AYURA - New Kaiju Film From The Makers of GODZILLA VS. GIGAN REX!
The team behind the CG shorts GODZILLA VS. GIGAN REX and GODZILLA VS. MEGALON have reunited for the new kaiju movie AYURA. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
At "Godzilla Fest 2022", Toho premiered the computer animated short film, GODZILLA VS. GIGAN REX (ゴジラ VS ガイガンレクス, Gojira VS Gaigan Rekusu), from the studio's digital production brand GEMSTONE Creative Label. The film was written and directed by Takuya Kaminishi, who had worked for the VFX studio Shirogumi on the movies SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016), SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman, 2022) and GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0, ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan, 2023). Kaminishi's film was produced by Shirogumi and Tokai Production, a video production company founded by Akihiro Shibata, creator of the first GEMSTONE short, GIFU GODZILLA (岐阜ゴジラ, Gifu Gojira). GODZILLA VS. GIGAN REX was a hit with Godzilla fans worldwide, racking up millions of views on YouTube.
The following year, Kaminishi and Shibata partnered on the sequel, GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (ゴジラVSメガロ, Gojira VS Megaro). The new short debuted at "Godzilla Fest 2023," was also a YouTube hit, and was recently shown in Japanese theaters as part of the omnibus film, GEMNIBUS vol.1 (ジェムニバス vol. 1, Jemunibāsu Boryūmu Wan).
Shibata and Kaminishi are teaming up again for a new kaiju short film named AYURA (アユラ) from Tokai Production. Akihiro Shibata is directing while Takuya Kaminishi is handling the special effects for the movie. AYURA is produced in cooperation with the Gifu prefecture where the offices of Tokai Production are based. The filmmakers want to share the charm of Gifu with audiences in the hope of encouraging tourism to the area.
Tokai Production has launched a fundraising campaign for the project that will run through September 30th on the Japanese crowdfunding site OCOS. It has been a tremendous success, already surpassing 550% of the target goal.
Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
STORY
The Ayu sweetfish, a breed common in the waters of Japan, is mutated into a giant monster with many tails. The beast “Ayura” attacks Gifu prefecture, destroying buildings and forcing the populace to run for their lives.
Kaoru, a young government employee, is bewildered by this bizarre and terrifying situation. But her senior, Nanami, tells her, “You have a real job to do."
What can Kaoru and the people of Gifu Prefecture do to stand up against Ayura? And what role will the cormorant-type weapon “Mekau” play?*
*The name is also spelled "Mechau" in some materials for this movie.
Ayura concept art by Takuya Kaminishi. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
The Mekau. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
About Tokai Production Co., Ltd.
Tokai Production is a company established by members with experience in the film, television, and photography industries. Now that videos can be distributed through various means such as the Internet and SNS, we aim to create videos that will remain in people's memories, rather than simply be a record.
We provide a variety of promotional videos and photos tailored to your purpose, such as introductions to companies, products, web services, and apps that specialize in directing, recruitment information, event exhibitions, and TV commercials.
The team behind the CG shorts GODZILLA VS. GIGAN REX and GODZILLA VS. MEGALON have reunited for the new kaiju movie AYURA. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
Ayura concept art by Takuya Kaminishi. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
The Mekau. Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura
Photo courtesy of Tokai Production. TM & ⒸAyura