Showa era: Difference between revisions

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==Films==<!-- King Kong vs. Godzilla is considered by some kaiju scholars to be a "soft-reboot" of the franchise (i.e., moving the series in a lighter fantasy-driven direction, all of Godzilla's designs lacking the prominent fangs and ears of the original two films, the removal of the fourth toe, etc). The seven theatrical films produced between 1962 and 1968 were shown with co-features in Toho owned theaters nationwide to a general audience. The Matsuri-era films have LONG been considered a separate series, even though they share the same continuity with their predecessors, taking place BEFORE the events shown in Destroy All Monsters, the original planned ending of the Godzilla series  -->
==Films==<!-- King Kong vs. Godzilla is considered by some kaiju scholars to be a "soft-reboot" of the franchise (i.e., moving the series in a lighter fantasy-driven direction, all of Godzilla's designs lacking the prominent fangs and ears of the original two films, the removal of the fourth toe, etc). The seven theatrical films produced between 1962 and 1968 were shown with co-features in Toho owned theaters nationwide to a general audience. The Matsuri-era films have LONG been considered a separate series, even though they share the same continuity with their predecessors, taking place BEFORE the events shown in Destroy All Monsters, the original planned ending of the Godzilla series  -->
===Godzilla Series===
===Godzilla Series===
While all (except ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'') sharing continuity with each other, the Showa era can be divided into three subsections. The ''Matsuri'' sub-era in particular cemented Godzilla's image as a heroic monster 'superhero', and comprises the films which take place chronologically after ''[[Son of Godzilla]]'' but before ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]''.
While all the Showa Godzilla films (except ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'') share continuity with each other, the Showa era can be divided into three subsections. The ''Matsuri'' sub-era in particular cemented Godzilla's image as a heroic monster 'superhero', and comprises the films which take place chronologically after ''[[Son of Godzilla]]'' but before ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]''.
====Original duology (1954-1955)====
====Original duology (1954-1955)====
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]''
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]''

Revision as of 20:43, 19 December 2016

Series
None
Showa
Heisei
Many of the Showa Godzilla monsters in Destroy All Monsters

The Showa series (昭和シリーズ,   Shōwa shirīzu), also known as Showa era and Showa period, is a term used to identify the years between 1926 and 1989 under the reign of Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

The first Godzilla film was to begin the Showa era of the Template:Kaiju industry, and is the usual Template:Kaiju to be affiliated with this era. During the beginning of this era, Godzilla was mainly antagonistic in nature, taking on the likes of Anguirus and Mothra. By the time of Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla adopted what would soon become his most famous image: a heroic monster, battling terrible villains with other monsters by his side.

The Showa era saw many other film studios such as Daei, Shochiku and Nikkatsu attempt to enter the new genres of Tokusatsu and Template:Kaiju films with their own creations, including Gamera, Daimajin, Guilala and Gappa.

After the formation of Tsuburaya Productions and the creation of their most famous series, the Ultraman franchise, Toho produced a significant number of tokusatsu television programs in the Showa era, one of which, Zone Fighter, even featured appearances by Godzilla and some of his other monster co-stars and is considered part of the official continuity of the Showa Godzilla films.

Films

Godzilla Series

While all the Showa Godzilla films (except All Monsters Attack) share continuity with each other, the Showa era can be divided into three subsections. The Matsuri sub-era in particular cemented Godzilla's image as a heroic monster 'superhero', and comprises the films which take place chronologically after Son of Godzilla but before Destroy All Monsters.

Original duology (1954-1955)

Revival (1962-1968)

Matsuri sub-era (1969-1975)

Gamera Series

Other Toho Films

Other Daiei Films

Other Films

Television

Monsters Introduced

Godzilla Series

Gamera Series

Other

Television

Also See

Trivia

  • This is the longest of the current four generations, lasting over 40 years.
  • Politically, The Return of Godzilla is a Showa film, as it was the last film to be made in the Showa era of Japan, with the Heisei era beginning on the 8th of January 1989.
  • Despite the fact that the Showa era of the Godzilla franchise concluded in 1975, several unmade films that were to be released during the latter years of the 1970's indicate that this hiatus may have been unintended, with each successive cancellation further increasing the length of the hiatus.
  • This era features the majority of appearances for several monsters. Rodan, for example, appears in four films (or around 10, including stock footage appearances) in the Showa era, whereas in the Heisei and Millennium eras, he only has one appearance in each.
  • With the exception of MechaGodzilla, none of the monsters and mechas introduced in the Godzilla series after Invasion of Astro-Monster made any appearances in the Heisei series. Ebirah, Minilla, Kamacuras, Kumonga, Hedorah, Gigan and King Caesar were all reintroduced in the final film of the Millennium series, Godzilla: Final Wars, leaving Gabara, Megalon, Jet Jaguar and Titanosaurus as the only characters to have not appeared in a film since their debut, with the exception of cameos, stock footage, and appearances in other media.
Era Icon - Showa.png