Toho Interview: Godzilla 67th Anniversary

In celebration of the 67^th anniversary of Godzilla, Screen Rant spoke with Toho, the company known for creating the King of the Monsters. November 3, 2021 marks 67 years since Godzilla laid waste to Tokyo for the first time in the 1954 classic.

As an allegory for the atom bombs dropped in World War II, Godzilla became a Japanese pop culture icon, but eventually grew into something more. Now, Godzilla has a worldwide fanbase. Most recently, Godzilla has been featured in three Hollywood movies where he’s battled it out with the likes of Ghidorah, Kong, and Mechagodzilla. But long before Legendary Pictures launched the MonsterVerse, Godzilla had already graced the big screen in nearly 30 movies made by Toho.

Due to the continued popularity of Godzilla and all his movies, Toho annually celebrates the anniversary of his first film on November 3, a day that is now known in Japan as “Godzilla Day”. This time, Toho is bringing the festivities to North America for the first time by partnering with Alamo Drafthouse for 4K remastered theatrical screenings of his first movie, along with a few others. For Godzilla Day, Screen Rant spoke to representatives of Toho International – Creative Manager Chris Mowry and Licensing Managing Director Lora Cohn – about Godzilla’s cultural significance, exactly what the company is doing to celebrate his birthday in 2021, the 4K remasters, the future, and more.

Screen Rant: The original Godzilla movie was released 67 years ago, and the character himself is still loved by millions of people, even today. What does it say about Godzilla that people are still celebrating his birthday in 2021?

Chris Mowry: I think the thing about the character is that it has been around for going on close to 70 years now. It defines giant monsters; defines the genre. Over the years, there’s been many imitators, but there’s still only one original Godzilla; one true Godzilla. Generations have just grown up with this character in a way that endeared them, and it’s lasting. At least for me, personally, it’s been a lifetime love for the character.

Lora Cohn: I also think that Godzilla means something different to everybody. And I think so much of what Godzilla is about – socially conscious, optimistic, powerful – so many of those attributes really resonate right now in what’s happening in our world. So, I think the character continues to be so popular, because of what it represents and how it resonates.

I understand that Toho is celebrating Godzilla’s birthday this year with 4K theatrical releases of some of his movies. What motivated you to choose this direction for his 67th birthday?

Lora Cohn: I’m sure you’re aware that each year in Tokyo, there’s a celebration. But this is the first year that Godzilla is going to be celebrated in North America and in the UK. The 4K theatrical releases were being worked on, and we just thought, “What a perfect way to celebrate the fans that have been with us all these years than to release some of the fan favorites in 4K?”

We defined our celebration around the 4K, with 1954 being at the forefront as well as some other 4K releases. But this is the first time that Godzilla’s birthday is going to be celebrated in North America.

Unfortunately, a lot of Godzilla fans may have missed out on the opportunity to see his latest movie, Godzilla vs. Kong, on the big screen because of the pandemic. What can you say about the value of a big-screen experience with a Godzilla movie?

Lora Cohn: To me, I don’t really think anything can take the place of seeing Godzilla on the big screen. But I think the HBO Max numbers proved that fans were willing to see the movie wherever they could, even if they had to compromise with it being on HBO.

It was one of the first movies in the pandemic where fans were allowed, albeit in a smaller way, to go to the theater. I think it was as good as it could be, given what was happening with the pandemic.

Chris Mowry: Just to add to that, you’re talking about the two largest characters in pop culture – literally. There just really is nothing like seeing a Godzilla movie on a big screen. Most people grew up seeing them on television screens, or maybe a drive-in if they were lucky, but to actually see one of these films in a theater is a whole new experience.

Godzilla is particularly important to Japan, but he’s also developed a massive number of fans in the United States and elsewhere. Can we talk about his overall importance to the West, and how that’s reflected in these upcoming 4K releases?

Lora Cohn: Toho has realized the importance of having a division that’s focused on every other area of the world besides Japan, which is what our group does. But I think timing-wise, it worked out to have the 4K release here first. But I think it also is just Toho’s way of saying that the fans in North America are just as important as those in other parts of the world. It’s really just showing our ongoing commitment to their fans, first and foremost.

The 1954 movie is the most iconic Godzilla film ever, but Godzilla has had over 60 years of cinematic history that’s worth celebrating. How have some of those other moments contributed to Godzilla’s legacy, and how does Toho plan to pay tribute to them?

Chris Mowry: I think what you’re seeing, especially this past year, was that a number of our licensees have released specific products focused on character anniversaries. We’re getting into this golden era where the Showa era films had these. Each year, there was a different film coming out. But with each film, there was a brand new character. We just in July celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hedorah. This year is actually the 60th anniversary of Mothra, which is arguably the second most popular character out there in Godzilla’s world. There’s been events like 1995’s Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, where Godzilla dies. They’re doing a special release set around that.

I think that you’re seeing a lot of these touchpoints in the 67-year history. And it’s not necessarily the films, but it’s those memories and the events that happened in those that we’re seeing a lot of people really resonate with. Obviously, 1995’s burning Godzilla design, people love that one. Whether it’s a toy or a T-shirt or something else, people want that product.

I think when it comes to the brand history, character anniversaries and certain film anniversaries as those come up, are big reasons. Probably that’s what you’re seeing with a lot of the film festivals we’re doing.

I want to talk about some of the other Godzilla movies that are getting the 4K treatment. I noticed some interesting choices, like Godzilla vs. Hedorah and Return of Godzilla. What made Toho decide on those and what makes them special to Godzilla’s legacy?

Chris Mowry: To touch on what Lora was saying before when you asked what helped in Japan’s decision to release these, we’re starting to come out of this pandemic. We’re having a licensee summit as part of Godzilla Day with a great partner of ours, Mondo, who is co-owned by Alamo Drafthouse. It really was kind of like, “Hey, we’re doing this, so how about a 4K release?” Japan totally was on board with setting up the film festival with them.

Mondo really did have a series of selections that they wanted to do some; some staff picks if you will. Obviously, Godzilla vs Hedorah makes tons of sense because it is the 50th anniversary this year of that film. 2016’s Shin Godzilla because it’s the fifth anniversary of that film. A couple of other ones that they’re showing are based more on the fact that they’ve just never been released here in the US in any kind of theatrical run.

Return of Godzilla, the original, was re-edited and made into Godzilla 1985. This is the original Japanese version of that 1984 film. And following after that will be Godzilla vs. Biollante, which is a fan favorite but has never had a theatrical release here outside of maybe a random Film Festival creature double feature thing. But never a theatrical run.

How does Toho plan to honor Godzilla his legacy beyond the 67th anniversary? What, if anything, can you say about plans for Godzilla’s future?

Lora Cohn: I certainly can tell you that all roads lead to the 70th anniversary. But in all seriousness, we are – as a global company – already laying plans to celebrate Godzilla’s 70th birthday. We can’t really talk about too much, specifically, but I would say at this point that it would be a year-long celebration. It will be full of content, promotions, activations. Just wait for everybody to celebrate Godzilla.

It is definitely something that we’ve already started to talk about and think about, and it’ll be epic.

Chris Mowry: Just to keep adding on some of those dates that I mentioned earlier, you will see which each with each growing year, a focus on specific characters. Next year is going to be the 50th anniversary of the character Gigan. So, you’ll see a lot of Gigan-specific things happening next year in conjunction with that. Not just products, but a film rerelease and that kind of thing.

I think there’s definitely history to Godzilla, so there will most likely be a future of Godzilla. There’s just nothing we can really say about it.

Lora Cohn: We’ve always made Godzilla entertainment, and there’s no reason to stop now. We’re excited about the future. I think the future shines bright for Godzilla.

And we are celebrating the 67th with lots of fun product introductions, like Godzilla and some of his monster friends in hot sauces. We have a protein powder coming out, so we’re just taking various characteristics of Godzilla and – rather than a t-shirt and a toy we’re thinking a little bit bigger and a little more creatively.

We are tying in with a new product called a Sqishmallow, which is a Jazwares product toy. What else do we have? We have some new publishing, which is actually really exciting and laying the groundwork for a 70th-anniversary celebratory book.

Chris Mowry: We’re working with the new licensee PUCK HCKY to do Godzilla hockey apparel: jerseys, hats, pucks. Those turned out really, really, really well. And then we have some fun collaborations that have yet to be announced, but that make a lot of sense. They are very A-list, very top-level brands. You’ll have different collaborations, like Hot Wheels for example.

And there are video game collaborations, such as how Fall Guys is releasing their Godzilla skins for the game. There’s a ton of Godzilla out there for people to enjoy.

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