Gamera in “wing-flight” mode, pursued by jets.

Dreadnaught: The new Jiger trundles across an urban landscape in all his CG glory.

deeper with the Foundation, they begin to ponder the company’s true intentions toward them,Gamera, and even the world itself.
It could be said that Gamera Rebirthis a variation of Stand By Me with kaiju, as well
as a little political commentary on the side, suchas how U.S. forces are constantly sent up against
the kaiju as the Japanese government tries todecide whether or not to use the JSDF. There isa running bit where a Japanese commander ispretty much living in his tank, waiting for orders to move out.
While I am not a big fan of the Gamera
series going back to having kids as protagonists,I feel a pretty good job is done to make themfull characters and not just the “cute” kid stereotypes. Indeed, the film is closer to the bestof the kid-centric Gamera film Gamera theBrave. (On the topic of “kid-centric,” I think alanguage warning is warranted. In the English
dub, a lot of vulgar expletives are casually tossed
around. - J.D.) When I watched the second episode, I did wonder exactly why these kids arebeing brought in so deep by the Tazaki character. If you stick with it, it becomes clear.

Structure-wise the story reminded mea little of Godzilla Singular Point, only not nearly
as convoluted. (I also thought it a little amusingthat the oreallium took the form of blue crystals, which was what the Archetype element
was turned into at the end GSP... kaiju get you
coming and going, don’t they?) The story builds
up the Ustus plot fairly well, and does a lot ofclever call-backs to the Gamera series as a wholewithout hitting viewers over the head with them.
I have heard that many people have
had a problem with the animation of the humancharacters, but were fine with the CG animation of the kaiju. I had no real problem with theanimation of the human characters; I’ve seen a
lot worse. However, while I didn’t dislike thekaiju animation, I did find the creatures overrendered in some shots and displayed somejerky motions here and there. Again, it’s notbad, but it takes getting used to, and I look at it
as a stylistic choice over all.
Gamera is given a bulkier look withsmaller tusks and his use of fire is downplayedin lieu of more energy based powers like anelectrical pulse. His “wing flight” mode fromAcrobat: Gamera finds the nimble Guillon is a foe to be handled with care.
G-FAN, FALL, 2023

the Heisei Series has been updated; it’s his main
form of flight in the series but his flying saucer
mode is employed in a rather spectacular moment. (It also raises the question of why hedoesn’t use it in a later fight when it would haveafforded him far better protection.)
The Gyaos are, sadly, the weakest of
the upgrades to the old kaiju. Their design seemto be taken from the 2015 short film (I didn’tlike the design there either); they come off looking
too sickly and scrawny and don’t feel as impressive a villain as Gamera’s arch bad guy
should be. I also noticed that the Gyaos wereendowed with a chameleon-like tongue, perhaps
to make up for Barugon not appearing. Jiger
has a sleeker form and is not bad, though I did
notice a bit more of the jerkyness in the Gamera/Jiger fight than the others.
Zigra is the most radically redesigned,and while I do enjoy this version, aside frombeing an aquatic creature it has no inspirationfrom the original character whatsoever. Its head
looks more like a classic Gyaos and they probably should have made it some kind of AquaGyaos or an original villain and saved Zigra fornext season. It also has a massive tail so longthat Godzilla Ultima would say, “...that’s a bit
much, don’t you think?”
Guillon is the best re-imagining of theold kaiju. He is a stripped down cyberpunknightmare, flipping in mid air and slashing everything in sight. In my opinion, he and Gamera
have the best fight in the series. Viras is updated to be a more Lovecraftian version that
reminds me more of Gezora than the originalViras. It seems to be built up as the “Big Bad”of the series. There are some good moments inthe Gamera/Viras fight, but it ends a bit tooquickly and makes way for a mutant version ofa Gyaos in the final episode. (It sports a headfrill that is a call back to Zedus from Gamera
the Brave.) While this version of Gyaos comes
off better than those in the first episode andprovides some great moments, it might havebeen better to bring back Viras for the climax.
While it’s not perfect, I really enjoyedGamera Rebirth. It’s one of the better of theanimated kaiju series Netflix has streamed andis the best balanced, managing to blend story
and kaiju action nicely. I recommend it, and hopethat there will be a Season 2, and preferably it
won’t take another seventeen years!
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