Making Sense of the Mythology of the Heisei Gamera Trilogy

[@waynelee7421]

This is an absolutely fantastic piece of work. Thoughtful and logical without any muddled fanboy reasoning. Thank you.

[@Shadowrulzalways]

Keep in mind, Matt Frank wrote a prequel story of the origin of Gamera and the comic was deemed canon by Kadakawa Pictures. Also Gamera being the only “turtle” in the Heisei Gamera universe is kinda false as they mentioned Gamera as a “turtle” in the Japanese version and the turtle of the North was mentioned in Gamera 3. The fact even mentioned it as a “turtle” means they know turtles exist in the universe. So Kaneko’s words are a bit contradictory. But that happens with most directors.

[@DLRX]

Matt Frank is awesome.

[@Adammyers1995]

By far the best Kaiju trilogy ever made. I always got Evangelion vibes from this trilogy.

[@Blunovain]

Shinji Higuchi was involved with the production of both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gamera Trilogy. Perhaps there was some cross pollination. Or, since Neon Genesis Evangelion was so popular and influential, it happened regardless of Higuchi.

[@evashogoki8703]

Hideaki Anno sort-of got involved, mainly in Gamera 3. He even directed a documentary named Gamera 1999, which shows more of the world of the Heise trilogy.

[@jordanchakravarty3616]

It is so refreshing to see a KZbinr in the kaiju fandom community who produces such well-executed and thought-out video essays. Even though I don't always agree with your takes, I really appreciate this channel, and I think it deserves a lot more recognition and attention. Looks like it's been a good while since you last uploaded. I look forward to any and all new videos from you.

[@Blunovain]

Thank you for your support! There's something on the way as we speak.

[@mayhemx9]

The idea they don’t have turtles is insane to me

[@District9Prawn]

Right?!

[@Beroka5]

it really aint

[@DLRX]

Of course in the ADV American dub they refer to Gamera as a turtle constantly.

[@skrappothemonster1436]

IKR

[@Rusty-2010]

Yeah that’s the only thing I HATE about the trilogy. Everything else is beautiful.

[@dinokaiser]

In the Gamera 2000 PS1 game you fight various forms of Gyaos, some of which are quadrupeds or have tentacles etc, one of the bosses is a humanoid Gyaos who bears a striking resemblance to Iris so the connection between the two makes sense (Also the game has the funniest cutscenes)

[@District9Prawn]

I can't express how genuinely well-done this was. Great job! I thought the Atlantis mythos was a little too far out to be taken seriously but you explained it so thoroughly that I finally get it all.

[@ycastro2003]

When I was younger watching GMK I kinda got Heisei Gamera vibes.

[@Blunovain]

Probably because Shusuke Kaneko directed them all. He loved his mysticism.

[@ycastro2003]

Oh yeah I forgot about that! Plus also when Baragon, Mothra, & King Ghidorah they remind of this Gamera since they are supposed to protect Japan and Earth yet they don't really give a crap about the people themselves. I also noticed while Heisei Gamera is more mystic and magic while Heisei Godzilla is more science. Also it's kinda weird that Heisei Gamera's world doesn't have turtles or tortoises.

[@Blunovain]

That's right. All of his monster movies have guardian monsters of some sort. As for the Heisei series, Toho did eventually reintroduce mysticism back into the Godzilla series with Godzilla vs Mothra (1992). But I think Gamera was a healthy mixture of science and religion. And the lack of turtles is a neat tidbit.

[@ycastro2003]

Blunova interestingly enough when magic & mystic shows up or is some how involved in a Godzilla story, it usually shows him as something like a anti-guardian or not fitting in some sort of classification like the elements. I guess Godzilla is a god killer(LITERALLY HE KILLED GODS AND GOD HIMSELF).

[@randomnerdery6511]

@@ycastro2003 GMK would've been so much batter if Kaneko had been allowed by Toho to use Varan and Anguiras alongside Baragon (as he originally intended) rather than being forced by Toho to use Mothra and King Ghidorah instead, a classic case of studio meddling that just ruins the movie for me. Casting Ghidorah as a hero monster is like casting Megatron as a heroic robot: It. Just. Doesn't. Work. Toho's meddling stains GMK just like Warner Bros' meddling toxifies Batman v Superman.

[@evashogoki8703]

This channel needs more love.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

great video, explains it all really well. My personal headcanon has always been that the "dragon" mentioned in the legend in G3 is Godzilla, but of course that is purely just my wishful thinking lmao.

[@JurassicLion2049]

I didnt know there was this much depth to the Gamera films now I have to watch them.

[@scrye]

I freaking love this! Thank you for helping clear a few things up.

[@wednesdaygeckok.7899]

8:23 Incorrect. There is a turtle on a desk in Revenge of Iris. Set dressing is intentional.

[@zeroloid9762]

Somehow I never caught that Iris being a fail safe for Gamera was bull. Interesting.

[@randomnerdery6511]

5:26 Wow... Windows 95. The memories... they come rushing back...

[@bobcat24]

Duke Nukem, Daggerfall, Tycoon series, Pokemon TCG, CatDog, and so many more PC games. ❤

[@JuanLopez-tj6yk]

Well analyzed and explained, simply awesome

[@SmashzillaYT]

Cool video, I love just completed lore in movies

[@theoriginalpdogg90]

Great Questions of Humanity 1)Is there life after Death? 2) Are we alone in the Universe? 3) Do Turtels Exist in the Heisei Gamera Universe?

[@GunlessSnake]

In my fanfiction, I came up with a slightly different take on the mythology. Rather than Irys being a Gyaos-killer prototype, my interpretation was that he was meant to be the controller for the swarm. With its shared genetics, psychic potential, and immense overall strength, Irys would've been a formidable leader that would've lead the Gyaos for the purposes of Atlantis, especially given a connection to Humanity through its amulet. However, Irys was corrupt and thus turned the Gyaos against Atlantis, turning their hopes into nightmares. So essentially, in my take, Irys is the progenitor of doom, the bringer of the end times on Atlantis and the world. Notice that as soon as he died, a massive swarm of Gyaos started to converge on Japan on Gamera's location. It could be that his death sent a signal to all Gyaos, acting as a beacon that drew them in. Of course, being fanfiction, all this was partially due to being based on the DNA of King Ghidorah and the 3-headed monster psychically influencing Irys :P

[@nonutnovemberman]

Could you please send me a leak to that fanfic? I would love to read that

[@Godzilla-tu2cd]

Yeah this makes sense to me great video man

[@KaijusinMoments]

Is there anyway you can link me the interview with Shusuke Kaneko on whenever he said that turtles don't exist in the trilogy's mythos?

[@LifeWitJohn51]

Thank you. Really well done.

[@kanimoon2128]

yes this is what I desperatelyneed

[@Tarbtano]

I have the GvsBarugon manga and the dialogue, visions, and Barugon's new color do all more or less state it was another guardian beast that might have originally been successful to some degree or another, but perished probably in battle with the gyaos or Iris. When it reincarnated out of an egg generated by the old one's body, it had no means of reconnecting to humanity and the egg is spattered in blood as two insane members of the group murder each other over what they think is a gigantic opal; which is heavily implied to have made it go berserk. The colors also heavily imply Barugon is the Azure Dragon. Zigra, Jiger, and Iris are also shown.

[@clarabautista6766]

All Gemera Movies Showa (1965-1980) Heisei(1995-1999) Millenium( 2006-20??)

[@randomnerdery6511]

I'm torn with any new Gamera films, because I definitely want to see new Gamera, but only if Shusuke KAneko returned and were given completely free reign. Kaneko proved, through the Heisei trilogy and GMK (Toho's meddling aside), that he understands the daikaiju genre better than any other director to have tackled it since the '50s. I do NOT want to see the new timeline of "Gamera the Brave" continued... BLECH!!!

[@darylsmith762]

Where can I find gamera these pics at 8:48

[@Blunovain]

It's a Mahiro Maeda manga from the Making of Gamera book.

[@darylsmith762]

@@Blunovain are u sure?

[@manlaw77]

Play at 3/4 speed if u want other family members to keep up. 😁

[@tannerbruning868]

Finally someone explained where iris came from

[@manlaw77]

Good job. But, I think you get excited over Gamera

[@Reyd0r]

Argh damit, too bad the official Prequel Novel from Matt Frank wasnt taken in...still a great video, keep it up!

[@asuramarutepes2733]

where can i find this gamera at 8:48 i can t find it on comic or book or show pics

[@darylsmith762]

?

[@paulosicne5803]

Gamera needs a reboot.

[@stephendeer7993]

Have you heard Arrowhead Gamera boxset!

[@唐揚-n7i]

Ayako Fujitani (as Asagi Kusanagi) is the daughter of Steven Seagal.

[@sheilabirdsell5301]

I think that barugon is the tiger but I'm a 14 year old boy with autism and adhd losing my mom's account so what do you know

[@sheilabirdsell5301]

Does everyone have a idea of what is the dragon

[@Jfireprime]

TURTLES DON’T EXIST??

[@tokugeeky2931]

I already really love Gamera trilogy, this video just enrich it even more to me, my favorite monster is definitely Iris, while it rely bit more on CGI, the idea it like a wicked version of the Vermillion Bird is cool to me. Plus, it is one of the monster ever do the unthinkable, they let Iris slap an annoying kid off! I'm so sorry but I really don't like the whole, oh the kid hold the specific mcguffin that can save the days thing, I want my monsters brawl movie to be fair damn it! XD. So when Iris just slap the kid away I legit laugh like an idiot.

[@citavalo]

Oops I got no mana.

[@brianisom4889]

Gammera 3 the revenge of iras left a cliffhanger ending and another movie sequel! WTF happened?

[@timebrain3188]

The third film simply didn't get enough cash for a fourth film. However, there was a fan film made with the director's blessing called 'Gamera: Truth.' But good luck finding it

[@johnetheridge5833]

Heisei is godzilla's movie director not gamera's

[@antonyshannon2276]

Heisei is a time period not a director.