How Mothra Redefined Kaiju Cinema By Breaking The Godzilla Formula

With Godzilla Minus One receiving international recognition, the likes of which the Godzilla franchise has never seen, and the upcoming Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire on the horizon, it's time to look back to see which films we have to thank for the current success of the Godzilla franchise.
While the original Godzilla from 1954 was the film that defined the entire Kaiju genre, perhaps the most influential movie on the trajectory of not only Godzilla, but his peers, was 1961's Mothra. Mothra is a phenomenal film that redefined Kaiju cinema and paved the way for a vast expansion in the styles of stories filmmakers could tell within the medium. As a result of Mothra's formula-breaking efforts, Godzilla was resurrected and skyrocketed in popularity and countless direct and indirect inspirations popped up over the decades from a revival in King Kong to Gamera and Ultraman.
This video wouldn't have been possible without the incredible work done by Steven Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, not only in their Ishiro Honda biography but in their wonderful commentary on Mothra's US physical release.

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Chapters
History In The Making 0:00
The Origins Of Kaiju Cinema 1:11
The Birth Of An Icon 3:52
Mothra 5:30
Tonal Shift 6:35
Shattering The Godzilla Formula 8:33
New Stories 9:55
Return Of Godzilla 10:27
Mothra & Godzilla 13:38
How Mothra Saved Kaiju Cinema 14:19
Legacy 15:00
Final Thoughts 15:39
Conclusion 16:10 to END

#Mothra #MothraVSGodzilla
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#GodzillaXKong #GodzillaXKongTheNewEmpire #Godzilla #Kong #Monarch #Hourglass #Godzilla&Kong #Origins #SonOfKong #Monsterverse #MonarchLegacyOfMonsters #LegacyOfMonarch

[rickyrackey]

Vera Farminga said it best in an article.

“What I like about Mothra is that she is a creature that protects people rather than destroy their cities. Most monsters don’t really care about the people they crush.”

[sentientbottlecap]

Mothra’s solo movie is great. It has the typical monster destruction, but they’re is a unique whimsical feeling through it

[Godzilla-tucd]

Awesome intro also Mothra needs a new solo movie again. After kotm regular audience really feel in love with the giant moth. They deserve to understand how she became the number three of the big five.

[nilesrodriguez]

The Mothra with the twins is so dope, iconic IMO

[MonsterKidCory]

Great video! Mothra is my favourite kaiju, because she is basically a nature kami of life, death, and rebirth remolded as a kaiju. She embodies the cycles of life and nature, which are complex (I did have a small laugh when you said she's more complex than Mother Nature). She is hostile when we are discordant with nature, benevolent when we are in harmony with it. She's also a very beautiful design and the first of the kaiju that weren't a variation on dinosaurs. It's nice to see her getting some attention.

[mobius]

This was a really nice pallet cleanser after a certain recent video covering the Godzilla Franchise (not naming nobody but you can probably guess who I'm referring to)

All I'll say is, it's nice to hear some good stuff said about the more lighthearted/whimsical side of Kaiju movies. Because who knows what Godzilla or other Kaiju franchises would be like if they had stuck strictly with the formula that Gojira had started

[Dynasty]

It would be so interesting to see a Mothra Minus one type film, with a similar vibe as the original but goes more into the extremes of the character.

[davidpescitelli]

One thing I always find interesting about Mothra when compared to Godzilla is that Godzilla changes every few years, Mothra seems to more or less stay the same in every movie she appears in. The most changes she goes through are the abilities and powers she has in some movies, but characterization wise she's the same Mothra from the the very first Mothra movie.

[GojiraCartoonSciFiHorrorFanK]

I Love Mothra, She’s My All-Time Favorite Toho Monster aside from Godzilla. The 1961 Film is a Phenomenal Toho Masterpiece. I especially love the Rebirth Of Mothra Trilogy, they were my first Toho Kaiju Films I watched that wasn’t Godzilla. They played on Encore (This was way before they merged with Starz.) all in order & I would record & watch them a lot, Such Great Memories. The Rebirth Of Mothra Trilogy was also The First Blu-Ray I ever bought when I was first released. Great Video As Always D Man1954.

[charadeEX]

So happy to see someone highlight this movie. It's been one of my favorite kaiju flicks for a long time and I feel like I never hear anyone talk about it. The human cast is so fun and memorable, and its got what has to be one of my top 5 favorite scores to a kaiju movie. Just so much to praise about it.

Side-note, another Showa era movie I don't see praised enough is Gamera vs. Barugon. Easily the best of the Showa Gamera movies for me, and way up there as one of the best Showa kaiju movies for me in general.

[dellyortega]

Mothra will always be my Queen, and my favorite kaiju alongside Godzilla, Gamera and King Kong.

[elliotgandersen]

This video is beautiful. Mothra is so special and is always such a treat, and now I see why.
People don’t realize how impactful Mothra is.
Alongside Gojira and King Kong, the three of them make the perfect trifecta. Humanities range of terror, fear, and bravery showcased in those icons.

[ShinGojiOfficial]

Fantastic information packed video essay man! Mothra 1961 is one of the best of the showa era, great kaiju action, human characters and the soundtrack is so mesmerizing. I herd a rumor that Mothra might show up in GxK and I hope it's true

[form__rain]

This is such a beautiful video because it made me realize just how important Mothra is; she’s my second fav kaiju after Godzilla of course but seeing how she single-handedly changed Godzilla’s personality in Ghidra the Three Headed Monster and infused comedy into the human cast to influence King Kong vs. Godzilla is so fascinating to think about. Mothra is great!!! Love this video and hope we can get more like these 😊

[angelynx_prime]

Thank you for this! Not only are there still G-fans who belittle the Kaiju Queen but even her fans (including me) may not have thought about just how groundbreaking and influential her debut film was. This is really useful and thoughtful info.

[Ahalaya]

Okay. I know this is going to sound weird, but...

As someone who has never actually watched a Kaiju film, I adore Mothra. I've heard the story a few times, and it always gets me. While I also appreciate the original Godzilla and all of its symbolism and history, Mothra's story just has more heart.

[grahamcann]

That was... creepy, but Very much appreciated!
Today I went to lunch with my youngest son and we discussed films, as usual, and we talked about "Godzilla" and I tried to explain the "both sides of the Kaiju genre". Then a couple hours later this video came out. Great timing!
As always thank you so very much for the videos.

[davebooth]

Mothra was always a great change up from Godzilla for me. Loved how she always gave Godzilla a run for his money as a Capable foe and going as far as to talk him into joining forces with another Kaiju to fight a threat that means to destroy the world.
As far as my opinion on the content produced in this essay format, I eat it up! Love the wording and trust the dialog was not produced by an AI and respect that the information being presented was created by the host! I must say the use of the word “titular” was used in a humane way by the human author! Therefore, I express my gratitude for your content and skills as an editor as well as a master of the human language! Bravo sir, bravo!!

[Goji_Fan]

Mothra is love and heart. It is light. Immaculate. It is the definition of the beauty. Everything is sacrifice. As Serizawa says when she sees it ... What beauty! ...

I love her.

Thanks for this huge video. Mothra causes emotions and awakens feeling in the world of Kaijus.
Beauty and The Beast, Mothra and Godzilla.
I love them.
In love with her.

[Alzilla]

I remember seeing the original Mothra movie on HBO when I was a kid. I never knew Mothra had her own solo film when I was little? The movie is a classic and a masterpiece! Plus Mothra is a really great kaiju! Hopefully we get more Mothra especially in the Monsterverse. Great job on this video.