Kaiju Vs. History

Once more an alien menace threatens Earth, and only one titanic terrapin stands between us and destruction. This week we are looking at 1971'a Gamera vs. Zigra! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Patrick and Myles talk about what Kaiju toy lines past and present are on the "Nice" list, and which ones like Godzilla himself are getting lumps of coal. This is the Kaiju Vs History 2022 Holiday Toy Special! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Three new Kaiju are added to the Toho canon as Ishiro Honda takes the director's chair once more. Does this movie sink, swim or sonically flap its wings, find out on Kaiju Vs. History's look at 1970's "Space Amoeba"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

The giant flying turtle returns to one of his largest adventures yet, this time set at the 1970 Japanese Osaka World's Expo! Find out all about that history and more in this weeks look at "Gamera Vs. Jiger" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

This year we watched every single Kaiju film released in the 1960s. Listen to hear all about our top 5 favorites and the bottom 5 stinkers on this week's Kaiju Vs. History! We talk about the kaiju related films that we missed, the films that stood out to us, as well as some of the greater themes and motifs of the genre in the greatest decade in all of Daikaiju history. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

To close out the smashing 1960's Kaiju icon Ishiro Honda makes a family friendly film for kids of all ages. Time travel with us back to 1969 Japan in "All Monsters Attack" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We take another jaunt down "Kaiju-Lite" films made by Ishiro Honda, this time with American actors and backing. Join us for the insanity that is 1969's "Latitude Zero" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Oh my, what have we done? We take a look at one of the worst Kong knock-offs off all time with 1969's "The Mighty Gorga". May Gorga have mercy on us all! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Its time for a brand new Gamera film set in space. Join us and two new child protagonists as we get in trouble and get bailed out by a giant turtle. This week we are looking at 1969's "Gamera vs. Guiron"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

It is time for the Avenger's style crossover and seeming finale you've all been waiting for. Join us for our well-timed Halloween episode as we look at the bash to end all monster mashes. This is 1968's "Destroy All Monsters" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Daiei is at the top of its game with its kid friendly Gamera films, and this week they double down on the lead child actors. Join us as we examine one of the most colorful of Noriaki Yuasa's terrific titan terrapin films in 1968's "Gamera Vs. Viras" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We take the week to talk about the television event that managed to knock off both Godzilla and Varan the Unbelievable. While this originally was a four part television miniseries we are examining this as a single film as it was cut into one film in the 1980s. This week's episode is of course 1968's "Agon the Atomic Dragon" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Director Jun Fukuda is back at the helm of another island Godzilla adventure with 1967's "Son of Godzilla" Watch as Godzilla protects a young kaiju from colossal insect enemies, while scientists try their best to control the weather. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Blast into some forgotten made or TV compilation action with this week's retrospective on one of the wildest tokusatsu shows of all time. This week's episode is on 1967's "Voyage Into Space" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We explore the shores of Korea for a Godzilla knock-off that would be the benchmark for Bad Kaiju of the era. Join us as we discuss all the history behind 1967's "Yongary, Monster From the Deep"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We look at yet another Ishiro Honda classic in the extremely colorful 007-style kaiju adventure of 1967's "King Kong Escapes". Get ready to monkey around deep dive into the history behind this production on this week's Kaiju Vs. History! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Join us for a break down of the Kaiju films lost to history, lost to the weather or legally lost to everyone else. We look at 7 films that we won't be looking at elsewhere on this podcast as the entire film is lost, unreleased or otherwise unavailable. Join us as we rate our desire to see these projects, from Japan's original statue Daikaiju in the Great Buddha Arrival to the fan film of Gamera 4 on Kaiju Vs. History. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We turn our sights on another new studio trying to make a splash on the Kaiju scene, this week with the Nikkatsu Corporation. Will a retread of 1961's Gorgo succeed in Japan's saturated busiest daikaiju year to date? Find out this week as we take a look at 1967's "Gappa the Triphibian Monster"

We prepare to dive into a non-Toho giant monster movie, this time from rival studio Shochiku. Will a swinging space adventure mixed into a kaiju movie work well or will this be film flop? Find out as we explore 1967's "The X From Outer Space"!

Noriaki Yuasa is back in the director's chair for the latest installment of the showa Gamera films, and this time the flying terrapin is becoming the friend of all children. This week's episode is 1967's "Gamera vs. Gyaos" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We round out maybe the most Kaiju-packed year in the history of cinema with a Godzilla classic. This time we have a new director, composer and colorful setting for a film not even originally written for the Big-G. This week we are island hopping though 1966's "Ebirah, Horror of the Deep" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

This week we finish off the oft overlooked and sadly forgotten Daimajin trilogy by Daiei studios. The giant vengeance Kami once more divides war torn lands, and an evil samurai lord needs some comeuppance. Find out how the magical statue strikes in this weeks episode "Daimajin Strikes Again" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Once more pioneering Kaiju 33 years after its 1933 debut we have the first animated Kaiju series. In a renewed partnership between Japan and the US this week we look in brief at 1966's "The King Kong Show" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

We return to the middle chapter of the much lauded Daimajin trilogy this week and is it possible to already be suffering from franchise fatigue? This week's episode is a quick look at the lake adventure that is 1966's "Return of Daimajin" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/KaijuVsHistory/

Another non-Godzilla Kaiju classic from Ishiro Honda...or is it? We have all the standard elements of a monster masterpiece with two times the monsters and a sibling rivalry that will go down in history. This is 1966's "War of the Gargantuas"

We head back to the small screen for a special episode looking at one of the most influential and long standing Tsuburaya Productions in Kaiju History. Join us as we cross our forearms and press our capsule buttons in 1966's "ULTRAMAN" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Starting of a trilogy of fantasy history Kaiju epics we start with the seminal hard-to-find classic from Daiei. Join us this week as we do a deep dive into the Edo inspired world of 1966's "Daimajin"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

We return to the now colorful world of mythic jungle beasts and Flying turtles with an oddity in the Showa Gamera films - a movie without a friendly child. Will this departure spell this picture's doom or will the rainbow foe light up the screen? Find out with this weeks look at 1966's "Gamera Vs. Barugon" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

This week we dip our toes into the world of Historical Fantasy Kaiju for the first (but definitely not last) time this decade. Join us on a ninjutsu adventure with our examination of 1966's "The Magic Serpent"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

This week we have a special episode, taking a step away from the cinemas and into the world of Kaiju television. Join us as we dip our toes into the world of mystery and monsters in 1966's "Ultra Q". A television show that kicked of waves of Kaiju and Tokusatsu masterpieces over the airwaves, and was the build up to one of the most popular Japanese sci-fi franchises of all time with "Ultraman" later that same year. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Ishiro Honda returns for another monster film in a decade that is soon to become crowded with them. This time the trope of alien invaders is fully cemented in the annals of kaiju cinema. This week we examine the history of 1965's "Invasion of Astro-Monster"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

This week's special episode is not a history lesson-styled review, but our first ever commentary track. Last year we streamed a watch party of the original Gamera film and recorded a in depth commentary track. Sync up a viewing of the film and get real time facts and trivia on this classic kaiju commentary! (Press Play on the film when the Podcast intro music fades out) Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

A new kauji combatant enters the ring from rival studio Daiei films, to capitalize on the growing monster movie explosion. A giant turtle is released from the arctic ice by an atomic blast, this week we dive into the rat-infested history of 1965's Gamera, The Giant Monster! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Finally the idea generated over a decade earlier comes to fruition at the hands of Ishiro Honda. This week we examine the interesting twists and turns it took in order to make 1965's "Frankenstein Conquers the World".

We take a look at one of the most often cited "Best" of the Showa era, with 1964's "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" Take a deep dive into the history behind the first showdown between the alien kaiju and Godzilla and friends in this Ishiro Honda classic. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Ishiro Honda is back with another non-Godzilla series Kaiju flick, but one that feels very different from Gorath and The Mysterians. This week gangsters, diamond G-men and invisible tentacles battle it out in 1964's "Dogora"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Two of Toho's titans return to tower over Tokyo in this fresh versus battle, the heroic fan favorite Mothra against the still villainous Godzilla. Ishiro Honda is back to direct what many consider the best kaiju film of the decade, this week's episode is 1964's "Mothra vs. Godzilla" Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

Set sails for an adventure from the master Ishiro Honda aboard the Gotengo! This week we are diving into 1963's "Atragon". Will the monstrous Manda take down the crew or will our heroes put aside their political differences and save the world from undersea authority! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

This week we look at a watershed moment in the history of kaiju cinema. Its east meets west, tradition vs the atomic age, King vs God! This week we look at Ishiro Honda's seminal monster masterpiece, 1962's "King Kong vs Godzilla"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

We are back for another Ishiro Honda scifi epic that Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka insisted has a giant Walrus monster in it. This is technically a Kaiju flick, 1962's amazing planet X disaster film "Gorath". Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

This might be it. One of the greatest Kaiju origin film since the original King Kong and Godzilla. This week on Kaiju vs. History we take a look at the appearance of a new monster moth on the scene. A featured creature that will go on to be one of the greatest Kaiju of all time. This week is Ishiro Honda's 1961 classic "Mothra"! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

We are back for even more European Kaiju Cinema this week with 1961's "Gorgo" from director Eugène Lourié. They took equal parts King Kong and Godzilla to create their own Gaelic folk monster. This is a film that will astound you, and if you've never heard about it it is worth a look. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

61 Years ago this month the rights to make a King Kong sequel were sold from RKO to create a new 8th wonder of the world. Instead we got Alfred Pennyworth going on a murdering spree with his weapon of choice: a man in a gorilla costume. This is 1961's "Konga".

This week's episode starts season 2 of the podcast, as we enter into the swinging 60's and take a vacation from US and Japanese monster movies entirely. This week's episode comes from the heart of Europe, and a unique monster movie to start this decade off on the right foot. This week's episode in 1961's Reptilicus!

We finish watching early Kaiju cinema and the many different monster movies of the 1950's and talk about them in this season's wrap-up episode! Join us as we look at some of the Kaiju-adjacent films that we skipped in the decade, talk about the themes and motifs of the 50's, and talk about our final scores. What made the top 5 films of season 1? What about the worst Kaiju film of the decade? Find out on this week's episode of Kaiju Vs. History!

We head to England for one of the first european Kaiju, but certainly not the last, in this weeks historic look at 1959’s “The Giant Behemoth”. With a script steeped in nuclear fears, production trying to recapture the Kaiju flame, and a beautiful shooting locale will this be a smashing hit or a dreadful daikaiju bollocks? Find out on this week’s Kaiju Vs. History. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

We return to Toho, but take a step back from the last two prior Kaiju outings, as this week we look at the black and white originally made for TV film 1958’s “Varan the Unbelievable”. Is this film as bad as many critics say? Was the production as irredeemable as Ishiro Honda remembers? Find out all that and more in this week’s Kaiju Vs. History! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

A sequel to 1957’s original giant monstrous human, we discover the history behind another rushed sequel, with 1958’s “War of the Colossal Beast”. We get clip shows, new characters, and tenuous links to the original film. With prosthetic makeup similar to Bert I. Gordon’s film “Cyclops” the Colossal Beast cuts a striking figure, but little is added to the original film. Will this film make a larger impact than the movie that proceeded it? Find out on this week’s Kaiju Vs. History! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

One of the most influential pop culture icons of 1950s scifi comes alive on the big screen in 1958’s “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”. With some of the most iconic poster art of all time, we dive into this campy classic to see if the film is worth the time. Is this film worth of its long legacy or is it another in the line of over hyped and under performing American monster movies? Find out on this week’s episode of Kaiju Vs. History. Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

We return to the islands of Japan for a Toho classic that feels both ahead of its time and still out of place on the Kaiju list, its 1957’s “The Mysterians”. A much more different film from director Ishiro Honda’s past offerings, this super colorful sci-fi epic does have a Kaiju shoe-horned in on producer’s insistance. Follow us through the stars and underground tunnels to discover the Daikaiju development on this week’s Kaiju Vs. History! #Kaiju #Godzilla #Daikaiju Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory

The start of a trend of giant human monsters pops up with an atomic blast and a radioactive growing man in 1957’s “The Amazing Colossal Man”. Come along with us when we discover that the real monster was the friends that we made along the way…and also Colonel Glenn Manning. Discover the history of a cheaply made monster in the form of an actor that chews the scenery in this week’s Kaiju Vs. History! Twitter: @kaijuvshistory Email: kaijuvshistory@kaijuvshistory