| Godzilla | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Godzilla_English_Logo.png){kind=logo} Current official English brand logo[1] | |
| Created by | |
| Original work | Godzilla (1954)[5] |
| Owner | Toho Co., Ltd.[6] |
| Years | 1954–present |
| Print publications | |
| Book(s) | |
| Comics | Full list |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) |
|
| Television series | Full list |
| Games | |
| Video game(s) | Full list |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) | Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) Godzilla (2014) Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) Godzilla Minus One (2023) Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| American series | Monsterverse |
Godzilla (Japanese: ゴジラ, Hepburn: Gojira) is a Japanese monster, or kaiju, franchise centering on the titular character, a prehistoric reptilian monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. The films series are recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest continuously running film series", having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths.[8] There are 38 Godzilla films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., and five American films; one by TriStar Pictures and four films (part of the Monsterverse franchise) by Legendary Pictures.
The original film, Godzilla, was directed by and co-written by Ishirō Honda and released by Toho in 1954.[9] It became an influential classic of the genre. It featured political and social undertones relevant to Japan at the time. The 1954 film and its special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya are largely credited for establishing the template for tokusatsu, a technique of practical special effects filmmaking that would become essential in Japan's film industry since the release of Godzilla (1954).[10] For its North American release, the film was localized in 1956 as Godzilla, King of the Monsters! and featured new footage with Raymond Burr edited together with the original Japanese footage.
The popularity of the films has led to the film series expanding to other media, such as television, music, literature and video games. Godzilla has become one of the most recognizable symbols in Japanese pop culture worldwide and a well-known facet of Japanese cinema. It is also considered one of the first examples of the popular kaiju and tokusatsu subgenres in Japanese entertainment.
The tone and themes vary per film. Several of the films have political themes, others have dark tones, complex internal mythology, or are simple action films featuring aliens or other monsters, while others have simpler themes accessible to children.[11] Godzilla's role varies from purely a destructive force to an ally of humans, or a protector of Japanese values, or a hero to children. The name Godzilla is a romanization of the original Japanese name Gojira (ゴジラ)—which is a combination of two Japanese words: gorira (ゴリラ), "gorilla", and kujira (クジラ), "whale". The word alludes to the size, power and aquatic origin of Godzilla. As developed by Toho, the monster is an offshoot of the combination of radioactivity and ancient dinosaur-like creatures, indestructible and possessing special powers (see Godzilla characteristics).
- ^ "Official Godzilla website (English) Wallpapers". Toho Co., Ltd. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ Ragone 2007, p. 34.
- ^ Doug, Bolton (July 7, 2015). "Godzilla creator Eiji Tsuburaya celebrated in Google Doodle". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 24.
- ^ Saperstein, Pat (May 6, 2014). "60 Years of Godzilla: Highlights From Monster's 29-Film Career". Variety. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ David Kravets (November 24, 2008). "Think Godzilla's Scary? Meet His Lawyers". Wired. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (May 18, 1998). "Godzilla". Variety. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Jennifer Lawrence, Game of Thrones, Frozen among new entertainment record holders in Guinness World Records 2015 book". Guinness World Records. September 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ Williams, Owen (March 3, 2021). "An Essential Guide To All The Godzilla Movies". Empire. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Kelts, Roland (June 12, 2013). "Preserving a classic Japanese art form: tokusatsu magic". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
- ^ Kalat 1997, pp. 1–5.
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