg from the Hunter Nebula in Universe M

GIMANTIS (SOG, GsR)

* (O) a preying mantis mutated by a radiation storm

GODZILLA (all)

* (O) varies

* (R) a godzillasaurus, a type of dinosaur, mutated by atomic testing

GOROSAURUS (DAM, GsR st)

* (O) a dinosaur of unknown origin

HEDORAH (GvsH)

* (O) a monster born of man's pollution of the environment

KING GHIDORAH (Ghi, Gvs0, DAM, GvsGi, TOM st, GvsKG)

* (O) a space monster that arrives on earth via meteor

* (R) the result of three genetically engineered pets brought from the future exposed to the radiation that originally created Godzilla

KING KONG (GvsKK)

* (O) origin unknown

KING SEESAR (GvsCM)

* (O) an ancient lion god who appears to protect the people of Japan

JET JAGUAR (GvsMeg)

* (O) a humanoid robot built by a Japanese scientist

MANDA (DAM, GsR st, TOM st)

* (O) the god of the ancient civilization of Mu

MECHAGODZILLA (GvsCM, TOM, GvsMG)

* (O) a robot created by alien invaders to conquer Earth

* (R) a robot created by the United Nations Godzilla CounterMeasures Center (UNGCC) to combat Godzilla

MECHA-KING GHIDORAH (GvsKG)

* (R) the remains of King Ghidorah outfitted with 23rd century cybernetics

MEGALON (GvsMeg)

* (O) the monster god of the underwater city of Seatopia

MINYA (SOG, DAM, GsR)

* (O) a baby Godzilla of unknown origin

MOGERA (GvsSG)

* (R) a new robot built by the UNGCC to replace the destroyed Mecha-Godzilla

MOTHRA (GvsThi, Ghi, GvsE, DAM, GvsM, GvsSG ca)

* (O) the protector and goddess for the island-dwelling Shobijin

* (R) the defender of an ancient alien race called the Cosmos

RODAN (Ghi, Gvs0, DAM, TOM st, GvsMG)

* (O/R) a species of pteranodon mutated by radiation

SPACEGODZILLA (GvsSG)

* (R) a strange Godzilla-like creature created when Godzilla cells were sucked into a black hole

SPIEGA (SOG, DAM, GsR st)

* (O) a giant spider mutated by radiation

TITANOSAURUS (TOM)

* (O) a dinosaur that survived from the past that falls under the control of a mad scientist

VARAN (DAM)

* (O) a monster of unknown origin

V. RUMORS

·        It's said that a new Godzilla cartoon series is in the works. [UPDATE: Yup! Tri-Star pictures has come up with a Saturday Morning cartoon series based on the American Godzilla movie. Interestingly enough, most people seem to like it better than the movie itself....]

·        Godzilla will be a combination of suitimation and computer generated graphics in the U.S. movie to cut costs. [UPDATE: It wasn't widely publicized, but this was what actually happened. Most of the effects were CGI, however.]

·        Toho has an agreement with Tri-Star not to release any of Godzilla's new movies in the U.S. because Tri-Star is worried that the Toho Godzilla films might take publicity away from Tri-Star's Godzilla film. [UPDATE: Well, whatever agreement Toho and Tri-Star may or may not have entered into, Toho has decided to go ahead and create a new Godzilla movie, which is due out in December of 1999. For more information, go HERE.]

·        A large pool on the Toho lot that has been used for many of the water scenes you see in Toho films has been turned into a parking lot!

Apparently, Toho will now use computer graphics to do water scenes in future movies.

·        A translated interview with former suitimation actors from an old issue of XENORAMA talks about a live show the actors did where Godzilla fought and defeated Gamera. Ha, no surprise!! More info to come...

·        Death Ghidorah will have a skeletal middle head to replace the one blown off in GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH. [UPDATE: Nope, this was just a rumor. In fact, Death Ghidorah, who appeared in the first of the new Mothra movies, had three perfectly normal heads. Well, as normal as Ghidorah's heads ever were in the first place....]

·        Toho studio executive want to make a whole series of Mothra movies but are worried that Mothra may not be popular enough to sustain a series. [UPDATE: Well, so far they have made two Mothra movies, and there are rumors of a third. The first two had decidedly mixed reviews, and many thought they were too juvenile.]

·        Universal has announced a new King Kong film and some are predicting a new U.S.-made movie pitting King Kong vs Godzilla! [UPDATE: Peter Jackson, the director of such movies as "Heavenly Creatures", "The Frighteners" and "Dead Alive", is supposedly working on the new King Kong film, but so far nothing has come of it.]

·        It appears that Toho has merged with Daiei, the studio that makes Gamera movies. Godzilla vs Gamera? [UPDATE: Actually, Toho is simply the distributor for Daiei's films. Still, it would be nice, wouldn't it?]

VI. DID YOU KNOW...

...how Gojira (Godzilla in Japanese) was named? According to Eiji Tsuburaya, the creator of Godzilla: "At the time, there was a tough-looking guy working on the Toho lot. His nickname was 'Gojira'. We just adopted it for our monster. It caught on and certainly has immortalized him!"

...that Gojira is a combination of "gorilla" and "kujira" (Japanese for whale)?

...that when GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS was filmed, it cost 62,893,455 yen (about the equivalent of $900,000) and was the most expensive movie ever made in Japan at that time? This would equal about $65 million today. For comparative purposes, GODZILLA VS SPACE GODZILLA cost $12 million to make.

...that many of the script elements in Godzilla vs Mothra were from the unfilmed movie "Mothra vs Bagan", with Battra replacing Bagan?

...that Japanese actor Kenji Sahara has appeared in 11 Godzilla films? See if you can spot his appearances in KING KONG VS GODZILLA, GHIDRAH THE THREE HEADED MONSTER, GODZILLA VS THE THING, SON OF GODZILLA, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, GODZILLA'S REVENGE, GODZILLA VS THE COSMIC MONSTER, TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA, GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH, GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA and GODZILLA VS SPACE GODZILLA. Whew!

...that a damage tally for GODZILLA 1985 was estimated at 6 trillion yen? That's for all the military equipment used including the Super-X and maser tanks plus damaged and destroyed buildings in Shinjuku, equipment used to lure Godzilla to Mt. Mihara and rebuilding the Iihama Nuclear Plant.

...how Godzilla's roar was created? Akira Ifukube, the composer responsible for the music in several Godzilla movies, ran a glove over a contrabass string!

...that Godzilla films released in Germany before GODZILLA 1985 had their storylines altered so that many of Godzilla's opponents were either sent or created by Dr. Frankenstein? Apparently this was an attempt to add marquee value to Godzilla films.

...that GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER was originally written for King Kong instead of Godzilla?

...that Godzilla appeared in disguise on an episode of "Ultra Q" and an episode of "Ultraman"? He was "Gomes" in the Ultra Q episode "Gomes vs Litra" and "Kira" in the Ultraman episode "Ultraman vs Kira".

...that Godzilla appeared in the Japanese show "Zone Fighter" five times? Godzilla was seen on "Invasion! The Attack of Garoga's Army", "In the Twinkling of an Eye", "Submersion", "Invincible! Godzilla Enraged!" and "Gruesome! Zone Fighter and Godzilla vs the Horrible Allies".

...King Ghidorah also appeared twice on "Zone Fighter"? King Ghidorah appeared on "The Arrival of King Ghidorah" and "The Revenge of King Ghidorah".

...even Gigan made an appearance once on "Zone Fighter"? He was seen in the episode "In the Twinkling of an Eye" along with Godzilla.

...that GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER was originally to be called "The Volcano Monsters"? This was supposed to be an Americanized version that would have new footage of the monsters in the U.S. and English-speaking actors but the project was abandoned in favor of GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER.

...that Marvel's Godzilla comic was not canceled by Marvel but by Toho?

...that the end of the Marvel Godzilla series was not the end of Godzilla in Marvel Comics? One of Godzilla's opponents, an evil scientist named Dr. Demonicus, captured him and mutated him to the point where he no longer resembles his Toho self (how convenient!). Dr. Demonicus has Godzilla attack Iron Man in Iron Man #192 and #193 and never refers to Godzilla as "Godzilla" but as "my old enemy".

...that Tri-Star originally wanted to pit Godzilla against King Ghidorah in the upcoming U.S. Godzilla movie? Tri-Star's agreement with Toho allowed them to use any monster except Mothra and King Ghidorah. Toho wanted the same amount Tri-Star paid for the rights to Godzilla, rumored to be $10 million!!

...that there was an attempt in 1983 to make a U.S. Godzilla movie? Steve Miner, director of FOREVER YOUNG, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III, MY FATHER THE HERO acquired the rights to Godzilla and commissioned Fred Dekker (who later directed ROBOCOP 3) write a script. The script called for Godzilla to be a "protosaurus", a kind of nuclear-powered dinosaur awakened by an accidental nuclear missile launch by an orbiting satellite into the sea. Godzilla attacked San Francisco looking for it's baby who was found dead after battling a Soviet sub. The carcass of the baby was being studied in a military lab in the Presidio. Miner tried to obtain financing for the movie for over 2 years but unfortunately, his rights to Godzilla expired.

VII. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITS

This FAQ wouldn't be here if I hadn't gotten all the help I did from other Godzilla fans all around. Special thanks in no particular order:

Mark Meloon, David Milner, Dana Foreman, Guy McLimore, Barry S. Goldberg, Connie Goodnow, Bob Loftin, Ralf Lorenz, Craig Mitchell, Jim Walsh, Steve Ryfle, John ???, Gman, Sean Linkenback, G-FAN magazine, J.D. Lee [G-FAN editor], G-FAN writers and contributors, Ed Godziszewski

And of course, Toho Co., Ltd. for making all the great (and not-so-great) films starring the No. 1 monster of all time! If I forgot anyone, I deeply apologize! Send me an e-mail if I forgot someone!

** Standard disclaimer time **

This FAQ is not associated in any way with Toho Co., Ltd. Godzilla and other monsters, films, etc. are registered trademarks of Toho Co., Ltd or someone else. This FAQ is not intended to violate any legal rights to the names or ideas.

This accuracy of this FAQ cannot be guaranteed and the author is not responsible for any accidents, natural disasters, alien invasions or 100-meter tall radioactive monsters resulting from use of this FAQ. However, if any such incidents occur, please let me know!

This FAQ may be freely distributed provided no changes are made in content or authorship. If you wish to give this FAQ an electronic home, go right ahead. Just send me an e-mail (ckao@uceng.uc.edu) to let me know!

Back to Barry's Temple of Godzilla

Barry's World -- Wacky Surreal & Wholly Unique Gifts
Wacky Teez -- The number one site on the Internet for wacky, funny, witty, silly and humorous t-shirts