GAMERA: The Showa Era Retrospective - The Rise & Fall of a Cult Kaiju Icon

[@MattDraper]

Do you have a favorite Gamera movie?

[@njman1967]

Vs Viras

[@j.l.9689]

Gamera 2: Attack of Legion for Heisei, Gamera vs. Barugon for Showa.

[@FOXZILLA5734]

Gamera 2 advent of legion is my personal favorite

[@Godzilla-tu2cd]

The Gamera trilogy

[@RobertGrant-uc9xh]

Gamera 3 revenge of Iris

[@bensneb360]

There’s something just innocently enjoyable about 60s monster movies, maybe it’s the earnestness of the practical effects and all the bright colors but it’s just so much fun to watch

[@ericg1100]

Agree. I decided to watch godzilla from the beginning and i was kind of apprehensive about the showa era and how cheesy it is at points; however i came out with a massive appreciation in particular for ishiro honda, tsubaraya, and ifukube. They created the massive scale tent pole effects driven blockbuster, improving on what american cinema was doing at the time by increasing the scope a hundred fold. These movies are incredible, and even the bad ones are watchable. But when they get it riight, its absolute magic

[@ComicTropes]

Very fun episode.

[@MattDraper]

Gamera sparks joy!

[@Nm-oz2hy]

Holy crap I just came here from your lost media episode

[@rileywilliams4972]

13:32 "I love kaiju movies because they are these massive, over-the-top, metaphorical depictions of our relationship with the planet and society where urban anxieties smash together with the most over-the-top natural disasters." So well said. A friend asked why I like these types of films recently and I wish I gave as good as a response as that!

[@theweirdone3196]

A lot better than what I would have said. "Look I like giant rubber monster smashing each other and if you don't think that is the dopest shit, then get out"

[@connorbrennan4233]

Unlike James Rolfe who only seems to latch onto the monsters fighting and destroying buildings segments of these films.

[@carsonsmith7314]

I should have seen this coming. After all, Gamera is really neat, AND he's full of turtle meat. EDIT: Bonus points if you get that reference.

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

🎶Now we have commercial sign!🎶

[@NeoGato2point0]

MST3K: my introduction to Gamera

[@Hi_Just_Fred]

:p

[@TheRhythym]

We are eating Gamera~

[@dubuyajay9964]

*Cue Piano.*

[@rameybutler-hm7nx]

Gamera vs baragon is a good monster movie. I love the that it starts with a planned robberey of a small island. Its smartly written, and you gotta love the DEATH RAINBOW!!!

[@anthonyhudak9363]

I definitely would love a Pacific Rim retrospective. Mainly just the first one. I like to call it a better Independence Day than the actual Independence Day movie

[@Godzilla-jr5gi]

oh, come on Independence Day is easily Emmerich's best movie

[@CaralisTrevorum]

By coincidence I just finished watching the first Gamera film tonight; I was amazed by how slow and plodding it was. Good thing the sequels made it so fun.

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

It's about time you did a Gamera video. Gamera is a underrated Kaiju series. The 90s Gamera trilogy is top tier I highly recommend checking it out. You should also do a retrospective on Ultraman and the impact of the Ultra Series

[@MattDraper]

Yeah I love the Heisei Gamera movies! Ultraman is a series I’d love to cover, but it’s a massive undertaking.

[@hanolodo]

90s Gamera Trilogy was badass!!!

[@hanolodo]

@@MattDraper You can do it Matt! Ultraman is practically the Superman of the Tokusatsu genre

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

@@MattDraper just do Ultraman and Ultraseven for an introduction to newbies.

[@zackeryparkerson]

Children everywhere now feel protected.

[@Dennis94913]

The black and white cinematography is pretty dope.

[@Comicbroe405]

I've always been interested in watching more of the Gamera movies so I'm really thankful for this video. I had passed him off as a Godzilla clone until my Kaiju fanatic friend convinced me otherwise.

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

You gotta check out the 90s Gamera trilogy.

[@juniorjames7076]

In the late 70s, in my 3rd grade schoolyard, we either wanted to be Godzilla or Gamera!! Local Channel 5 would show several giant monster movies on Saturday afternoons, and Monday my friends would re-enact them. We thought Gamera was just a badasss, better and tougher than Mecha Godzilla or Rodan! Childhood memories!

[@mattyb1591]

I only had 1 Gamera movie as a kid and it was Gamera vs Gyaos I would watch it over and over again. Gyaos was one of my fav kaiju I’m glad he came back for future Gamera movies.

[@FOXZILLA5734]

The gamera series is such an interesting case, the showa series was an attempt to cash in godzilla's growing popularity but unfortunately it never did achieve the same success and stood in its shadow for many years at least that was the case until the next series I want to see you visit.

[@umbram8073]

Amazing timing, my partner and I just saw the original in theaters a few days ago (with live musical accompaniment) and we fell in love - we watched vs Gyaos and Jiger after but then jumped forward to the heisei era stuff as we didn't want to get our fill on Showa era stuff too fast - the 90s trilogy cemented my love for the series but I love me some Showa era Kaiju stuff, just in a different way than the heisei era Gamera has dance moves, Godzilla barely dances - he also is full of quippy roars I can easily imagine translations for, particularly in later ones - much better attitude, so it's an easy pick for me :p

[@TomFrichek]

You had me at Wu-Tang. 10/10 fricheks

[@j.l.9689]

Matt! You just made my day, I have been so looking forward to this series. Gamera is my favorite. Can't wait to watch this later.

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

I spent much of 2020 researching Gamera and binging these films on repeat, and so this video was perfect for me! I won't be making an episode of my show for Gamera as you cover the icon so effectively here, but I will certainly be pointing my viewers in your direction!

[@Duhad8]

Heck ya, love seeing a new retrospective from you, all of your work is great, but these deep dives into series you have allot of love for always stand out as special! Would love to see your thoughts on other films like this, be it more kaiju's or whatever else strikes your fancy!

[@Fancyether]

I love 40 minutes gamera showa era retrospectives gotta be one of my favorite genre's

[@Enshohma]

Wonderful surprise to wake up to! Thanks so much for this one! It wouldn't be a bad idea to tackle Toho's other kaiju, horror, and sci-fi films from the Showa-era as they are both directly and indirectly tied into the Godzilla series, covering the little known fact that Toho tried numerous other creature features until bringing back Godzilla proper. If we were to simplify, however, the two Toho produced films Frankenstein Conquerors the World and War of the Gargantuas would be neat.

[@TheGojiShay]

I second what my friend Enshohma says Mr Draper!

[@Enshohma]

@@TheGojiShay Thanks Shay!

[@JaguarCats]

A monster that literally melts in the presence of water. Hmmm, a kaiju that could be defeated by the Fire Department! Interesting!

[@alphawoolf5981]

Gamera VS Jiger is my favorite. Gamera's antagonist terrified me as a kid and still does. The rest of the Showa Gamera films are pretty dire to me. Honestly I'd recommend people new to Gamera movies watch Gamera Super Monster. You get all the monsters, an incredibly catchy song, and some of the trippiest characters going. Two thumbs up!

[@StorytimewithMayLynn]

Your Mox bleeding reference got you so much respect from me, brother!

[@tannith_toyart]

Gamera vs Guiron is my favourite and I was excited you rated it so high (cuz I see it get a lot of shit). It comes close to the level of enjoyability of some of the Showa Godzilla movies.

[@GreatLummoxFilms]

I've been binging your videos over the last couple weeks and being a huge fan of kaiju films, this is great. Gotta mention that Gamera vs Barugon was released in '66. Cant wait for the Heisei video!

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Excellent job. I've got a Ganera vinyl sitting on a shelf for about thirty years. I a huge fan 🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭🪭

[@stephenvelez9710]

You just helped me realize what to name one of my turtles. Duh. Can’t believe it took me this long. Thanks, Matt!

[@Zatrakus]

Video: opens with 'Battlecry' as the background track Me: LIKE!

[@eggsmcneil]

Please do a Zatoichi Retrospective! As always, quality work Matt.

[@chadgorosaurus4898]

The last showa gamera movie was a literal acid trip. Poor Gamera didn't want to even be in that crappy movie.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Calling it a acid trip would be a insult to godzilla vs hedorah lol Gamera super monster was godzilla's revenge times 10

[@fromhell13]

Calling Gamera the Jon Moxley of kaiju killed me.

[@silverwing4107]

It's great to see Matt finally moving forward to the Gamera series. I've been waiting for this a long time, you are the best KZbinr i ever meet in this area, keep doing your amazing work, bro! Here are some recommendations of monster movie series topics that I think you might be interested in researching after completing the Gamera video : 1. King Kong series (Original 33's classic, Son of Kong, 67's Toho version, 76's Dino De Laurentiis version, 86's King Kong Live, 05's Peter Jackson version, Monstervese) 2. Other non-Godzilla Toho independent monster/sci-fi movies (Invisible Avenger, Half Human, Rodan, The Mysterians, The H-Man, Varan The Unbelievable, The Three Treasures, Battle in Outer Space, The Secret Telegian, The Human Vapor, Showa Mothra, Gorath, Matango, Atragon, Dogora, Frankenstein vs Baragon, War of the Gargantuas, Latitude Zero, Space Amoeba, The War in Space, Gunhed, Orochi the Eight Headed Dragon, Heisei Mothra Trilogy, etc. ) 3. Other non-Gamera Daiei monster movies (The Invisible Man Appears, Warning form Space, The Invisible Man vs The Human Fly, Daimajin Trilogy, Yokai Trilogy, Takashi Miike's reboot version Great Yokai War, etc.) 4. All those Willis O 'Brien and Ray Harryhausen's Stop-motion animation monster movie classic 5. All those Universal and Hammer's Classic Monster movies (Although you've done a few videos on them here and there before, you haven't done them as an entire series like this, that maybe a good idea too? Just some thought.)

[@grandmofftarkin6961]

Genuinely superb video. My friends and I just finished our watching of the Showa Era this last weekend. Gamera: Super Monster was... difficult to get through... Seeing the warning to not watch it, I only thought, "Too late." Onto Heisei next, to see more of our good boi.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Sorry you had to sit through that pile of garbage called super monster.....makes godzilla's revenge look good in comparison

[@Godzilla-tu2cd]

I can't wait for Gamera rebirth. Welcome back Gamera 🎊🥳🎉

[@JoeLovesComics]

Hadn't even heard of Gamera before this so this was fascinating, great video!

[@isaacwillbanks3723]

We need more people like Matt calling out Moxley’s behavior. Bless.

[@mandalorianhunter1]

Thanks for this Matt, I was just watching your Godzilla retrospectives this weekend and now you got to Gamera, I'm happy for you. You don't get enough love.

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

You just cant help but love Gamera. Except super monster. We never talk aboit super monster

[@1505627]

In terms of your future Kaiju content, I'd love to see you tackle a Kaiju TV series, namely Ultraman

[@altohippiegabber]

"Gamera! Gamera! Gamera is really neat! Gamera is filled with meat! We've been eating Gamera!"

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

Next Please Create a Video about the Ultraman Era Showa, Heisei, New Gen., Reiwa, and Shin Reboot! Go on will you. Please...

[@WeBarelySober]

Bonus points for the Jon Moxley blading reference.

[@mbrooks007]

Gyaos is easily one of Gamera’s best opponents and when the two titans clash it truly is a sight to behold and as was the case with most of the monsters in the Gamera series Gyaos has multiple abilities, not only does this flying menace have the destructed wing power of Toho’s Rodan but he can also emit a powerful ultrasonic beam than can cut through anything, especially aircraft, like a hot knife through butter.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

Oh, this is gonna be a fun series of videos! Still hope that Kong can get the same treatment.

[@MattDraper]

He will! I'm waiting on Godzilla x Kong to tie it in.

[@MattyStoked]

🎵You are so cool GAMERA! You are so cool GAMERA! You are so cool GAMMEERRRRAAAAA! 🎵

[@TheGojiShay]

Sweet! Gamera vs Gyaos is my favorite Showa era Gamera flick too!

[@aikisteven0616]

We all love you Ga-Me-Ra!!!

[@yanchunchan9321]

The Showa Gamera kaiju have really charming designs, they look toy-like in the best ways possible. And with all the weird, nonsensical powers they have, it makes the films feel like kids coming up with stories while playing with their kaiju toys. Zigra's my favourite design-wise, love the goblin shark motif and how sleek and sharp he looks

[@SJHFoto]

16:00-I really respect what you are saying about the budget, but honestly, the "Japenese men in medical frocks...with wobbly octopus inside...with glowing eyes" was REALLY intense and scary for me as a kid! This was a different time, before really violent and intense stuff. (There were some violent films, but they were plainly adult, and I wasn't allowed to watch them) And this was 15-20 years later (I lived in a small town where the local theatre would show these movies in the theatre in the early 80s)

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Hmmmm. What’s a comment I can make to show I enjoyed the video but have zero knowledge on the subject matter to add to the conversation? “I like turtles” Nailed it.

[@MattDraper]

CLASSIC

[@BagggyKat]

It's wild watching this immediately after finishing the franchise off for myself yesterday

[@BlueScarabGuy]

A great, concise, fun look at these films. I was aware that Yuasa directed all of them but Barugon, but I don’t think I knew that they were all done by the same screenwriter as well! Really just two dudes and their crew trying to find fun things to do with their creation and make the kids cheer. Can't wait for the inevitable upcoming video that's just half an hour fawning over the Kaneko trilogy, with its combination of Kazunori Ito (of Ghost in the Shell and Dot Hack) on scripts, Shadow of the Colossus composer Kow Otani on music, and second coming of Eiji Tsuburaya himself Shinji the GOAT Higuchi on special effects, which cost half as much as their Godzilla contemporaries and look at least three times better.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the amazing video Matt ❤

[@Itta_Pupu]

LETS GOOOOO MATT DRAPER GAMERA SERIES

[@buffriku9998]

YESSSS ITS FINALLY TIME FOR GAMERA

[@jesusfernandez974]

Great video Matt 👍.

[@tecpaocelotl]

I remember they would play Gamera english dubbed films on tv in the 80s. It was mostly the first film so that would be my favorite even if it has that dumb kid. Lol. As for Pacific Rim. I saw it in theaters and cried. It reminded me of a time that my thought was trying to get me off my dream of being a dream bc i wanted to make giant robot versus monster films. My dad would repeatly tell me, no American studio is going to give a high budget to a Mexican to make those type of films. When I shown him the movie and saw the credits and saw Guillermo del Toro as director, he apologized to me.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Idk why your father would make such a dumb assumption when anyone of any race and background can be a movie director or writer or actor.

[@maingamer6846]

Will we be getting a Heisei Era follow up video?

[@MattDraper]

Yes definitely

[@pouliotlouis-felix9189]

I can’t wait for the video on the Heisei Godzilla series

[@godzilla4189]

Already did one. Unless thats the joke. XD

[@pouliotlouis-felix9189]

@@godzilla4189 I meant Gamera… sorry…

[@godzilla4189]

@@pouliotlouis-felix9189 np

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

Once I found out about Gamera, it always intrigued me. I do hope he gets the resurgence he deserves. I'll always believe in the true guardian of the universe!

[@Dookieman1975]

Well looks like rebirth is gonna do it. Kinda hope he’s more so just a territorial animal than a hero

[@gregormcscrungus9727]

@@Dookieman1975 That's Godzilla's shtick, Gamera is a hero

[@alabamafreak]

^ Yeah, and that's also what makes him unique from Godzilla

[@Mastervading4306]

Gotta watch the new series to show that there is an interest in Gamera.

[@kcadventures1454]

Another banger Matt!

[@BasementDweller_]

I want Gamera to finally fight Godzilla.

[@oscarnjboy]

LOVED LOVED THIS! Also, was that Kenny omegas theme i heard near the end?

[@MattDraper]

Like Kenny, Gamera is not actually from NOOOOOOOORTH CAROLINA!

[@oscarnjboy]

@@MattDraper Dude, one day I would love to have you guest on my podcast ❤ Please tell me you're available

[@bZman]

That Kiss Kiss Bang Bang reference, nice!

[@ChadHolzhuter1288]

Glad someone else noticed that!! 😅

[@jasonsantos3037]

Gamera started as a Godzilla Cashgrab and became the most iconic monster in Japan 2nd only to godzilla. 🐢🦖🦍

[@geekinggrounds2917]

That is 100% Battle Cry Kenny Omega's theme song playing in the background at the start of the vid, and I love it

[@christianmanka3884]

I love Gamera

[@SJHFoto]

Even as a kid, I always liked the wacky spaceships. One reminds me of a bunch of bee abdomens (so I called it "The Hive Ship"), and another like a bowl with cereal in it (so I called it "The Fruit Loops") Hehe!

[@Backlashed]

Vs Baragon is the only Showa entry without a Kenny.

[@juniorjames7076]

In the late 70s, in my 3rd grade schoolyard, you either wanted to be Godzilla or Gamera!! Gamera was just a badasss, better and tougher than Mecha Godzilla or Rodan! Childhood memories!

[@josephrouleau9259]

11:16 you almost have to wonder if Barugon is exclusively vulnerable to liquid water and the writers conceived of his freezing spray as a defense mechanism against it.

[@ian-wy5fw]

Great video

[@scottmcfarlane7524]

I just finished bradon cult review gamra thon lol great timing

[@njman1967]

❤ Gamera ! Thanks for uploading

[@VideoGaming4U]

loved the gamera movies!

[@calebmarmon1310]

I didn’t need to be evangelized on Godzilla, but Gamera? Yeah, give me the 40 min elevator pitch. I think I could get hooked.

[@BizarroMario]

The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang line got a good laugh out of me. Love that movie

[@KKAkuoku]

Cannot wait to hear you gush over Heisei Gamera. And I assume you'll pick G3 as your favorite, yes?

[@godzilla4189]

Would love to see a retrospective on the Non Godzilla Toho films, including the films about other individual monsters (Mothra, Rodan, Varan), which could include Rebirth of Mother and the Yamato Takeru movie (IE Orochi the Eight Headed Monster). Would be neat, but not full of Turtle meat. ;)

[@DirtiestDMusic]

I never expected to hear Gamera compared to Jon Moxley, but I'm glad I did.

[@ThePopCultureGeek]

Oh this is gonna be good

[@thrashfan911]

Love the Wu-Tang reference!

[@TravelsTTG]

Oh shit! This is a good day!

[@seanmckelvey6618]

The Showa films have their charms, but Gamera really came into his own in the Heisei era. The 90s trilogy outshone the Godzilla movies of the same time in almost every way, on a considerably smaller budget & with the added baggage of Gamera being "the other one". I'm glad the anime series is coming out, because Gamera has been in hibernation for far too long.

[@MrBrandonStar]

i enjoyed gamera too can't wait for gamera rebirth

[@graefx]

I still love Pacific Rim, that theme is one of the all time classics. I never watched any of the subsequent media but the first one is just everything it needs to be

[@cameronwiscovitch4186]

Quick clarification I wanted to give 19:19 Guiron is NOT an inspiration for Knifehead in Pacific Rim. The film's director, Guillermo Del Toro, went on record to state that Knifehead's designer, Wayne Barlowe, wasn't even aware Guiron existed when he drew the silhouette for the kaiju. Any similarities between the two are purely coincidental. Guiron does, however, make a brief appearance in Pacific Rim: Uprising as a skull on a monitor, along with other established kaiju.

[@MattDraper]

Interesting!

[@greenkoopa]

He's the hero of all turtlekind 🐢

[@kimodogyt7431]

the most awaited moment for all latin america united

[@slyferyuki1908]

we need Gamera and Godzilla team up on screen! Let it happen!

[@tayloredwards4968]

Do you think we'll ever get a gamera versus Godzilla movie

[@carsonsmith7314]

I hope there will be. I won't hold my breath though.

[@MattDraper]

I’d love it, but I think it won’t happen for a while if it ever does

[@jonathankozenko]

I love your Top 8, and would only swap 1 & 3 -- primarily, I like that you have Vs Guiron as #2, as to me that was the cheesy aspect of the franchise in peak form. Like, they knew that they couldn't make an objectively high-quality movie out of the low budget and outrageously silly premise, so they almost seemed to take pride in how much cheesy fun they could pump into it. As many scholars have said, "Know Thine Self" -- Gamera Vs Guiron is the epitome of that in respects to low-budget Kaiju films!

[@kennyteeology3526]

Gamera seemed to be even more like "The Beast from 20000 Fathoms" than the original Gojira.

[@animezilla4486]

Great video are you aware there's an upcoming Gamera anime coming to Netflix

[@nickducharme5104]

I will be watching the 1990s gamera movies. I hope to see him in a new Godzilla or Godzilla v.s Kong movie

[@bayshoresroofcleaning3008]

Do you know where I can find those posters? I'm looking for them and the DVD's. Thanks

[@DiegoReviews]

That Star Destroyer rip-off is SHAMELESS!

[@christianmanka3884]

Gamera vs Jiger is my favorite of the showa series.

[@dodgerthedudeoriginal]

UFO turtle!