Atragon/Gotengo - why two names?

[Tyler]

The movie's called Atragon, but the ship is usually called Gotengo. I remember a line where the captain says, "This is Atragon, also called Go-ten-go." What's with that? What's the preferred nomenclature?

[therealmccoy]

I always wondered that myself. Maybe it's because the Japanese name "Atragon" isn't pronounced as "Atragon" in English, whereas "Go-ten-go" was the same in either language. Maybe it was just easier to call it Gotengo.

[nectarsis]

Atragon as the original, Go-ten-go as another version (class of ship vs. particular ship)?

[therealmccoy]

Atragon as the original, Go-ten-go as another version (class of ship vs. particular ship)?

Well, "Atragon" was the name given to a particular class submarine (I can't exactly remember what the model number was). "Gotengo" was tacked on later in the movie for some reason.

[TokyoVigilante]

I thought Atragon was just the AIP dub name for the Gotengo.

[Space Hunter M]

Of all the different machines to appear in the Toho films, the Gotengo has to have one of the most diverse and at times confusing selection of names. The original novel of Undersea Warship, written by Shunro Oshikawa (March 21, 1876 - November 16, 1914), in many ways foreshadowed the Russo-Japanese war but included the fictitious element of a drill-shaped submarine-like ship named the Denko-tei (Lightning Bolt). When Toho released their film Atragon in 1963, the name of the ship was changed to "Gotengo", meaning Roaring Heavens. However, Toho's international dub changed the name of the film and the ship to "Atoragon", a blending of the names atomic and dragon. When AIP acquired the license in 1965, they redubbed the English audio and shortened the name to simply "Atragon". Decades later, the Super-Famicom game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters featured the sub as a secret character, this time called the "Gouten". In 2004, for Godzilla's 50th Anniversary, the Gotengo would be redesigned as the original instrument of Godzilla's imprisonment. It was at this time that the ship went through a English name change, as Toho began to use Gotengo as its official English title. Oddly enough, for the video game Godzilla: Unleashed, the ship was again briefly referred to as the "Atoragon".

[Rody]

Pardon my head exploding...

[Goji]

I thought Atragon was just the AIP dub name for the Gotengo.

You're right, it was.

ATORAGON is the title of the international version. I'm guessing the back and fourth between "Atoragon"/Gotengo" has to do with MB's subs being a little off, but who knows. Honestly it's been quite a while since I've watched the film.

It is random how Toho went from using "Gotengo" in FINAL WARS, and then back to it's original English name of "Atorogon" in 2007 with G:U. Kind of reminds me how the dubbing scripts for the 70's films switch between "Angilas" and "Anguirus" (or I should say "Angweerus") a couple of times.

[Legionmaster]

It is random how Toho went from using "Gotengo" in FINAL WARS, and then back to it's original English name of "Atorogon" in 2007 with G:U.

I imagine that had more to do with Pipeworks than Toho.

[Goji]

^ But that must have been approved by Toho, I would imagine. I just find it odd that Pipeworks would go with the spelling of the international name of the Gotengo, which has never been seen on any of the versions of the film released here. It's a bit random.

[JVM]

On the topic of Gouten, wasn't there a ship in one of Toho's space films called that, that happened to look similar to Atoragon?

[Tyler]

On the topic of Gouten, wasn't there a ship in one of Toho's space films called that, that happened to look similar to Atoragon?

Yes, The War in Space (1977).

[James23873]

Wasn't there a scene in the english version where they were talking about a secret project called atragon, but no one knew what it was, only to be revealed as the Gotengo later? Haven't scene the movie in a long time.

[Goji]

^ Which English version? There are two English dubs.

[James23873]

^ Which English version? There are two English dubs.

Oh, I don't know. Well is there a scene like that in any of the two versions? I remember watching it a long time ago and getting the impression that the project name was atragon, while the machine itself was gotengo.

[Goji]

If it was on the DVD, it was the international dub. AIP originally released the film here in the states with dubbing by Titra sound (which unfortunately isn't available anywhere on home video).

[o.supreme]

Glad to see one of my little contributions to TK get some referrence (I wrote the "Whats in a name" entries for Gotengo & Goten). I originally had them all as one large entry but after several discussions with Arbok, he convinced me (which I appreciate now) why these should be 2 seperate entries. It can be quite puzzling, but researching the original Japanese names and source material did help. Most confusion comes from the english translation/renaming. If you can get past that, it makes much more sense.

[DaddlerTheDalek]

like Ghidra or Ghidorah

[Crimson_Raptor]

... When Toho released... Atragon in 1963, the name... was... "Gotengo"... When AIP acquired the license in 1965, they.... shortened the name to simply "Atragon". Decades later, the Super-Famicom game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters featured... a secret character... called... "Gouten". In 2004... the ship went through a English name change, as Toho began to use Gotengo as its official English title. ...the video game Godzilla: Unleashed, the ship was again briefly referred to as the "Atoragon".

Ah, but you forgot to mention the significance of the Original Video Animation of Super Atragon by Toho.

http://www.tohokingdom.com/anime/super_atragon.htm

How does this nomenclature fit into the history of Gotengo to Atragon and back again?

[o.supreme]

^ Actually I didn't forget it. I think when the article was submitted to TK staff however this portion was edited out because they were trying for a more character driven entry than name driven. Even though the drill ship in Super Atragon shares the same name and a smimiliar story, I guess they are not supposed ot be the same "character" (or vessel if upi will). Recall as I stated earlier, I wanted the entries for Gotengo & Goten to be one, but the site staff decided on making it two. I wish the Anime portion of my entry would have stayed in, but It is what it is. The name variation of all things concerning Gotengo has fasinated me for a lnog time, thus the need to try to make sense of it all, even still, with everything on the table, it is quite confusing.