Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Kōbun Shizuno
Hiroyuki Seshita
Produced by Takashi Yoshizawa
Screenplay by Gen Urobuchi
Starring
Music by Takayuki Hattori
Production
company
Distributed by
Release date
  • November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) (Japan)
Running time
 88 minutes[1]
Country Japan
Language Japanese
Box office US$3.1 million[2]

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters[3] (GODZILLA 怪獣惑星, Gojira: Kaijū Wakusei, also known as Godzilla Part 1: Planet of the Monsters[4] and Godzilla: Monster Planet[5][6] for short) is a 2017 Japanese computer-animated science fiction kaiju film featuring Godzilla, produced by Toho Animation and animated by Polygon Pictures, in association with Netflix. It is the 32nd film in the Godzilla franchise, the 30th Godzilla film produced by Toho, and the first animated film in the franchise. It is the first film in the anime trilogy and is co-directed by Kōbun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita. The film was released theatrically in Japan on November 17, 2017 and released worldwide on Netflix on January 17, 2018.

Plot

In the last summer of the 20th century, giant monsters began appearing all over the world and wreaking havoc. A powerful creature called Godzilla appeared which destroyed humans and monsters alike. Two species of aliens, the Exif and the Bilusaludo, arrived with the former attempting to convert humanity to their religion and the latter seeking to emigrate to Earth with promises to defeat Godzilla with Mechagodzilla, should humanity accept them. However, the Bilusaludo were unable to activate Mechagodzilla, which forced the aliens and humanity to abandon Earth and emigrate to Tau Ceti e via the Aratrum.

20 years later and 11.9 light years away, Captain Haruo Sakaki locks himself in a shuttle, threatening to bomb the area unless the Aratrum leaves Planet Tau-e and abandons the emigration project. Haruo believes the planet is uninhabitable and the emigration crew only consists of the elderly, including his grandfather, because he believes the Aratrum's committee are trying to reduce the population due to limited resources. Haruo fails, is arrested and thrown in a cell where he witnesses the emigration shuttle exploding upon entering the planet's atmosphere.

Metphies, an Exif priest, visits Haruo, where he hands him classified data regarding Godzilla. Haruo anonymously publishes an essay detailing Godzilla's weak points, which convinces the central committee to return to Earth after concluding that finding another habitable planet seems unlikely. Upon returning to Earth, the Aratrum sends recon drones to scout the Earth which reveal that Godzilla is still alive.

Metphies explains to the committee that they cannot co-exist with Godzilla and suggests killing it. He also explains that the anonymous essay was the result of a thorough investigation, promising to reveal the author under the condition that Haruo is released. Haruo is released on bail and explains to the committee that a certain unknown organ in Godzilla's body can emit a high frequency electromagnetic pulse that generates an asymmetrical permeable shield, making it impervious to all damage except for a small window when the organ recycles. Haruo proposes using that windows to crack the shield organ, then shove an EMP probe within the organ before it regenerates, which will cause Godzilla to implode as its own body amplifies and concentrates the energy inside him. However, Haruo stresses that close quarters combat would be needed for accurately coordinated attacks in order to find its weak organ, as well as 600 people.

The committee reluctantly accepts Haruo's plan. However, upon landing two battalions on Earth, it is discovered that 20,000 years have passed due to relativist effects and that Godzilla's presence has radically altered Earth's biosphere. The battalions are attacked by a group of flying creatures called Servums that exhibit biological similarities to Godzilla, causing critical damage to several of the landing ships. Leland, the company's commander, orders a retreat but Metphies stresses that they would need to rendezvous with Companies D and E through a pass in an area Godzilla frequents.

The group mobilizes and soon encounter Godzilla. Haruo proceeds with the original plan on his own and attacks Godzilla. Leland manages to provoke Godzilla to use its atomic breath, but at the cost of his life. Leland's actions reveal that Godzilla's weak point is its dorsal fins. Command falls to Metphies, who promotes Haruo to commander. In a speech, Haruo convinces the remaining survivors to continue with the plan and defeat Godzilla.

The group attacks Godzilla and manage to trap it within a collapsed mountain pass. EMP probes are drilled into Godzilla's dorsal fins which causes it to implode. Commenting after the apparent victory, the group's environmental biologist Martin Lazzari theorizes that this Godzilla may be different from the one that drove humanity away, believing it to be an offspring. Subsequently, the original Godzilla, which has grown exponentially to 300m in height, emerges from beneath a nearby mountain and destroys most of the remaining crew. Trapped beneath rubble, Haruo watches Godzilla leave, vowing to kill it.

In a post-credits scene, Haruo wakes up in a secluded area, finding an indigenous girl next to him.

Voice cast

Characters Japanese[7][8] English[4]
Haruo Sakaki Mamoru Miyano (adult), Aya Suzaki (young)[9] Chris Niosi (adult), Rachelle Heger (young)
Metphies Takahiro Sakurai Lucien Dodge
Martin Lazzari Tomokazu Sugita Edward Bosco
Mulu Elu Galu Gu Junichi Suwabe Jamieson Price
Rilu-Elu Belu-be Kenta Miyake Rich Brown
Yuko Tani Kana Hanazawa Cristina Vee
Adam Bindewald Yūki Kaji Robbie Daymond
Eliott Leland Daisuke Ono Ray Chase
Unberto Mori Kenyu Horiuchi Keith Silverstein
Halu-Elu Dolu-do Kazuya Nakai Doug Stone
Endurphe Kazuhiro Yamaji Joe Ochman

Production

In August 2016, Toho announced that an animated Godzilla film was being developed, targeted for a 2017 release. Gen Urobuchi was announced as the writer, Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita as the directors, and Polygon Pictures was announced as the studio that would animate the film.[10][11] In January 2017, Urobuchi announced the main cast on his Twitter account.[7] On March 26, 2017, Toho announced that the film would be the first film in a new trilogy.[12]

About the production, co-director Shizuno stated, "From the start, we had the blessing of Toho to not be constrained by previous entries in the franchise, and with the freedom of imagination offered by animation I feel we have come up with a cool new form for Godzilla."[3] On Godzilla's new design, co-director Seshita stated, "With his masses of muscle fibers and unique body tissue to support his enormous bulk, this is an extraordinarily rugged-looking physique. It was an overwhelming presence that reverberated through the whole project, like a fearsome deity that even we who created it must prostrate ourselves before. That is our Godzilla."[3] The English dub was produced by Post Haste Digital.[4]

Music

Takayuki Hattori composed the film's soundtrack, marking it his third Godzilla film score. XAI performed the film's theme White Out.[13]

Marketing

A stage event for the film was held at AnimeJapan 2017 on March 26, 2017.[7] The film's directors are scheduled to attend the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to reveal more details regarding the film.[14] In June 2017, a new poster detailing Godzilla's design was revealed with the tagline "Despair Evolves".[15] On August 16, 2017, a new trailer and poster were released with the tagline "Who will go extinct — humans, or Godzilla?"[16]

Release

In March 2017, it was announced that the film will be streamed in 190 countries via Netflix following the film's Japanese theatrical release. Greg Peters, President of Netflix Japan stated, "Working with the best creators such as Toho in bringing Godzilla to Netflix users in over 190 countries marks a major milestone for us".[17][18] That same month, a teaser poster revealed that the film will be released theatrically in Japan on November 17, 2017.[19] On January 7, 2018, Netflix announced that the film will be released worldwide on their platform on January 17, 2018.[20]

Box office

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters reached #3 at the box office on its opening weekend, earning ¥103 million from 71,200 admissions within two days and is projected to earn an additional ¥500 million.[21]

Critical reception

Brian Ashcraft of the Kotaku website felt that the characters "aren’t all that interesting" but did state that the "anime version of Godzilla is surprisingly effective and frightening" and that despite his complaints, the "overall experience was good" and "It’s not a perfect picture, but it was a powerful proof of concept: Godzilla works as an anime."[22] Matt Schley from The Japan Times praised the film's CG animation, stating, "even skeptics will admit the 3-D version of the king of the monsters looks pretty darn cool" but felt the film wasn't "nearly as thematically ambitious as its predecessor" and concluded by stating, "But still, with its impressive 3-D animation and action sequences, 'Planet of the Monsters' has the makings of something interesting."[23]

Home media

In Japan, the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Toho Video on May 16, 2018.[24]

Sequels

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters is the first film in the anime trilogy.[12] The second film in the trilogy, titled Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle was released on May 18, 2018.[25][26] The third and final film in the trilogy, titled Godzilla: The Planet Eater is scheduled to be released on November 9, 2018.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Knight, Rosie (March 7, 2018). "Godzilla Anime Reveals Radical Sequel Concept Art". Nerdist. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Godzilla: Monster Planet". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Press Notes from Toho". SciFi Japan. July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Now Streaming Worldwide on Netflix". SciFi Japan. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ Muncy, Julie (January 7, 2018). "Get Ready For the Ultimate Kaiju Battle With This Godzilla: Monster Planet Release Trailer". io9. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ Grebey, James (January 18, 2018). "'Godzilla: Monster Planet' Is an Anime First, Godzilla Movie... Maybe Third". Inverse. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Gen Urobuchi's Godzilla Anime Film Reveals 6 Main Cast Members, Concept Art Image". Anime News Network. January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Godzilla Anime Films Cast Daisuke Ono, Kenta Miyake, Kenyuu Horiuchi, Kazuya Nakai, Kazuhiro Yamaji". Anime News Network. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  9. ↑ @suzaki_aya. "Aya Suzaki Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  10. ↑ Ragone, August (August 18, 2016). "Toho Gears Up First Godzilla Anime Movie From the Makers of Gargantia & Sidonia". The Good, the Bad, and Godzilla. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ "2017 Godzilla Anime Film Penned by Gen Urobuchi, Animated by Polygon Pictures". Anime News Network. August 18, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Godzilla Anime Is Film Trilogy Starring Mamoru Miyano". Anime News Network. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  13. ↑ Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Soundtrack Titles Revealed
  14. ↑ Julian, Mark (June 5, 2017). "More Details About Netflix's Godzilla Anime Trilogy To Be Unveiled At Upcoming Animation Film Festival". Anime Mojo. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  15. ↑ ""Godzilla: Monster Planet" 3rd Teaser Visual Shows The Biggest Godzilla in History". Crunchyroll. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ "1st Godzilla Anime Film's Trailer Unveils New Head Design". Anime News Network. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  17. ↑ Gilyadov, Alex (March 13, 2017). "Netflix to Air Original Anime Movie, Godzilla". IGN. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Godzilla Anime Film to Stream on Netflix Globally This Year". Anime News Network. March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  19. ↑ Komatsu, Mikikazu (March 24, 2017). "2nd Teaser Visual, Story Setting for "Godzilla: Monster Planet" Anime Film Revealed". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  20. ↑ Muncy, Julie (January 7, 2018). "Get Ready For the Ultimate Kaiju Battle With This Godzilla: Monster Planet Release Trailer". Gizmodo. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  21. ↑ "1st Godzilla Anime Film Debuts at #3 at Japanese Box Office". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  22. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (November 17, 2017). "The New Anime Godzilla Movie Is Pretty Good". Kotaku. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  23. ↑ Schley, Matt (November 15, 2017). "'Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters': Japan's main mutant gets animated and goes global". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  24. ↑ Squires, John (February 27, 2018). "Toho Video Releasing 'Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters' On DVD & Blu-ray". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  25. ↑ Schilling, Mark (November 16, 2017). "Toho to Make Second and Third 'Godzilla' Animation Movies". Variety. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  26. ↑ "2nd Godzilla Anime Film Teases Mechagodzilla Before May Debut". Anime News Network. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  27. ↑ Barkan, Jonathan (May 17, 2018). "Posters Suggests Ghidorah Coming to Godzilla Anime". Dread Central. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
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