The Paper's reporter Wang Yu intern Gao Mengyu
In November, the first trailer for the action thriller Godzilla vs. King Kong, produced by Legendary Pictures, finally appeared in anticipation. On the one hand, there is a huge prehistoric monster with atomic energy, and on the other hand, the fierce ancient ape with agile movement and primate intelligence- Godzilla and King Kong are sword-fighting against the scarlet background, and the wonderful fight scene is thrilling.
As soon as the trailer came out, it caused a hot discussion on the Internet, but according to Warner Bros., due to the epidemic, the film will be postponed to May 21, 2021 in North America.
Godzilla vs King Kong is postponed to Release in North America until May 21, 2021. Infographic
In fact, the godzilla frenzy has a long history. Since the emergence of the Showa series in Japan in 1954, this terrifying-looking and murderous monster has gradually become the center of the "monster universe" and has become a world-class pop culture symbol, appearing in many movies, novels, manga and even video games.
Godzilla's image comes from the Japanese people's fear of nuclear threats, which is why its signature weapon is to spray red and blue radiation from its mouth. It was born in the special context of the Cold War and was quickly accepted by the Japanese people.
But with the influence of technology and society, Godzilla's monster positioning has gradually changed, from the initial terrible and fierce "human beast" to the "human guardian" against the evil forces. It was also from this period that a large number of Godzilla series of cartoons emerged, and Godzilla began to become a "heroic figure" similar to Ultraman in the hearts of many children, which may be one of the reasons why Japanese people have a special love for Godzilla.
In the children's area of Nishirokugo Park in Tokyo's Ota Ward, there is a Godzilla made of tires.
According to statistics, among the 61 big movies starring Godzilla in the past, a total of 49 films produced by Japanese companies, accounting for 80.3%; the American version of "Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters" (chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, who starred in the movie) released on May 21, 2019, even in the face of box office decline, still won 16.9 million US dollars in The box office in Japan, ranking third in the world; in June 2015, Kenichi Yoshizumi, the mayor of Shinjuku District, Tokyo, Japan, issued a "special resident ticket" for monster Godzilla. Godzilla officially became the ambassador of Shinjuku Tourism.
On November 5 this year, Japan's Netflix once again launched a new "Godzilla" series of animated films "Godzilla: Singularity", which is another Godzilla series of animated series launched by Netflix after the animated films "Godzilla: Monster Planet", "Godzilla: Capital of Showdown" and "Godzilla: Star Eater".
On November 5, Japan's Netflix once again launched a new "Godzilla" series of animated films "Godzilla: Singularity". Infographic
But the Japanese frenzy for Godzilla goes far beyond that.
On October 10 this year, Awaji Island Park, a prefectural prefecture located in Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, joined hands with The Godzilla Series Close Art Toho Image Art Company to create a 5,000-square-meter "Godzilla Strikes" theme park, so that this monster that originally existed only in the two-dimensional world truly entered people's real lives.
Entering the park, a huge poster from "Every Dynasty News" first came into view, with slogans such as "Does Godzilla exist on Awaji Island" and "Is the giant creature Godzilla" written in black bold letters, and the tense atmosphere instantly swept through the body.
A giant poster from The Every Dynasty News featured slogans in bold black writing such as "Does Godzilla exist on Awaji Island?" Map of Awaji Island Park Prefectural Government
Here, visitors will become researchers at the "National Godzilla Awaji Island Research Center" to investigate a giant Godzilla with a total length of about 120 meters. It is understood that this Godzilla is based on the "New Godzilla" released in 2016, using a one-to-one body design, and the blood basin with fangs seems to be preparing to spray blue light at the enemy.
Visitors will transform into researchers to investigate a giant Godzilla about 120 meters long. Toho Imaging Art Company Picture
The fang-filled blood basin mouth seemed to be preparing to spray blue light at the enemy. Map of Awaji Island Park Prefectural Government
In addition to watching and stroking Godzilla up close, visitors can also follow the zipline from Godzilla's mouth into his body, complete a series of tasks such as "annihilating scattered Godzilla cells", and experience the thrill of becoming a "superhero to save the earth".
Visitors can follow the zipline from Godzilla's mouth into his body. Map of Awaji Island Park Prefectural Government
Annihilate the scattered Godzilla Cell Project Experience Prefectural Awaji Island Park Map
Not only that, but in order to add to the fun of the project experience, Awaji Island Park will also regularly launch different "Godzilla Strike" special missions. For example, the upcoming "AR × real puzzle game ~ tracking the cells of a huge unknown creature" that will start on November 21. Participants in the event are targeted to obtain official employment from the NIGD Spy Department, go to the designated location according to the prompts on the mobile app APP, obtain the top secret information of the giant living body (Godzilla), take a photo of the monster AR, and return to the NIGOD Intelligence Department to pass the employment examination.
The park also has the world's first "Godzilla Museum", which exhibits a large number of monster costumes, Godzilla models, miniature town buildings and other props used in the filming of the film. Visitors can also see the live restoration of the shocking scenes of "Godzilla× Mothra × Mechanical Godzilla: Tokyo SOS" and "New Godzilla".
The model used in the filming of the Film Toho Imaging Fine Arts Company Diagram
Godzilla series movie poster Toho Imaging Art Company Picture
The museum also offers a special handicraft course for children to make "Little Godzilla", so that children can also experience the charming "Monster Universe" up close.
It is no exaggeration to say that this "Godzilla Strikes" theme park can satisfy all the fantasies of Godzilla.
Editor-in-Charge: Ying Xu
Proofreader: Luan Meng