From November 2nd to 4th, 2024, Los Angeles hosted a series of events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Godzilla franchise. The main events were in Little Tokyo on November 2nd and at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 3rd, which was the date the first Godzilla movie appeared in theaters 70 years ago.

In preparation for the celebrations, the Little Tokyo Metro train station and the metro trains themselves were redecorated with Godzilla themed displays. Additionally, Anime Jungle, the local store in the area, set up a temporary Godzilla shop reminiscent of those found in Japan, offering a variety of exclusive merchandise from November 2nd to 17th. On November 2nd and 4th, the Japan Foundation of Los Angeles hosted two insightful panels led by Godzilla historians Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski. The panel on November 2nd focused on the evolving thematic elements of the Godzilla franchise, while the session on November 4th delved into the special effects that have defined the series over the years.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Events

There were two main events at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 3rd. The first one was a marathon of five Godzilla films the museum showed at the David Geffen Theater. Lasting from 11:00am to around 10:00pm the list of titles consisted of Godzilla (1954), Destroy All Monsters (1968), Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971), Shin Godzilla (2016), and Godzilla Minus One (2023).

The second major event was a hands-on workshop held at the Shirley Temple Education Studio. Called the Godzilla Workshop, it ran from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm and gave attendees the opportunity to create stop-motion films using Legos, Godzilla figurines, and large iPads for recording. The workshop was organized in timed sessions, allowing a limited number of people to enter the room at once and work at designated tables for up to 30 minutes. Once a participant finished and left, another person from the waiting line would step in.

Additionally, the workshop audience contributed to the creation of a Godzilla piñata, which was then smashed at the end of the workshop.

Props and Crowds

In the main lobby, the museum displayed items that the team from Godzilla Minus One had when they won the academy award for special effects earlier this year. This included a golden 2023 Godzilla figure.

Furthermore, the Godzilla suit that Krystopher Baioa created and wore in Little Tokyo on Saturday appeared at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for a meet and greet with the guests. This lasted from 11:30am to 3:30pm.

The number of guests varied throughout the day, but it was a good-sized crowd overall. Many of the attendees, particularly the children, came dressed in costumes, while others brought their Bandai toys, some even incorporating them into the Godzilla Workshop. The gift shop also featured a modest selection of Godzilla merchandise for sale.

LA and Godzilla at 70

The 70th anniversary celebrations of the Godzilla franchise in Los Angeles provided fans with a unique experience, from the vibrant decorations throughout Little Tokyo to the extensive programming at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Whether through merchandise, film screenings, or creative workshops, the 70th anniversary celebrations in Los Angeles successfully brought together a community of fans, old and new, to celebrate the enduring legacy of Godzilla in pop culture.