Culturally cool tenugui let you show your love of Eva Units, kaiji, and your favorite Japanese prefecture all at once.

Godzilla vs. Evangelion is the perfect example of something so crazy that it works. Sure, it started out as an April Fool’s Day gag stemming from the fact that Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno is directing the upcoming Shin Godzilla movie, but after the chuckling died down, people realized that a cross-over between the King of the Monsters and the king of psychological self-examination sci-fi anime would, if fact, be pretty awesome.

Earlier this month, 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan started taking orders for Mechagodzilla figures painted in the colors of Evangelion’s Eva Unit-01. Now, the official Evangelion Store is offering something a little more practical and elegant, in the form of regional Godzilla vs. Evangelion tenugui.

While tenugui is often translated as “hand towel,” the long strips of cloth are made of smooth cotton fabric, not terrycloth. So while you can use them to dry your hands, they also make great handkerchiefs, parcel wrappings, or wall hangings. Ordinarily, they feature classical Japanese patterns or nature motifs, but just as visually appealing are these nine designs featuring kaiji, Eva, and Angels standing alongside some of Japan’s most famous landmarks.

▼ From left to right: Tokyo (with Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge), Kanagawa (the Great Buddha of Kamakura and Lake Hakone, near which Evangelion is set), and Shizuoka (Mt. Fuji)

▼ Nagoya (Nagoya Castle and the city’s famous chicken wings), Osaka (Osaka Castle and takoyaki octopus dumplings), and Nara (the Great Buddha of Nara and Nara Park’s deer)

▼ Kobe (Kobe Port Tower), Hiroshima (Miyajima tori gate and the prefecture’s delicious oysters), and Fukuoka (Fukuoka Dome and regional delicacy mentaiko spicy cod roe)

All nine tenugui measure 34.8 centimeters (13.7 inches) wide by 90 centimeters long, are made of 100-percent cotton, and are priced at 1,296 yen (US$12). Orders can be placed here through the online Evangelion Store.

Follow Casey on Twitter for more reasons Kanagawa is awesome.

Source: Evangelion Store via Minna no Eva Fan via Anime News Network
Top image: Evangelion Store
Insert images: Evangelion Store (edited by RocketNews24)

Anime News Network’s merchandise coverage sponsored by Tokyo Otaku Mode.

The only organization strong enough to take on all the Godzilla and Unit 01 crossover merchandise is U.N. NERV’s Anti-Godzilla Division. The specialized unit has a modified logo, replacing NERV’s maple leaf with the spikes from Godzilla’s back.

Prospective recruits can join the battle between Unit-01 and Godzilla by purchasing a folding storage container, camo duffle bag, storage pouch, t-shirt, and keychains. The items are available for sale on Amazon Japan or the Evangelion Store.

With Hideaki Anno (the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion) helming the upcoming Godzilla Resurgence film (along with live-action Attack on Titan‘s Shinji Higuchi, who wrote and storyboarded several Evangelion episodes) an Evangelion × Godzilla crossover should come as no surprise. Products spawned by the original April Fool’s joke include two figures, Ichiban Lottery prizes and regional hand towels.

[Via Minna no Eva Fan blog]

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On July 15, the King of the Monsters is set to trample all over Japan’s southern city of Fukuoka! Er, well, maybe just the art museum…

From July 15 to August 31, visitors to the Fukuoka Art Museum can celebrate Japan’s legendary daikaiju (“giant monster”) Godzilla through the lens of a special exhibit titled Godzilla at the Museum: Creative Tracks of Daikaiju (ゴジラ展－大怪獣、創造の軌跡).

The world was first introduced to the monster awakened by nuclear radiation in Toho’s 1954 film Godzilla. The studio has, to date, produced 28 domestic films, with the first new installment in 12 years, Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence), set to hit theaters in Japan on July 29. The upcoming exhibit in Fukuoka serves to both hype the new film and to reminiscence over 62 years of Godzilla greatness by displaying a range of memorabilia and other items used in the films, including character moldings designed for special effects shots, original monster suits worn by actors, design drawings, set diagrams, sketches, and photographs from production, for a total of approximately 520 items.

▼ A small sampling of the materials that will be on display from Godzilla films made in (clockwise) 1967, 2003, 2003, 1954

▼ Continued (left to right) 2003, 2001

Actor Shiro Sano, who has appeared in multiple Godzilla films, will narrate the exhibit’s audio guide. In addition, the museum will screen the original Godzilla film on July 24, and art director and Godzilla special effects expert Toshio Miike will give a public talk on August 11.

Not a bad way to beat the heat if you ask us! While you’re waiting for the exhibit to open, brush up on your monster trivia by reading about where Godzilla’s name comes from and how its distinctive roar was made here.

Exhibit information
Fukuoka Art Museum / 福岡市美術館
Address: 810-0051 Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Chuo-ku, Ohori-koen 1-6
810-0051 福岡県福岡市中央区大濠公園1-6
Dates: July 15 – August 31, 2016
Open: 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Sunday and national holidays until 5:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays and July 19 (open on Monday, July 18 for Umi no Hi)
Admission: Regular tickets/Advance tickets
General admission — 1,400 yen (US$12.80)/1,200 yen; University and high school students — 800/600 yen; Junior high and elementary school students — 500/300 yen
Tel: 092-714-6051
Website: English, Japanese

Source: Tenjin Keizai Shimbun 
Images: Fukuoka Art Museum

And every formal Japanese-style apology comes with a heartfelt bow.

The world of gachapon vending machine capsule toys just got even weirder with a new lineup of figurines from top Japanese toy producer Bandai. Called the “Godzilla Toho Monsters Press Conference”, the series depicts Godzilla, along with three other kaiju monsters from the acclaimed movie production and distribution company Toho, all appearing at fictional press conferences, complete with microphone stand and name plaque. These types of formal apologies are commonly seen on television news reports around Japan, in cases where high-profile politicians and celebrities formally atone for scandals and wrongdoings, expressing remorse to the public with deep, heartfelt bows. Only this time, it’s a group of well-known movie monsters making amends for their actions.

▼ Here, Mechagodzilla bows deeply, in formal stance with his hands by his side. At the front of the table is a scroll that reads “Hakai Koui” or “Acts of Destruction“, so the public can know exactly what he’s apologising for.

▼ Godzilla’s archenemy King Ghidorah bows all three heads in regret.

▼ Hedorah, also known as The Smog Monster, is the only one to forgo the formal bow, replacing it instead with a long stare into the crowd with vertical red-and-yellow eyes.

Together, these figures create one of the funniest and most bizarre monster scenes we’ve ever seen. Available at gachapon capsule toy vending machines around the country from the end of June, these will be on sale for 300 yen (US$2.92) each.

Source, Images: Pia Corpration

Ghidora and Rodan must be so jealous right now.

Every summer, a pair of rice paddies in Aomori Prefecture’s town of Inakadate transform into giant works of art. By planting various strains of rice which sprout as differently colored plants, the fields become canvasses for gigantic organic illustrations, with characters from Japanese folklore and Hollywood movies making appearances in recent years.

For 2016, the rice field art project is honoring its biggest star yet: Godzilla.

Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla: Resurgence) is coming to Japanese theaters later this month, but the King of the Monsters has already appeared in Inakadate. Just as Godzilla has a penchant for suddenly reveals himself in his films, so too did the rice paddy quickly transition from agricultural space to kaiju habitat.

▼ Photo from June 18

▼ June 23

▼ June 30

▼ June 5, with the title Shin Godzilla visible in the film’s official font.

If you prefer your Japanese entertainment of the dashing-swordsmen, as opposed to the giant-monster, variety, adjacent to Godzilla you’ll find rice art of actors Masao Kusakari and Koji Yamamoto portraying historical TV drama Sanadamaru’s Sanada Masayuki and Idashi Mitsunari.

Hopefully the two stalwart samurai will protect the townspeople if Godzilla gets out of hand.

Related: Inakadate official website, Facebook
Source: Japaaan
Top image: Facebook/田んぼアートの村 いなかだて
Insert images: Inakadate official website

Kaiju cuisine is now on the menu at Namja Town!

You can sum up the plot of most Godzilla movies in four words: Giant monsters destroy Tokyo. Now, though, it looks like the people of Japan’s capital can have their revenge, as the King of the Monsters and his kaiju cohorts are the inspiration for a lineup of main dishes and desserts at the Namja Town indoor amusement park in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood.

Among the attractions at Namja Town is the park’s food court, which offers a rotating selection of theme fare, such as the Sailor Moon goodies we tried there last fall. With Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence) premiering in Japanese theaters on July 29, right now visitors to Namja Town can dine on a wide variety of kaiju cuisine.

▼ Godzilla Foot Gyoza, featuring a black rice ankle and pot sticker claws (860 yen [US$8])

▼ Mothra Crispy Crepe (900 yen)

▼ King Ghidora Golden Gyoza Curry Pilaf (880 yen)

▼ Shin Godzilla Ice Cream, (750 yen), which, yes, does sort of make it look like the film’s star has massive testicles

▼ Mothra Cornet Pastry Pie (830 yen)

▼ Mechagodzilla Mega Buster Tortilla (800 yen)

Namja Town’s Godzilla-themed festivities also include a virtual reality game where you can fight against the big guy.

And if you’re looking for a unique photo backdrop, the first floor of the attached Sunshine City Alpa shopping center is being graced by a gigantic Godzilla foot seemingly stomping through the ceiling.

All of this Godzilla goodness is going on until September 25. Oh, and if you’re looking for some lower-calorie giant monster-style edibles, this might be just the thing.

Theme park informaton
Namja Town / ナンジャタウン
Address: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 3-1-3 World Import Mart Building 2nd floor
東京都豊島区 東池袋3丁目1−3 ワールドインポートマートビル2階
Open 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Website

Source: IT Media
Images: Namja Town (edited by RocketNews24)

Godzilla is once again menacing and immune to missiles.

Less than two weeks from now, Godzilla will be returning to theaters in his first Japanese-produced film since 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars. In many ways, Final Wars was the culmination of Godzilla’s steady transition from villain to hero, as in the movie the King of the Monsters fought off multiple, more malicious kaiju, and in doing so also protected the earth from a plot hatched by treacherous, scheming extraterrestrials.

However, the upcoming Shin Godzilla (to be called Godzilla Resurgence in international markets), looks to have no interest in a Godzilla-saves-the-day narrative. Co-directors Hideaki Anno (best known as the creator of the relentlessly somber anime Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi (director of the grim live-action Attack on Titan films) seem to be committed to portraying Godzilla as a terrifying, destructive force of nature that man has no way of reasoning with. If this heavy-hearted new trailer, put together by Anno himself, is anything to go by, this is not going to be the sort of movie where you’re supposed to root for Godzilla to smash buildings and walk through elevated train lines.

That’s not to say the title star won’t be causing extensive damage in Shin Godzilla, though. Previous promotional stills have shown him emerging from the sea in Kamakura, roughly an hour by train south of Tokyo. In the new trailer, we see the famous kaiju wreaking havoc on the Musashi Kosugi district of Kawasaki, Tokyo’s neighbor to the south.

▼ Musako, as the locals call it, has actually become a pretty popular place to live in the last few years, but a kaiju attack would probably put a damper on housing sales.

Later, Godzilla is shown crossing the Tamagawa River, which serves as the border between Kawasaki and Tokyo

▼ The locations of Kamakura (shown in red) and Musashi Kosugi (green) mean that if he takes an overland route, Godzilla’s path of destruction will be at least 27.3 kilometers (17 miles) long.

The trailer consistently depicts Godzilla’s presence as being like a natural disaster, with multiple emergency conferences being held to try to figure out how to deal with the gargantuan threat. At least one faction decides to have the Japan Self-Defense Forces try to take on the monster with tanks and helicopters, but unlike the farcical travesty that served as the end of the conflict in the American-made 1998 Godzilla, Anno does his star the courtesy of remembering that he’s impervious to standard military-grade weaponry.

▼ Even when every single missile hits the target!

The trailer ends with things looking bleak for humanity, as Godzilla glows ominously in the night while advancing on what’s ostensibly downtown Tokyo. Hopefully all those stern-faced government officials the trailers show will have a plan by July 29, when Shin Godzilla premiers.

Source: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル via Hachima Kiko
Top image: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル
Insert images: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル, Google (edited by RocketNews24)

Get ready for the Godzilla vs. Destoroyah figure that is smashing its way into our hearts.

Released back in 1995, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was set to be the final Godzilla movie and made big news when Toho announced that it ended with the nuclear monster’s death. The 22^nd Godzilla movie was the last in the “Heisei” series and signaled an end to the constant stream of monster movies being released. The franchise has seen a revival recently with the successful 2014 Hollywood reboot, which has spawned sequels, and a Japanese reboot directed by famed Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno.

However, the small child in all of us want to go back to the simpler days when Godzilla was a man in a suit rampaging around on a miniature set of Tokyo. Thanks to S.H. MonsterArts and our imaginations, we can replicate that with a brand new figure based on the classic 1995 film.

Dubbed “Burning Godzilla” this 16-centimeter (6.3-inch) tall figure is priced at 9,504 yen (US$89.70). Pre-orders are already underway online and delivery of the fantastic looking toy will begin in December 2016.

In the movie, Godzilla’s heart, which acts like a nuclear power plant, was going through a meltdown so Godzilla radiated heat, light and smoke. The spirit of that meltdown is beautifully represented in detail on this figure, and you’ll be able to recreate all the fabulous scenes you remember from Japan’s top grossing film of 1996.

We’re sure any Godzilla fan would love to add this top-notch figure to their collection and we can’t blame them. With (hopefully) great movies like Godzilla Resurgence coming out and awesome toys like this, Godzilla will continue to reign as the King of Monsters!

Source: Kai-You
Images: Premium Bandai

Step out in a pair of Godzilla kicks featuring a number of awesome beastly details.

If Godzilla ever needed a new pair of shoes, these sneakers would be up to the task. A joint collaboration between Reebok and the MegaHouse brand that belongs to video game publishing giant Bandai Namco, the new sneakers come in two designs: Reebok CLASSIC × MegaHouse Instapump Fury Road Ver.GODZILLA and the Reebok CLASSIC × MegaHouse Instapump Fury Road Ver.ShinGodzilla.

Both use the distinctive Reebok Instapump Fury silhouette, and the Godzilla version features a textured black material which resembles the skin of the giant monster.

▼ The design that runs along the side of the shoe is another homage to the beast.

▼ And just to let everyone know whose shoes you’re wearing, the heel is emblazoned with the title “King of the Monsters”.

The soles feature a spectacular red-and-black clawed footprint design, along with the words “Godzilla Vs. Fury Road” in Japanese.

While the Godzilla sneakers celebrate the awesome stylings of the original beast, the “Shin Godzilla” design acts as a nod to its latest incarnation, set to wreak havoc on Tokyo in the upcoming Shin Godzilla movie, which will be out in Japanese theatres on July 29 and marketed internationally under the title, Godzilla Resurgence.

These kicks incorporate phosphorescent material into the design, to create an otherworldly glow after dark.

The grey, black and green colours of the shoe are complimented with red accents, including a bloody, three-clawed gash on the heel.

These soles feature a slightly different Godzilla footprint design, again using the words, “Godzilla Vs. Fury Road” in Japanese.

Both styles retail for 28,000 yen (US$263.89) each, plus tax, with the Premium Bandai website in Japan accepting pre-orders from July 29, to coincide with the release of the new Godzilla film. For a full list of retailers in Japan that will be stocking the shoes from the official on-sale date in January 2017, check out the MegaHouse website for more details.

Source, Images: PR Times

The King of the Monsters is lurking under the skin of modern anime’s most iconic mecha.

While landmark anime Evangelion is often described as a mecha or giant robot series, it’s technically a little different from those genres. See, while the titular Evangelion Units have metallic coverings, on the inside, they’re actually gigantic bio-weapons, and their technological coverings serve both as protective armor and binding restraints.

So, in a way, the true nature of the Evangelions is more Godzilla than Gundam. As a matter of fact, a new figure in the growing Godzilla vs. Evangelion merchandising franchise shows just how well the two icons can blend together.

Now on sale through the Premium Bandai online shop, the figure is officially named Evangelion Test Unit “G” Awakening Form. It even has a backstory, which claims that after suffering heavy damage in battle, the G cells within Eva Unit-01 began to react, eventually causing it to mutate into the half-Evangelion, half-Godzilla hybrid seen here.

While it’s part of the Toho 30-Centimeter Series of figures, this mutated Eva goes above and beyond that parameter, standing an impressive 38 centimeters (15 inches) high and measuring 36 centimeters in length.

▼ Not pictured or included: Evangelion series protagonist/Unit-01 pilot Shinji, who was presumably stepped on or eaten by the rampaging creature.

Domestic orders for the 32,400-yen (US$309) figure can be placed here through the Premium Bandai website, with shipping scheduled for next January.

Source, images: Premium Bandai

Godzilla is following Dragon Ball Z and Evangelion with a multi-sensory theater attraction at Universal Studios Japan.

Godzilla: The Real 4D will bring the fight against Hideaki Anno‘s incarnation of the monster to life. Godzilla: The Real 4D marks Godzilla’s first foray as an amusement park attraction.

Godzilla: The Real 4D will open at the park on January 13 after the “Universal Jump Summer” attractions wrap up. The park is currently hosting Goku and Frieza’s battle in the theater, a Death Note real escape game, and the Universal Jump Exhibition, which showcases exhibits from various Shonen Jump series. Yo-kai Watch is also haunting the park this summer.

FUNimation Entertainment announced at Comic Con International that it will release TOHO‘s Godzilla: Resurgence (Shin Godzilla) film. It plans to release the film in theaters in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean in late 2016.

The film is the 29th Godzilla film by TOHO. Evangelion director Hideaki Anno and live-action Attack on Titan film director Shinji Higuchi are collaborating on the film. Anno is serving as chief director and writer, while Higuchi is directing the new film and is also serving as visual effects director. Mahiro Maeda (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Animatrix, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, “Kyōshinhei Tokyo ni Arawaru“) worked on the image designs, and Takayuki Takeya (Kamen Rider Drive, live-action Attack on Titan) worked on the character designs based on the concepts by Maeda and Anno.

The film opened in Japan on July 29, and has IMAX, MX4D, and 4DX screenings.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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There’s just one place in Tokyo this mascot of mayhem always seems to spare.

Over the last six decades, Godzilla has destroyed Tokyo dozens of times, and while his career has seen many exhilarating highs (remember that time he fought a giant space moth?!) and lows (ill-advised American remake with Ferris Bueller, mediocre American remake with Walter White, those times he had an annoying son, the franchise’s ‘Scrappy-Doo’ moment), one thing has remained consistent since his first cinematic outing in 1954. So far, the iconic monster has shown no interest in destroying the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The aptly-titled Shin Godzilla (US title Godzilla Resurgence, this being Toho’s first new Godzilla release since 2004) largely stays true to the character’s legacy of destructive behavior despite some differences with past films in the series. The new movie is getting considerable buzz for its relatively realistic, “disaster-film” approach to the time-worn monster-movie formula.

Many viewers seem to be enjoying this refreshing take on the typical Godzilla story, which is directed by two of the men responsible for the classic anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Some reviewers have remarked that the film marks a departure in style and tone from other, sillier entries in the series, with its political intrigue and timely references to the ongoing threat of nuclear disaster facing Japan since the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011.

Yet, despite early praise for the film’s attention to detail and realism, other viewers seem baffled by one of the series’ enduring mysteries. Some viewers, apparently unwilling to watch a film about an 100-plus meter atomic lizard without pointing out its numerous departures from reality, have observed that the beast always seems to spare the Imperial Palace in Tokyo while destroying nearly everything around it.

▼ And a whole lot more that’s not directly around it too!

Time and time again, the destructive yet strangely beloved monster is shown smashing other well-known landmarks in Tokyo, well-within the vicinity of the Palace. On a number of occasions, he’s managed to topple Tokyo Tower, the Japanese Diet Building (essentially the legislative building of the country’s government), and more, sometimes by himself, other times by accident. And yet the palace alone appears immune to his scaly wrath.

▼ A ‘Mothra’ eye’s view of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and its surroundings

It seems particularly unrealistic that his atomic beams always seem to miss the Imperial Palace, since it lies in the very center of the city, and right beside his normal path of destruction in the films. Nevertheless, in a country where the Emperor remains a widely venerated figure, it seems more likely than not that this apparent oversight is simply a gesture of respect.

As long as we’re being honest with ourselves, this isn’t the only one of the many factual omissions the series has committed over the years. I mean, none of the movies I know of in this series ever care to show how Japan would emerge from the massive financial and social ruin of repeated, catastrophic reptile attacks (to say nothing of Ghidorah and his ilk). But who are we kidding — realistic or not, we love ya’, buddy!

The new film, which Funimation will distribute for its theatrical release in North America, premiered in Japanese theaters on July 29.

Source: Livedoor News
Top image: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル
Insert images: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル, Google Maps (cropped by RocketNews24) 

Photos show just how much the capital of Japan and the King of the Monsters have grown in 60 years.

When Legendary Pictures gave Godzilla an American reboot in 2014, it also made him bigger than ever, as he stood 108 meters (354 feet) tall in that film. Then, when original owners Toho announced they were bringing the King of the Monsters back to Japan for the just-released Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence), he grew yet again, with the world-famous creature being 118.5 meters tall in his latest outing.

This might seem like a bit of a friendly rivalry between production companies as they try to one-up each another in creating kaiju on the grandest scale, but the truth is that Godzilla has been growing progressively larger for decades. See, while Tokyo has been a large, bustling city since Japan’s feudal era of the 17th century, architectural and economic limits meant that it wasn’t always as studded with skyscrapers as it is now. When Godzilla made his screen debut in 1954, the capital’s skyline was far lower and less dense than it is today, and as such the movie’s star was smaller in stature as well, with a modest (by modern kaiju standards) height of 50 meters.

Granted, that’s still pretty huge, as far as atomic fire-breathing lizards go. But while that height would have enabled him to peer over the buildings of 1950s Tokyo, Godzilla would find his lines of sight severely impaired by the city’s present-day urban jungle, as demonstrated in this tweet from @FUKUBLOG.

もし初代ゴジラ(身長50m)が2016年の東京に現れたら #shingodzilla #godzilla https://t.co/6F3SD2NQMd

—
吉野 忍 (@FUKUBLOG) August 01, 2016

Superimposed in red, Godzilla is looking pretty tiny next to some of taller landmarks of the Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and Shiodome neighborhoods, such as the dual spires of the 242.9-meter Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the 204-meter Cocoon Tower.

▼ Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (circled in yellow) and Cocoon Tower (circled in red)

So while Original Godzilla would still be pretty terrifying for us puny humans to look up at from street-level, he’s not so big that you couldn’t hide from him by ducking behind the corner of an office building.

Source: Twitter/@FUKUBLOG via Hachima Kiko
Images: Twitter/@FUKUBLOG (edited by RocketNews24)

A new graphic shows that Godzilla has been on some serious nuclear-infused ‘roids the last 60 years.

As the city of Tokyo grows, Godzilla films have had to inflate the iconic creature to (even more) monstrous proportions. We’ve already covered how the original Godzilla would be absolutely dwarfed by modern Tokyo’s towering skyscrapers and multi-story apartment buildings, but how has everyone’s favorite city-destroying nuclear lizard thing evolved over the ages to match Tokyo’s changing landscape?

Attack of the marching #Godzilla army. (Sized up for tailoring.) https://t.co/TeTgHqdGlJ

—
GMAN (@GMANonScified) June 16, 2016

This handy mock up of Godzilla‘s changing size over the ages, created by Noger Chen, gives us a glimpse.

Checking out the image, we can see that the newest iteration of the monster in Japan’s recently released Godzilla Resurgence is the largest behemoth yet, clocking in at an apparent 118.5 meters tall and sporting Olympic bicyclist thighs the likes of which the Godzilla universe has never seen.

Standing at 108 meters, the second largest version of the creature comes from the American Walter White cameo vehicle, Godzilla, with producers possibly taking cues from the massive scale of the monster from Cloverfield while basically all of the rest of the world made jokes about the pudgy-looking CG monstrosity’s probable hamburger addiction.

More interesting are the older iterations of the creature in this expanded and updated graphic from Chen; Japan’s 2001 Godzilla is actually a shade shorter than 1998’s (possibly non-canonical) American-made “‘Zilla,” while the original Godzilla and 1974’s iteration stand at the same 50-meter height, despite the 20 year difference. The rapid expansion of the Tokyo metropolis is clearly reflected in the changing size of the monster, as producers over the ages surely increased the beast’s stature so that it would always remain imposing against a Tokyo backdrop.

These are definitely cool and informative graphics, but we gotta ask: Where’s Minilla stand in all this?

Source: yomyomf.com
Feature Image: Twitter/@GMANonScified
Insert Image: Flickr/Noger Chen

The King of the Monsters gets some help from masters of digital visuals.

In a number of ways, the just-released Shin Godzilla (to be called Godzilla Resurgence overseas), is a throwback to the franchise’s older movies. Unlike later films where the King of the Monsters unwittingly serves as the protector of humanity, Godzilla is back to being a clear antagonist. His smoldering body seems like an obvious reference for the nuclear destruction he was originally a metaphor for. He has a neck again.

Still, the production isn’t entirely old-school. Co-director Hideaki Anno may be a well-known fan of Japanese tokusatsu special effects shows (as displayed in the similarities to be found between fight scenes in Anno’s Evangelion anime and the Ultraman TV series), but that doesn’t mean Shin Godzilla was going to shackle itself by shunning CG visuals.

Don’t go thinking the production staff got off easy just because it wasn’t using practical effects for everything, though. As this new video from distributor Toho shows, a lot of effort went into the impressive action that’s been showcased in the movie’s trailers.

Since the film crews couldn’t very well blow up the portions of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture that Godzilla rampages through, artists had to add in not only the kaiju himself, but also atmospheric effects such as explosions, smoke, and fire to the filmed environments.

Local authorities in Japan are notoriously unwilling to shut down streets or airspace for an extended length of time to facilitate filming. That means deploying actual military hardware such as tanks and helicopters in urban centers is particularly problematic, so this obstacle too was overcome with the use of digital craftsmanship.

▼ Work-in-progress CG tanks along the real-world Tamagawa River

And since there’s no CG man inside a CG rubber suit playing this Godzilla, his movements had to be meticulously programmed by animators, many of whom no doubt despaired when they first saw just how long and multi-segmented the creature’s tail is this time around.

▼ With all of the geometric shapes, the animation test looks like an HD remake of the Godzilla NES game.

So don’t worry, the only physical damage you have to worry about Godzilla causing is staining your clothes if you’re a messy eater.

Source: Hachima Kiko
Images: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル

Tacky? Yes. But even the King of Monsters needs to scrape a living by endorsing some products!

Last month’s premiere of Shin Gojira (known as Godzilla Resurgence overseas) has breathed life into the decades-old film franchise, as the King of Monsters terrorizes his way back to the domestic film market for the first time in over a decade. Movie goers should note that while the star of this new film is a CG-generated creation, its overall design pays tribute to an older generation of Godzilla models.

That said, it costs a lot to reboot a franchise, especially when working with one of the most legendary cinematic characters of all time. One way to deal with the high costs of production (and the destruction left in Godzilla’s wake!) is to team up with various brands for marketing collaborations, as Twitter user @sto_mkv recently demonstrated by posting a series of promotional images connecting Shin Gojira to various companies and products.

Here are Godzilla’s latest commercial tie-ins, with a few bonus ones thrown in:

シン・ゴジラ、公式がふざけまくってて草 https://t.co/5SIhliAwEM

—
彩菜彩菜彩菜 (@sto_mkv) August 05, 2016

1. [Anmitsu Glass Company] I wanted these storm shutters!

Anmitsu Glass

2. [Osaka disaster drill, to be held on September 5] Osaka vs. disaster

Osaka Prefecture

3. [Baito izu An, a part-time job search database] Camera vs. Godzilla

Twitter/@weban

4. [Tower Records, a popular retail music chain] I’ll find it.

Tower Records

5. [Lotteria, a popular fast food chain] Drink or burger?

Lotteria

6. Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari

Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari

7. Aeon Cinema Fukuoka

Twitter/@ac_fukuoka

Another Twitter user, @the_imp893, also dug up some retro Godzilla throwbacks of yesteryear:

@sto_mkv 昔もプリンの宣伝したことあったから多少はね？ https://t.co/x8jBQ5PNIV

—
the IMP (@the_imp893) August 06, 2016

@sto_mkv ゴジラくんてほんと宣伝得意ですよね https://t.co/4JIcDWRtqd

—
the IMP (@the_imp893) August 12, 2016

@sto_mkv https://t.co/O9FlXBfZVo

—
the IMP (@the_imp893) August 12, 2016

@sto_mkv https://t.co/E6L8BaRzqh

—
the IMP (@the_imp893) August 12, 2016

@sto_mkv https://t.co/f6Ic2HO6GG

—
the IMP (@the_imp893) August 12, 2016

While several net users voiced their exasperation at seeing the King of Monsters in such ludicrous get-ups, others were tickled by his marketing antics, going so far as to call the collages “cute.” While we don’t think Godzilla would stand for such trivialities normally, we can’t help but find something endearing about a karaoke-singing monster…

Source: Togetter
Top image: Anmitsu Glass (Edited by RocketNews24)

Gen Urobuchi is penning script for the King of the Monsters’ first-ever animated theatrical feature.

Even before it was released, the previews for the currently-in-theaters Shin Godzilla made it clear that the movie wasn’t trying to be a kid-oriented, fun-to-watch giant monster flick. No, co-director Hideaki Anno wanted to take a genre known for its lightweight psychology and infuse it with the seriousness such situations would demand in real life, just like he did with robot anime Evangelion.

It’s a tonal decision that’s apparently resonated with audiences, as Shin Godzilla has become a huge hit in Japan, with its box office revenue already surpassing that of Legendary Pictures’ 2014 Godzilla. And it doesn’t look like made-in-Japan Godzilla content is going to be lightening up anytime soon, with the announcement of a CG Godzilla anime movie from serious-as-a-heart-attack anime scriptwriter Gen Urobuchi.

Best known as the writer of Puella Magi Madoka Magica (which did for the magical girl genre what Evangelion did for kids-piloting-robot stories), Urobuchi more recently crafted the scripts for science-fiction detective anime Psycho-Pass and lavish-looking puppet series Thunderbolt Fantasy. “For a Japanese creator, it is the highest honor to be associated with the Godzilla name,” said Urobuchi of his involvement, adding “I am putting all of my efforts into meeting the audience’s expectations.”

While Godzilla has been the star of two different U.S. cartoons, up until last month he’d never appeared in Japanese animated form. And since that appearance was just a guest spot on long-running gag comedy anime Crayon Shin-chan, the upcoming Urobuchi-written feature is Godzilla’s first time to be featured in Japanese animation in his true capacity as King of the Monsters.

Just as Shin Godzilla was co-directed by Anno and Shinji Higuchi, so two will a pair of directors, Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita, share duties on the CG Godzilla project. The two previously worked together on CG anime Knights of Sidonia, for which Shizuno is listed as director amd Seshita co-director. Separately, Shizuno has directed a number of Detective Conan theatrical features, with Seshita serving in the same capacity for the trilogy of Ajin anime movies.

Handling animation production is Polygon Pictures, the studio behind the visuals in Knights of Sidonia and Ajin. So far, only a single teaser image has been released, and while the titular kaiju himself is nowhere to be seen, the spacecraft and high-tech uniforms being worn by the trio of visible humans points to a more futuristic setting than the present-day Shin Godzilla or Legendary Godzilla.

With Legendary already planning a new Godzilla film for 2019, a crossover with King Kong scheduled for 2020, and the very real possibility of a Japanese-produced live-action sequel to Shin Gozilla, one could argue that the franchise’s handlers are running the risk of flooding the market with content. Still, the CG Godzilla anime is set to beat all of those other projects to the punch, with an expected release in 2017.

Source: Cinema Today
Top image: Godzilla anime official website

Famous for his ability to demolish buildings, the King of the Monsters would also be pretty adept at wrecking Japan’s finances.

In keeping with its original tagline, “Japan vs. Godzilla,” the King of the Monsters himself is the only kaiju to appear in the currently playing Shin Godzilla (to be called Godzilla Resurgence for theatrical release). But just because the titular star isn’t throwing down with Mothra, Ghidorah, or any of his other historical sparring partners doesn’t mean Tokyo gets off easy in the new movie.

IT Media Business asked a Tokyo-based business consultant to estimate how much damage, in monetary terms, the monster’s Shin Godzilla activities would cause, and got a thorough answer. For those who haven’t seen the movie yet, we’ll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, although we don’t think it’ll come as a shock to anyone to hear that Godzilla crushes a lot of the capital before the credits roll.

Godzilla actually has a bit of a hit-and-run thing going on in the new film, as he emerges from the sea on two separate occasions. On his first outing, he busts up some roads, bridges, and tunnels in Tokyo’s Shinagawa and Ota Wards. It’s his second visit to dry land when things really start to get messy, though, as he stomps his way through Kanagawa Prefecture to the heart of Tokyo, trampling parts of the capital’s Setagaya, Meguro, Minato, Chiyoda, and Chuo Wards. The cost to put all of that architecture and infrastructure back together again would be some 9 trillion yen (US$87.34 billion).

The second time Godzilla comes to visit, both the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military welcome him with tanks and bombers, which are just ultimately as effective as conventional weapons always are in kaiju movies (i.e. not at all), so several pieces of expensive military hardware are destroyed. A later plan uses more unique equipment, sending Shinkansen bullet trains, tanker trucks, and a squadron of drones to the scrap pile, and also destroying seven buildings in downtown Tokyo, bringing the complete tally for the anti-Godzilla operations to 1.4 trillion yen.

But those are just the direct costs for Godzilla’s time in Tokyo. Evacuation expenses and production facility damage would come to a staggering 45 trillion yen, the analyst claims. All of those displaced citizens are going to need housing and other governmental support while they try to put their lives back together, which would be another 14 trillion yen. And while much of Tokyo is likely to rebuild, the consultant doesn’t believe the central government would set up shop there again in a world with a precedent of a rampaging monster spring up from the sea. That would also rule out other major urban centers such as Osaka, Nagoya, or Fukuoka, meaning a huge number of government organizations would have to move their offices and personnel to another, less infrastructure-rich city in which to set up a new capital, with an estimated cost of 14 trillion yen.

Add it all up, and the total cost of Godzilla attacking Tokyo would be 81.4 trillion yen (US$815.53 billion).

Granted, the government could try to recoup some of that figure by taking Godzilla himself to court and demanding that he pay for the destruction he caused. But while Godzilla’s pockets are looking pretty flush from his recent box office success, Shin Godzilla’s revenue isn’t anywhere near enough to cover the damages, so it’s probably a good thing that the big guy has been taking on some side jobs as of late.

Source: IT Media Business via Jin
Images: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル

The iconic monster is creating a huge blast at the box office in Japan — much bigger than expected!

When Shin Godzilla opened in theaters in Japan on July 29, we’re sure that fans were more than excited about the first Godzilla movie to come out of Japan in 12 years. And it certainly didn’t hurt that the film was directed by Hideaki Anno, creator of the hit anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi, director of the live action Attack on Titan movies. But in all honesty, there was probably also quite a bit of uncertainty as to what we might expect from the movie. Would the new film do justice to one of the most beloved monster franchises of all times?

Well, a month after its release, it seems that the movie is delivering on its promise and more, at least based on the figures at the box office.

As of August 29, Shin Godzilla has grossed over 5.3 billion yen (approximately US$51 million), which incidentally has now surpassed the box office sales for another of Anno’s films, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. So far, roughly 3.6 million moviegoers have gone to see the monster on the big screen in Japan.

Indeed, audiences genuinely seem to be enjoying the new movie in general, and favorable word-of-mouth reviews combined with hard-core fans who have been to see the film multiple times have apparently resulted in the impressive figures.

In fact, it now looks quite possible that Shin Godzilla will be the highest grossing Japanese live-action film this year, the highest earner before it having been Nobunaga Concerto which made 4.6 billion yen earlier this year. 

The series of Godzilla films made in Japan, of which Shin Godzilla is the 29th, has also now apparently sold a total of over 100 million tickets. The long running series of Doraemon anime films has also surpassed the 100 million mark over the years, but Godzilla is apparently the first live-action movie series to reach that number.

The movie has already been released in parts of Asia, and the recent buzz on the internet seems to be that it might open in the U.S. around mid-October. If the response in Japan is anything to go by, it looks like Shin Godzilla could well be worth watching, especially if you’re into monsters and lots of destruction!

We’ll leave you with trailers from the movie’s official website. Enjoy!

Source: Hachima Kiko (1), Hachima Kiko (2)
Top Image: Shin Godzilla Official website
Insert image: YouTube/Toho Movie Channel

As if Evangelion on its own isn’t enough to give you nightmares and mess with your id…

Though the majority of us are too young to have ever experienced Godzilla at an age or in an age when it would have been appropriately terrifying, Evangelion has been messing with our minds for over 20 years now. Someone, though, has decided we don’t have enough monsters lurking in the darkest corners of our mind.

Last month, in conjunction with the release of Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno’s Shin Godzilla, Premium Bandai began taking pre-orders for the Evangelion Test Unit “G” Awakening Form. Apparently, after suffering heavy damage in a battle, the “G” cells inside Eva Unit-01 mutated and turned the unit into a half-Eva, half-Godzilla nightmare.

▼ Evangelion Test Unit “G” Awakening Form

Eva Unit-01 wasn’t the only one to be ravaged by these mysterious “G” cells. The following is what happened when some ‘G’ cells were put in the Eva Unit-02 while it was in beast mode.

▼Beast mode is a special kind of attack mode from Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance

It’s a bit scary to think of other potential Godzilla x Evangelion mashups, such as Lilith and Godzilla.

The good news about all of this is that these are only figurines. And they are pretty amazing figurines at that! Standing 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) tall and 38 centimeters (14.96 inches) in length, this thing is massive and it has a price tag to match. Eva Unit-02 Beast “G” mode will cost you 32,400 yen (about US$314.09) and a couple of sleepless nights, but for a true Eva fan, that’s nothing. Pre-orders can be placed via the Premium Bandai store or the official Eva Store and delivery is anticipated to be sometime in February 2017.

Tell us in the comments section which Evangelion character or unit you think should get the “G” cell treatment next!

Source: Kai-You, Premium Bandai
Images:  ©TOHO CO., LTD. , ©カラー via Premium Bandai