Daikaiju Enterprises

Issue #12

November/December, 1994

Note:    A special issue commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the release of the original Godzilla in 1954.

Reviewer:    C. L. Werner

Articles include:

• News - Details of the design for TriStar's Godzilla monster are given, being a more Jurassic Park-like creature that will be 100% computer-animated. His opponent, the Griffon, will also be computer-animated. Little Godzilla, from Godzilla vs Space Godzilla is revealed, to less than positive response. G-Project in Kobe Japan closes its doors. Trendmasters announces the expansion of its Godzilla toy line, planning to release plush toys, a playset, growing figures, and wind up monsters. Godzilla garden party is held in Baltimore Maryland. A new Godzilla animated series is rumored to be in the works, to be released in '95. Godzilla will count out the New Year celebrations in Times Square to round out 1994.

• Godzilla - by Robert Biondi - A detailed filmbook of the Japanese 1954 classic Godzilla, detailing the plot and story of this nightmarish masterpiece.

• Godzilla: a commentary - by John Rocco Roberto - A thorough examination of Godzilla and its anti-nuclear themes. An evaluation of the entire production, from effects and cast to direction and musical score round out the article.

• In the Path of the Leviathan - by Christopher Paris - A fictionalized recreation of the United World News article detailing the attack of Godzilla on Tokyo and the horror of that terrible experience.

• The Making of Godzilla - by Ed Godziszewski - Many of the secrets of the production of Japan's first kaiju eiga are revealed, including original storyboards for several of Godzilla's scenes, changes made to the original story and screenplay, and some of the last minute deletions of scenes which were actually filmed.

• Godzilla Final Version Screenplay - by Takeo Murata & Ishiro Honda - A translation of the screenplay for the original Godzilla as developed by Ishiro Honda and Takeo Murata.

• Godzilla the original story - by Shigeru Kayama - translated by Ed Godziszewski - The original short story from which the shooting script and screenplay for Godzilla were developed is translated into English after forty years.

• In Memory of Ishiro Honda - by John Rocco Roberto - A dedication to the director of Godzilla and many other sci-fi films. Many of Ishiro Honda's best known film credits are listed, including his collaborations with his friend and fellow director, Akira Kurosawa.

• An interview with Director Ishiro Honda - translated by Kevin Chan and August Ragone - A rare translated reprint of an article from Screen Special: Monster Graffiti with the late director.

• Memories of Godzilla - translated by Akiko Ono - An English reprinting of a Japanese newspaper series dealing with the reminisces of the cast and crew of Godzilla about making that film, forty years ago.

• The Godzilla Report - New toys from Japan, including Bandai's Godzilla vs Space Godzilla and Yamato Takeru vinyl figures.

• Godzilla still graffiti - Some of the most famous publicity stills used to promote Godzilla.

• Chicago G-gathering prelude to con? - Many of G-FAN's contributors meet in Chicago.