Godzilla He used to tower over cities and show his size and strength like King of the beasts—but his latest offering is a little different. It’s smaller, and it sure is cute, and it’s Chibi Godzilla’s return in a new way: Chibi Godzilla raids againwhich makes it U.s. Debut today.
To celebrate the arrival of the new web series – which sees Jun Fukuyama voice the titular cute-sized protagonist, As he finds his home on Monster Island with all the other chibi-kaiju turned upside down upon his arrival Chibi Mechagodzilla-in the United Statess. After its Japanese debut last April 1 (no need to cheat!), io9 spoke to raids again Producer Go Miyazaki via email. This isn’t the first time Chibi Godzilla has appeared, having previously starred in children-focused story books and animated shorts, but it’s the first time the cute character has targeted Godzilla’s more mainstream audience of adults. Check out the first episode of the series below, and read about Miyazaki’s thoughts on bringing chibi Godzilla to a new audience, and making the tokusatsu legends cuter than they were before.
James Whitbrook, io9: Why is it time to bring Chibi Godzilla back into the anime world?
Joe Miyazaki: Since his debut in 2018, fans have been able to enjoy Chibi Godzilla through comic books, merchandise, social media, and various other means. While Chibi Godzilla is identifiable as a cute character, one of our goals with this anime is to tell people that the characters have their own personalities and that the stories that unfold between them also have their own charm.
io9: The New Show also brings Chibi Godzilla closer to adult fans of the franchise than its previous appearances. Why did you want to make this new series aimed at an older audience?
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Miyazaki: We are still targeting children. However, in observing the tastes and interests of children these days, we have noticed that they tend to prefer humor that is more developed. We also wanted to create a show that parents could enjoy with their children, which helped us hit the tone of the anime.
io9: What do you hope Godzilla western fans take away from a series like Chibi Godzilla raids again? How does it feel to see the legacy of the Godzilla series beyond its home borders?
Miyazaki: Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Godzilla movie. Although Godzilla has a long history, it is a character that continues to evolve, with new works being created one after another. I hope people around the world continue to enjoy Godzilla’s wide range of worldview, which continues to expand and evolve from the typical Godzilla movies of the past to animations like Chibi Godzilla raids again.
io9: What do you think appeals to kaiju fans young and old about this version of Godzilla?
Miyazaki: The biggest attraction of chibi Godzilla and other chibi monsters is the gap between their outward appearance and their inner life. Despite their cute appearance, each has its own unique personality. Audiences may also be drawn to chibi monsters for their fresh way of thinking, which is different from humans and can lead to some interesting moments.
io9: Where do you think Chibi Godzilla will go next? What future do you want for this version of the character we have now Chibi Godzilla raids again?
Miyazaki: We have not yet decided what will happen next, but as long as they are loved by everyone, Chibi Godzilla and his friends will continue to live in one form or another. If you become a fan of this anime, please continue to support Chibi Godzilla and his friends.
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