Toho Launches Gojikon (Godzilla Strategy Council)

[lhb412]

^ Neat! It'll be cool for Godzilla fan attendees to see the real suit!

If only Toho (and Tsuburaya and Kadokawa) could get on board to do a US tour of a kind of tokusatsu museum exhibitions that have become commonplace in Japan.

[Dai]

How has the Godzilla 2000 suit survived so long? Did they pickle it?

[XvGojira]

https://twitter.com/resurrectiongoj/sta ... 9814990850

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Cr1uIgWIu ... gnkaa5m7gl

And Toho endorses the "Reiwa Era", lumping Shin and the Anime Trilogy into it.

[Benjamin Haines]

SyFy Wire, 07/19/2019:
Toho's Godzilla hits Comic-Con with its first booth, part of the Japanese studio's master plan

Five years ago, Toho selected around 20 employees from different divisions of the company to participate in the Godzilla Strategic Conference, a group devoted to plotting the public future of the studio's crown jewel. At the time, Toho hadn't released a Godzilla movie of its own since 2004's monster royal rumble pic Godzilla: Final Wars, which meant that the public impression of the kaiju was largely limited the new licensed American movie released that year. As Legendary Pictures and Gareth Edwards's Hollywoodized Godzilla movie was raking in half a billion dollars at the box office, GSC was planning to also reassert Toho's version of its monster into the international public consciousness.

Akito Takahashi, a Toho employee who serves as the GSC's Project Manager, gave an overview of the studio's plans in a conversation with SYFY WIRE, via a translator, at the company's booth on Thursday. The initial question they needed to answer, he says, was how to better tap into the devotion of the existing fan base.

[Gentleman]

SyFy Wire, 07/19/2019:
Toho's Godzilla hits Comic-Con with its first booth, part of the Japanese studio's master plan

Five years ago, Toho selected around 20 employees from different divisions of the company to participate in the Godzilla Strategic Conference, a group devoted to plotting the public future of the studio's crown jewel. At the time, Toho hadn't released a Godzilla movie of its own since 2004's monster royal rumble pic Godzilla: Final Wars, which meant that the public impression of the kaiju was largely limited the new licensed American movie released that year. As Legendary Pictures and Gareth Edwards's Hollywoodized Godzilla movie was raking in half a billion dollars at the box office, GSC was planning to also reassert Toho's version of its monster into the international public consciousness.

Akito Takahashi, a Toho employee who serves as the GSC's Project Manager, gave an overview of the studio's plans in a conversation with SYFY WIRE, via a translator, at the company's booth on Thursday. The initial question they needed to answer, he says, was how to better tap into the devotion of the existing fan base.

"We love the Hollywood Godzilla, we think it's really an honor that they wanted to sort of remake their Hollywood version," Takahashi says. "It's so different. We're going to continue that branding and that type of Godzilla universe to expand even more. However, the Japanese Godzilla has 29 movies that have already come out. It's a very specific type of Godzilla universe, so we're probably going to see both of them sort of evolving as we go. We just love that there's two sides of Godzilla."

Sounds like they haven't officially pulled the plug on Legendary's license. Maybe they're hedging until they see what kind of numbers GvK brings in.

[lhb412]

Lot of cool stuff at the Godzilla booth: live drawing from Shinji Nishikawa, signing by TJ Storm, costumes and props on display, in addition to selling merch.

[XvGojira]

Sounds like they haven't officially pulled the plug on Legendary's license. Maybe they're hedging until they see what kind of numbers GvK brings in.

I see so many people going "MONSTERVERS CONTINUING CONFIRMED!" but all the answers are fluff. There's no concrete confirmation. It's just standard banal positives about their partnership with Legendary and the products they are making. Did Toho say anything bad about G'98 while they still held the license (so pre-2003 or 2005)? They might have said they were disappointed about how it was received but I doubt they'd say anything bad with an entity that has the license to their property.

[lhb412]

A question posed to the Toho representative at the Godzilla booth seems to indicate we can expect more Godzilla anime projects:

https://mobile.twitter.com/OMEGAGORMARU ... 3769492480

Honestly, whatever you thought of the Netflix trilogy, this is such a no-brainer that they should have been doing it for the last 20 years. Anime is so internationally popular and Godzilla is such a known franchise it just makes sense for a Godzilla anime to come out every couple years, right?

[Joseph Goodman]

https://www.pasonacareer.jp/hatalabo/entry/2019/07/24

Interesting interview with two members of Gojikon.

[Henry88]

if they are doing more godzilla then go 2d next time and for the love of bob hope don't make it boring.

[XvGojira]

Toho announce Godzilla: Genesis campaign.

https://twitter.com/OMEGAGORMARU/status ... 1285348352

In 1954 Japanese studio TOHO CO., LTD. introduced the world to Godzilla, and except for a few Hollywood collaborations they've kept the King of the Monsters to themselves. But as Godzilla celebrates its 65. anniversary this fall Toho is celebrating by spreading the gospel of Godzilla to the rest of the world.

"We're very excited to revitalize the original series of 29 feature films, says Takaaki Nakazawa, head of global licensing for Toho during an interview at the company, Tokyo headquarters. "Audiences have always appreciated the franchise, and now we feel the time is right to launch our new exciting GODZILLA: GENESIS campaign."

Toho is excited to be able to offer all 29 films, either as a package or separately, to international broadcasters, cable stations and video platforms for the very first time.

"Because MIPCOM is a market for media content we're looking forward to discussing deals for the series," says Nakazawa, "but we also want to strengthen the brand value of the franchise."

In preparation for GODZILLA: GENESIS, Toho conducted a survey to gauge public awareness of Godzilla in other countries around the world, and found that the majority of the respond.ts were familiar and had a relatively strong engagement with the monster, but as Nakazawa points out there is still a great deal of potential for the character.

"The key driving content will be different in each territory, he says. "For instance, in China the Hollywood versions contributed greatly to Godzilla, popularity, while in the U.S. and Europe the original Toho films are mainly responsible."

Godzilla is such an iconic film presence that the brand encompasses more than just the films, so merchandising will also figure heavily in the campaign. Toho plans to showcase Godzilla brand sake at its MIPCOM Launch of GODZILLA: GENESIS and at their booth. In the future it will also license other titans of the Godzilla Universe such as Mothra and Rodan individually.

For the first time they'll also increase localization by providing production entities with music and effects soundtracks so that individual films can be dubbed into other languages. Despite the fact that Americans first encountered Godzilla through a hybrid version of the original in 1956, The Godzilla films produced by Toho have so far not been dubbed, with very few exceptions

Much of the series' appeal is its never-ending cycle of destruction and rebirth, a theme that may seem particularly Japanese given the island nation, history, but which Nakazawa believes is universal.

"People all over the world suffer disasters that they must overcome to rebuild their lives and move on," he says. "It, something everybody understands and is a universal experience."

At the panel Toho revealed that there will be a Godzilla toyline inbound for January 2020, as well as announced the new partnership with a major clothing brand.

I'm interested in what the toyline and clothing brand might be. The talk of new dubs seems like it's more geared towards other markets than the US, especially since I take it that the US dubs are the "very few exceptions" when they say none of the movies have been dubbed.

[lhb412]

^ Yeah, it all sounds extraordinarily ambitious, but I wonder just what it all means and if it'll affect me as a fan in the United States at all?

Still, I like that they're taking this initiative to market and maintain the brand internationally. Basically, it feels like 'Godzilla's here to stay,' you know?

[mr.negativity]

Tokyo International Film Festival:
The 65th Anniversary of the Birth of Godzilla: Godzilla Fest 2019

Godzilla Fest will be back in Hibiya! A variety of events will be held to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the birth of Godzilla!

11.3 Sun 10:00～19:00
Hosted by: Godzilla Fest 2019 Executive Committee / UNIJAPAN (Tokyo International Film Festival Executive Committee)
Co-hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Sponsored by: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. / Hibiya Area Management Association
Links: Official Site (Japnese Site)

[mr.negativity]

Screen Rant:
Life-Size Godzilla Attraction Coming To Terrorize Japan Theme Park

Godzilla will once again arrive in Japan, but this time as a theme park attraction. The King of the kaiju has been enjoying a surge in worldwide popularity as of late. The monster's next film, Godzilla vs. Kong, stomps into theaters in March 2020.

Godzilla has always been well known, but it's only recently that he's gained special prominence outside Japan. Recently, Turner Classic Movies aired most of the older Japanese Godzilla movies. Criterion, the prestigious home video company, recently released a Blu-ray set for all the Godzilla films released between 1954-1975. Of course, this year saw the release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which reintroduced King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan. Though the film received lukewarm reviews from critics, many fans greatly enjoyed it. Godzilla is everywhere, and soon a full-scale attraction will be built for fans to visit.

Nijigen no Mori, the anime theme park on Awaji Island, is getting a full-scale Godzilla attraction (via Kyodo News) next summer. Called the "Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji," the attraction is based on the title character from Shin Godzilla. According to Chief Godzilla Officer Keiji Ota, the attraction "will have huge presence and tremendous impact." Visitors will role-play as researchers, using pulleys to enter Godzilla through his mouth. While inside the beast, visitors will attempt missions, including a shooting game trying to destroy Godzilla's cells.

The Godzilla attraction will be massive, about 20 meters high. As one can see in the image, it will be as if Godzilla's head is truly emerging from the ground. According to Ota, the attraction will be the first "permanent" full-scale replica of the creature, so it sounds like fans can look forward to this for years to come. This also isn't the first Shin Godzilla-themed attraction in Japan. There was also the 4D ride at Universal Studios Japan, which featured Godzilla and a new version of King Ghidorah.

It should come as no surprise that Shin Godzilla is still being heavily marketed in Japan as the quintessential Godzilla. Shin Godzilla won numerous Japanese Academy awards in 2016, including Picture of the Year. It is also the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film. Interestingly, TOHO plans to build a new Godzilla cinematic universe instead of following up on Shin Godzilla. This isn't shocking, because Shin Godzilla works as a standalone feature. One of the directors of Shin Godzilla, Hideaki Anno, will be the producer on Shin Ultraman, releasing in 2021. It is certainly a good time to be a fan of Godzilla and Japanese giants.

Source: Kyodo News

[Mexigojira]

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Godzilla Mixes It Up with Symphogear Anime in Smartphone Game Collab

It’s been a whopping 65 years since the original Godzilla made its massive mark upon Japan and the world with Ishiro Honda’s 1954 film Gojira. One of the many celebrations has the Big G stomping his way toward the girls of Symphogear for a collaboration with the Symphogear XD UNLIMITED smartphone game.

Appropriately titled Godzilla vs. Symphogear, the collaboration was revealed during this past weekend’s Godzilla Fest 2019 event in Tokyo. There’s currently just a teaser, so we’ll have to wait to find out how Godzilla will fully integrate into Bushiroad and Pokelabo’s “symphonic battle” game.

Source: https://www.otakuusamagazine.com/godzilla-mixes-symphogear-anime-smartphone-game-collab/

[Rody]

I'm not familiar with Symphogear (although I think there's an anime adaptation pretty popular right now?), but I would think a collab with a similar franchise like Kancolle (navy ships) or Girls und Panzer (tanks) would be a no-brainer.

[tbeasley]

^ I don't know, Godzilla and magical girls seems like a obvious combination!

That life size Shin Godzilla attraction was featured on the local news here (South Mississippi by the Gulf Coast), taking me off-guard. They seemed perplexed by it.

[XvGojira]

So it looks like that clothing line that was talked about for the Godzilla Genesis project is with Mondo.

https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/201 ... collection

[Mexigojira]

New clip of Godzlla vs Symphogear-

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[lhb412]

So it looks like that clothing line that was talked about for the Godzilla Genesis project is with Mondo.

https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/201 ... collection

The Gigan shirt is maybe the coolest looking article of clothing merchandising tie-in this franchise has ever produced. It looks awesome. Also, the Mothra shirt is pretty great, too. I think I need both of those.

[klen7]

^Mrs Claus is supposed to be leaving that under the tree, fingers crossed

[lhb412]

^ Shoot. Should order that right now - hope they ship in time!

[Baltan II]

So it looks like that clothing line that was talked about for the Godzilla Genesis project is with Mondo.

https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/201 ... collection

The Gigan shirt is maybe the coolest looking article of clothing merchandising tie-in this franchise has ever produced. It looks awesome.

That Gigan shirt makes me feel... things.

[mr.negativity]

THR, 12/14/2019:
Grand Seiko Releases Limited-Edition Godzilla-Inspired Timepiece

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Spring Drive movement and Godzilla's 65th birthday, Grand Seiko has channeled the king of monsters into a commemorative sport timepiece. Priced at a cool $12,500, the limited-edition SBGA405's blood-red dial and face channels Godzilla's destructive ray beam, while the textured shark straps are inspired by the monstrous lizard's skin.

No design touches were spared for the back of the watch, which is stamped with the iconic scene where the mythical monster destroys the clock tower in Ginza's main intersection. The timepiece is a tribute to Grand Seiko, too: the watchmaker was born in the Tokyo shopping district and was carried at legendary high-end department store Wako, which is located beneath the tower. Available at the brand's boutiques in Beverly Hills and New York, as well as online.

[Mexigojira]

Merry Christmas!

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