Godzilla



Godzilla (ゴジラ Gojira? ) ( /ɡɒdˈzɪlə/ ; [ɡoꜜdʑiɽa] ( listen)) is a Kaiju first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd.. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games, novels, comic books, and television series. A 1998 American reimagining was produced and a second American version is currently undergoing post-production.[9]  The character is commonly alluded to by the title King of the Monsters, an epithet first used in the Americanized version of the original 1954 film.

With the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Lucky Dragon 5 incident still fresh in the Japanese consciousness, Godzilla was conceived as a metaphor for nuclear weapons.[10]  As the film series expanded, some stories took on less serious undertones portraying Godzilla as a hero while other plots still portrayed Godzilla as a destructive monster; sometimes the lesser of two threats who plays the defender by default but is still a danger to humanity.



Name
Gojira (ゴジラ? ) is a portmanteau of the Japanese words: gorira (ゴリラ?, "gorilla"), and kujira (鯨（クジラ）<sup style="line-height:1em;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets <span style="color:rgb(0,0,238);font-weight:bold;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;padding-right:0.1em;padding-left:0.1em;">? ], "whale"), which is fitting because in one planning stage, Godzilla was described as "a cross between a gorilla and a whale",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A_11-0" style="line-height:1em;">[11]  alluding to his size, power and aquatic origin. One popular story is that "Gojira" was actually the nickname of a corpulent stagehand at Toho Studio.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1em;">[12]  The story has not been verified, however, and, in the nearly sixty years since the film's original release, no one claiming to be the rumored employee has ever stepped forward nor have any photographs ever surfaced. Kimi Honda (the widow of Ishiro Honda) always suspected that the man never existed as she mentioned in a 1998 interview, "The backstage boys at Toho loved to joke around with tall stories".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1em;">[13]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Godzilla's name was written in man'yōgana as Gojira (呉爾羅<sup style="line-height:1em;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,238);font-weight:bold;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;padding-right:0.1em;padding-left:0.1em;">? ), where the kanji are used for phonetic value and not for meaning. Many Japanese books on Godzilla have referenced this curious fact, including B Media Books Special: Gojira Gahô, published by Take-Shobo in three different editions (1993, 1998,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1em;">[14]  and 1999).<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">The Japanese pronunciation of the name is [ɡodʑiɽa] ( listen); the Anglicized form is  /ɡ<span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;" title="/ɒ/ short 'o' in 'body'">ɒd<span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;" title="/ˈ/ primary stress follows">ˈz<span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;" title="/ɪ/ short 'i' in 'bid'">ɪl<span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;" title="/ə/ 'a' in 'about'">ə/, with the first syllable pronounced like the word "god", and the rest rhyming with "gorilla". When Godzilla was created, Japanese-to-English transliteration was less familiar, so it is possible that the kana representing the second syllable was misinterpreted<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]  as [dzi]. In the Hepburn romanizationsystem, Godzilla's name would have been rendered as "Gojira", whereas in the Kunrei romanization system it would have been rendered as "Gozira".

Character overview and development
Godzilla's iconic design features a reptilian visage, a robust build, an upright posture, a long tail and rows of serrated fins along the back.<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Although the specific details of Godzilla's appearance have varied slightly over the years, the overall impression has remained consistent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1em;">[15] Inspired by the fictional Rhedosaurus created by animator Ray Harryhausen for the film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;">[16]  Godzilla's iconic character design was conceived as that of an amphibious reptilian monster based around the loose concept of a dinosaur<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;">[17]  with an erect standing posture, scaly skin, an anthropomorphic torso with muscular arms, spikes on its back and tail, and a furrowed brow.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1em;">[18]  Art director Akira Watanabe combined attributes of a Tyrannosaurus, an Iguanodon, a Stegosaurus and an alligator<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" style="line-height:1em;">[19]  to form a sort of blended chimera, inspired by illustrations from an issue of Life magazine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20" style="line-height:1em;">[20]  To emphasise the monster's relationship with the atomic bomb, its skin texture was inspired by thekeloid scars seen on Hiroshima's survivors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1em;">[21]  Godzilla's appearance has traditionally been portrayed in the films by an actor wearing a latex costume, though the character has also been rendered in animatronic, stop-motion and computer-generated form. Godzilla has a distinctive roar, which was created by composer Akira Ifukube, who produced the sound by rubbing a resin coated glove along the string of a contrabass and then slowing down the playback.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" style="line-height:1em;">[22]  The original costume was painted brown, though Godzilla has also been depicted as black, grey or green.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

Godzilla attacks King Kongwith his atomic breath on a poster for King Kong vs. Godzilla.<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Within the context of the films, Godzilla's exact origins vary, but it is generally depicted as an enormous, violent, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23" style="line-height:1em;">[23]  Its size is inconsistent, changing from film to film and even from scene to scene for the sake of artistic license.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-web.archive.org_24-0" style="line-height:1em;">[24]  The miniature sets and costumes are typically built at a 1/25 - 1/50 scale<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1em;">[25]  and filmed at 240 frames per second, to create the illusion of great size.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1em;">[26]  Supplementary information such as character profiles depict Godzilla as being 50<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1em;">[27] –100<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height:1em;">[28] meters (164–328 feet) tall and weighing 20-60,000 tons.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height:1em;">[29]  Godzilla's signature weapon is its atomic breath, a concentrated stream of blue or red radioactive fire that is unleashed from its jaws while its dorsal fins glow. Toho’s special effects department has used various techniques to render the breath, from physical gas-powered flames<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" style="line-height:1em;">[30]  to hand-drawn or computer-generated fire. Godzilla is shown to possess immense physical strength and muscularity. Haruo Nakajima, the actor who played Godzilla in the original films, was a black belt<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" style="line-height:1em;">[31]  in Judo and used his expertise to choreograph the battle sequences.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" style="line-height:1em;">[32]  Godzilla is capable of breathing underwater,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height:1em;">[33]  and described in the original film by the character Dr. Yamane as being a transitional form between a marine and a terrestrial reptile. Godzilla is immune to conventional weaponry thanks to its rugged hide and ability to regenerate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" style="line-height:1em;">[34]  Various films, television shows, comics and games have depicted Godzilla with additional powers such as an atomic pulse, magnetism, precognition, fireballs, an electric bite,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" style="line-height:1em;">[35]  superhuman speed, eye beams and evenflight.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Godzilla's allegiance has changed from film to film to suit the needs of the story. Although Godzilla does not like humans,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height:1em;">[36]  it will fight alongside humanity against common threats. However, it makes no special effort to protect human life or property<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" style="line-height:1em;">[37]  and will turn against its human allies on a whim. When inquired if Godzilla was "good or bad", producer Shogo Tomiyama likened it to a Shinto "God of Destruction" which lacks moral agency and cannot be held to human standards of good and evil. "He totally destroys everything and then there is a rebirth. Something new and fresh can begin."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-web.archive.org_24-1" style="line-height:1em;">[24]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">The gender of the Godzilla character has been a subject of confusion for English-speaking audiences.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]  In the original Japanese films, Godzilla and all the other monsters are referred to with gender-neutral pronouns such as "it",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38" style="line-height:1em;">[38]  while in the English dubbed versions, Godzilla is explicitly described as a male, such as in the title of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla,_King_of_the_Monsters! Godzilla, King of the Monsters!]''. The 1998 Hollywood remake contributed to this confusion, in which the titular character (subsequently known as Zilla)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39" style="line-height:1em;">[39]  was depicted laying eggs.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">In the various stories it has appeared in, Godzilla has been featured alongside many supporting characters. It has faced human opponents such as the JSDF, and giant other monsters, from recurring characters like King Ghidorah, Gigan and Mechagodzilla to one-shot characters like Megalon, Biollante and Megaguirus. Godzilla is also shown to have allies, such as Mothra, Rodanand Anguirus (though these characters were initially portrayed as Godzilla's rivals), and children, such as Minilla. Godzilla has even fought against fictional characters from other franchises in crossover media, such as King Kong and the Fantastic Four.

Film, television and printed media appearances
Main article: Godzilla (franchise)Main article: Godzilla (comics)==Cultural impact==

Main article: Godzilla in popular cultureGodzilla's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Godzilla is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japanese popular culture worldwide<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40" style="line-height:1em;">[40] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41" style="line-height:1em;">[41]  and remains an important facet of Japanese films, embodying the kaiju subset of the tokusatsu genre. Godzilla’s vaguely humanoid appearance and strained, lumbering movements endeared it to Japanese audiences, who could relate to Godzilla as a sympathetic character despite its wrathful nature.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42" style="line-height:1em;">[42]  Audiences respond positively to the character because it acts out of rage and self-preservation and shows where science and technology can go wrong.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" style="line-height:1em;">[43]  Godzilla has been considered a filmographic metaphor for the United States, as well as an allegory of nuclear weapons in general. The earlier Godzilla films, especially the original, portrayed Godzilla as a frightening, nuclear monster. Godzilla represented the fears that many Japanese held about the nuclear attacks on Hiroshimaand Nagasaki, and the possibility of recurrence.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="line-height:1em;">[44]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">As the series progressed, so did Godzilla, changing into a less destructive and more heroic character as the films became geared towards children. Since then, the character has fallen somewhere in the middle, sometimes portrayed as a protector of the world from external threats and other times as a bringer of destruction. Godzilla remains one of the greatest fictional heroes in the history of film, and is also the second of only three fictional characters to have won the MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, which was awarded in 1996.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="line-height:1em;">[45]  Godzilla was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004 to celebrate the premiere of the character's 50th anniversary film, Godzilla: Final Wars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" style="line-height:1em;">[46]  Godzilla's pop-cultural impact has led to the creation of numerous parodies and tributes, as seen in media such as Bambi Meets Godzilla, which was ranked as one of the "50 greatest cartoons",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height:1em;">[47]  various episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height:1em;">[48]  and the song "Godzilla", by Blue Öyster Cult.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" style="line-height:1em;">[49]  Godzilla's success inspired the creation of numerous other monster characters, such as Gamera, Yonggary and Gorgo.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Godzilla's fame and saurian appearance has had an impact on the scientific community. Gojirasaurus is a dubious genus of coelophysid dinosaur, named by paleontologist and admitted Godzilla fan Kenneth Carpenter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-carp97_50-0" style="line-height:1em;">[50]  Dakosaurus is an extinct marine crocodile of the Jurassic Period, which researchers informally nicknamed "Godzilla".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gasparini.27.27et_al..27.27.2C_2006_51-0" style="line-height:1em;">[51]  Paleontologists have written tongue-in-cheek speculative articles about Godzilla's biology, with Ken Carpenter tentatively classifying it as a ceratosaur based on its skull shape, four fingered hands and dorsal scutes, and paleontologistDarren Naish expressing skepticism while commenting on Godzilla's unusual morphology.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52" style="line-height:1em;">[52]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society christened a vessel Gojira. Its purpose is to target and harass Japanese whalers in defense of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. TheGojira was renamed MV Brigitte Bardot in May 2011 after complaints of copyright infringement by Toho.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53" style="line-height:1em;">[53]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Gojira is the name of a French death metal band, formerly known as Godzilla.