Godzilla's Counterattack

Unmade Film
Intended Release:
1992

Conceived by:

Minoru Yoshida

Godzilla's Counterattack


Japanese Title

ゴジラの逆襲
[Gojira no Gyakushu]

A group of terrorists manage to embed a complex device inside Godzilla. Chaos ensues when the terrorists activate the device, triggering an unstable nuclear reaction and causing the monster to go berserk. In order to quell Godzilla's rage, a team of scientists are shrunken down to microscopic size and infiltrate Godzilla's body. Despite Mechani-Kong intercepting the rampaging tyrant, time is of the essence as Godzilla's wrath threatens to destroy Japan.

Background - Concept Evolution

LOST PROJECT HISTORY

Very little information about this unmade movie is known, outside of it being proposed on November 15th, 1991 by Toho monster designer Minoru Yoshida for an intended release sometime in 1992. This was the second of three similar drafts to feature both micro-protagonists venturing into Godzilla, and the mechanical King Kong doppelganger Mechani-Kong originally from King Kong Escapes (1967). A spin on what Micro Super Battle: Godzilla vs. Gigamoth presented, Godzilla's Counterattack focused more on the human adventure inside Godzillla, branching from a completely different draft proposed around the same time in the form of Godzilla vs. Gigamoth, which focused more on the monsters and their battles - a path Toho would pursue instead.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of this story would be the introduction of the tentatively named "Red Godzilla", the unstable form of Godzilla produced by the forced nuclear reaction by terrorists. Sporting a glowing red chest and spewing gas from its body, this "Red Godzilla" concept would eventually be seen again in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) in the form of Burning Godzilla.


Monsters

Mechani-Kong
Mechani-Kong (1992)



Background and Trivia

  • The draft for this movie was created after Micro Super Battle: Godzilla vs. Gigamoth and before Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong (Micro Universe in Godzilla). This series of similar drafts would unfortunately lead to a dead end, as the idea of introducing an adventure inside Godzilla's body and the revival of Mechani-Kong would end up being shelved.
  • Unlike other drafts that had Godzilla venturing between the United States and Japan, this movie would have been set exclusively in Japan.
  • The Japanese title for this movie is exactly the same as the one for the 1955 film, Godzilla Raids Again. However, outside of featuring Godzilla, the two share no other known similarities.

Concept Evolution

Micro Super Battle: Godzilla vs. Gigamoth Concept Evolution Godzilla's Counterattack Concept Evolution Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong (Micro Universe in Godzilla)
Micro Super Battle: Godzilla vs. Gigamoth   Godzilla's Counterattack   Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong (Micro Universe in Godzilla)