Godzilla 3D to the MAX

Godzilla 3D to the MAX is an 2007 short kaiju film By Yoshimitsu Banno.

 Directed by
 Budget

## Plot

A new monster called Deathla, appears and awakens Godzilla from hibernation in the Iguazu Falls, located between Argentina and Brazil. A battle ensues and progressed to Mexico City and finally concludes in Las Vegas.

A locust-like swarm of monsters called Deathla descend on Iguazu Falls in the Amazon, transforming into mushrooms which begin to consume the forest. The Bahamas and Denmark also see outbreaks of the deadly fungus. Godzilla shows up to attack the Amazon infestation, only for them to coalesce into a kaiju. After a back-and-forth battle, Godzilla's atomic breath forces Deathla to split into its locust form and retreat. Using the power of flight he first displayed in *Godzilla vs. Hedorah*, Godzilla gives chase, confronting Deathla in the Virgin Islands and at a Florida amusement park, but is unable to land a killing blow.

Deathla finally stands its ground in New York City as a blizzard rages. Godzilla puts out its right eye; it counters by growing to a truly enormous size and hurling him into Central Park. Covered in sludge and near death, Godzilla finds the strength to get back up as children all over the world shout encouragement. After protecting the "9/11 Monument" (presumably Tribute in Light), he takes out Deathla's other eye with his atomic breath. Transforming into its locust form again, Deathla leaves the earth. Godzilla returns to the Amazon and winks at the viewer before disappearing behind Iguazu Falls.

The final battle between Godzilla and Deathla takes place in Las Vegas, with stops in Mexico and California. A location shoot in Tokyo was also planned.

## History

The movie was originally scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on September 12th 2007, with a Japanese theatrical release to follow on a to be announced 2008 date. Aside from the 3-D IMAX format, the film is planned to be shot in 70mm film and is slated to be 40 minutes long. However, it took a long time to get funding approved from Toho, and the film was stuck in a state of "production hell" for about a year. As of February 2008, funding has been received and the movie is scheduled to be released in early 2009. It will be helmed by Yoshimitsu Banno, who previously directed Godzilla vs. Hedorah in 1971, and Keith Melton. 3D to the MAX will be produced by Kenji Okuhira and Brian Rogers respectively. The film's production is being done by Advanced Audiovisual Production, director Banno's own company stationed in Japan, and is being planned to target the American market along with an American cast. However, Toho, the creators of Godzilla, will act as technical advisors over the Godzilla character and will distribute the film in Japan. Special effects will be handed by Eiichi Asada.

## Production

the film was developed from 2002-2010 by *Godzilla vs. Hedorah* Director Yoshimitsu Banno.

### Development

In August 2004, Yoshimitsu Banno, who had directed 1971's *Godzilla vs. Hedorah*, announced that he had secured the rights from Toho to make a *Godzilla* IMAX 3D short film at his Advanced Audiovisual Productions (AAP) production company. The film was tentatively titled *Godzilla 3D to the Max*, and was to be a remake of the *Godzilla vs. Hedorah* story. In 2005, American Peter Anderson, ASC was added to the project as cinematographer, visual effects supervisor and co-producer by an independent producer Kenji Okuhira who represented Banno. In the same year, American producer Brian Rogers signed on to the project after the meeting with Banno arranged by Okuhira and Anderson.

In 2007, also through Anderson, Kerner Optical then came on board to develop the technology and to produce the 3-D film and with Kerner's backing, in the fall of 2007, the team met with Toho in Tokyo where they re-negotiated their license to allow the release of a feature-length 3-D theatrical production. In 2008, Kerner was facing financial troubles that threatened to cancel the production. In 2009, Rogers, Anderson and the then-proposed director Keith Melton met with Legendary Pictures to get their backing on a 3-D theatrical film.

In 2010, it was green-lit by Legendary to go to production. From the Godzilla 3D production team, Banno and Okuhira would remain on the project as executive producers and Rogers as a producer. In November 2013, Banno stated that he still planned to make a sequel to *Godzilla vs. Hedorah*; however, Banno passed away on May 7, 2017.

## Staff

Special effects Director Eiichi Asada

Screenplay: Yoshimitsu Banno

Cinematography: Peter Anderson

Director: Keith Melton