If you know what’s best, then you better wish Godzilla a very happy birthday today. The King of Monsters is turning 62 and marking more than six decades of creepy kaiju fun.
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Godzilla, or rather Gojira, was born in November 1954 by the creative minds at Toho Studios. Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka created the monster after being inspired by other monster flicks such as The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Tanaka also sourced his atomic beast from a much more terrifying ordeal, and that was the Daigo Fukuryลซ Maru incident of March 1954.
For those who aren’t aware, the incident is a post-WWII event which marked the first non-combatant casualties via atomic weapons. A crew of 23 Japanese fishermen were exposed to nuclear radiation after the U.S. tested a thermonuclear weapon. The bomb’s fallout contaminated the boat and its crew, leaving the men with acute radiation poisoning. One of the fisherman died from the illness, and the ordeal reminded a recovering Japan that the threat of nuclear weapons was still very real.
As such, Tanaka and the folks at Toho Studio wanted to make a monster that embodied the horrors of atomic weaponry. Godzilla famously embodies what a nuclear holocaust could look like in our worst nightmares. The producer even said that, “The theme of the film, from the beginning, was the terror of the bomb. Mankind had created the bomb, and now nature was going to take revenge on mankind.”
When Godzilla first debut in 1954, the monster was seen ravaging Tokyo in an eerily silent, black-and-white film which highlighted the tragedy of war. Families killed, buildings were toppled, and a nation was left on its knees all because of Godzilla’s merciless plight. When the King of Monsters was brought to U.S. cinemas, the creature was pacified somewhat for fear of anti-American backlash.
Needless to say, the original Godzilla film wasn’t too keen on praising the West’s use of nuclear weapons.
The franchise’s American debut soften the creature somewhat and eventually led to Japan reimagining Godzilla as a sort of slapstick anti-hero. Godzilla became a figure who defended Japan from other absurd monsters such as Mothra, Rodan, and more.
More than 60 years have passed since Godzilla roared into life, and the monster is now starting to return to its roots. Recently, Legendary Pictures has invested in a new Godzilla adaptation that will eventually see the monster go head-to-head with King Kong. And, in Japan, Godzilla has made a long-awaited comeback after a hiatus. Godzilla Resurgence debuted earlier this summer to rave reviews as fans enjoyed seeing the behemoth returned to his grisly state.
If you want to read up on Godzilla’s history, then don’t worry. ComicBook.com has got your covered. You can check out our ‘Godzilla: A History’ slideshow to learn about the monster’s highlights.
