TOKYO Night & Light Celebrates Godzilla's 70th Anniversary With Kaiju-Sized Projected Videos

Two Godzilla videos are being projected on Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1. Photos courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD. © Tokyo Projection Mapping Executive Committee. All Rights Reserved.

Source: TOKYO Night & Light PR Office press releases

In an effort to revitalize nighttime tourism, TOKYO Night & Light has been using the East wall of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1, one of Tokyo's landmarks, as a canvas to express a variety of art with light and sound is shown throughout the year.

According to the 2023 edition of the "World Power City Rankings (Mori Memorial Foundation Institute for Urban Strategies)," Tokyo ranks third overall after London and New York, but 30th in "nightlife richness." To change this situation, "projection mapping," which is created with high artistic quality and world-leading technology, isbeing used as a new tourism resource for Tokyo and, by extension, Japan.

In the projection mapping TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, images created by Japanese and international creators are projected precisely and with world-class brightness using 40 devices. The projection area is 13,904.956 m2, and it has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the "largest permanent projection mapping exhibition on a building." This initiative began on February 25, 2024, and as of October 31, 2024, approximately 390,000 people, including people from overseas, have enjoyed it.

Among the subjects projected by TOKYO Night & Light this year is Godzilla, who has been featured in two shorts videos. the first was was released this spring and is still being screened to great acclaim. The second will debut on November 30th.

■ The connection between Godzilla and Shinjuku

Godzilla is a globally popular icon that Japan is proud of, as evidenced by the worldwide success of GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0/ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan), a film released last year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the character. The Shinjuku area and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building are locations with deep connections to Godzilla.

In THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (ゴジラ, Gojira, 1984), the super-weapon Super X fought a fierce battle against Godzilla in the skyscraper business district of Nishi-Shinjuku. And, in the climax of GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (ゴジラvsキングギドラ, Gojira Tai Kingu Gidora, 1991), Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 was severely damaged during the fight between Godzilla and Mecha-King Ghidorah.

In 2015, a 12-meter tall Godzilla head was displayed atop the Shinjuku Toho Building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, and Godzilla was appointed as a special envoy for Shinjuku tourism.

GODZILLA: ATTACK ON TOKYO

■ Synopsis

Godzilla suddenly attacks the First Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The human race is determined to intercept Godzilla with a new super-weapon, the Super X2 Kai, but...

■This is the first attack on Shinjuku since GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH was released in 1991!

Godzilla appears in the Shinjuku New Urban Center area for the first time since the 1991 attack on Shinjuku. After 33 years, Godzilla appears and destroys the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with far more power than expected. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government scrambles the Super X2 Kai, an anti-Godzilla mech that had been secretly developed.

Who will win the battle between Godzilla and Super X2 Kai? And will a savior appear?

■A 100-meter-sized Godzilla will appear before your eyes!

A life-size Godzilla destroys the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and appears before your eyes, a feat only possible through projection mapping on the largest scale ever achieved. You will be able to experience the real Godzilla, which no one has ever seen before, with your whole body!

■Using the Godzilla suit from the Heisei VS series

The 100-meter tall Godzilla from the "Heisei VS Series" appears in this projection mapping, which was filmed using the Godzilla suit from the Heisei VS series. The finished video was created by combining special effects and computer graphics. This powerful Godzilla, projected on the side of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in a life-size scale, makes a great stand against the Super X2 Kai and is a must-see!

■Credits

Director: Kazuhiro Nakagawa

Planning / Supervision

TOHO CO., LTD.
Tetsuya Yoshikawa
Gai Kato
Movie Production

TOHO EIZO BIJUTSU Co., Ltd.
Shingo Kori
Matsutaro Tsuruga

AID-DCC Inc.
Senior Producer / Director: Takayuki Kitai
Technical Designer / Motion Graphics Designer: Shigetoshi Higashino
Art Director / Designer: Kenjiro Nakayama
Project Manager: Kayoko Sekiguchi

Digital Media Lab., Inc.
VFX・CG Producer: Masatoshi Kobayashi
VFX Artist: Takehiro Hamaguchi

Imaginarypower, Inc
VFX Director: Takashi Sakai

Sound Design / Sound Architect: Makoto Shozu
Suit Actor: Naoya Matsumoto
Cinematographer: Yutaka Adachi
Photography Assistant: Satoshi Yamazaki
Lighting Engineer: Satoshi Fujii
Gaffer: Akira Watanabe / Kotone Inui
Practical Effects; Kenji Kawaguchi
Operation Assistant: Yu Kawamura
Set Carpenter: Shinichirou Nakamura
Production Staff: Kumi Hamakawa

Screening Start Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024

TOKYO GODZILLAs

■Godzilla, King of the Monsters: 70 Years of Evolution

From “Godzilla” to “Godzilla-1.0”, successive Godzillas attack the city of Tokyo! The appearance of Godzilla at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is projected on a huge screen, and its timeless power attracts viewers. Don't miss the overwhelming finale in which all the previous Godzillas come together at the end!

Godzilla (1954) from GODZILLA. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. ©TOHO CO., LTD.

Godzilla (1995) from GODZILLA VS. DESTROROYAH. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. ©TOHO CO., LTD.

■Godzilla 70th Anniversary Commemorates Godzilla's Successive Generations

Please enjoy the 70-year history of Godzilla with seven different Godzillas, including Godzilla (1954), popularly known as the “First Godzilla”; Godzilla (1995), known as “Burning Godzilla” after his appearance in GODZILLA VS. DESTROROYAH (ゴジラＶＳデストロイア, Gojira Tai Desutoroia); and Godzilla (2016), popularized in SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira); and the latest Godzilla (2023), which drew worldwide attention in the latest movie GODZILLA MINUS ONE.
Godzilla (2016) from SHIN GODZILLA. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD.

Godzilla (2023) from GODZILLA MINUS ONE. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD.

Godzilla (2002) from GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD.

Godzilla (2004) from GODZILLA: FINAL WARS. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD.

Chibi Godzilla. Photo courtesy of TOKYO Night & Light. © TOHO CO., LTD.

■Completely original and powerful video depicting a fusion of special effects and computer graphics

Continuing from the previous film, the first half of the film was shot using a combination of special effects and CG with the Godzilla suit, while the second half was shot in full CG with Godzilla laying waste to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The timeless visual beauty of the film, which makes full use of the reality of special effects and the latest technology of CG, must be seen.

■An unprecedented Godzilla visual experience created together with Shirogumi

In addition to Nakagawa, who directed the previous film, Shirogumi, the visual effects studio that worked on SHIN GODZILLA and GODZILLA MINUS ONE, participated in the production of this film. The film is a stunning visual experience that expresses the power and terror of Godzilla in an even more realistic manner!

■Credits

Planning / Supervision: TOHO CO., LTD.
Movie Production: Toho Visual Arts Co., Ltd., Episcope Co., Ltd., Shirogumi Co., Ltd., Marine Post Co., Ltd., AID DCC Co., Ltd.
Director : Kazuhiro Nakagawa

■Screening Schedule

Screening Start Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024

Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 5:30 p.m. - / 6:30 p.m. - / 7:30 p.m. - / 8:30 p.m. - / 9:30 p.m.

*Projection mapping shows other contents in addition to the above screening times (Please see the special website for details).

GODZILLA: ATTACK ON TOKYO and TOKYO GODZILLAs Director

■ Kazuhiro Nakagawa

Born in Nara, Japan in 1986, he studied under Shinji Higuchi and Takashi Miike and participated as an assistant director in films such as SHIN GODZILLA (2016). He was also selected for the Young Filmmakers Development Project and directed FAREWELL DIAMOND (さらば、ダイヤモンド, Saraba, Daiyamondo, 2018). His major directorial works include special effects films such as the "Fes Godzilla" series (2019-2024) and ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā, 2023), as well as DOUBLE (ダブル, Daburu, 2022), CHRONICLE OF WHITE DUSK (白暮のクロニクル, Hakubo no Kuronikuru) and MASS-PRODUCTION RIKO (量産型リコ, Ryōsan-gata Riko, 2024), and he has worked in a wide range of genres.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Projection Mapping "TOKYO Night & Light" Overview

Dates: Screening every day except in bad weather

Projection Surface: East wall of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1

Viewing Location: Citizens Square (2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)

Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Projection Mapping Executive Committee

About Toho Co. Ltd.

Toho Company provides high-quality entertainment to a wide range of customers through its film production, distribution, and exhibition business, which is solidly supported by its real estate business including the Shinjuku Toho Building and Hibiya Chante, animation production, DVD software production and sales, and TOHO Cinemas' efforts to expand its network of multiplex cinemas. Among these, "Godzilla," which has been around since 1954, is Toho's flagship IP that has many fans around the world and has been loved for many years.