Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is a 2002 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Toho Company Ltd., and the twenty-seventh installment in the Godzilla series, as well as the fourth in the Millennium series. The film was released to Japanese theaters on December 14, 2002.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla was directed by Masaaki Tezuka, produced by Shogo Tomiyama, and written by Wataru Mimura. Mechagodzilla reboots the series once more, and this time follows a timeline where, following the death of the 1954 Godzilla, the bones from the corpse of the creature were used to create a new incarnation of Mechagodzilla as a means of defense against kaiju, including a newly risen Godzilla.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla would break the tradition set by prior films in the Millennium series, and would be followed by a direct sequel the following year on December 14, 2003, under the title of Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.. These two films would go on to be known as The Kiryu Saga, and would remain as the only films within the series to be connected to one another, canonically.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
When the mutant dinosaur Godzilla attacks Tateyama in the year 1999, the Diet decide to commission a robot constructed from the original Godzilla’s bones, with help from Japan’s top scientists. Four years later, the cyborg, called Kiryu, is finished and inducted into the Japan Self-Defense Forces along with its human pilots as the Kiryu Squadron. At the same time, Godzilla shows up once again, even though the JSDF seemed to finally defeat him. In the midst of the first battle, the original Godzilla’s soul inside Kiryu is awoken by Godzilla’s roar, and brings with it the memories of his death years ago. This action makes Kiryu extremely angry and he proceeds to destroy the city around him. Horrified, the Kiryu Squadron can only watch in terror and alarm as the rampaging cyborg destroys more city property than Godzilla did.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Kiryu is brought back to headquarters for further work. Meanwhile, Kiryu’s main pilot, Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, tries to settle matters involving second lieutenant Susumu Hayama, scientist Tokumitsu Yuhara and his distressed daughter, Sara, who thinks that using Kiryu to fight is wrong and that it should be friends with Godzilla. Kiryu was put out of commission, until Godzilla once again attacked. The prime minister of Japan realized how dire the situation was, and he sent Kiryu into battle. Missiles and lasers were fired.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
The two creatures clashed, slowly knocking into each other. Missiles, masers, the wrist blade, and all of Kiryu’s lesser weapons were used to contend with Godzilla at a close range. Kiryu sent Godzilla into a centrifugal throw as it began to charge its ultimate weapon: the Absolute Zero Cannon. Unfortunately, Kiryu was downed before it could be used. Its pilot, Akane Yashiro, managed to take manual control of the robot as the machine was recharged. Kiryu was sent back into battle, disabling Godzilla’s heat ray and unleashing its Absolute Zero Cannon. Godzilla managed to survive the brutal attack, although gained a massive chest injury, but Kiryu’s power supply was exhausted. Godzilla returned to the sea, as Japan could only watch on in a bittersweet stalemate.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla