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Akira Ifukube is the famous composer known for his unorthodox style of music who created the iconic score for Godzilla. He was born in 1914 on the Japanese island of Hokkaido known for the Ainu, it’s indigenous population. The Ainu had a rich history with music which created a foundation in his life. Later in…
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Godzilla (1954) was created in Japan under the writing and direction of Ishiro Honda. The production of which was funding by the Japanese media company, Toho. Toho is known for Godzilla, Studio Ghibli, and Akira Kurosawa’s work. In 1932 Ichizo Kobayashi, the founder of Hankyu Railway, created a musicl theater troup. He had a love…
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The 1954 Godzilla features a heavy rubber suit as it’s main monster. The films entirely practical effects relied on the ingenuity and work of a team of creatives dedicated to bringing Godzilla to life. Before Godzilla, similar films commonly used stop motion to create their creatures. However, the idea came to film a performed in…
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The 1954 Japanese classic Godzilla was widely popular after it’s release. As a result Toho, it’s production company, began the production on an American release. Producer Edmund Goldman took over the project, the contract allowed for the movie to have English dubbing along with other edits and revisions. The production crew was aiming at creating…
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The original Godzilla treats its titular character as a horrific monster. It’s a creature that is mindless and indifferent to humans, operating only with the purpose of destruction. The most recent Godzilla adaptations have portrayed him entirely different, as a creature almost understanding a conscious of his actions. So why the change? Ishiro Honda created…
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Godzilla (1954) and the subsequent sequels created a Japanese giant monster genre known as Kaiju. These larger than life creatures have dominated the screen since, down below are a few of the iconic Kaiju seen throughout the Godzilla franchise. King Kong Characterized as a giant ape created on Skull Island who is worshiped by the…
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Postmodernism is defined as a faith in what is real or recognized. It is a genre that challenges existing norms and societal understandings in a skeptical and critical manner. Although the term gained popularity in the seventies it had it’s beginnings in the early twentieth century. The term was used earliest as a critique of…
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After World War Two, the Japanese government was left without any ability to protect itself. It’s new relationship with the U.S. had allowed them to create the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) although they were widely understood to be incapable of handling any serious situation. Godzilla (1954) is set within this era, and addresses the issues of…
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In Japan the idea of the “hero” is rooted in the idea of self sacrifice. Although the popularity of a heroism isn’t an exclusively Japanese idea. In the American adaptations of Godzilla, for example Godzilla (1998), the climax of the movie sees the military taking the final victory. The Japanese idea of heroism however is…
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Hideaki Anno is a recognized for his creation of the famous anime series Evangelion. He’s also credited for his talent in reviving multiple long-standing Japanese pop culture icons. Hideaki Anno was born in Ube, Japan with a passion for pop fiction throughout his childhood, without much care for his schooling. However, he was pushed into…