Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One
is a 2023 Japanese kaiju film directed, written, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki. Produced by Toho Studios and Robot and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 37th film in the Godzilla franchise, Toho's 33rd Godzilla film, and the fifth film in the franchise's Reiwa era. The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki. In the film, postwar Japan deals with the emergence of Godzilla.
Following the release of his film The Great War of Archimedes (2019), Yamazaki was selected to make a Godzilla film. He subsequently wrote the script over the course of three years, taking influence from the original 1954 Godzilla film and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). The film would be Yamazaki's third on-screen depiction of Godzilla, as he had previously used Godzilla through computer-generated imagery in Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007) and Godzilla the Ride (2021) at Seibu-en Amusement Park. In February 2022, Robot publicized that Yamazaki was soon to begin directing a kaiju film via a casting call on their website. Filming occurred primarily in Kantō and Chūbu from March to June 2022. Shirogumi handled the visual effects at their studio in Chōfu from circa April 2022 to May 2023.
Godzilla Minus One had its premiere screening at the Shinjuku Toho Building on October 18, 2023, and was the closing film at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on November 1, 2023. Toho is scheduled to release it theatrically in Japan on November 3, the same day as the first film was released throughout Japan in 1954, to celebrate the franchise's 70th anniversary. Toho's American subsidiary Toho International will later distribute it in the United States and Canada on December 1.
Premise
Cast
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima
Minami Hamabe as Noriko Ōishi
Yuki Yamada as Shirō Mizushima
Munetaka Aoki as Sōsaku Tachibana
Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda
Sakura Ando as Sumiko Ōta
Kuranosuke Sasaki as Yōji Akitsu
The cast listing is sourced from the websites Natalie and SciFi Japan.
Production
Development and writing
After the release of Toho's 2016 reboot Shin Godzilla, co-director Shinji Higuchi stated at the American fan convention G-Fest that Toho would not be able to produce another Godzilla film until after 2020; this was due to their contract with Legendary Pictures, who were producing their own Godzilla films, that forbade Toho from releasing their potential Godzilla films in the same year as Legendary's films. In 2018, Toho executive Keiji Ota revealed that Shin Godzilla would not receive a sequel and expressed interest in a potential shared universe Godzilla series akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In 2019, following the release of his film The Great War of Archimedes, renowned filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki was appointed to make a Godzilla film. He began preparing the project during the COVID-19 pandemic and spent three years writing the script. Yamazaki said in an interview for the Japanese magazine Aera that the worldwide anxiety and government unreliability during the pandemic was one of his major inspirations for the story. He also expressed that he hopes the movie will reflect these events clearly. Yamazaki later revealed that he was inspired by Shusuke Kaneko's Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) —which he has cited as his favorite Godzilla film— while writing the screenplay for Godzilla Minus One. He reflected in a discussion with Kaneko at a screening of GMK: "I had forgotten the contents of GMK for a while, but it seems like I self-consciously thought about it when writing the scenario for -1.0. Without realizing it, I was under considerable influence". Yamazaki was also heavily influenced by the original 1954 Godzilla film.
Godzilla Minus One marks Yamazaki's third time working on a production utilizing Godzilla, having directed and co-written Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007) which featured the fictional monster in the film's dream-like opening, and, during preproduction on Minus One, he also directed and created the effects for Seibu-en Amusement Park's motion simulator attraction Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle (2021). The design of Godzilla in Minus One is a variation of the one in Godzilla the Ride.
On February 18, 2022, Robot Communications announced the film, under the working title , via a casting call on their official website. Robot stated Yamazaki would direct and that the film will be presented by Toho. The next day, HuffPost writer Kenji Ando mentioned the conjecture from fans on social media whether the film would be a remake of the 1954 film. Ando also noted that it is a period piece set in postwar Japan between 1945 and 1947, citing Yamazaki's comments from an interview regarding his depiction of Godzilla in Always: Sunset on Third Street 2: "You can't have Godzilla unless it's the Shōwa era."
Toho declared that Yamazaki's unnamed kaiju project is a Godzilla film on November 3, 2022, at an event celebrating the franchise's 68th anniversary known as "Godzilla Day". The company also revealed that the film had completed filming and had entered post-production with a targeted release date of November 3, 2023. Yamazaki was also named the film's writer and visual effects supervisor. During a press conference on December 13, 2022, Toho’s head of planning Hisashi Usui implied that the new film is connected to the 1954 film. Following the film's announcement, Yamazaki regaled his pitch and vision for the film:
"Postwar Japan has lost everything. The film depicts an existence that gives unprecedented despair. The title Godzilla Minus One was created with this in mind. In order to depict this, the staff and I have worked together to create a setting where Godzilla looks as if "fear" itself is walking toward us, and where despair is piled on top of despair. I think this is the culmination of all the films I have made to date, and one that deserves to be "experienced" rather than "watched" in the theater. I hope you will experience the most terrifying Godzilla in the best possible environment."
Casting
Producer Minami Ichikawa offered Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe the leading roles as a married couple in the film prior to them playing similar roles in the NHK drama series Ranman (2023).
Filming
Principal photography took place on location in the Kantō and Chūbu (in the Aichi and Nagano prefectures) regions of Honshu, starting on March 17, 2022, and wrapping circa June 11. According to Robot's website, the film would be set between 1945 and 1947, so there would be restrictions on the extras' costume sizes, hairstyles (declaring that long-haired men must have perms), and hair colors (declaring that hair dyeing would not be allowed). The film's maritime sequences were filmed at Lake Hamana and in the Enshū Sea. Between April and June 2022, several community businesses near the Tenryū River helped the crew modify and maintain boats to shot navy scenes for Godzilla Minus One in Enshū. The film was also shot in Okaya, Nagano.
Visual effects
Visual effects were handled by Shirogumi at their studio in Chōfu, under the supervision of Yamazaki and direction of Kiyoko Shibuya. The team began creating the effects for Godzilla Minus One around April 2022, per the TV Shinshu special about Yamazaki that was released the following year. Shirogumi revealed by opening a recruitment call for visual effects designers and compositors in August 2022, that post-production had begun and visual effects were taking place from that same month until January 2023; they later changed the dates to between November 2022 and February 2023. Their website also stated that the 3D animation software Houdini and Maya would be used to design and Nuke would be used to composite the visual effects. Post-production concluded in late May 2023, after the visual effects were finished.
During an interview alongside Shinji Higuchi (co-director of Shin Godzilla), Yamazaki noted that Godzilla's destruction in Minus One are inspired by Higuchi's effects from Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris.
Music
Yamazaki's frequent collaborator Naoki Satō scored the film. will release the film's soundtrack album, entitled the , on CD in Japan on November 4, 2023. A limited edition vinyl is scheduled to follow on December 15.
Release
Marketing
On June 12, 2023, the film's official Twitter account began a daily countdown for all of Toho's live-action Godzilla films, starting with their previous live-action film Shin Godzilla (2016). On July 11, Toho lifted the embargo on their secret kaiju film project, which was revealed to be Godzilla Minus One; the film was announced with a teaser trailer, poster (which was primarily designed by Yamazaki), and release dates for Japan and the United States. Merchandise for the film was unveiled the next day, as well as a full-body shot of Godzilla.
On July 13, Tamashii unveiled their Godzilla toy for their S.H. MonsterArts line; the toy was sculpted by Yuki Sakai under Yamazaki's supervision and based on 3-D data from the film. A series of pre-release products and an exhibit promoting the film are accessible at the exhibition "The Visual World-crafting of YAMAZAKI Takashi , Film Director" in Yamazaki's hometown of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, open from July 15 until October 29. A 2-meter tall statue of the film's incarnation of Godzilla was exhibited at the 2023 Summer Wonder Festival on July 30. At the request of Toho, Hiroaki Fukushi spent roughly a month creating a statue of Godzilla, dubbed "Godzilla Neputa", to promote the film at the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri from August 4 to 8.
The film was promoted at the Tokyo Dome in collaboration with the Yomiuri Giants in their match against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, taking place on October 1; a "special collaboration" video and a 3.6-meter statue of Godzilla were displayed at the venue. On August 24, it was announced that, as a prelude to the release of Godzilla Minus One, Yamazaki had selected "4 Godzilla Works" for screenings in September and October. An accompanying "talk show" took place before each screening, with Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman (2022) director Shinji Higuchi serving as the guest for the screening of the original 1954 Godzilla film, and suitmaker Keizō Murase serving as the guest for the screening of Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). The third and fourth Godzilla films selected by Yamazaki for screenings are Shusuke Kaneko's Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001), and a new black-and-white version of Shin Godzilla created by Hideaki Anno, Higuchi and Katsuro Onoue, respectively. Kaneko and Anno were also be the guests at the talk shows for their respective films.
Two days after releasing a new teaser for the film, Toho released its official trailer alongside the theatrical release poster, central cast and staff members on September 4. On September 14, 15 shots and a visual of Godzilla from the film were released; ticket sales (via Mubichike Online) and flyers for its November 3 release are scheduled to become available the following day. On September 14, SciFi Japan reported that the film had remained the No. 1 trending film on social media sites in Japan and the United States, with the trailer accumulating over 9 million views on YouTube.
On September 22, the official website revealed that a novelization of the film written by Yamazaki will be published in Japan by Shueisha on November 8. During a press conference on September 25, Hamamatsu, the city bordering Lake Hamana (where some scenes in the film were shot), announced that they will promote the film in an attempt to make the location a tourist attraction by preparing for "location cruising" at the lake in late October. On September 27, Fujita Kanko stated in a press release that the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun hot spring theme park in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture would hold an event in collaboration with the film from October 20, 2023 to January 8, 2024.
On October 7, behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Godzilla Minus One was broadcast on Channel 4 of TV Shinshu, as part of a television special on Yamazaki, which was narrated by Hidetaka Yoshioka. Toho declared on October 16 that Godzilla Minus One will be the first Japanese movie screened in the 270-degree panoramic film format ScreenX. On October 18, Yamazaki and the film's stars attended its red carpet premiere along Godzilla Street in Kabukichō, Shinjuku; the red carpet was 50.1 meters in length, which is the fictitious height of Godzilla in Godzilla Minus One. Television stations across Japan began airing a television special on Godzilla Minus One in late October. It features interviews with Yamazaki, Kamiki, and Hamabe, as well as behind-the-scenes footage. On October 23, Yamazaki, Kamiki, and Hamabe attended the red carpet at the opening of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival. To promote the film in Japan, soft drink manufacture Cheerio will release a new Chūhai drink called the "Godzilla Energy Chu-hi " on November 6.
Theatrical
On the same day as its red carpet premiere, Godzilla Minus One held its premiere screening on October 18, 2023 at Toho Cinema's theater inside the Shinjuku Toho Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo; first responses praised the film as a "masterpiece". In late October, it was reported that Godzilla (2014) director Gareth Edwards and Shin Godzilla director Hideaki Anno had both seen of the film and praised it. The film served as the closing film at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on November 1, 2023, where it was shown with English subtitles. Afterwards, the film will be released in Japan on November 3, to celebrate the franchise’s 70th anniversary. On June 27, 2023, Japan's self-regulatory film regulator, Eirin, reviewed the film, designating it a rating of "G" (suitable for all ages) for its Japanese release. In Japan, Toho will screen Godzilla Minus One across over 500 theaters nationwide, also in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, MX4D, and ScreenX formats, making it one of their largest theatrical distributions of all time.
Godzilla Minus One will have its American red carpet premiere and "special screening" in Los Angeles on November 10, 2023. Afterward, Toho's American subsidiary, Toho International, is slated to distribute the film in over 1,000 theaters throughout North America on December 1, where it will be shown with English subtitles. Early Access Fan Event Screenings will also occur in selected large screen formats throughout the U.S. on November 29.
Wired indicated that it will also begin release in other Western countries in December. The film will open in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on December 1, through local distributor Sugoi Co. Anime Limited is slated to release Godzilla Minus One in the United Kingdom and Ireland on December 15.
Reception
Potential sequel
During an interview published in the October 30th issue of Aera, director Takashi Yamazaki stated in regards to the film's ending: "I think it's more cinematic if it doesn't end neatly and properly. It's not just so a sequel can be made, it's also so the characters are kept alive in the hearts of the audience."
Notes
References
Sources
External links
United Kingdom website
Godzilla Minus One at Toho
Godzilla Minus One at the Tokyo International Film Festival
2023 films
2023 horror films
2023 horror thriller films
2023 science fiction films
2023 science fiction action films
2023 science fiction horror films
2020s Japanese films
2020s Japanese-language films
2020s horror drama films
2020s monster movies
Japanese monster movies
Japanese science fiction horror films
Japanese horror films
Japanese epic films
Historical epic films
Japanese disaster films
Apocalyptic films
Anti-war films
Films about nuclear war and weapons
Films directed by Takashi Yamazaki
Films produced by Minami Ichikawa
Films scored by Naoki Satō
Films set in 1947
Films set in Tokyo
Films set in the Pacific Ocean
Films shot in Tokyo
Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Godzilla films
Giant monster films
Kaiju films
Toho tokusatsu films
Shirogumi
Toho films
IMAX films
4DX films
ScreenX films