Millennium Godzilla, or Miregoji, in the lobby of the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, August 2023.
Godzilla is in something of a renaissance these days. 2023’s Godzilla Minus One was an excellent movie and even won an Academy Award. The American Monsterverse movies continue to be a lot of fun with a new entry in 2027. In addition to the Minus One sequel there are additional mysterious Japanese Godzilla projects in development, apparently including a sequel to the awesome Shin Godzilla. On top of all that, Toho studios has been releasing a series of amazing shorts every year for Godzilla Fest.
This year's short has just been released and it’s a doozy. First off it is the return of my all time favorite Godzilla design, Miregoji as seen in Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs Megaguirus, complete with his oversized jagged spikes and reptilian visage. This version of the character is going into meltdown a la Burning Godzilla from Godzilla vs Destroyah.
Godzilla head atop the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku.
Secondly. it is well-made and full of fun details (peep the active silhouettes in the windows) and is cleverly edited to look like a single cut. I'd love to see this director get a shot at a feature Godzilla movie. The short is set in Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku neighborhood. My favorite detail has to be the kaiju coming face-to-face with the giant Godzilla head atop the Gracery Hotel which is an actual landmark in the area. It's also lovingly made through suitmation and detailed models.
The movie ends on a cliffhanger and the shadowy presence of a mystery kaiju. My money is on Biollante, a monster unseen in live action since 1989. I hope this is the case because Biollante is really fantastic and imaginative creature, essentially a hybrid of Godzilla, a human being, and a rose. Hopefully next year we will see a battle between Burning Miregoji and Biollante!
Check the short out here:
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