A statue of Godzilla, located near the Toho Pictures Building in Ginza, Japan.
The name "Godzilla" is a rough romanization of Gojira (ゴジラ, Gojira?), a combination of two Japanese words: gorira (ゴリラ, lit. "gorilla"?) and kujira (クジラ, lit. "whale"?). At one planning stage, the concept of "Gojira" was described as "a cross between a gorilla and a whale," alluding to Godzilla's size, power and aquatic origin. A popular story is that "Gojira" was actually the nickname of a hulking stagehand at Toho Studio.[6] The story has not been verified, however, because in the more than 50 years since the film's original release, no one claiming to be the employee has ever stepped forward, and no photographs of him have ever surfaced.
There is disagreement as to exactly how the creature's name should be pronounced. While purists often use the Japanese pronunciation [godʲʑira] listen (help·info), most favor the anglicized rendering of its name, [gɑd'zɪlə] (with the first syllable pronounced like the word "god", and the rest rhyming with "vanilla"). Back in the 1950s when Godzilla was created—and Japanese-to-English transliteration was less familiar—it is likely that the kana representing the second syllable was misinterpreted as being pronounced [dzi]. Had the more conventional Hepburn romanization system been used, Godzilla's name would instead have been rendered as "Gojira".
Incarnations
Godzilla's character has been tweaked and reinvented many times over the separate continuities of the Toho films. To date, there have been eight distinctive versions of the character—11 if the Hanna Barbara Godzilla, Marvel's Godzilla, and Zilla are taken into account as well. However, these non-Japanese incarnations of Godzilla are not widely recognised as being canonical.
1954 film
The original Godzilla in Godzilla or Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was about a prehistoric monster 50 meters tall (164 feet) and weighing 20,000 metric tons. It was awakened by an American Hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean. After attacking Tokyo, destroying much of the city and killing tens of thousands, Godzilla was defeated when scientist Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata) used the Oxygen Destroyer, which completely dissolved Godzilla. It was stated at the end of the film that it was doubtful that there was only one creature, alluding not only to the many incarnations of Godzilla that would later appear but also to all the other kaiju monsters that would be featured in movies produced by Toho.
It should be noted that the Raymond Burr character appeared only in the Americanized version of Godzilla where the title was changed to Godzilla, King of the Monsters!. American producers purchased the North American rights to the film, and hired a director to shoot new scenes featuring an American reporter (Burr). This approach allowed much of the original film to be retained, with Burr doing a voice over to explain to American audiences what was happening.
The original film has now been released on DVD by Sony, with the approximately forty minutes cut for the American version now restored. The original film is more sombre, and there is more emphasis on the environment--not only were the Japanese worried about Atomic Bombs, they were also concerned about atomic testing. Ishiro Honda, the director, has indicated that the boat destroyed in the beginning of the film is a version of The Lucky Seven Tuna boat, which was too close to the first American H Bomb test. The radio operator of the Lucky Seven died a lingering difficult death from radiation poisoning.
1956 American version
When first released in wide distribution in the U.S., its footage was reworked and supplemented with new footage featuring Raymond Burr as Steve Martin for general commercial release as Godzilla, King of the Monsters! in 1956. This American version was the only version represented on North American home video until the release of the Gojira DVD in September 2006, which contains both the unedited Japanese theatrical version and the reworked U.S. version.
The Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was honored with a plaque on its 50th anniversary at the former studio location of Visual Drama, Inc., now the Frank del Olmo Elementary School, where Raymond Burr's insert scenes were filmed by director Terry Morse.
Shōwa series (1955–1975)
Godzilla again surfaced at first as a menace in Godzilla Raids Again (shown in the U.S.A. as Gigantis, The Fire Monster, in which Godzilla is referred to as Gigantis and Anguirus as Angurous or Angurousaurus). Setting the tone for future Showa-series films, Godzilla's fate is uncertain at the end. His next film was 1962's King Kong vs Godzilla. The menacing ego of Godzilla's final film in the Showa series was 1964's Godzilla vs. The Thing (that being the original American release title, but since known by the Japanese and international title, Mothra vs. Godzilla). Starting with Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla took on the heroic persona he would wear for the remainder of the series. (Indeed, a translated conversation between Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan in said film reveals that Godzilla's ire towards humans is merely due to what he perceives as unprovoked attacks towards him). He would team up with Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus along with other monsters to battle Ebirah, Kumonga, Kamacuras, Hedorah, Gigan, Megalon, and, most frequently, King Ghidorah in different films. He even gained a son in the form of Minilla. The series ended with Terror of Mechagodzilla in 1975. However, Destroy All Monsters, the 1968 movie, took place in 1999; therefore, this Godzilla would be living peacefully on Monsterland up to this date.
The Toho sentai series Zone Fighter is notable in that it features Toho Kaiju from the films, such as Gigan, King Ghidorah and Godzilla himself. Produced during the 70s, Toho has gone on record stating that the events depicted in the Zone Fighter television series are part of the Showa era, taking place between Godzilla vs. Megalon and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.
VS, 90s or Heisei series (1984-1995)
The VS series is in the era known as the Heisei Period when Godzilla not only returns after more than a decade's absence, but marks a transition between the reign of the Shōwa Emperor Hirohito to that of his son Akihito, now dubbed the Heisei Emperor.
Godzillasaurus, Heisei Godzilla's form before his first exposure to radiation
The Return of Godzilla, ignoring all previous films in the series aside from the original, makes Godzilla taller and more powerful, at 80 meters tall (262 feet) and weighing 50,000 metric tons and with a ray beam rather than breath. Godzilla vs King Ghidorah explains that this second Godzilla is the product of a botched time traveling mission by a group of terrorists from the 23rd century known as Futurians. Under the guise of wanting to save Japan from Godzilla's devastation, the Futurians travel back to 1944 and transport an injured Godzillasaurus residing on Lagos Island to the Bering Sea, thus preventing its exposure to the H-bombs. The Godzillasaurus lies dormant in the Bering Sea till the late 1970s, where it is exposed to radiation after a nuclear submarine accidentally detonates in the dinosaur's vicinity. Hungry for nuclear energy, the new Godzilla attacks a Soviet nuclear submarine before turning towards Japan as its predecessor in 1954 did. Godzilla battles and destroys the Super X. Afterwards Godzilla is lured to a volcano where he falls in and presumed destroyed.
During his slumber, Japan develops an underfunded agency, designed to track any and all of Godzilla's future sightings and corporations develop Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria (ANEB) in order to protect the country from nuclear accidents or attacks.
Reawakened by explosions detonated during a failed terrorist ransoming, Godzilla heads for Lake Ashino where he does battle with Biollante in Godzilla vs. Biollante. After their first battle, a new Super X-2 confronts Godzilla and distracts the monster so soldiers can administer the ANEB through rocket-propelled grenades. Super X-2 is badly damaged during the battle, unable to further engage Godzilla. In an attempt to activate the ANEB, Godzilla is lured to a site with experimental lightning generators intended to increase Godzilla's core temperature so the bacteria can function properly. At the site, a new form of Biollante arrives and besieges the weakening Godzilla. The ANEB takes effect and forces the battle to a draw. Biollante is mortally wounded and Godzilla falls into the ocean, where he is believed to die from the ANEB. However, the cold waters of the Pacific lower Godzilla’s body temperature, negating the effects of the ANEB and allowing Godzilla to live on. In his weakened state, Godzilla swims back to the area of his origin, the Bering Sea.
In Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, it is discovered that the time-travelers that had attempted to prevent Godzilla's creation had left in its place on Lagos island their own creation—three tiny Dorats—mutating and combining them into a three-headed golden abomination, King Ghidorah. Unfortunately, they are unaware that the Godzilla they had planned to erase was later mutated by the nuclear submarine crash which would lead to the events of The Return of Godzilla. In an effort to stop King Ghidorah's rampage, an extremely wealthy corporate developer plans to send a nuclear submarine into the Bering Sea in an attempt to create a second Godzilla. Instead of finding the Godzillasaurus, the submarine would come face to face with Godzilla himself, unchanged and still recovering from the ANEB. The Futurians’ ignorance of the past leads them to create the second Godzilla in the first place rather than removing him from history. Godzilla absorbs the power of the nuclear sub, purging his system of the bacteria and increasing his size further to 100 meters (328 feet), becoming big and powerful enough to defeat King Ghidorah. Godzilla proceeds to attack Japan itself, but is stopped when Emmy, one of the Futurians who had turned on her fellows, resurrects Ghidorah as a cyborg in the future and returns to the past to battle Godzilla with the new Mecha-King Ghidorah. The two battle in Tokyo, with both falling into the sea, but Godzilla is still alive.
These films show mankind's efforts to defeat Godzilla while also being challenged by other monsters such as Mothra, Rodan, and SpaceGodzilla. This series features a specialized organization of monster-combating soldiers and engineers called G-Force. Several of the ways G-Force plan to stop Godzilla include the construction of two "mecha-kaiju", Mechagodzilla (who would battle both Godzilla and Rodan) and M.O.G.U.E.R.A, also called Moguera (vs. SpaceGodzilla). Like in the previous series, Godzilla eventually adopts a "son" that is discovered by scientists in Rodan's nest, this time simply called "Baby Godzilla", "Little Godzilla," and "Godzilla Junior," simply referred to as "Junior." Both Rodan and Godzilla have a natural drive to want to be close to the monster, much to the tactical benefit of G-Force. Also by studying the Baby Godzilla, G-Force is able to discover that the Godzillasaurus species has a secondary brain in their abdomens and by using this knowledge, the pilots of Mechagodzilla are almost able to kill Godzilla by terminating this brain. However, Rodan, who was also on the verge of death, released the radiation in its body to heal Godzilla, causing his secondary brain to heal and giving him the ability to use his red-hued spiral atomic breath, which Godzilla uses to gain the upper hand and use as a finishing blow against enemies in future battles.
Ultimately, this Godzilla meets his end in the finale of the versus series, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. Everything comes full circle when Godzilla is faced with a monster, Destoroyah, created by the Oxygen Destroyer, which was used to kill the first Godzilla in 1954. Godzilla's end comes when his internal radiation becomes too intense for his body to control, and he finally succumbs to a total nuclear meltdown. This is not the end of Godzilla's legacy, however; the previously wounded Godzilla Junior (who is killed by Destoroyah earlier) absorbs all of the radiation from Godzilla's meltdown and fully matures into an adult Godzilla.
Originally an unhatched iguana egg in French Polynesia, it would heavily mutate due to a nuclear test. It first attacks a Japanese fishing ship and is named "Gojira" by the sole survivor (the name was later mistranslated as "Godzilla" by the U.S. media). It then travels across Panama, leaving giant footprints. After traveling to New York City, it asexually lays over two-hundred eggs in Madison Square Garden. A trio of F-18s bomb the Garden, killing Godzilla's offspring. When Godzilla appears at the Garden's remains, it sees its dead offspring and begins to chase a taxi occupied by the film's protagonists. They lure Godzilla to the Brooklyn Bridge, where it becomes entangled and immobilized by the suspension cables. Godzilla is then killed by the same F-18s that killed its offspring. One unhatched egg, however, had survived the earlier bombing deep within the subway and hatches; beginning Godzilla: The Series.
X, Shinsei, or Millennium series (1999–2004)
The Millennium series is unique because rather than creating a single continuity that all the films would follow, the series would instead comprise a number of discrete narratives, each using only the original Godzilla film as a backdrop. It is often called the "Shinsei" (新生) series by Western fans (meaning "rebirth") however the name is not recognized by Toho. In Japan, rather, many call it the "X" series, due to the Japanese titles containing "X" instead of "Vs". The majority of the films in the series featured a revamped Godzilla design. This new "Millennium Godzilla" had a wilder appearance, with more massive, jagged dorsal fins and a fiercer, more dinosaur-like face than the Godzilla featured in the Heisei series.
As a direct sequel of the original movie, the Godzilla, 55 meters tall (180 feet) and 25,000 metric tons, depicted in Godzilla 2000: Millennium is not related to any other Godzilla films seen previously, or to those to come.He is stated to be savagely smarter than any Godzilla that ever appeared before him. It is unclear whether this Godzilla is the same as the original, but what is known is that he has been attacking and feeding off of Japan’s energy plants for some time, and the character Yuki mentions that he has defended earth in the past. On Godzilla’s latest rampage an alien is found which attacks Godzilla and steals his Organizer G1 (in the English dubbed version this is called "Regenerator G1") in order to adapt to Earth’s atmosphere and becomes the monster Orga. The beast has great strength and although he is slow, Orga has a weapon formed of alien energy which is capable of knocking Godzilla back several hundred feet. Godzilla destroys his opponent by unleashing his inner-radiation blast, called a nuclear pulse (not seen since the 90's series and not seen again until Godzilla Final Wars) as Orga attempts to swallow him whole.
Though Godzilla looks nearly the same in this film as he did in Godzilla 2000: Millennium, this movie takes place in an alternate universe from the previous film. The Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus attacked Tokyo in 1954, the Tokaimura Power Plant in 1966, and Osaka in 1996. In 2000, Godzilla would be the first to encounter the Meganula threat. However, shortly after this, Godzilla would be lured to Kiganjima Island where he would fall victim to a top secret weapon, the Dimension Tide. The attack would be interrupted by the Meganura allowing Godzilla to battle their queen, Megaguirus in battle. After Godzilla's victory he would fall victim once again to the Dimension Tide and be buried deep underneath the city. Shortly after the credits, however, a child feels a tremor and hears Godzilla's famed roar.
Again this movie disregards the continuity of previous films of the millennium series. Godzilla is depicted as a demonic beast possessed by the souls of those who died in the Pacific in World War II.He is stated to be the original Godzilla from 1954. This film returns Godzilla to his roots of being a genuinely malevolent being who deliberately seeks to punish Japan for having forgotten the people that were lost in the war. Godzilla would do battle with the kaiju Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah but would be nearly destroyed by the actions of General Tachibana, who piloted a submersible down Godzilla's throat. The next two times Godzilla attempted to use his thermonuclear ray it shot out of his wound, and eventually tore him apart from the inside, reducing him to a disembodied, yet still living, heart.
Interestingly enough, this version of the Millennium Godzilla resembled the Heisei Godzilla to a greater extent than the other Millennium Godzillas.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. are unique in the Millennium series because they are the only two films that follow a continuity. In the movie Godzilla X Mechagodzilla, a second Godzilla goes on a rampage in Japan. After that incident, the Minster of Science decides to make a bio-mechanical robot from the bones of the Godzilla of 1954. After a few years, Kiryu (pronounced Key-you) (MechaGodzilla) is born. Kiryu is sent to fight off Godzilla, but Godzilla roars, causing Kiryu to start attacking the city himself, until he runs out of power. Kiryu is shut down and readjusted. Kiryu is sent again to fight Godzilla. At the end of the battle, Kiryu carries Godzilla and both crash in Tokyo Bay. Kiryu shoots his final shot, the Absolute Zero, and freezes the water. The battle ends in a draw, with Kiryu running out of energy and Godzilla retreating.
In the movie Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., the two shobijin fairies warn that using Godzilla's bones as a weapon is a big mistake. The Prime Minister refuses to stop Operation: Kiryu. Then Godzilla arrives in Tokyo and Mothra comes and saves Tokyo from destruction. The Prime Minister launches Kiryu in order to save the dying Mothra. An egg in Infant Island eventually hatches and two larve go to save their mother. Mothra is blown up by Godzilla's nuclear ray and now what is left are the larvae and Kiryu. Kiryu eventually runs wild and brings a Godzilla wrapped in silk to the ocean, and they both sink together returning the bones back to the Sea of Japan. While Kiryu permanently shuts down, Godzilla is able to sleep in the depths. At the end, there is a storage room with the DNA of Godzilla (1954) still there, so another monster may rise.
This is the last Godzilla film as of 2004; Toho has decided to retire the franchise for a period of 5-10 years to renew interest in the future, possibly returning with a new film in 2013 or 2014 as Godzilla's 59th or 60th Anniversary. Decades before the main story starts, Godzilla is buried in ice at the South Pole by the Earth Defense Force’s aerial battle ship Gotengo. When the Xilians, an alien race, use many of Earth's own monsters in an attempt to conquer it, the EDF is forced to free Godzilla from the ice to fight for mankind. This Godzilla is lured towards the Xilians' mothership in Tokyo while he fights the Xilians' monsters along the way, defeating/destroying each one in his path including Gigan, Zilla, Kumonga, Kamacuras, Rodan, King Caesar, Anguirus, Ebirah and Hedorah. He arrives in Tokyo to get rid of a meteor, but it unleashes a new alien kaiju, Monster X/Keizer Ghidorah. The two slug it out and at the end, Godzilla wins. He goes back to the ocean with his son Minilla, leaving behind 50 years of glorious triumph.
Godzilla 3-D to the Max
A short 3-D feature is officially announced to show Godzilla battle a new monster named Deathla. Yoshimitsu Banno, the director of Godzilla vs. Hedorah, is set to direct.
Powers and abilities
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Godzilla is shown to possess many special abilities granted to him as a result of his irradiation and subesquent mutation. He is generally considered to be the most fearsome and powerful of Kaiju, earning the character his entitlement as "The King of the Monsters".
Godzilla's most powerful and iconic weapon is his Atomic Breath. When he uses it, Godzilla's dorsal fins glow ominously, and then he lets loose with a concentrated blast of radiation from his mouth, which can vary in intensity from a superheated vapour to a beam with concussive and explosive properties. This power is commonly mistaken for breathing fire. He is also depicted as being highly resistant to damage thanks to a tough hide and an advanced healing factor. He is also shown to have a high degree of physical strength and dexterity, often utilizing martial arts techniques in combat. Described as a transitional form between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates by Doctor Yamane in the original film, Godzilla is able to survive in the ocean for extended periods of time and is adept a fighter underwater as he is on land.
These particular abilities are portrayed consistently among Godzilla's many incarnations, though he also possesses a multitude of other skills, often employed as weapons of last resort that are only seen on rare occasions, such as his Nuclear Pulse, and Magnetic Powers, and even the ability to fly.
Animated series
Godzilla made his American series debut in the 1978 Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning show The Godzilla Power Hour, in which he gained a sidekick, Godzooky, described as his nephew. In addition to his trademark atomic breath, (retooled as flame breath), he was also given the power to shoot laser beams out of his eyes. He was routinely summoned by his human friends using a signaling device or by the cry of Godzooky. Godzilla cartoons were paired with cartoons featuring Jana of the Jungle. The series ran, both as part of the hour and with the Godzilla segments airing as a separate half-hour show, until 1981.
In the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Godzilla's roar was not the same as his trademark roar. Instead, it was provided by Ted Cassidy.
The second cartoon series, which aired on Fox Kids, was based on the events of the 1998 American movie. Godzilla: The Series featured a juvenile Godzilla from the 1998 American remake which had grown to full size. In a similar fashion to earlier animated works, Godzilla traveled around the world with a group of humans called H.E.A.T, including scientist Nick Tatopoulos (which the new Godzilla believed to be its parent), battling monsters. The offspring not only had the abilities and physical forms of his parent, but the creators of the show gave him even more powers and attitude more resembling the Japanese Godzilla. There were even references to the Japanese Godzilla series.
Godzilla in popular culture
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As an enduring and iconic symbol of Japanese cinematic history, Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, has been referenced and parodied numerous times in popular culture. Details can also be read in the full article.
In 1977, Blue Oyster Cult released the song "Godzilla" which is obviously named after and dedicated to Godzilla.
The Canadian band Arrogant Worms also released a song called "Godzilla" in which a man sings about how his girlfriend was crushed by Godzilla before he finished his proposal.
Rapper Yukmouth is an avid fan of the Godzilla movies; he even nicknamed himself Godzilla, named his 3rd album Godzilla, and until July of '07 had a record label called Godzilla Entertainment (he was forced to close it after the Godzilla creator sued him for name likeness).
Godzilla also appeared on the cover of a 1998 Disney Adventures magazine.
The hip-hop hit song "Simon Says" by artist Pharaohe Monch features Godzilla's signature theme music remixed into the songs main beat.
Godzilla was also the first kaiju to get his star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In the anime Mini Goddess there is a rat that changed into a Godzilla-like monster.
The R32 series Nissan Skyline GT-R was nicknamed Godzilla by Wheels magazine for its performance and Japanese exclusivity (neglecting Grey Markets).
Hideki Matsui ,the N.Y.Yankees outfielder who was a player in Yomiuri Giants, was nicknamed Godzilla by his facial complexion and hitting power. He was also having cameo in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla was the original name of French metal band Gojira, who later changed the name to their current one(the original Japanese name of the monster,) due to legal disputes.
The Bob and Tom nationally sindicated radio morning show has a long running joke about Godzilla. Every time they mention Godzilla, a Japanese "listener" calls in an says that he missed what they were talking about. When they tell him, "Godzilla", the listener and his cohorts begin screaming; reminiscent of a montster attack on Japan.
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