Chibi Godzilla Raids Again
Chibi Godzilla Raids Again (Japanese: ちびゴジラの逆襲, Hepburn: Chibi Gojira no Gyakushū) is a Japanese short anime television series in Toho's Godzilla franchise. Produced by Toho and Pie in the sky, it premiered on TV Tokyo and on YouTube as a web series in April 2023. The show takes place on Monster Island, which is inhabited by small chibi-style kaiju from the franchise.
| Chibi Godzilla Raids Again | |
 | |
| ちびゴジラの逆襲 (Chibi Gojira no Gyakushū) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Kaiju, manzai |
| Created by |
|
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Taketo Shinkai |
| Produced by | Go Miyazaki |
| Written by | Taketo Shinkai |
| Studio | Pie in the sky |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | April 1, 2023 – present |
| Episodes | 7 |
Characters
- Chibi Godzilla (ちびゴジラ, Chibi Gojira)
- Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama[1]
- The title character, he is the son of a giant Godzilla.
- Chibi Mechagodzilla (ちびメカゴジラ, Chibi Meka Gojira)
- Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka[1]
- A mecha who gets stranded on Monster Island and gets to know its inhabitants
- Chibi Ghidorah (ちびギドラ, Chibi Gidora)
- Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi[1]
- A three-headed dragon, each of which often contradicts the other and erupts into fights over food.
- Chibi Mothra (ちびモスラ, Chibi Mosura)
- Voiced by: Rie Takahashi[1]
- Shy and becomes lethal when crying. She can communicate telepathically with the Shobijin.
- Chibi Rodan (ちびラドン, Chibi Radon)
- Voiced by: Hiro Shimono[1]
- A self-centered flying dragon who is also insecure
- Chibi Anguirus (ちびアンギラス, Chibi Angirasu)
- Voiced by: N/A[2]
- A chibi ankylosaur-like dragon whose voice has changed into unintelligible roars.
- Chibi Biollante (ちびビオランテ, Chibi Biorante)
- Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro[1]
- Chibi Hedorah (ちびヘドラ, Chibi Hedora)
- Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki[1]
- Shobijin sisters (小美人, Shōbijin)
- Voiced by: Reina Ueda (older), Akari Kitō (younger)[1]
- Two twin sisters who can serve as telepathic interpreters for their friend, Chibi Mothra
Production
The Chibi Godzilla character—who was created to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Toho's Godzilla franchise—first appeared in the 2018 picture book Ganbare Chibi Gojira (がんばれ ちびゴジラ, 'Do Your Best, Chibi Godzilla') by Chiharu Sakazaki. In March 2023, the character's first anime television series, Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, a title that purportedly references the second Godzilla film, was announced by Toho.[3][4] The series comprises thirteen 2 min 40 s episodes featuring chibi-style kaiju characters,[5] and is a manzai comedy that is targeted more at an adult audience;[6][7] in an interview with io9, producer Go Miyazaki said that the show still appeals to children, but "we have noticed that they tend to prefer more sophisticated humor".[7]
The series is produced by Toho with animation studio Pie in the sky and directed by Taketo Shinkai, who is also writing the script. Character design is provided by Sakazaki and animation production is by Junichi Endo and Yuji Nikaido. The show stars Jun Fukuyama as Chibi Godzilla and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Chibi Mechagodzilla, with Sumi Shimamoto doing the narration.[5] The anime premiered on April 1, 2023, on TV Tokyo's programming block Iniminimanimo and began streaming internationally as a web series on the official Godzilla YouTube channel with English subtitles on April 11.[8][7]
Episode list
| No. | Title [2] | Original air date [9] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chibi Godzilla of Monster Island" Transcription: "Kaijūtō no Chibi Gojira" (Japanese: 怪獣島のちびゴジラ) | April 1, 2023 | |
| Chibi Mechagodzilla washes up on the beach of Monster Island and is woken up forcefully by Chibi Godzilla. Chibi Mechagodzilla befriends him when told about Chibi Godzilla's dream of growing up so he can hug his colossal father, Godzilla. | |||
| 2 | "The Three-Headed Scary God, Chibi Ghidorah" Transcription: "Mittsu Kubi no Jashin Chibi Gidora" (Japanese: 三つ首の邪神 ちびギドラ) | April 8, 2023 | |
| Chibi Godzilla introduces him to the island's terrain and to his friend, Chibi Ghidorah. One of its heads suggests, as a recommendation for Chibi Mechagodzilla, matsutake; as one appears on the ground, the heads bite each other. | |||
| 3 | "The Resplendent Maiden, Chibi Mothra" Transcription: "Gokusaishoku no Otome Chibi Mosura" (Japanese: 極彩色の乙女 ちびモスラ) | April 15, 2023 | |
| Chibi Godzilla tries to introduce Chibi Mechagodzilla to Chibi Mothra, but the Shobijin speak for her instead, convinced that they can better express her feelings. Instead, the sisters misinterpret her, and she gets so embarrassed that she cries, releasing poisonous scales. | |||
| 4 | "The Ruler of the Skies, Chibi Rodan" Transcription: "Sora o Suberu Kai Tori Chibi Radon" (Japanese: 空を統べる怪鳥 ちびラドン) | April 22, 2023 | |
| On their way up a mountain to speak with Godzilla, the duo alongside Chibi Mothra encounter the flying Chibi Rodan. Annoyed by his bragging, Chibi Mechagodzilla assails Chibi Rodan, to which he takes great offense and faints. Chibi Mothra revives him with kind words. | |||
| 5 | "Monster Study Session" Transcription: "Kaijū Dai Benkyō" (Japanese: 怪獣大勉強) | April 29, 2023 | |
| All aforementioned Chibi kaiju gather up for a study session about Godzilla and other kaiju, with Chibi Godzilla serving as the educator. While Chibi Mechagodzilla answers the questions rather seriously, his peers give comedic answers. | |||
| 6 | "The Roaring Dragon, Chibi Anguirus" Transcription: "Gōon no Bōryū Chibi Angirasu" (Japanese: 轟音の暴竜 ちびアンギラス) | May 6, 2023 | |
| Chibi Mechagodzilla gets stuck in Chibi Godzilla's trap. By chance, the duo meet Chibi Anguirus whose voice has changed into incomprehensible Godzilla-like roars. Despite the Shobijin being called over, they all misunderstand Chibi Anguirus. | |||
| 7 | Transcription: "Chibi Kaijū Sō Shingeki" (Japanese: ちび怪獣総進撃) | May 13, 2023 | |
References
-
- Japanese name – ちびゴジラが初のTVアニメ化！キャストに福山潤、松岡禎丞、江口拓也、高橋李依ら. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. March 2, 2023. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- Voice – Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 17, 2023). "Chibi Godzilla no Gyakushū Anime's Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ちびゴジラの逆襲 [Chibi Godzilla Raids Again]. Godzilla Store (in Japanese). Toho. n.d. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- Luster, Joseph (March 3, 2023). "Chibi Godzilla Anime Roars to Life This April". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- Cayanan, Joanna (March 2, 2023). "Chibi Godzilla Character Gets Its 1st TV Anime on April 1". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- Milligan, Mercedes (April 11, 2023). "Mini-Monster Mayhem Returns in 'Chibi Godzilla Raids Again'!". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- Chapman, Paul (April 11, 2023). "Chibi Godzilla Raids Again Stomps YouTube with New English Subtitles". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- Whitbrook, James (April 11, 2023). "Why Godzilla Has Returned, Cuter Than Ever". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- Mateo, Alex (April 11, 2023). "Chibi Godzilla Raids Again Anime Streams on YouTube with English Subtitles". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- "News". Godzilla Store (in Japanese). Toho. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Chibi Godzilla Raids Again playlist on YouTube
- Chibi Godzilla Raids Again (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
