Episode 125 - The History of Kaiju Films: Part 1

Abby and Alan deeply explore Japan's fascinating kaiju film genre, where enormous monsters and social commentary collide. We're peeling back the layers of this cinematic behemoth, from its roots in Japanese Tokusatsu filmmaking and mythology to the nuclear anxieties that colored its creation.

Ever wonder about the origins of these towering terrors? We've got you covered! We're diving into the influence of 1933's King Kong, the prototype of all monster movies. From there, we're moving to the Godzilla franchise, analyzing its evolution from the revered 1954 classic to the camp-filled romps of today. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned kaiju fan, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into!

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Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters by Jason Barr
• Criterion article by Steve Ryfle: Godzilla’s Conscience: The Monstrous Humanism of Ishiro Honda 
• Unesco.org article on the history of Kabuki theater 
• Hollywood Reporter article by Ray Morton: Origin of Kong.
• No film school article by Alyssa Miller: Killer Kaiju: How the Giant Creatures Made Waves in Cinema
• Sideshow.com article by Shane Smith - A Complete Film History of Godzilla
• CBR.com article by Jim Johnson Cloverfield Monster's Confirmed Origin Is Actually Pretty Heartbreaking
• Den of Geek’s multi-part series on the history of Ultraman by Stephen Harber. 
• Wikipedia, IMDB + Many Films!

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