Toho Fazing Out Godzilla’s Nuclear References For US Marketing?

[Ben Shapiro]

While browsing Reddit I came across this clickbait-sounding story about how Toho was seemingly “distancing” Godzilla and his nuclear ties for the US marketing, which can be found here- https://www.reddit.com/r/Monsterverse/c ... ?context=3

It read as follows-

So during an interview between YouTuber Luminous and a NECA representative at this years Toy Fair, a seemingly innocent question popped up in which he asked what the "atomic power" Godzilla's official name would be, the answer we got was an interesting one, she went on to explain that Toho was very particular with the approval of naming their Godzilla variants and would not allow NECA to use any names that involve nuclear relations, keep in mind as she's explaining this, you can tell she's just as confused explaining it as we are hearing it.

This certainly seems to be the case too as their new Godzilla 1962's atomic breath accessory is now referred to as just a "heat ray" on the box.

Here is said video if you'd wish to check it out yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw1bte_uVBg

(Skip to 5:20)

Here’s another

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x2T_Ghjxrko

(Skip to 1:24) ​

Now this is just a theory, but do you think Toho's trying to faze out the character's in your face ties to nuclear abities and bombs as it brings the character into the worldwide market in this day and age where times have truly changed, and people are a lot more sensitive for lack of a better term?

At first, I thought this was pure nonsense, Godzilla couldn’t possibly be going PC! But after watching the videos provided, it does seem like Toho might actually be deciding to shy away from it for the mass market- which is utterly idiotic in my opinion, but I’m open to hear your thoughts. Is this a sound move in your opinion or do you find it ridiculous?

[UltramanGoji]

Good find.

Not sure on this myself. We'll have to see how it works with future products and even the movies themselves. I think trying to steer the character away from this is a pretty stupid move. The nuclear origin is directly tied to the character, you can't just up and remove that for fear of upsetting people. If that's the mentality, then you'd have to ban the original movie and any one since that directly ties the character with nuclear weapons.

[Ben Shapiro]

I could be reaching a tad here but it might be worth noting that the last three incarnations of Godzilla weren’t directly connected to the traditional nuclear bombings for their origins either.
G14 was an unaltered ancient animal, Shin fed on nuclear waste, and Anime was an avatar for the Earth.

[MaxRebo320]

I could be reaching a tad here but it might be worth noting that the last three incarnations of Godzilla weren’t directly connected to the traditional nuclear bombings for their origins either.
G14 was an unaltered ancient animal, Shin fed on nuclear waste, and Anime was an avatar for the Earth.

Neither was the original Godzilla ever explicitly stated to be mutated from nuclear testings, simply awakened.

Should they ever strip the character of his nuclear origins? Hell no. But in how many movies is it a serious plotpoint? And to be honest, our perception on nuclear warfare and the like is quite different from what it was in the 1950s. I feel the "brotherhood of man" aspect of many of the films resonates way more in this day and age (And probably forever) than their anti-nuclear messages.

[Mr_Goji_and_Watch]

To make matters worse, they're phasing in nationalism and hatred towards fans

[G2000]

I could be reaching a tad here but it might be worth noting that the last three incarnations of Godzilla weren’t directly connected to the traditional nuclear bombings for their origins either.
G14 was an unaltered ancient animal, Shin fed on nuclear waste, and Anime was an avatar for the Earth.

Even so Shin was definitely a nuclear allegory, albeit more in line with post Fukushima Japanese nuclear fears than Hiroshima. IIRC original plans for the planned 70's Gojira remake that eventually morphed into G84/Return of Godzilla had a planned nuclear waste origin in line with Three Mile Island/China Syndrome fears of the time before the early 80s brought nuclear war back into vogue. Maybe a future Godzilla film will feature an origin story tied in in with North Korean nuclear testing, I don't know.

On topic, I can sort of understand why they're doing it but I do disagree with it. Godzilla is almost inextricably linked with nuclear power; even the heroic Godzillas and Legendary's ancient beast source their powers from radioactivity and are linked to the atomic bomb in some form.

[BlankAccount]

Doubt it.

They removed nuclear bombs from Shin Godzilla's origin but still tied it down to nuclear waste.

[_JNavs_]

I think they should keep the nuclear aspect intact for all worldwide consumption. It'd give the entire world this concept of, if we don't stop going the way we're going, disaster WILL strike.

[Ivo-goji]

G14 heavily featured actual bombs in it's plot and Shin only revamped his origin to tie him more strongly to a recent nuclear disaster.

The anime doesn't have as much of a -nuclear- message as most Godzilla films, but all of its themes about nature, ecology, weapons, technology, and so on are familiar ground for the franchise, I don't think they should be taken as evidence that they're moving away from Godzilla's roots.

[LSD Jellyfish]

Makes sense, and doesn’t seem to be a big issue, at least for me.

On one hand, Godzilla origins, at least the 1954 one and a few subsequent films, directly and indirectly tie into nuclear testing, and nuclear bombs. And sure, maybe incarnations of Godzilla weren’t directly created by the atomic bomb, but they certainly tie into the imagery and destruction caused by them. There’s no denying that.

I have a feeling this might be for one simple reason, that Godzilla has transcended his original allegory. By keeping Godzilla a nuclear monster, there’s less versatility you can use with the monster.

Anime Gojira, barely had anything to due with radiation, and was a strange plant electricity hybrid. The atomic bomb was used as a direct image to represent a broader scope of scientific weapons and the pursuit of power leading to the downfall of intelligent races, but Anime Gojira had no direct connection.

Next, and most importantly is Shin, which is where it gets dicey. Sure, Shin wasn’t created by the atomic bomb, but it was certainly in film a representation of the tsunami/earthquake, and the Fukishima disaster that followed. Shin explicitly let’s off radiation throughout the film in its wake, and its final form and abilities represents nuclear power and bombs.

If I had to guess, Toho probably felt that moving forward it would be better to not strictly limit Godzilla to the nuclear side of things, and at the same time, it would be insesnsitive for the American Godzilla, who quite frankly isn’t a symbol for anything really, to be nuclear powered


Also, hate to say this, but maybe they’re trying to kid friendly the toys, and having atomic power, whichbhas more implications and difficult to understand, might just be more difficult compared to heat Ray.

Edit: upon re-reading this, it’s clear they just said NECA couldn’t do this. I don’t see how that’s Toho saying no more nuclear Gojira. They don’t want a third party to accidentally misuse a sensitive word in a toy product made for children. Makes sense IMO.

[Gojirawars 03]

This is like trying to remove dead parents from any Batman media. It's a foundational part of the character. Tragic as it may be, it's necessary to have that tragedy shape the character in the future.

[LSD Jellyfish]

To be honest I think people are blowing this out of proportion now. It only states that they don’t want NECA, a third party, to have a toy with the word atomic on it.

[Godzillian]

Jesus, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

[GoWhaleTours]

Makes sense, and doesn’t seem to be a big issue, at least for me.

On one hand, Godzilla origins, at least the 1954 one and a few subsequent films, directly and indirectly tie into nuclear testing, and nuclear bombs. And sure, maybe incarnations of Godzilla weren’t directly created by the atomic bomb, but they certainly tie into the imagery and destruction caused by them. There’s no denying that.

I have a feeling this might be for one simple reason, that Godzilla has transcended his original allegory. By keeping Godzilla a nuclear monster, there’s less versatility you can use with the monster.

Anime Gojira, barely had anything to due with radiation, and was a strange plant electricity hybrid. The atomic bomb was used as a direct image to represent a broader scope of scientific weapons and the pursuit of power leading to the downfall of intelligent races, but Anime Gojira had no direct connection.

Next, and most importantly is Shin, which is where it gets dicey. Sure, Shin wasn’t created by the atomic bomb, but it was certainly in film a representation of the tsunami/earthquake, and the Fukishima disaster that followed. Shin explicitly let’s off radiation throughout the film in its wake, and its final form and abilities represents nuclear power and bombs.

If I had to guess, Toho probably felt that moving forward it would be better to not strictly limit Godzilla to the nuclear side of things, and at the same time, it would be insesnsitive for the American Godzilla, who quite frankly isn’t a symbol for anything really, to be nuclear powered


Also, hate to say this, but maybe they’re trying to kid friendly the toys, and having atomic power, whichbhas more implications and difficult to understand, might just be more difficult compared to heat Ray.

Edit: upon re-reading this, it’s clear they just said NECA couldn’t do this. I don’t see how that’s Toho saying no more nuclear Gojira. They don’t want a third party to accidentally misuse a sensitive word in a toy product made for children. Makes sense IMO.

Neca figures aren’t made for children though.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

It's probably not going to be a big deal, I mean, the anime specifically calls Godzilla's beam "atomic breath".

[Ivo-goji]

Waitaminit, since when is Ben Shapiro a Toho Kingdom user?

[Ben Shapiro]

Waitaminit, since when is Ben Shapiro a Toho Kingdom user?

I like to believe I’ve always been here in spirit.

[tbeasley]

Ah yes Ben Shapiro

[Ben Shapiro]

Ah yes Ben Shapiro
https://www.sbs.com.au/movies/sites/sbs ... 1480309454

Haha, only to the leftists maybe.

On the topic of this thread, I find it odd this policy only seems to apply to marketing.

[Spuro]

Who the fuck is Ben Shapiro?