With the latest addition of Godzilla vs. Kong, the American-made monster movies based off of the classic Japanese Toho Godzilla franchise move further and further into their own canon as American audiences become more exposed to these classic kaiju movies. However, the Japanese Godzilla movies have a good an almost 70-year headstart on the American movies so, needless to say, there are many differences between the two franchises beyond the fact that they're made in different countries.
From mystical, tiny women that worship Mothra to a wide array of monsters that most American audiences may not even know of, the differences between these Godzilla movies are wide and fantastical.
10 Focus On Aftermath of Atomic Bombs & Social Issues In Modern Japan
Known as the "Monsterverse," the recent American-made Godzilla films have focused heavily on the relationship between nature and humanity. This theme was taken to another level in Godzilla: King of the Monsters where eco-terrorists hoped to use the Titans to fix what humans had done to the environment.
Originally, Godzilla's presence in the first Japanese film was used as a metaphor for nuclear weapons. In the 2016 Japanese film Shin Godzilla, Godzilla became an allegory for Fukushima and the shortcomings of the government's rigid bureaucracy.
9 The American Editing Of Early Godzilla Movies Were Out Of Control
Specifically, with the first three movies (Godzilla, Godzilla Raids Again, and King Kong vs. Godzilla) the edits to the original Japanese films that were designed for American audiences created almost completely different films.
In regards to 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again, the American release in 1959 was renamed Gigantis, The Fire Monster where Godzilla and his opponent, Anguirus, had their species, origins, names, and sound effects greatly altered. Changing Godzilla’s name to “Gigantis” was a decision that the American film’s producer, Paul Schreibman, came to regret.
8 King Ghidorah Has More Incredible Abilities
While King Ghidorah was Godzilla’s greatest foe in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, that American version of the three-headed, golden space dragon’s abilities pale in comparison to the Ghidorah shown featured in the original Japanese movies.
American Ghidorah is extremely durable, can absorb energy, regenerate, project lightning from his wings, fly, and spits golden gravity beams from his mouths. The original Ghidorah can spit fireballs, create a protective barrier, teleport, has magnetic powers, can turn invisible, and can produce poisonous gas, though this ability was never shown.
7 The Twins Play A Bigger, More Musical Part In The Original Mothra’s Story
Godzilla: King of the Monsters was the first American-made Godzilla movie to feature Mothra and, thankfully, paid homage to her “shobijin" (or “small beauties"). The shobijin are traditionally ridiculously small twin priestesses who act as Mothra’s messengers.
Since the original shobijin were portrayed by The Peanuts, a singing duo, almost every iteration has them sing in order to summon Mothra. In King of the Monsters, Ziyi Zhang plays twin sisters Ilene and Ling Chen, whose family has a special connection with Mothra, though they do not sing.
6 Kong Lives On Faro Island, Not Skull Island
While "Skull Island" has become synonymous with King Kong, thanks in part to Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of King Kong, the 1962 Japanese film King Kong vs. Godzilla actually finds Kong in a place called Faro Island.
Two representatives from a Japanese pharmaceutical company are sent to Faro Island to find the island's monster (King Kong) so he can be used for publicity for the company. They win over the Faro people— unfortunately, played by Japanese actors in brownface— with cigarettes, and little else.
5 Godzilla Has A Son
Whereas the Monsterverse films state that Godzilla is the last of his kind, the Japanese films say otherwise. In 1967, a Godzilla sequel was made that showed the giant lizard teaching his young son how to be like him.
The film's Japanese title can be literally translated into "Monster Island's Decisive Battle: Godzilla's Son" though the American title is simply Son of Godzilla. Named Minilla (a portmanteau of "mini" and "Godzilla"), he has appeared in four different films, the latest being 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars.
4 Japan Has Significantly More Monsters
While the Monsterverse has a real rogues' gallery of Titans to pick from within the American franchise's four films, there is no comparison to the monster line-up within the Japanese movies.
Along with Mothra, Ghidorah, and Rodan, the Japanese films feature a bevy of monsters of all forms. There's Anguirus from Godzilla Raids Again, Gigan from Godzilla vs. Gigan, and King Ceasar from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, to name a few. As the Monsterverse grows, perhaps we will see more of Godzilla's canonical enemies and allies.
3 Godzilla Has More Powers As Well
Due to decades of Godzilla film canon, there have been movies where Godzilla has gained new and incredible powers and abilities that even go beyond what he could do in 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
From becoming Japan's own Master of Magnetism in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla to the awkward ability to fly in 1971's Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla's potential power know few bounds. However, it was the American films that suggested that the King of the Monsters' radioactivity is actually good for the planet.
2 Humanoid Aliens Are Common In The Japanese Films & They Sometimes Control The Monsters
King Ghidorah is discovered to be an invasive Titan from another planet in 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and this is the only reference to extraterrestrials in the Monsterverse (so far). However, alien monsters like King Ghidorah and Gigan and alien races are common throughout the original Japanese franchise.
The first were the Xillians who could psychically control Godzilla and Rodan. Even Mechagodzilla comes from the stars, where he was created and controlled by ape-like aliens known as The Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens.
1 Time Travel Is A Thing In A '90s Godzilla Movie
In 1991, the third film in the Heisei era of the Godzilla movies was released, titled Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. In this film, humans from the year 2204 (known as the Futurians) use time travel to stop Godzilla from ever being created, as he has gone on to destroy Japan by their time.
Along with Godzilla, the movie features King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah, and a creature known as "Godzillasaurus" which, despite the Futurians' best efforts, would eventually become Godzilla after being exposed to nuclear radiation.