Godzilla vs. Mothra: Difference between revisions

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|type        =[[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'']] [[:Category:Godzilla Films|films]]
|name        =Godzilla vs. Mothra
|name        =''Godzilla vs. Mothra''
|prev        =Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
|prev        =Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
|prevname    =Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
|prevname    =''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''
|next        =Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
|next        =Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
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|nextname    =''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II''
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{{Infopelicula
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|type        =[[Mothra]] [[:Category:Films|Films]]
|name        =''Godzilla vs. Mothra''
|prev        =Mothra vs. Godzilla
|prevname    =''Mothra vs. Godzilla''
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{{Infobox Film|ratings=yes
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|header      ={{Toho}} {{Kaijup}} {{Film}}
|image      =Gvm.jpg
|image      =Gvm.jpg
|caption    =The Japanese poster for Godzilla vs. Mothra
|caption    =The Japanese poster for Godzilla vs. Mothra
|dt          =''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' (1992)
|dt          =''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' (1992)
|name        =''Godzilla vs. Mothra''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes
|name        =''Godzilla vs. Mothra''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes
|us-title    =''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' {{small|(VHS 1998)}}
|us-title    =''Godzilla and Mothra:<br>The Battle for Earth'' (VHS 1998)
|producer    =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], [[Shogo Tomiyama]]
|producer    =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], [[Shogo Tomiyama]]
|director    =[[Takao Okawara]]
|director    =[[Takao Okawara]]
|writer      =[[Kazuki Omori]]
|writer      =[[Kazuki Omori]]
|composer    =[[Akira Ifukube]]
|composer    =[[Akira Ifukube]]
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>[[TriStar Pictures]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|sfx              =[[Koichi Kawakita]]
|rating      =Not Rated
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, [[TriStar Pictures]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|budget      =¥???,???,???
|rating      =PG{{sup|[[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
|gross      =¥2,220,000,000
|gross      =¥2.22 billion<ref name="HGPerfection">{{cite book|title=[[Heisei Godzilla Perfection]]|author=Shimazaki, Jun; Nakamura, Tetsu|date=10 February 2012|publisher=ASCII MEDIA WORKS|page=35|isbn=978-4-04-886119-9}}</ref>
|runtime    =102 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 42 minutes)}}<br />100 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 40 minutes)}}
|runtime    =102 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 42 minutes)}}<br>100 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 40 minutes)}}
|designs    =[[BatoGoji]], [[HeiseiMosuLarva]], [[HeiseiMosuImago]], [[Battra|ShodaiBatoLarva]], [[Battra|ShodaiBatoImago]]
|aspectratio =1.85:1
}}
}}
'''''Godzilla vs. Mothra''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラVSモスラ|Gojira buiesu Mosura|lit. ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''}}, is a [[1992]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] produced by [[Toho]], and the nineteenth installment in the [[Godzilla (Franchise)|Godzilla series]], as well as the fourth in the [[Heisei era|Heisei series]]. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters on December 12, [[1992]].<ref name="Godzilla.jp">[http://godzilla.jp/work/19/ ゴジラVSモスラ|ゴジラ 東宝公式サイト] (official [[Godzilla.jp]] page)</ref>
{{Notice|Do not confuse with [[Mothra vs. Godzilla]] (1964), which has been previously released on home video in North America under the English title "Godzilla vs. Mothra."}}
{{Quote|A richly-colored battle! ''(極彩色の大決戦!)''<br>[[Earth]] S.O.S.! The battle over the future of the human race begins.|parenthetical=地球SOS!人類の未来をかけた戦いが始まる。|Japanese tagline}}
{{Quote|Terrifying! Cataclysmic! Mind-boggling!<br>Once again [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]] and [[Mothra (Godzilla vs. Mothra)|Mothra]] shake the earth!|International taglines}}
{{Quote|Get ready to rumble!|North American VHS tagline}}
'''''Godzilla vs. Mothra''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラ{{tt|VS|たい}}モスラ|Gojira {{tt|tai|alternatively 'buiesu'}} Mosura}} is a [[1992]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] directed by [[Takao Okawara]] and written by [[Kazuki Omori]], with special effects by [[Koichi Kawakita]]. Produced by [[TOHO Studios|Toho Pictures]], it is the 19th installment in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' series]] as well as the fourth in the [[Heisei era|Heisei series]]. It stars [[Tetsuya Bessho]], Satomi Kobayashi, [[Takehiro Murata]], [[Megumi Odaka]], Shiori Yonezawa, [[Akiji Kobayashi]], Keiko Imamura, and Sayaka Osawa. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters by [[Toho]] on December 12, [[1992]].<ref name="Godzilla.jp">[http://godzilla.jp/work/19/ ゴジラVSモスラ|ゴジラ 東宝公式サイト] (official [[Godzilla.jp]] page)</ref> [[TriStar Pictures|Columbia TriStar Home Video]] released an English-dubbed version of the film under the title '''''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth''''' on VHS in the [[United States]] on April 28, [[1998]].
 
Following the box office success of ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'', ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' brings back Toho's most popular [[kaiju]] after [[Godzilla]] himself: the giant moth goddess [[Mothra]]. After a meteorite impacts the [[Earth]], both [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]] and an ancient evil known as [[Battra]] are reawakened. Miniature twin fairies called the [[Shobijin|Cosmos]] appear to warn humanity of the danger posed by Battra, and allow the egg of their deity [[Mothra (Godzilla vs. Mothra)|Mothra]] to be transported to [[Japan]]. En route, the transport is attacked by Godzilla, forcing Mothra to hatch and fend for herself. When Battra arrives, it becomes a three-way battle between the monsters, each intent on destroying the others. This culminates in a final showdown in [[Yokohama]] between Godzilla and the imago stages of both Mothra and Battra, who find that they must work together in order to overcome their common foe. ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' was followed by ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' in [[1993]].
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Plot==
==Plot==
In [[1993]], one year after the [[Futurians]] attacked [[Japan]] with [[King Ghidorah]] and the attempt to remove [[Godzilla]] from history resulted in the Monster King growing larger and more powerful, a large meteorite crashes to Earth and lands in the Ogasawara Trench, causing massive environmental destruction around the world. In addition, Godzilla, who had been hibernating at the bottom of the Trench, awakens once again. Meanwhile, in Thailand, fortune-hunter/thief Takuya Fujita robs a temple and barely escapes with his life. However, as he crawls out of the temple, he is greeted by armed policemen, who promptly arrest him. Soon after, Secretary Ruzo Dobashi and Takuya's ex-wife Masako Fujita arrive from Japan and visit the thief in jail. They reveal that they are studying the effects of the meteorite's impact on the environment, and they have discovered something strange: a large object has been uncovered on the remote Infant Island in Indonesia. The development company Marutomo is planning to develop the island, but the giant mystery object is standing in their way. Marutomo has the backing of the Japanese government, and the Environmental Planning Bureau is sending a team to the island to investigate. Dobashi and Masako offer to get Takuya out of Thailand and suspend his 15 year prison sentence if he will lead the expedition and give the salary he receives to his daughter Midori as child support. With the threat of nearly two decades in prison, Takuya accepts.
In 1993, a huge meteor strikes the [[Earth]] near the Ogasawara Trench, awakening [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]], who was hibernating there. The impact triggers a series of earthquakes and typhoons across the [[Pacific Ocean]], unearthing a gigantic egg on an Indonesian island. Meanwhile, thief and ex-archaeologist [[Takuya Fujito]] explores an ancient temple in Thailand, searching for a valuable artifact. Takuya finds the artifact, but triggers the temple to begin collapsing. Takuya barely escapes with his life, but is immediately apprehended by Thai authorities. Takuya is visited in prison by [[Japan]]ese government secretary Ruzo Dobashi, Marutomo Company employee [[Kenji Ando]], and his ex-wife [[Masako Tezuka]]. They inform him that the Marutomo Company is developing an island in Indonesia, with the backing of the Japanese government. Recent satellite scans of the island have revealed a bizarre huge object, which Ando and Masako are being sent to investigate. If Takuya assists them in the expedition, he will be set free from prison. Takuya refuses at first, believing the Japanese consulate will set him free anyway, but quickly changes his mind after learning he may be held in prison for up to 15 years. In Japan, Dobashi informs Environmental Planning Bureau Chief Joji Minamino of the expedition, but Minamino is more concerned about the natural disasters the meteor has been triggering. Minamino and Dobashi meet with [[Miki Saegusa]], who informs them that Godzilla has been roused from his hibernation in the Ogasawara Trench by the meteor, and is at large once again.
 
Back in Japan, Environmental Planning Bureau Chief Joji Minamino has begun to worry about the state of the world. He and his team have connected many of the environmental disturbances caused by the meteorite to human activity on Earth. He claims that, although the meteorite started the chain reaction of destruction, mankind had, as it were, set up the dominoes. When psychic [[Miki Saegusa]] announces that she has discovered that Godzilla has also awoken, Minamino begins to fear the worst.
 
In Indonesia, the small yacht carrying the Infant Island expeditionary team, including Takuya, Masako, and Marutomo representative Kenji Andoh, sails towards its destination. They finally arrive on the island, and discover the appalling destruction caused by Marutomo's deforestation. As they pass, they wonder if such a thing will ever happen to Japan. As they trek across the tropical island, they soon discover a rope bridge, which must be crossed to continue on. Unfortunately, the bridge breaks as they cross, and the trio falls into the river below. They soon recover, but become all but lost in the center of the island. As night falls, they set up camp near a waterfall. As Andoh sleeps, Masako shows her ex-husband pictures of their daughter Midori, who believes that her father is a crime-fighter and capturing "bad guys". Masako could not bear to tell her child that her daddy is a "bad guy" himself. The next morning, Takuya wakes the others with the news that he has discovered a cave hidden behind the waterfall. As the trio enter the cave, they find a mural on the wall depicting a cross-like object. Takuya estimates the cave painting to be several thousand years old. On the opposite wall, they discover another mural, this one depicting what appear to be two giant, flying insects fighting each other. They then venture deeper into the cave, and finally emerge back into the jungle. When they reach the edge of the trees, they are greeted by a remarkable sight: a gigantic, blue and yellow egg is resting on a hillside. This, they realize, is the giant object they were sent to investigate. As the team wonders aloud what kind of egg it is, two voices, speaking in unison, respond. The culprits: two tiny women who introduce themselves to the trio as the "Cosmos". They explain that the egg belongs to [[Mothra]], a gigantic monster that had lived thousands of years ago. They tell the team that over 12,000 years earlier, an advanced civilization had existed on Earth. This ancient society was completely peaceful, living without war or unrest, and the people worshiped Mothra as their guardian. However, the scientists of the ancient civilization invented a machine designed to control the climate of the Earth. Apparently offended by this, the planet's life force literally manifested its self as a monster, a giant insect that resembled Mothra herself. This monster, known as the "Black Mothra" to the people, was called [[Battra]], and ruthlessly attacked the civilization. Thankfully, Mothra rose to defend humanity, and she and Battra engaged in an epic battle (and it is this conflict that was documented in the cave mural). Eventually, Mothra succeeded in defeating Battra, and the monster was laid to rest in Siberia. However, Battra had not been entirely unsuccessful in its mission, and the ancient civilization was left completely destroyed. Even worse, when the climate control device was destroyed in the conflict, the Earth had flooded, and much of the land was left underwater. Mothra escaped to the high ground and eventually settled on Infant Island. Now, 12,000 years later, Mothra's egg had been revealed. The Cosmos explain that human activity on the island had weakened the land, making it easy for the meteorite's impact to expose it. This, the tiny women explain, has put the egg in terrible danger, as they now fear that Battra himself may have awoken as well. As sworn enemies, Battra will surely head towards the egg with revenge in its twisted mind.
 
Far away, in Siberia, the Cosmos' fears begin to manifest into reality as the ice breaks, and a gigantic creature emerges, heading south quickly. In Japan, the JSDF (Japanese Self Defense Force) spot the creature as it grows closer to Japan. When Chief Minamino reads the report sent from Masako on Infant Island, he identifies the monster as Battra. Now on top of widespread environmental destruction, including rising sea levels, typhoons, and earthquakes, there is now a giant monster to contend with. Minamino now fears that doomsday may be near at hand.
 
Back on Infant Island, Andoh has hatched a plan to protect the egg. He has contacted his boss, Marutomo's powerful CEO Takeshi Tomokane, who has ordered that the egg be hauled back to Japan to be used as a tourist attraction. Andoh appeals to his team members and the Cosmos, insisting that moving the egg to Japan is a move to protect it. He claims that Japan will be a better environment to raise the egg in. The Cosmos agree, and also volunteer to travel to Japan as well. With that, a larger ship soon arrives off the coast of the island, and the egg is soon loaded onto a barge to be shipped back to Japan. However, near the coast of Japan, the JSDF has been deployed to attempt to fend off Battra as it continues to swim closer. Unfortunately, the missiles fired by the jets have no effect on the beast, and it soon hits the coast and begins to burrow under the country. The giant larva soon emerges in Nogoya, and begins to level the city with powerful beams fired from the creature's eyes and the giant horn. With Nogoya in ruins, the creature once again heads below ground and disappears.
 
Back out at sea, as the ship towing Mothra's egg sails along, the captain has spotted something concerning on the radar. Something big is approaching the area. Several minutes later, Godzilla himself rises from the sea and begins to approach the barge holding the egg. Knowing that they are in danger, Takuya rushes to the stern of the ship to release the barge, thereby eliminating the drag. However, Andoh interferes, not wanting to loose the egg, and the two duke it out on the deck. Eventually, Takuya punches Andoh into submission, and releases the egg, leaving it to the mercy of Godzilla. However, as the gigantic reptile approaches, the egg begins to crack, and soon, a gigantic larva emerges. As Godzilla opens fire with his atomic ray, Mothra slithers out of the egg and into the ocean. A few seconds later, Godzilla roars in pain as the giant larva latches on to the tip of its tail. Godzilla attempts to shake Mothra off, and eventually rips his tail out of the larva's pincers. Mothra then swims over to the barge and hides behind it, attempting to protect itself from the violent Godzilla. Mothra lifts its head up from behind the barge and begins to shoot a strand of silk from its mouth at Godzilla, who in no time is covered in the web-like substance. However, Godzilla fires his ray at the larva and quickly sends it diving back below the waves. Moments later, Mothra attacks again, biting Godzilla in the chest. However, the nuclear kaiju simply grabs the infantile insect and throws it away. Mothra, realizing that she stands no chance, quickly retreats. Unfortunately, in the distance, another gigantic object is rapidly approaching. Battra has finally arrived, and it quickly heads for Mothra. The demonic insect lifts Mothra from the water with its horn, sending the newborn worm flying away. When Battra attempts to fire its beam at the injured Mothra, the beam misses the intended target and hits Godzilla instead. Godzilla quickly retaliates and fires his atomic ray back at Battra, destroying the barge in the process. Battra then swims straight for Godzilla, and the two begin to battle. The fight soon moves underwater, and the two behemoths continue their battle on a deep sea shelf. On the surface, Takuya, Andoh, Masako, and the Cosmos watch from the deck of the escaping ship as Mothra heads back to Infant Island. Andoh moans about returning empty-handed to Japan, but there is nothing he can do now. Deep in the sea, Godzilla and Battra continue their bout. Unfortunately, their fighting has triggered the eruption of a massive deep-sea volcano, and as the two persist in their battle, they disappear in the lava and sink into the very depths of the Earth. On the radar, both monsters have disappeared. As the ship returns to Japan, both Godzilla and Battra are presumed dead.


In the city of Manila (which is rejoicing at the death of Godzilla), Takuya, Masako, and Andoh check into a motel after their adventure. As the Cosmos sleep in the motel room, the three drink downstairs. Takuya and Masako agree that loosing the egg was really for the best, as Marutomo could not have planned to do anything good with it any way. As they talk, they begin to grow closer again. As the two talk with each other, they fail to notice Andoh sneak away. The next morning, Takuya and Masako discover to their horror that the Cosmos have disappeared. It does not take long for them to realize who is to blame: Andoh, having lost the egg, has taken the two tiny women to his boss, Mr. Tomokane. At Marutomo, Tomokane admires his catch. He orders Andoh to buy a doll house and furniture to please his new spokespeople. Meanwhile, Takuya and Masako head to the airport to meet their daughter Midori, who had been staying with relatives while her mother was away. However, as Masako hugs her daughter, she turns to discover that Takuya has disappeared. At the Environmental Planning Bureau, Chief Minamino confesses that any attempts made by him and the government to reclaim the Cosmos from Tomokane have failed. There is little they can do now. However, at Marutomo, the Cosmos do have one last chance for rescue. As the sun sets, the two begin to sing a prayer to Mothra, a plea for help. Far away on Infant Island, Mothra hears their voices and begins a long journey to Japan to save her priestesses.
After departing from Bangkok via a boat, Takuya, Masako, and Ando arrive at the Indonesian island, known as [[Infant Island]]. The three come ashore on the island, which is covered in dense jungles and seemingly uninhabited. As they explore, they come upon a section of the island that has been cleared by the Marutomo Company, leading them to remark that man is destroying what nature has taken thousands of years to build. After further exploring, the three come upon a rickety bridge spanning a river. Takuya insists they can all safely make it across, but as they cross the bridge snaps and leaves the three dangling over the river. At Takuya's insistence, they all jump into the river below one-by-one. Takuya then consults the map of the island, and realizes they will reach their destination faster by traveling upriver. After canoeing up the river for several hours, the three set up camp for the night. As they sit by the fire, Masako gives Takuya a letter written to him by their daughter, Midori. Midori is unaware that Takuya is a thief, as Masako doesn't want her to know. The next morning, Takuya finds a large cave near the camp, and wakes both Masako and Ando so they can investigate. Inside the cave, they see several ancient paintings, one of which depicts two huge moths locked in battle. As the sun passes overhead, it shines through a hole in the wall and casts light on a path outside the cave. The three follow it, and come upon the colossal object, which they determine is an egg. As they ponder what could have laid such an egg, they hear two voices say the egg belongs to [[Mothra (Godzilla vs. Mothra)|Mothra]]. Two miniature twin women emerge from behind a flower and introduce themselves as the [[Shobijin|Cosmos]]. They explain that 12,000 years ago, Mothra was the guardian of Earth, which was inhabited by an advanced human civilization. When scientists developed a climate-controlling device, this greatly offended the Earth, which created the Black Mothra: [[Battra]]. Battra not only destroyed the device, but declared war on all of humanity, believing it to be a threat to the Earth. Mothra battled Battra and defeated him, sealing him in the Arctic Ocean, then retreated to Infant Island to live with the Cosmos. The Cosmos express their fear that the recent meteor impact may have awakened Battra, who will no doubt resume his campaign against the human race. Ando contacts his employer, Takeshi Tomokane, and tells him about the egg. Currently experiencing difficulties with his company's developments at [[Mount Fuji]], Tomokane believes the egg will make a fantastic tourist attraction for his company to exploit, so he sends ships to escort the egg back to Japan. The Cosmos allow the egg to be taken to Japan, believing it could be safer in a controlled environment there than exposed on the island.


In Japan, a problem has arisen at Marutomo. The Cosmos, it seems, have once again vanished. As it turns out, Takuya has stolen them back from the company, but instead of setting them free, he is planning to sell them to an American business for $1,000,000. At the same time, the JSDF has spotted Mothra approaching the mainland, and is ordered to attack it to keep it out of the country. However, the giant larva easily defeats the Defense Forces and ventures ashore in Tokyo, heading for the Cosmos. As the monster demolishes the city, Miki Saegusa uses her psychic abilities to home in on the Cosmos' location. Miki, Masako, and Midori soon arrive at the hotel where Takuya is staying, and Masako angrily confronts her ex-husband. Midori also pipes in, saying she doesn't want to be a thief's daughter anymore. However, as they talk, Mothra arrives in the area and begins to demolish the hotel in search of her priestesses. Midori pleads with the Cosmos to stop Mothra, saying that she will make her daddy stop stealing if they help. Ashamed of himself, Takuya releases the girls, who ask to be brought to a place where Mothra can see them. Miki, Masako, Takuya, and Midori bring the Cosmos to a window, and the two twin girls stand before Mothra and ask her to calm down. Mothra, seeing that her priestesses are safe, relaxes and turns around, heading away from the hotel. Unfortunately, as she flees, the military fires on her, blasting her with a tank brigade. As Mothra is relentlessly shelled by the JSDF, Miki, Masako, Takuya, and Midori scream at the army to stop. When it is discovered that the four people are still in the building, a ceasefire is ordered. Mothra, seriously injured and weak, crawls away slowly. heading for the capitol. The giant larva soon arrives at the Diet Building (Japan's House of Parliament), and crashes through the west wing, eventually coming to rest at the center of the structure. Miki, Masako, Takuya, and Midori (with the Cosmos in tow) soon arrive on the scene and look upon the injured monster, who appears to be dying. However, the Cosmos reveal that the creature is not dying; it has simply reached the end of its first life stage. Sure enough, as the sun sets over the horizon, Mothra begins to spray its webbing into the air. The silky substance begins to fall around the larva, and very soon the monster is sealed inside of a protective cocoon.
While the egg is being transported, the larval form of Battra appears off the coast of Japan, rapidly approaching the mainland. The [[JSDF]] assaults the beast, but their weapons have no effect, and Battra comes ashore. Battra begins burrowing underground, then surfaces at [[Nagoya Castle]]. Battra begins terrorizing the city of [[Nagoya]], blasting apart buildings with beams fired from his eyes and horn. Once Battra reaches [[Nagoya TV Tower]], he is confronted by numerous tanks and [[MBT-MB92]] [[Maser Cannon]]s. They too fail to wound Battra, who topples the tower and returns to the ocean, heading toward the [[Philippines]]. As the Matrutomo convoy passes the coast of the Philippines, the captain detects a large object approaching their ship. The water begins to boil, and a blue beam shoots into the sky. Godzilla surfaces and begins to approach Mothra's egg. Hoping to save the ship, Takuya attempts to detach the raft carrying the egg from the ship, but Ando attacks him, saying he has to ensure the egg reaches Japan. Takyuya is able to knock Ando down, then pulls the switch to detach the raft. The egg begins to crack, and Mothra hatches from it. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Mothra, who jumps into the water and hides behind the raft. Mothra swims behind Godzilla and bites down on his tail, but Godzilla flings her away. As Mothra and Godzilla battle, Battra approaches the area. Battra knocks Mothra out of his way, then attacks Godzilla. The two monsters sink to the ocean floor as they fight, while Mothra swims back to Infant Island. As Godzilla and Battra struggle on the ocean floor, the fault between the Philippine and Eurasian plates splits open, expelling magma into the water. Godzilla and Battra are pulled into the fissure, and immediately vanish from all radar. With Godzilla and Battra presumed dead, Masako and Takuya stay at a hotel in Manila, with the Cosmos staying with them. At the hotel bar, Takuya and Masako reminisce about their honeymoon in Cairo, and remember the feelings they once had for each other. The next morning, they find that the Cosmos have disappeared from their room, having been kidnapped by Ando and brought to Tomokane in [[Tokyo]]. Tomokane congratulates Ando for his efforts, and declares that the Marutomo Company will use the Cosmos as their next major attraction. The Cosmos sing to Mothra to summon her to their rescue, and she promptly leaves Infant Island and begins swimming to Japan. As Mothra nears Japanese waters, Dobashi and Minamino give the order for the JSDF to try and stop her. The JSDF's weapons fail to halt Mothra's advance, and she nears [[Tokyo Bay]]. Masako and Miki Saegusa, accompanied by Midori, try to find the Cosmos in order to prevent Mothra from destroying Tokyo. Using her telepathy, Miki traces the Cosmos to a hotel in central Tokyo, where Takuya has brought them after stealing them from the Marutomo Company, intending to sell them. Masako confronts Takuya, saying she is ashamed of him. Midori implores her father to let the Cosmos go, saying she doesn't want to be a thief's daughter. Takuya lets the Cosmos go, and they stand in a window and communicate with Mothra, telling her they are safe and that she doesn't need to keep tearing apart the city. Mothra acknowledges them and begins crawling away, but the JSDF opens fire on her. This time, Mothra is injured, and begins weakly crawling to the [[National Diet Building]]. Mothra begins spraying silk around herself, building a huge cocoon on the Diet Building. As a crowd of spectators looks on, Miki remarks that she can sense Godzilla.


A few hours later, however, the ground begins to shake under the feet of those around Tokyo, and it is discovered that the magma pressure under Mt. Fuji has risen to a dangerous level. An eruption is inevitable, and sure enough, Mt. Fuji soon begins to leak lava all over the land Marutomo had recently bought and prepared for development. Hearing of this, Mr. Tomokane wonders aloud why all of his projects have suddenly been singled out of destruction. Andoh believes that the Earth is angry with them, and is getting its revenge. He knows that Marutomo has gone too far, and will now be destroyed for harming the planet. Tomokane, incredulous, fires Andoh for his insubordination. Andoh, however, does not care, and leaves Tomokane with a warning: he will soon pay the price for what he has done.
At that moment, [[Mount Fuji]] begins erupting violently, and Godzilla emerges from its crater, having swum through miles of molten magma. Godzilla walks down the slopes of the mountain, heading directly for Tokyo. The JSDF deploys a squadron of MBT-MB92s and new [[ASTOL-MB93]] Maser attack aircraft to engage Godzilla, but he easily destroys them with his atomic breath. Meanwhile, Battra appears in the ocean, and transforms into his imago stage. With both Godzilla and Battra approaching the Tokyo area, Mothra emerges from her cocoon in her imago stage, then flies off to destroy Battra once and for all. Mothra flies over the Cosmo World theme park in [[Yokohama]], and is attacked by Battra near the [[Yokohama Bay Bridge]]. Battra blasts Mothra's wings with his prism beams, and she crashes to the ground in the Minato Mirai 21 district. Before Battra can finish Mothra, Godzilla enters the area, intent on finishing his battle with Battra. Godzilla clashes with Battra, who topples the [[Yokohama Landmark Tower]] onto Godzilla. As Battra flies overhead, Godzilla breaks free and blasts him with his atomic breath, knocking him to the ground. Mothra sees Battra being beaten, then takes flight and lands near him and begins communicating with him. The two monsters put aside their differences, and decide to fight together against Godzilla. Godzilla roars and begins approaching, and Mothra attacks him. Mothra releases scales from her wings that create a 3-D mirror around Godzilla, deflecting his atomic breath. Mothra releases arc lightning from her wings that shocks Godzilla and begins subduing him. Godzilla retaliates with a nuclear pulse, which breaks the 3-D mirror and sends Mothra crashing into the [[Cosmo Clock 21]]. Before the huge Ferris wheel can fall and crush Mothra, Battra grabs it and throws it at Godzilla instead. Mothra and Battra then attack Godzilla at the same time, defeating him after Battra fires his prism beams into Mothra's 3-D mirror, striking Godzilla multiple times. Godzilla falls to the ground, and Mothra and Battra grab him to carry him away from Japan. Godzilla bites into Battra's neck, causing him to bleed profusely. As Mothra and Battra carry Godzilla over the open ocean, Godzilla fires his atomic breath into the wound on Battra's neck, killing him. Mothra is forced to release Godzilla, sending him along with Battra's lifeless body plummeting into the sea below. Mothra then places a seal over the ocean, honoring Battra's sacrifice.


Back at Mt. Fuji, a familiar form rises from the still erupting volcano. From out of the crater emerges Godzilla, still alive after falling into the under-sea volcano while battling Battra. The creature had simply swum through the molten lava under the ocean and up into Mt. Fuji, triggering the eruption that had now released him upon the world again. The news reaches the JSDF unit surrounding Mothra's cocoon, who are told that the monster may now be heading for them. Suddenly, the cocoon before them begins to stir, and as the Cosmos sing their ritual song, Mothra emerges in her adult form. Now a giant, beautiful butterfly-like creature, Mothra lifts herself from her cocoon and takes to the air on her giant and colorful wings. The Cosmos tell the heroes that Mothra is on its way to confront Battra, who has also survived the undersea eruption. Out at sea, Battra rises from the water and undergoes a transformation of its own. The larval creature morphs into its adult form, a darker and more twisted version of Mothra, and quickly flies to intercept its opponent. As it turns out, both Mothra and Battra, as well as Godzilla, are headed towards Yokohama, and when the three intercept, a climactic battle will be inevitable.
The next day, Mothra sits at [[Haneda Airport]], where the Cosmos thank the humans who helped them and bid them farewell. They explain that Battra was destined to destroy a meteor set to strike and destroy the Earth in 1999, and Mothra agreed to take his place in the event of his death. Mothra will fly into deep space and try to change the meteor's course herself. The Cosmos tell humanity to remember the sacrifice Mothra has made for them, then travel with Mothra into outer space.


Enemies Mothra and Battra meet in the skies above Yokohama and engage in great combat. As the monsters bash each other and fire energy rays at one another over the city, Godzilla arrives and heads towards the two insects. Eventually, Battra forces Mothra to the ground in the Cosmo World amusement park, and begins to fire at her with its eye beams. However, Battra soon spots Godzilla, and leaves Mothra to continue its fight with the Monster King. After burying Godzilla in rubble, Battra flies closer to inspect. Suddenly, Godzilla emerges and grabs Battra, hurling it away. The nuclear titan then begins to blast the Black Mothra with his atomic ray. Mothra notices this, and begins to formulate a plan. She lifts off and attacks Godzilla, releasing a powder that weakens the behemoth and sends it crashing to the ground. Mothra then flies over to Battra and lands in front of the downed insect. She then begins to transfer energy to Battra, healing its wounds and empowering it again. However, Godzilla soon recovers and interrupts the process. Mothra lifts off once more and assaults Godzilla again with her antenna beams. She strikes the monster with strands of lightning released from her wings. Unfortunately, Godzilla uses a Nuclear Pulse to blast Mothra away, and she lands at the base of the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel. Godzilla then hits the base of the Ferris wheel with his ray, sending it falling towards the downed Mothra. Suddenly, seconds before the wheel would have crushed the benevolent insect, Battra intervenes and grabs it. With Mothra safe, the Cosmos proudly announce that Mothra and Battra have become friends, and are now allied against Godzilla. Battra lifts the Ferris wheel into the air as Mothra takes flight, and rams the giant wheel into Godzilla, toppling the titan. Now working together, Mothra and Battra, once foes, assault Godzilla relentlessly with their energy beams. After a long battle, Godzilla finally crashes to the ground in defeat. Mothra and Battra then stop and fly into the sky. Facing each other, the two appear to communicate with each other about something. After a few moments, Battra descends and lands on Godzilla's chest, grabbing the creature tightly. Mothra lands and grabs Godzilla's tail. Suddenly, Godzilla rises and bites Battra in the neck, wounding it. Although weak, Battra, with the help of Mothra, succeeds in lifting Godzilla from the ground, and both creatures air lift the King of the Monsters out of the city and over the open ocean. However, as the monsters fly their captive out to sea, Godzilla fires his ray at Battra at point-blank range. This is the final straw, and Battra looses his grip on life and dies mid-transit. Now on her own, Mothra releases Godzilla, and the monster (along with the body of Battra) falls into the sea. Mothra then flies over the spot where Godzilla landed and releases a trail of pollen that forms into her cross-like symbol. The area is then sealed with an energy that, it is hoped, will keep Godzilla at bay for the time being.
The next day, the Cosmos greet humanity with a terrifying revelation: in 1999, a large asteroid, capable of destroying all life on Earth, will hit the planet. They reveal that Battra had planned to awaken in 1999 and intercept and destroy the asteroid, thereby saving the Earth it was sworn to protect. However, Battra was no longer alive. Fortunately, just before the creature had died, it had made a deal with Mothra, and now the job to intercept the asteroid fell to her. The Cosmos bid farewell to humanity, and as Takuya, Masako, Midori, Miki, Chief Minamino, and the JSDF watch, they merge with Mothra, and the giant monster lifts off and flies into space for her final mission. Masako tells her daughter that it is now their responsibility to help the planet, and the young girl takes the hands of her mother and father, uniting her family once again. In space, Mothra glides away from the Earth out into the stars and promising to return to earth for saving the humanity again if any danger to the planet.
==Staff==
==Staff==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra/Credits}}
{{Staffs
{{Staffs
|Directed by=[[Takao Okawara]]
|Directed by=[[Takao Okawara]]
|Written by=[[Kazuki Omori]]
|Written by=[[Kazuki Omori]]
|Produced by=[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], [[Shogo Tomiyama]]
|Executive producer=[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Produced by=[[Shogo Tomiyama]]
|Assistant producer=
|Music by=[[Akira Ifukube]]
|Music by=[[Akira Ifukube]]
|Cinematography by=Yoshinori Sekiguchi
*Theme song "[[Mothra's Song]]"
|Edited by=Michiko Ikeda
|*Performed by|Keiko Imamura, Sayaka Osawa
|Special Effects by=[[Koichi Kawakita]]
|*Lyrics by|Tomoyuki Tanaka, [[Shinichi Sekizawa]], [[Ishiro Honda]]
|*Composed by|[[Yuji Koseki]]
|*Arranged by|Hiroshi Takada
|Cinematography by|Masahiro Kishimoto
|Edited by|Miho Yoneda
|Production design by|Tadashi Sakai
|First assistant director|[[Kunio Miyoshi]]
|Director of special effects|[[Koichi Kawakita]]
|First assistant director of special effects|[[Kenji Suzuki]]
|Optical supervisors|[[Toshihiro Ogawa]], [[Hiroshi Onoda]], [[Hajime Matsumoto]], [[Tetsuo Ohya]]
}}
}}
==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra/Credits}}
{{Cast
{{Cast
|Tetsuya Bessho|[[Takuya Fujita]]
|[[Tetsuya Bessho]]|[[Takuya Fujito]]
|Satomi Kobayashi|[[Masako Tezuka]]
|Satomi Kobayashi|[[Masako Tezuka]]
|[[Takehiro Murata]]|[[Kenji Andoh]]
|[[Takehiro Murata]]|[[Kenji Ando]], Marutomo Company President's Secretary
|Saburo Shinoda|Professor Shigeki Fukazawa
|Akiji Kobayashi|Yuzo Tsuchiashi
|[[Megumi Odaka]]|[[Miki Saegusa]]
|[[Megumi Odaka]]|[[Miki Saegusa]]
|[[Akira Takarada]]|Environmental Planning Board Chief Jyoji Minamino
|Shiori Yonezawa|Midori Tezuka
|Makoto Otake|Head of Marutomo Takeshi Tomokane
|[[Akiji Kobayashi]]|Ryuzo Dobashi, Cabinet Security Director
|Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa|[[Shobijin|Cosmos]]
|Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa|[[Shobijin|Cosmos]]
|Yoshiko Tanaka|Mayumi Fukazawa
|[[Yoshiko Tanaka]]|Mayumi Fukazawa
|[[Koichi Ueda]]|Marutomo Employee
|Makoto Otake|Takeshi Tomokane, President of the Marutomo Company
|[[Koichi Ueda]]|Minoru Ōmae, Marutomo Company Managing Director
|Saburo Shinoda|Professor Shigeki Fukazawa, Tohto University Geology Professor
|[[Akira Takarada]]|Joji Minamino, Chief of the Environmental Planning Board
|[[Susumu Kurobe]]|Fuyuki Takaoka, Air SDF Chief of Staff
|Kenzo Hagiwara|Takeo Shimura, Ground SDF Chief of Staff
|Shin Tatsuma|Daisuke Hirata, Maritime SDF Chief of Staff
|Tetsu Watanabe|Tank Corps Captain
|James Nugent|Dixon, Institute for Cloning Biology representative
|Masahiro Matsudo|[[Mount Fuji]] volcano observer
|Jun Ortiz|NASA staff
|Joshua Lieberman|NASA staff
|Colby Diddle|NASA staff
|Jamie Cotton|NASA staff
|Robert Sercher|NASA staff
|Shinya Oowada|Captain
|Toshiyuki Honda|[[JSDF|Japan Ground Self Defense Force]] Senior Tank Officer (uncredited)
|[[Kenpachiro Satsuma]]|[[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]]
|[[Ryu Hariken|"Hurricane" Ryu Hariken]]|[[Battra]] (larva)
}}
===English dub===
{{Cast
|Jack Murphy|[[Takuya Fujito]]
|Sue Brooks|[[Masako Tezuka]]
|Simon Broad|[[Kenji Ando]] / Minoru Omae
|Sarah Hauser| [[Cosmos]]
|Warwick Evans|Professor Shigeki Fukazawa
|Pierre Tremblay|Jyoji Minamino
|Rik Thomas|Takeshi Tomokane / Captain
}}
}}
==Appearances==
==Appearances==
Line 87: Line 128:
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Monsters===
===Monsters===
*[[Godzilla/Heisei|Godzilla]] ([[BatoGoji]])
*[[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]] ([[BatoGoji]])
*[[Mothra/Heisei|Mothra]] ([[HeiseiMosuLarva]], [[HeiseiMosuImago]])
*[[Mothra (Godzilla vs. Mothra)|Mothra]]
*[[Battra]]
*[[Battra]]
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Weapons, Vehicles, and Races===
===Weapons, vehicles, and races===
*[[Shobijin|Cosmos]]
*[[Shobijin|Cosmos]]
*[[MBT-92]]
*[[Mitsubishi F-15J]]
*''Ariake-maru''
*[[Type 74 Tank]]
*[[Type 75 130 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher]]
*[[Type 61 Tank]]
*[[MBT-MB92]]
*[[MBAW-93]]
*[[MBAW-93]]
*[[Type 74 Tank]]
*[[Hatsuyuki-class destroyer|''Hatsuyuki''-class destroyer]] (DD-128 ''Haruyuki'' and DD-134 ''Moriyuki'')
*[[DDH-142 Haruna Class Destroyer]]
*[[wikipedia:Hughes OH-6 Cayuse|OH-6 Cayuse]]
*[[Mitsubishi F-15J]]
*[[UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1B Huey]]
*[[UH-1B Huey]]
*[[wikipedia:Bell AH-1 Cobra|AH-1 Cobra]]
*[[Type 82 Command Vehicle]]
*[[wikipedia:Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV|Type 89 IFV]]
*[[Type 75 MSSR]]
*Type 73 Heavy Truck
*Type 82 CCV
*[[wikipedia:Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck|Type 73 Light Truck]]
*[[Type 90 Tank]]
*[[wikipedia:Type 87 ARV|Type 87 ARV]]
*[[ASTOL-MB93]]
*[[ASTOL-MB93]]
*''Nippon-maru''
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra/Gallery}}
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra/Gallery}}
==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra (Soundtrack)}}
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Mothra/Soundtrack}}
==Alternate Titles==
==Alternate titles==
*'''''Butterfly Dragon Mothra''''' (蝶龍魔斯拉, ''Dié lóng mósīlā''; Taiwan)
*'''''Butterfly Dragon Mothra''''' (蝶龍魔斯拉, ''Dié lóng mósīlā''; Taiwan)
*'''''Godzilla's Dragon War of the Four Seas''''' (哥斯拉之龍戰四海, ''Go1si1laai1 zi1 lung4zin3 sei3hoi2''; Hong Kong)
*'''''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth''''' (United States)
*'''''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth''''' (United States)
*'''''Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth''''' (Australia)
*'''''Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth''''' (Australia)
*'''''Godzilla vs. Super Mothra''''' (India)
*'''''Godzilla: Battle of the Saurian Mutants''''' (''Godzilla – Kampf der Saurier-Mutanten''; Germany)
*'''''Godzilla: Battle of the Saurian Mutants''''' (''Godzilla – Kampf der Saurier-Mutanten''; Germany)
*'''''Godzilla: The Mutant Dinosaur''''' (''Godzilla: El dinosaurio mutante''; Argentina)
*'''''Godzilla: The Mutant Dinosaur''''' (''Godzilla: El dinosaurio mutante''; Argentina)
==Theatrical Releases==
*'''''Godzilla and Mothra''''' (''Godzilla e Mothra''; Portugal)
*'''''Godzilla Versus Mothra''''' (Brazil)
*'''''Godzilla - The Battle of the Century''''' (''Godzilla - A Batalha do Século''; Brazilian video title)
*'''''Godzilla Against Mothra''''' (''Godzilla contra Mothra''; Spain; ''Godzilla contro Mothra''; Italy; ''Godzilla kontra Mothra''; Poland)
*'''''Godzilla Meets Mothra''''' (''Godzilla möter Mothra''; Sweden)
*'''''Return of the Dinosaur''''' (''Возвращение динозавра''; Russia)
 
==Theatrical releases==
{{All Posters}}
{{All Posters}}
*[[Japan]] - December 12, 1992<ref name="Godzilla.jp"/> {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Mothra_Poster_B.png|caption=Japanese poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*[[Japan]] - December 12, 1992<ref name="Godzilla.jp"/>{{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Mothra_Poster_B.png|caption=Japanese poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*France {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Mothra_Poster_France_1.gif|caption=French poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Thailand - 1994{{Popup-poster|file=1ff5dea686c85d85e22c0f20037f4b68.jpg|caption=Thai poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Germany {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Mothra_Poster_Germany_1.jpg|caption=German poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*India - March 31, 1995
*Thailand {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Mothra_Lobby_Card_Thailand.gif|caption=Thai poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
 
==[[United States|U.S.]] Release==
==Foreign releases==
[[File:Godzilla and Mothra The Battle for Earth VHS.jpg|thumb|right|200px|American ''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' VHS cover]]
===[[United States|U.S.]] release===
''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' was released directly to VHS in the [[United States]] by [[TriStar Pictures]] in April of [[1998]], alongside ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]''. TriStar released the film under the title ''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' in order to avoid confusion with ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', which was known as ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' in the U.S. at the time. TriStar used Toho's international English dub of the film, but not the international title card, instead using the Japanese title card with "''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth''" in parentheses at the bottom of the screen. TriStar later released the film on DVD in November 1998 on the same disc as ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''.
[[File:Godzilla and Mothra The Battle for Earth VHS.jpg|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' VHS cover]]
''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' was released directly to VHS in the [[United States]] by [[TriStar Pictures]] in April of [[1998]], alongside ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]''. TriStar released the film under the title ''Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' in order to avoid confusion with ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', which was known as ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' in the U.S. at the time. TriStar used Toho's international English dub of the film, but not the international title card, instead using the Japanese title card with "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" in parentheses at the bottom of the screen. TriStar later released the film on DVD in November 1998 on the same disc as ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''. In 2014, [[Sony]] released the film on Blu-ray with its original Japanese audio track in a two-disc set with ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''. Despite being given a new title for its North American home video releases, the film typically appeared under its international title in television listings and streaming services, and was even referred to by this title on Sony's official website. This resulted in some confusion, with cover art created by Peter Bollinger for [[Simitar Entertainment]]'s [[1998]] VHS and DVD releases of ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' being erroneously used to represent ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' on streaming services and websites.
 
In 2013, [[SciFi Japan]] co-founder Keith Aiken disclosed that Sony's rights to ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' would be up for renewal in 2019.<ref name="MZ">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=421209&fbclid=IwAR3Rn0to9fYKI4t7I9o2knwPpNv33zj235UIWQVcmU3uOMffb3Y3XIyCe6o#p421209|title=Re: Any News on Godzilla DVD Rereleases?|author=Aiken, Keith|date=20 November 2013|work=Monster Zero Forums}}</ref> Sony evidently let their home video rights to the film lapse, and it is no longer available for digital rental or purchase on any platform. However, it became available on the streaming service Pluto TV through Sony Pictures Television in 2023.
{{Clear}}
 
===United Kingdom release===
[[File:Godzilla vs. Mothra Manga VHS (1995).png|thumb|UK ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' VHS cover]]
[[Manga Entertainment]] released a letterboxed presentation of ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' on VHS in July, [[1995]] under their Manga Live sublabel, using Toho's existing export dub and visuals, though as with their previous release of ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'', the opening Toho logo and production credit were again excised. The company reissued the film along with its predecessor with different packaging in [[1998]] to capitalize on [[TriStar Pictures]]' release of ''[[GODZILLA (1998 film)|GODZILLA]]''.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
==Box Office==
''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' sold 4,200,000 tickets in Japan, the highest tally of the Heisei Godzilla series and best result for a Godzilla film since ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' in 1964.<ref name="">{{cite book|title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |author=Stuart Galbraith IV |date=2008 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=}}</ref><!-- Do not change to 1992 -- the source says 1993. I assume this is because of the December release date. --> It was the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1993, earning ¥2,220,000,000, or roughly $20,000,000.


==Box office==
''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' sold 4.2 million tickets in Japan, the highest tally of the Heisei Godzilla series and best result for a Godzilla film since ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' in 1964. It was the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1993, earning ¥2.22 billion.<ref name="HGPerfection"/> It is the second-highest grossing Toho Godzilla film in Japan, surpassed only by ''[[Shin Godzilla]]''.
==Reception==
==Reception==
Although viewers appreciate some of the features of the film, such as the ethereal cinematography, the unusual final battle scene set in an amusement park, and the typically [[Godzilla vs. Mothra (Soundtrack)|beautiful score]] by [[Akira Ifukube]], some critics charge that the film is burdened by a confluence of over-the-top themes and moments. For example, there is a blatant Indiana Jones influence in a beginning scene, when Takuya escapes from a crumbling ancient temple. Another example is the heavy environmentalist message, with a character musing in almost every scene about the destructiveness caused by human misdeeds. Although there has always been some element of this in Godzilla films, since Godzilla was created by nuclear tests and in ways recalls the devastation caused by atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, critics argue that the topic is handled here too heavy-handedly.
Although viewers appreciate some of the features of the film, such as the ethereal cinematography, the unusual final battle scene set in an amusement park, and the typically [[Godzilla vs. Mothra/Soundtrack|beautiful score]] by [[Akira Ifukube]], some critics charge that the film is burdened by a confluence of over-the-top themes and moments. For example, there is a blatant Indiana Jones influence in a beginning scene, when Takuya escapes from a crumbling ancient temple. Another example is the heavy environmentalist message, with a character musing in almost every scene about the destructiveness caused by human misdeeds. Although there has always been some element of this in Godzilla films, since Godzilla was created by nuclear tests and in ways recalls the devastation caused by atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, critics argue that the topic is handled here too heavy-handedly.
==Awards==
==Awards==
Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa won Newcomer of the Year awards from the Japan Academy Prize for their portrayal of the [[Shobijin|Cosmos]] in the film. [[Akira Ifukube]] received a nomination for Best Music, and [[Takehiro Murata]] earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as [[Kenji Andoh]] in ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' and two other roles in  ''Okoge'' and ''Minbô no onna''.<ref name="IMDb">[http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000372/1993 Awards of the Japanese Academy, 1993]</ref>
Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa won Newcomer of the Year awards from the Japan Academy Prize for their portrayal of the [[Shobijin|Cosmos]] in the film. [[Akira Ifukube]] received a nomination for Best Music, and [[Takehiro Murata]] earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as [[Kenji Ando]] in ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' and two other roles in  ''Okoge'' and ''Minbô no onna''.<ref name="IMDb">[http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000372/1993 Awards of the Japanese Academy, 1993]</ref>
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
|-
Line 136: Line 204:
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col"| Result
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="1"| 38th Asia Pacific Film Festival<ref name="Mysterians DVD">[https://www.amazon.com/Mysterians-Kenji-Sahara/dp/B00068NWJW ''The Mysterians'' DVD] audio commentary</ref>
| Best Special Effects
| Koichi Kawakita
| {{Award|Won}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2nd Tokyo Sports Film Awards<ref name="Tokyo Sports Film Awards">(http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/tospo_movie/ 東スポ映画大賞とは?)</ref>
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2nd Tokyo Sports Film Awards<ref name="Tokyo Sports Film Awards">(http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/tospo_movie/ 東スポ映画大賞とは?)</ref>
| Best Actor
| Best Actor
| Godzilla
| Godzilla
| Won
| {{Award|Won}}
|-
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| Best Supporting Actor
| Mothra
| Mothra
| Won
| {{Award|Won}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 16th Japan Academy Awards<ref name="Japanese Academy Film Prize">(http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=16 16th Japanese Academy Film Prize)</ref>
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 16th Japan Academy Awards<ref name="Japanese Academy Film Prize">(http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=16 16th Japanese Academy Film Prize)</ref>
| Best Supporting Actor
| Best Supporting Actor
| Takehiro Murata
| Takehiro Murata
| Nominated
| {{Award|Nominated}}
|-
|-
| Best Music
| Best Music
| Akira Ifukube
| Akira Ifukube
| Nominated
| {{Award|Nominated}}
|-
|-
| Newcomer of the Year
| Newcomer of the Year
| Keiko Imamura & Sayaka Osawa
| Keiko Imamura & Sayaka Osawa
| Won
| {{Award|Won}}
|}
|}
 
==Video releases==
==Video Releases==
'''Universe Laser & Video''' DVD (Year Unknown)
'''Universe Laser & Video''' DVD (Year Unknown)
*Region: 3
*'''Region:''' 3
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono), Cantonese (2.0 Mono)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Mono), Cantonese (2.0 Mono)
*Special Features: Trailer for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2]]''
*'''Special features:''' Trailer for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]''
*Notes: Includes traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Out of print.
*'''Notes:''' Includes traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Out of print.
'''[[TriStar Pictures|TriStar]]''' DVD (1998)<ref name="">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767825489 Amazon.com: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1975)]</ref>
'''[[TriStar Pictures|TriStar]]''' DVD (1998)
*Region: 1
*'''Region:''' 1
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: English (2.0 Stereo)
*'''Audio:''' English (2.0 Stereo)
*Special Features: Trailers for ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' and ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''
*'''Special features:''' Trailers for ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' and ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''
*Notes: Cropped to 1.33:1. Packaged with ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' (same disc). Also included in ''The Toho Godzilla Collection - Volume 1''.
*'''Notes:''' Cropped to 1.33:1. Packaged with ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' (same disc). Also included in ''The Toho Godzilla Collection Volume 1''. Out of print.
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2002)
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2002)
*Region: 2
*'''Region:''' 2
*Language: Japanese
*Language: Japanese
'''Madman''' DVD (2006)
'''Madman''' DVD (2006)
*Region: 4
*'''Region:''' 4
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround), English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround), English (2.0 Mono)
*Special Features: Three teaser trailers for ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''; trailers for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2]]'', ''[[Godzilla vs. Hedorah]]'', and ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]''; photo galleries
*'''Special features:''' Three teaser trailers for ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''; trailers for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', ''[[Godzilla vs. Hedorah]]'', and ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]''; photo galleries
'''[[Toho]]''' Blu-ray (2009)
'''[[Toho]]''' Blu-ray (2009)
*Region: A/1
*'''Region:''' A/1
*Audio: Japanese
*'''Audio:''' Japanese
'''[[Sony]]''' Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Sony">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00IQAUO2A Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1992) - Set (Blu-ray)]</ref>
'''[[Sony]]''' Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Sony">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00IQAUO2A Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1992) - Set (Blu-ray)]</ref>
*Region: A/1
*'''Region:''' A/1
*Discs: 2
*'''Discs:''' 2
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Stereo) and English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Stereo) and English (2.0 Mono)
*Special Features: 4 ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' trailers and 5 ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' trailers
*'''Special features:''' 4 ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' trailers and 5 ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' trailers
*Notes: Packaged with ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''.
*'''Notes:''' Packaged with ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah''. Some of the subtitles correspond to the script of the English dub. Out of print.


==Manga adaptations==
{{main|Godzilla vs. Mothra (Kodansha manga)|Godzilla vs. Mothra (Shogakukan manga)}}
''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' received two separate manga adaptations: [[Godzilla vs. Mothra (Kodansha manga)|one]] published by [[Kodansha]], and the [[Godzilla vs. Mothra (Shogakukan manga)|other]] by [[Shogakukan]]. Each adaptation diverges from the film in different ways.
==Videos==
==Videos==
===Trailers===
===Trailers===
{{Videos|
{{Videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">zO77AVDIyfA</youtube>|Japanese ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">SHvrEdqYXHg</youtube>|Japanese trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">RpXEtV0xJQs</youtube>|Japanese ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' trailers}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">HbmKhlVNaa4</youtube>|Japanese teaser #1}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">96lFD2tFURk</youtube>|Japanese "Newflash/Special Announcement" trailer #3}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">dqisAjyowAE</youtube>|Japanese teaser #2}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">LnAIAxpvYW4</youtube>|Japanese "Newflash/Special Announcement" trailer #4}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">-w9HTYs-CL8</youtube>|Japanese teaser #3}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">7ATSgNoSNsM</youtube>|Manga Live promo for their ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' VHS}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">96lFD2tFURk</youtube>|Japanese teaser #4}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">_uY_dAG5oyI</youtube>|Brazilian ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">LnAIAxpvYW4</youtube>|Japanese teaser #5}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">spSkrsBPCjE</youtube>|Japanese TV spot}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">7AXq6t8hBYc</youtube>|U.S. Starz promo}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">x6fhgdl</dailymotion>|British Manga Live Video trailer}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">x6fhgmq</dailymotion>|German video trailer}}
}}
}}


===Credits===
===Credits===
{{Videos|
{{Videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">F8jbFoyou70</youtube>|English export credits}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">x6fh53w</dailymotion>|English export opening credits}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">F8jbFoyou70</youtube>|English export ending credits}}
}}
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*There were two suits used in this film. The first was a new suit called the [[BatoGoji]], and the second suit used for the film was the [[BioGoji]] which was used in ''[[Godzilla vs. Biollante]]'' and ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]''. This suit was actually stolen from Toho Studios and remained missing for several weeks. Ultimately, an old woman discovered the suit near Tokyo Bay in a sorry state. It was returned to Toho and repaired in time to be used in both the underwater fight sequence with the larval [[Battra]], and for Godzilla's rise from the erupting [[Mount Fuji]]. This was the suit's last film appearance before a well-earned retirement.
*After seeing a teaser for this film at the end of ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'', [[Shusuke Kaneko]] sent producer [[Shogo Tomiyama]] a New Years card in which he asked to direct it.<ref name="Homenick Kaneko">{{cite web|url=https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2018/06/13/on-directing-godzilla-and-gamera-shusuke-kaneko-on-filmmaking-the-kaiju-way/|title=ON DIRECTING GODZILLA AND GAMERA! Shusuke Kaneko on Filmmaking the Kaiju Way!|author=Homenick, Brett|date=18 June 2018|work=Vantage Point Interviews}}</ref> Tomiyama informed him that [[Takao Okawara]] had already been named as the director, but Kaneko's interest in directing a kaiju film led [[Daiei]] to approach him about rebooting [[Gamera]], leading to the Heisei ''Gamera'' trilogy (1995-1999). He finally got his wish to direct a ''Godzilla'' film with ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]'' (2001).
*Scenes from ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' (1961) are echoed throughout ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''. In both films, Mothra survives a [[JSDF]] napalm attack at sea, attacks Tokyo as she attempts to recover her kidnapped priestesses, builds a cocoon on top of a Tokyo landmark, and reunites with them at an airport in the final scene. Producer [[Shogo Tomiyama]] also attempted to find a part for Frankie Sakai, who played Senichiro Fukuda in ''Mothra'', but the actor's schedule prevented it.<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series |author=David Kalat |date=1997 |publisher=McFarland |page=199}}</ref>
*There were two [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]] suits used in this film. The first was a new suit called the [[BatoGoji]], and the second suit used for the film was the [[BioGoji]] which was used in ''[[Godzilla vs. Biollante]]'' and ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]''. This suit was actually stolen from Toho Studios and remained missing for several weeks. Ultimately, an old woman discovered the suit near Tokyo Bay in a sorry state. It was returned to Toho and repaired in time to be used in both the underwater fight sequence with the larval [[Battra]], and for Godzilla's rise from the erupting [[Mount Fuji]]. This was the suit's last film appearance before a well-earned retirement.
*Scenes from the 1961 film ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' are echoed throughout ''Godzilla vs. Mothra''. In both films, [[Mothra]] survives a [[JSDF]] napalm attack at sea, attacks [[Tokyo]] as she attempts to recover her kidnapped [[Shobijin|priestesses]], builds a cocoon on top of a Tokyo landmark, and reunites with the Shobijin at an airport in the final scene. Producer [[Shogo Tomiyama]] also attempted to find a part for [[Frankie Sakai]], who played Senichiro Fukuda in ''Mothra'', but the actor's schedule prevented it.<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series |author=David Kalat |date=1997 |publisher=McFarland |page=199}}</ref>
*This film marks the first appearance of two [[Maser Cannon]] variants, the aerial [[ASTOL-MB93]] and the double-barreled [[MBAW-93]]. The ASTOL-MB93 has yet to appear in another film, while the MBAW-93 returned for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', ''[[Godzilla vs. Destoroyah]]'', the first episode of ''[[The Gransazers]]'', and the short film ''[[Dream Challenge: Godzilla Appears in Sukagawa]]''.
*A building bearing Marutomo's logo briefly appears in the third episode of ''[[Godzilla Singular Point]]'', "[[Tigerish]]".
*The scene where the [[Cosmos]] show Takuya, Masako, and Ando a cave painting of [[Mothra]] fighting [[Battra]] and explain their history is echoed in ''[[Godzilla Final Wars]]'', with [[Gigan]] replacing Battra.


==External Links==
==External links==
*[http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Godzilla_and_Mothra:_The_Battle_for_Earth List of firearms used in the movie]
*[http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Godzilla_and_Mothra:_The_Battle_for_Earth List of firearms used in the movie]
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Kaiju Movies}}
{{Godzilla vs. Mothra}}
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=Godzilla}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|TOH|HEI|FIL|GOD|MOT|BAT}}
{{Era|TOH|HEI|FIL|GOD|MOT|BAT}}
<seo metakeywords="godzilla vs mothra, godzilla and mothra the battle for earth, godzilla and mothra, the battle for earth, godzilla vs mothra 1992, mothra vs godzilla 1992, mothra vs godzilla, mothra, godzilla, heisei, vs series, gojira vs mosura, battra, godzilla vs mothra wiki, godzilla vs mothra wikizilla, godzilla and mothra the battle for earth wiki, godzilla and mothra the battle for earth wikizilla, godzilla vs mothra film"/>
[[de:Godzilla – Kampf der Sauriermutanten]]
[[de:Godzilla – Kampf der Sauriermutanten]]
[[es:Godzilla vs. Mothra]]
[[es:Godzilla vs. Mothra]]

Latest revision as of 15:39, 26 January 2024

Article.png
Image gallery for Godzilla vs. Mothra
Credits for Godzilla vs. Mothra
Godzilla vs. Mothra soundtrack


Godzilla films
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Mothra Films
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Rebirth of Mothra
Godzilla vs. Mothra
The Japanese poster for Godzilla vs. Mothra
Alternate titles
Flagicon United States.png Godzilla and Mothra:
The Battle for Earth
(VHS 1998)
See alternate titles
Directed by Takao Okawara
Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, Shogo Tomiyama
Written by Kazuki Omori
Music by Akira Ifukube
Special
effects by
Koichi Kawakita
Distributor TohoJP, TriStar PicturesUS
Rating PGUK
Box office ¥2.22 billion[1]
Running time 102 minutesJP
(1 hour, 42 minutes)
100 minutesUS
(1 hour, 40 minutes)
Aspect ratio 1.85:1
Rate this film!
3.41
(75 votes)

Do not confuse with Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), which has been previously released on home video in North America under the English title "Godzilla vs. Mothra."
A richly-colored battle! (極彩色の大決戦!)
Earth S.O.S.! The battle over the future of the human race begins.
(地球SOS!人類の未来をかけた戦いが始まる。)
„ 

— Japanese tagline

Terrifying! Cataclysmic! Mind-boggling!
Once again Godzilla and Mothra shake the earth!
„ 

— International taglines

Get ready to rumble!
„ 

— North American VHS tagline

Godzilla vs. Mothra (ゴジラVSモスラ,   Gojira tai Mosura) is a 1992 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori, with special effects by Koichi Kawakita. Produced by Toho Pictures, it is the 19th installment in the Godzilla series as well as the fourth in the Heisei series. It stars Tetsuya Bessho, Satomi Kobayashi, Takehiro Murata, Megumi Odaka, Shiori Yonezawa, Akiji Kobayashi, Keiko Imamura, and Sayaka Osawa. The film was released to Japanese theaters by Toho on December 12, 1992.[2] Columbia TriStar Home Video released an English-dubbed version of the film under the title Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth on VHS in the United States on April 28, 1998.

Following the box office success of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Godzilla vs. Mothra brings back Toho's most popular kaiju after Godzilla himself: the giant moth goddess Mothra. After a meteorite impacts the Earth, both Godzilla and an ancient evil known as Battra are reawakened. Miniature twin fairies called the Cosmos appear to warn humanity of the danger posed by Battra, and allow the egg of their deity Mothra to be transported to Japan. En route, the transport is attacked by Godzilla, forcing Mothra to hatch and fend for herself. When Battra arrives, it becomes a three-way battle between the monsters, each intent on destroying the others. This culminates in a final showdown in Yokohama between Godzilla and the imago stages of both Mothra and Battra, who find that they must work together in order to overcome their common foe. Godzilla vs. Mothra was followed by Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II in 1993.

Plot

In 1993, a huge meteor strikes the Earth near the Ogasawara Trench, awakening Godzilla, who was hibernating there. The impact triggers a series of earthquakes and typhoons across the Pacific Ocean, unearthing a gigantic egg on an Indonesian island. Meanwhile, thief and ex-archaeologist Takuya Fujito explores an ancient temple in Thailand, searching for a valuable artifact. Takuya finds the artifact, but triggers the temple to begin collapsing. Takuya barely escapes with his life, but is immediately apprehended by Thai authorities. Takuya is visited in prison by Japanese government secretary Ruzo Dobashi, Marutomo Company employee Kenji Ando, and his ex-wife Masako Tezuka. They inform him that the Marutomo Company is developing an island in Indonesia, with the backing of the Japanese government. Recent satellite scans of the island have revealed a bizarre huge object, which Ando and Masako are being sent to investigate. If Takuya assists them in the expedition, he will be set free from prison. Takuya refuses at first, believing the Japanese consulate will set him free anyway, but quickly changes his mind after learning he may be held in prison for up to 15 years. In Japan, Dobashi informs Environmental Planning Bureau Chief Joji Minamino of the expedition, but Minamino is more concerned about the natural disasters the meteor has been triggering. Minamino and Dobashi meet with Miki Saegusa, who informs them that Godzilla has been roused from his hibernation in the Ogasawara Trench by the meteor, and is at large once again.

After departing from Bangkok via a boat, Takuya, Masako, and Ando arrive at the Indonesian island, known as Infant Island. The three come ashore on the island, which is covered in dense jungles and seemingly uninhabited. As they explore, they come upon a section of the island that has been cleared by the Marutomo Company, leading them to remark that man is destroying what nature has taken thousands of years to build. After further exploring, the three come upon a rickety bridge spanning a river. Takuya insists they can all safely make it across, but as they cross the bridge snaps and leaves the three dangling over the river. At Takuya's insistence, they all jump into the river below one-by-one. Takuya then consults the map of the island, and realizes they will reach their destination faster by traveling upriver. After canoeing up the river for several hours, the three set up camp for the night. As they sit by the fire, Masako gives Takuya a letter written to him by their daughter, Midori. Midori is unaware that Takuya is a thief, as Masako doesn't want her to know. The next morning, Takuya finds a large cave near the camp, and wakes both Masako and Ando so they can investigate. Inside the cave, they see several ancient paintings, one of which depicts two huge moths locked in battle. As the sun passes overhead, it shines through a hole in the wall and casts light on a path outside the cave. The three follow it, and come upon the colossal object, which they determine is an egg. As they ponder what could have laid such an egg, they hear two voices say the egg belongs to Mothra. Two miniature twin women emerge from behind a flower and introduce themselves as the Cosmos. They explain that 12,000 years ago, Mothra was the guardian of Earth, which was inhabited by an advanced human civilization. When scientists developed a climate-controlling device, this greatly offended the Earth, which created the Black Mothra: Battra. Battra not only destroyed the device, but declared war on all of humanity, believing it to be a threat to the Earth. Mothra battled Battra and defeated him, sealing him in the Arctic Ocean, then retreated to Infant Island to live with the Cosmos. The Cosmos express their fear that the recent meteor impact may have awakened Battra, who will no doubt resume his campaign against the human race. Ando contacts his employer, Takeshi Tomokane, and tells him about the egg. Currently experiencing difficulties with his company's developments at Mount Fuji, Tomokane believes the egg will make a fantastic tourist attraction for his company to exploit, so he sends ships to escort the egg back to Japan. The Cosmos allow the egg to be taken to Japan, believing it could be safer in a controlled environment there than exposed on the island.

While the egg is being transported, the larval form of Battra appears off the coast of Japan, rapidly approaching the mainland. The JSDF assaults the beast, but their weapons have no effect, and Battra comes ashore. Battra begins burrowing underground, then surfaces at Nagoya Castle. Battra begins terrorizing the city of Nagoya, blasting apart buildings with beams fired from his eyes and horn. Once Battra reaches Nagoya TV Tower, he is confronted by numerous tanks and MBT-MB92 Maser Cannons. They too fail to wound Battra, who topples the tower and returns to the ocean, heading toward the Philippines. As the Matrutomo convoy passes the coast of the Philippines, the captain detects a large object approaching their ship. The water begins to boil, and a blue beam shoots into the sky. Godzilla surfaces and begins to approach Mothra's egg. Hoping to save the ship, Takuya attempts to detach the raft carrying the egg from the ship, but Ando attacks him, saying he has to ensure the egg reaches Japan. Takyuya is able to knock Ando down, then pulls the switch to detach the raft. The egg begins to crack, and Mothra hatches from it. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Mothra, who jumps into the water and hides behind the raft. Mothra swims behind Godzilla and bites down on his tail, but Godzilla flings her away. As Mothra and Godzilla battle, Battra approaches the area. Battra knocks Mothra out of his way, then attacks Godzilla. The two monsters sink to the ocean floor as they fight, while Mothra swims back to Infant Island. As Godzilla and Battra struggle on the ocean floor, the fault between the Philippine and Eurasian plates splits open, expelling magma into the water. Godzilla and Battra are pulled into the fissure, and immediately vanish from all radar. With Godzilla and Battra presumed dead, Masako and Takuya stay at a hotel in Manila, with the Cosmos staying with them. At the hotel bar, Takuya and Masako reminisce about their honeymoon in Cairo, and remember the feelings they once had for each other. The next morning, they find that the Cosmos have disappeared from their room, having been kidnapped by Ando and brought to Tomokane in Tokyo. Tomokane congratulates Ando for his efforts, and declares that the Marutomo Company will use the Cosmos as their next major attraction. The Cosmos sing to Mothra to summon her to their rescue, and she promptly leaves Infant Island and begins swimming to Japan. As Mothra nears Japanese waters, Dobashi and Minamino give the order for the JSDF to try and stop her. The JSDF's weapons fail to halt Mothra's advance, and she nears Tokyo Bay. Masako and Miki Saegusa, accompanied by Midori, try to find the Cosmos in order to prevent Mothra from destroying Tokyo. Using her telepathy, Miki traces the Cosmos to a hotel in central Tokyo, where Takuya has brought them after stealing them from the Marutomo Company, intending to sell them. Masako confronts Takuya, saying she is ashamed of him. Midori implores her father to let the Cosmos go, saying she doesn't want to be a thief's daughter. Takuya lets the Cosmos go, and they stand in a window and communicate with Mothra, telling her they are safe and that she doesn't need to keep tearing apart the city. Mothra acknowledges them and begins crawling away, but the JSDF opens fire on her. This time, Mothra is injured, and begins weakly crawling to the National Diet Building. Mothra begins spraying silk around herself, building a huge cocoon on the Diet Building. As a crowd of spectators looks on, Miki remarks that she can sense Godzilla.

At that moment, Mount Fuji begins erupting violently, and Godzilla emerges from its crater, having swum through miles of molten magma. Godzilla walks down the slopes of the mountain, heading directly for Tokyo. The JSDF deploys a squadron of MBT-MB92s and new ASTOL-MB93 Maser attack aircraft to engage Godzilla, but he easily destroys them with his atomic breath. Meanwhile, Battra appears in the ocean, and transforms into his imago stage. With both Godzilla and Battra approaching the Tokyo area, Mothra emerges from her cocoon in her imago stage, then flies off to destroy Battra once and for all. Mothra flies over the Cosmo World theme park in Yokohama, and is attacked by Battra near the Yokohama Bay Bridge. Battra blasts Mothra's wings with his prism beams, and she crashes to the ground in the Minato Mirai 21 district. Before Battra can finish Mothra, Godzilla enters the area, intent on finishing his battle with Battra. Godzilla clashes with Battra, who topples the Yokohama Landmark Tower onto Godzilla. As Battra flies overhead, Godzilla breaks free and blasts him with his atomic breath, knocking him to the ground. Mothra sees Battra being beaten, then takes flight and lands near him and begins communicating with him. The two monsters put aside their differences, and decide to fight together against Godzilla. Godzilla roars and begins approaching, and Mothra attacks him. Mothra releases scales from her wings that create a 3-D mirror around Godzilla, deflecting his atomic breath. Mothra releases arc lightning from her wings that shocks Godzilla and begins subduing him. Godzilla retaliates with a nuclear pulse, which breaks the 3-D mirror and sends Mothra crashing into the Cosmo Clock 21. Before the huge Ferris wheel can fall and crush Mothra, Battra grabs it and throws it at Godzilla instead. Mothra and Battra then attack Godzilla at the same time, defeating him after Battra fires his prism beams into Mothra's 3-D mirror, striking Godzilla multiple times. Godzilla falls to the ground, and Mothra and Battra grab him to carry him away from Japan. Godzilla bites into Battra's neck, causing him to bleed profusely. As Mothra and Battra carry Godzilla over the open ocean, Godzilla fires his atomic breath into the wound on Battra's neck, killing him. Mothra is forced to release Godzilla, sending him along with Battra's lifeless body plummeting into the sea below. Mothra then places a seal over the ocean, honoring Battra's sacrifice.

The next day, Mothra sits at Haneda Airport, where the Cosmos thank the humans who helped them and bid them farewell. They explain that Battra was destined to destroy a meteor set to strike and destroy the Earth in 1999, and Mothra agreed to take his place in the event of his death. Mothra will fly into deep space and try to change the meteor's course herself. The Cosmos tell humanity to remember the sacrifice Mothra has made for them, then travel with Mothra into outer space.

Staff

Main article: Godzilla vs. Mothra/Credits.

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

Cast

Main article: Godzilla vs. Mothra/Credits.

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

  • Tetsuya Bessho   as   Takuya Fujito
  • Satomi Kobayashi   as   Masako Tezuka
  • Takehiro Murata   as   Kenji Ando, Marutomo Company President's Secretary
  • Megumi Odaka   as   Miki Saegusa
  • Shiori Yonezawa   as   Midori Tezuka
  • Akiji Kobayashi   as   Ryuzo Dobashi, Cabinet Security Director
  • Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa   as   Cosmos
  • Yoshiko Tanaka   as   Mayumi Fukazawa
  • Makoto Otake   as   Takeshi Tomokane, President of the Marutomo Company
  • Koichi Ueda   as   Minoru Ōmae, Marutomo Company Managing Director
  • Saburo Shinoda   as   Professor Shigeki Fukazawa, Tohto University Geology Professor
  • Akira Takarada   as   Joji Minamino, Chief of the Environmental Planning Board
  • Susumu Kurobe   as   Fuyuki Takaoka, Air SDF Chief of Staff
  • Kenzo Hagiwara   as   Takeo Shimura, Ground SDF Chief of Staff
  • Shin Tatsuma   as   Daisuke Hirata, Maritime SDF Chief of Staff
  • Tetsu Watanabe   as   Tank Corps Captain
  • James Nugent   as   Dixon, Institute for Cloning Biology representative
  • Masahiro Matsudo   as   Mount Fuji volcano observer
  • Jun Ortiz   as   NASA staff
  • Joshua Lieberman   as   NASA staff
  • Colby Diddle   as   NASA staff
  • Jamie Cotton   as   NASA staff
  • Robert Sercher   as   NASA staff
  • Shinya Oowada   as   Captain
  • Toshiyuki Honda   as   Japan Ground Self Defense Force Senior Tank Officer (uncredited)
  • Kenpachiro Satsuma   as   Godzilla
  • "Hurricane" Ryu Hariken   as   Battra (larva)

English dub

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

  • Jack Murphy   as   Takuya Fujito
  • Sue Brooks   as   Masako Tezuka
  • Simon Broad   as   Kenji Ando / Minoru Omae
  • Sarah Hauser   as   Cosmos
  • Warwick Evans   as   Professor Shigeki Fukazawa
  • Pierre Tremblay   as   Jyoji Minamino
  • Rik Thomas   as   Takeshi Tomokane / Captain

Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, vehicles, and races

Gallery

Main article: Godzilla vs. Mothra/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Godzilla vs. Mothra/Soundtrack.

Alternate titles

  • Butterfly Dragon Mothra (蝶龍魔斯拉, Dié lóng mósīlā; Taiwan)
  • Godzilla's Dragon War of the Four Seas (哥斯拉之龍戰四海, Go1si1laai1 zi1 lung4zin3 sei3hoi2; Hong Kong)
  • Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (United States)
  • Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth (Australia)
  • Godzilla vs. Super Mothra (India)
  • Godzilla: Battle of the Saurian Mutants (Godzilla – Kampf der Saurier-Mutanten; Germany)
  • Godzilla: The Mutant Dinosaur (Godzilla: El dinosaurio mutante; Argentina)
  • Godzilla and Mothra (Godzilla e Mothra; Portugal)
  • Godzilla Versus Mothra (Brazil)
  • Godzilla - The Battle of the Century (Godzilla - A Batalha do Século; Brazilian video title)
  • Godzilla Against Mothra (Godzilla contra Mothra; Spain; Godzilla contro Mothra; Italy; Godzilla kontra Mothra; Poland)
  • Godzilla Meets Mothra (Godzilla möter Mothra; Sweden)
  • Return of the Dinosaur (Возвращение динозавра; Russia)

Theatrical releases

View all posters for the film here.

  • Japan - December 12, 1992[2]  [view poster]Japanese poster
  • Thailand - 1994  [view poster]Thai poster
  • India - March 31, 1995

Foreign releases

U.S. release

U.S. Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth VHS cover

Godzilla vs. Mothra was released directly to VHS in the United States by TriStar Pictures in April of 1998, alongside Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. TriStar released the film under the title Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth in order to avoid confusion with Mothra vs. Godzilla, which was known as Godzilla vs. Mothra in the U.S. at the time. TriStar used Toho's international English dub of the film, but not the international title card, instead using the Japanese title card with "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" in parentheses at the bottom of the screen. TriStar later released the film on DVD in November 1998 on the same disc as Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. In 2014, Sony released the film on Blu-ray with its original Japanese audio track in a two-disc set with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Despite being given a new title for its North American home video releases, the film typically appeared under its international title in television listings and streaming services, and was even referred to by this title on Sony's official website. This resulted in some confusion, with cover art created by Peter Bollinger for Simitar Entertainment's 1998 VHS and DVD releases of Mothra vs. Godzilla being erroneously used to represent Godzilla vs. Mothra on streaming services and websites.

In 2013, SciFi Japan co-founder Keith Aiken disclosed that Sony's rights to Godzilla vs. Mothra would be up for renewal in 2019.[3] Sony evidently let their home video rights to the film lapse, and it is no longer available for digital rental or purchase on any platform. However, it became available on the streaming service Pluto TV through Sony Pictures Television in 2023.

United Kingdom release

UK Godzilla vs. Mothra VHS cover

Manga Entertainment released a letterboxed presentation of Godzilla vs. Mothra on VHS in July, 1995 under their Manga Live sublabel, using Toho's existing export dub and visuals, though as with their previous release of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, the opening Toho logo and production credit were again excised. The company reissued the film along with its predecessor with different packaging in 1998 to capitalize on TriStar Pictures' release of GODZILLA.

Box office

Godzilla vs. Mothra sold 4.2 million tickets in Japan, the highest tally of the Heisei Godzilla series and best result for a Godzilla film since Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster in 1964. It was the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1993, earning ¥2.22 billion.[1] It is the second-highest grossing Toho Godzilla film in Japan, surpassed only by Shin Godzilla.

Reception

Although viewers appreciate some of the features of the film, such as the ethereal cinematography, the unusual final battle scene set in an amusement park, and the typically beautiful score by Akira Ifukube, some critics charge that the film is burdened by a confluence of over-the-top themes and moments. For example, there is a blatant Indiana Jones influence in a beginning scene, when Takuya escapes from a crumbling ancient temple. Another example is the heavy environmentalist message, with a character musing in almost every scene about the destructiveness caused by human misdeeds. Although there has always been some element of this in Godzilla films, since Godzilla was created by nuclear tests and in ways recalls the devastation caused by atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, critics argue that the topic is handled here too heavy-handedly.

Awards

Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa won Newcomer of the Year awards from the Japan Academy Prize for their portrayal of the Cosmos in the film. Akira Ifukube received a nomination for Best Music, and Takehiro Murata earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Kenji Ando in Godzilla vs. Mothra and two other roles in Okoge and Minbô no onna.[4]

Award Category Recipient(s) Result
38th Asia Pacific Film Festival[5] Best Special Effects Koichi Kawakita Won
2nd Tokyo Sports Film Awards[6] Best Actor Godzilla Won
Best Supporting Actor Mothra Won
16th Japan Academy Awards[7] Best Supporting Actor Takehiro Murata Nominated
Best Music Akira Ifukube Nominated
Newcomer of the Year Keiko Imamura & Sayaka Osawa Won

Video releases

Universe Laser & Video DVD (Year Unknown)

  • Region: 3
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono), Cantonese (2.0 Mono)
  • Special features: Trailer for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
  • Notes: Includes traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Out of print.

TriStar DVD (1998)

  • Region: 1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: English (2.0 Stereo)
  • Special features: Trailers for Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Godzilla vs. Mothra
  • Notes: Cropped to 1.33:1. Packaged with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (same disc). Also included in The Toho Godzilla Collection Volume 1. Out of print.

Toho DVD (2002)

  • Region: 2
  • Language: Japanese

Madman DVD (2006)

Toho Blu-ray (2009)

  • Region: A/1
  • Audio: Japanese

Sony Blu-ray (2014)[8]

  • Region: A/1
  • Discs: 2
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Stereo) and English (2.0 Mono)
  • Special features: 4 Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah trailers and 5 Godzilla vs. Mothra trailers
  • Notes: Packaged with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Some of the subtitles correspond to the script of the English dub. Out of print.

Manga adaptations

Main articles: Godzilla vs. Mothra (Kodansha manga), Godzilla vs. Mothra (Shogakukan manga).

Godzilla vs. Mothra received two separate manga adaptations: one published by Kodansha, and the other by Shogakukan. Each adaptation diverges from the film in different ways.

Videos

Trailers

Japanese trailer
Japanese teaser #1
Japanese teaser #2
Japanese teaser #3
Japanese teaser #4
Japanese teaser #5
Japanese TV spot
U.S. Starz promo
British Manga Live Video trailer
German video trailer

Credits

English export opening credits
English export ending credits

Trivia

External links

References

This is a list of references for Godzilla vs. Mothra. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Shimazaki, Jun; Nakamura, Tetsu (10 February 2012). Heisei Godzilla Perfection. ASCII MEDIA WORKS. p. 35. ISBN 978-4-04-886119-9.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 ゴジラVSモスラ|ゴジラ 東宝公式サイト (official Godzilla.jp page)
  3. Aiken, Keith (20 November 2013). "Re: Any News on Godzilla DVD Rereleases?". Monster Zero Forums.
  4. Awards of the Japanese Academy, 1993
  5. The Mysterians DVD audio commentary
  6. (http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/tospo_movie/ 東スポ映画大賞とは?)
  7. (http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=16 16th Japanese Academy Film Prize)
  8. Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1992) - Set (Blu-ray)
  9. Homenick, Brett (18 June 2018). "ON DIRECTING GODZILLA AND GAMERA! Shusuke Kaneko on Filmmaking the Kaiju Way!". Vantage Point Interviews.
  10. David Kalat (1997). A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series. McFarland. p. 199.

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