Monster Discussion #49: MechaGodzilla (Heisei)

[Goji]

Well then I guess I missed the memo then huh? I didn't realize that was the "point" of them.

I don't scour deviant art (much less at all) for hours looking at Matt's old shit. His new stuff is so much better, it's not even funny.

[Tyler]

Well then I guess I missed the memo then huh? I didn't realize that was the "point" of them.

I don't scour deviant art (much less at all) for hours looking at Matt's old shit. His new stuff is so much better, it's not even funny.

Whoa, what's with the attitude. His SMG II is just a play on that super-fat Heisei style.

[JVM]

Well then I guess I missed the memo then huh? I didn't realize that was the "point" of them.

I don't scour deviant art (much less at all) for hours looking at Matt's old shit. His new stuff is so much better, it's not even funny.

Godzilla Neo is intended to be a look at Godzilla if it was an anime, bluntly put. It goes deeper than that but that's how I understand it, and in that way, I think it works fine,.

[skuzzy-punk-kid]

Is the Heisei MechaGodzilla officially named MechaGodzilla II? Can anybody provide links to official sources?

[Goji]

No. I explained this in detail, in the "Mechagodzilla 4" topic.

There is a giant red "2" on his arm in TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. He is Mechagodzilla 2.

Kiryu was the third Mechagodzilla design, so therefore he is technically "Mechagodzilla 3", if only for marketing reasons alone (Though as far as I know, Toho only used it once, in Godzilla:STE.) "Mechagodzilla 4" makes no sense considering the other MG's aren't even part of the same continuity, much like "MG II" makes no sense for the 90's MG. Derp.

If anything, the Heisei MG should simply be called the "U.N. MG", short for U.N.G.C.C.

-Mechagodzilla (1974)
-Mechagodzilla 2 (1975)

Pretty simple.

-Heisei MG (1993). Aka "Mechagodzilla II", which was the name used by Sony entertainment for marketing reasons (On the Rregion 1 DVD), and by Pipeworks in the Atari Godzilla games, to further confuse the masses. The problem with this name is that it implies that it's related to the previous MG, which isn't even in the same continuity. Why Toho ever approved the name is beyond me. Obviously somebody skreeonk up in the marketing department.

-Kiryu (2002/2003)-Aka "Mechagodzilla 3" in Godzilla:Save the Earth (PS2/Xbox). Changed back to "Kiryu" in Godzilla:Unleashed (Wii).

Some people don't seem to understand why Heisei MG is not actually MG II. It was simply a marketing name so that Sony's VHS release of the '93 film wouldn't be confused with the Anchor Bay release of the 1974 film, which was still available at the time.

The Heisei MG is the second incarnation of the character, but he's definitely not "Mechagodzilla II". He's called nothing of the sort in either the Japanese version or English dub of the film.

[skuzzy-punk-kid]

No. I explained this in detail, in the "Mechagodzilla 4" topic.

There is a giant red "2" on his arm in TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. He is Mechagodzilla 2.

Kiryu was the third Mechagodzilla design, so therefore he is technically "Mechagodzilla 3", if only for marketing reasons alone (Though as far as I know, Toho only used it once, in Godzilla:STE.) "Mechagodzilla 4" makes no sense considering the other MG's aren't even part of the same continuity, much like "MG II" makes no sense for the 90's MG. Derp.

If anything, the Heisei MG should simply be called the "U.N. MG", short for U.N.G.C.C.

-Mechagodzilla (1974)
-Mechagodzilla 2 (1975)

Pretty simple.

-Heisei MG (1993). Aka "Mechagodzilla II", which was the name used by Sony entertainment for marketing reasons (On the Rregion 1 DVD), and by Pipeworks in the Atari Godzilla games, to further confuse the masses. The problem with this name is that it implies that it's related to the previous MG, which isn't even in the same continuity. Why Toho ever approved the name is beyond me. Obviously somebody skreeonk up in the marketing department.

-Kiryu (2002/2003)-Aka "Mechagodzilla 3" in Godzilla:Save the Earth (PS2/Xbox). Changed back to "Kiryu" in Godzilla:Unleashed (Wii).

Some people don't seem to understand why Heisei MG is not actually MG II. It was simply a marketing name so that Sony's VHS release of the '93 film wouldn't be confused with the Anchor Bay release of the 1974 film, which was still available at the time.

The Heisei MG is the second incarnation of the character, but he's definitely not "Mechagodzilla II". He's called nothing of the sort in either the Japanese version or English dub of the film.

Ok, thanks for the head's up. Give me a minute to soak this info in.

[Goji]

I apologize, there was a lot of extra info that which wasn't related to your question, but I figured I'd leave it there for the sake of context.

Just remember that the "Mechagodzilla II" name is simply used for marketing. It's never referred to as "MG II" in the Japanese version, or the English dub. The film's Japanese title is GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA, as is the film's international title (And Sony has used the international titles for all of the films they've released, sans the 90's films, VS. MOTHRA and VS. MECHAGODZILLA).

In 1998, the 1964 film MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA was released on DVD and VHS by Simitar as "Godzilla vs. Mothra". To avoid confusion, Sony made up the "Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for Earth" title for home video so that consumers weren't confused, and would be led to believe that they were the same film.

The same applies to VS. MECHAGODZILLA. The 1974 film was released on VHS by Anchor Bay in '97, and was still available on the format by the time Sony released the '98 film later that year. Again, to avoid confusion, they changed the title to "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II". Why Toho approved it, is beyond me. It's not a direct sequel to the original film, and is misleading to consumers, and to fans as well, evidently.

[Llante]

Let's see, I liked the fight scenes a lot. Most of them with Mechagodzilla (Heisei) were pretty good. Like it was awesome when it beam clashed with Godzilla twice, one of them being with the powerful spiral ray. Another thing I liked about this incarnation of MechaG was that there was actually ingenuity behind the design, even more so than other mechs and super weapons. Its engineers gave it the ability to absorb 90% of Heisei attacks, making it a mech that could potentially defend against almost all kaiju, (Except EMP pulsers, but they could have just given it an upgrade.) and it had enormous amounts of firepower. It really did seem like something that might be able to save Japan from the monster menace which made its destruction all the more dispiriting. By giving it this amazing amount of power, it really came across as a Juggernaut, something important for the mechanical doppelganger.

Not only this, but it helped that Mechagodzilla was being directed by an experienced, competent, and generally likable cast of characters who actually came across as intelligent. How so? One, building a Mechagodzilla in the first place. Two, using the MKG remains to boost MechaG's technology was a good idea. Three, with each battle, learning from the past malfunctions and vulnerabilities. It was disappointing that Mechagodzilla got destroyed although I would rather have Godzilla live. A lot of hard work and prospects to make the world safer were set a blaze by the spiral ray.

Anyways, what I dislike about this Mechagodzilla is that there was no personality there, just a machine, but in the end, it ended up working quite well for the film. The characters and other kaiju allowed to be developed more and focused on, and Mechagodzilla came across more as a cold, emotionless killing machine and really a tool for the main characters. So I can accept that this Mechagodzilla didn't have as much emotion as either the original or most certainly Kiryu.

In the end, I found the Heisei Mechagodzilla to be a nice addition to the roster of kaiju and mechs.

[heiseisaegusa]

Far worse monsters?

[TyrantGojira]

The change from alien weapon to millitary defense unit was the best change for the character. But i find kiryu slightly better

[UltramanGoji]

I'm one of those kinds of people who like all the mechs. This guy included.