GODZILLA AND KIN
Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956)–the original Tokyo stomper.
Rodan (1957)–prehistoric flying reptile.
Godzilla Raids Again (1959)–a.k.a. Gigantis, the FireMonster, Godzilla’s Counterattack.
Dagora, the Space Monster (1960)–a group of flying jellyfish.
Mothra (1962)–a gigantic moth.
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)–an unwelcome simian touristin Japan.
Godzilla vs. Mothra (1964)–gigantic toxic-fire-breathingreptile vs. a moth.
Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster (1965)–also starringGodzilla, Mothra, Rodan.
Gamera (1965)–200-ft. flying fire-breathing turtle.
Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)–ice-breathing dino vs. the terrapin.
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966)–a sea monkey; Mothrahelps.
Gamera vs. Gaos (1967)–a bat thing.
Son of Godzilla (1968)–giant spiders and preying mantises.
Destroy All Monsters (1969)–yes, do.
Godzilla’s Revenge (1969)–footage inspires a harassedschoolboy.
Gamera vs. Guiron (1969)–spearheaded creature.
Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)–famous comic short.
Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1970)–Rodan helps.
Gamera vs. Zigra (1971)–alien invaders.
Godzilla on Monster Island (1972)–with Angorus vs. cockroachesfrom space.
Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1972)–Hedorah, a glob ofgoo.
Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)–with Anzilla vs. alien invaders’creations.
Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)–buzzsaw bird Gaigan and insectMegalon.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)–with King Seeser vs.doppelganger.
Terror of Mechagodzilla (1978)–alien robots.
Godzilla 1985 (1985)–Raymond Burr, as in the 1956 version.
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)–whatever.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)–23rd-century alien enemies.
Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)–unhatched egg on an island.
Godzilla (1998)–New York, city of dreams.
The name Godzilla comes from Gojira, the nickname of a workerat Toho Studios. The English word “gorilla” combinedwith the Japanese word for whale, “kujira,” became gojira. For a critical analysis of this monster and its possible symbolic significance, see this essay on Gojira.