Gigan Attacks [Short]

HISTORY

This project follows Godzilla vs. Hedorah (2021 Short), both chronologically and as the next "Godzilla Day" short that Toho has created. The online video celebrates both the anniversary of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), the 50th anniversary of that movie.

As with the previous short, this project was directed by Kazuhiro Nakagawa, assistant director on Shin Godzilla (2016). It features Godzilla, using the same suit from Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) seen in the prior short, and Gigan, the latter with a completely new suit that mimics the Showa series design of the character. The new Gigan suit was created by Shinichi Wakasa, who has worked on suits and models for the Godzilla series since Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993).

The nine minute short film was live streamed as part of Godzilla Fest 2022 on November 3rd, 2022. Unlike Godzilla vs. Hedorah (2021 Short), which would eventually have the short taken down anyway, Toho did not upload an isolated on-demand version of Gigan Attacks afterwards.

Monsters

Toho Stock Footage

Background and Trivia

• The full title for the short was listed as Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks (フェス・ゴジラ3 ガイガン来襲). This is a reference to it being the third such short created for "Godzilla Day". The first of these was Godzilla: Godzilla Fest Appearance (2020) and the second was Godzilla vs. Hedorah (2021 Short). All three shorts were directed by Kazuhiro Nakagawa.
• While these shorts started as tongue in cheek, with Godzilla: Godzilla Fest Appearance (2020) ending with the suit actor getting out of the suit, these shorts have shifted to a narrative format. In fact, this short film starts with a news report covering the events of Godzilla vs. Hedorah (2021 Short). A different reporter also mentions Hedorah, defining continuity between the two shorts. This said, there is likely no link to these two with the 2020 short.
• Suit actors for the short were Naoya Matsumoto as Godzilla and Hikaru Yoshida as Gigan.
• Gigan Attacks features music from past Godzilla films. This includes themes from two composers. One is Akira Ifukube with work from Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995). The second is Michiru Oshima with themes from Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000) and Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002). In addition to these is also a brief theme taken from Ifukube's work on The Big Boss (1959), which itself was reused in Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972).
• Unlike the prior short, Toho released two trailers to drum up interest. The first, seen below and acting more as a teaser, was released on October 14th, 2022 and features music from Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) and Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964):
  
  
  The second trailer was released on October 21st, 2022:
  
  The main trailer utilizes music from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002).
• The indoor set, created on stage 6 on the Toho Studios lot, was built in just two days. Furthermore, shooting took place over just three days. Noted on Cinema Today.