Godzilla Anime Fans Are Outraged Over The MechaGodzilla (SPOILER)
The first Godzilla anime hit Netflix earlier this year and premiered an unfathomably large incarnation of Godzilla for Western audiences. This entry was only the beginning as two more films have been scheduled as part of a new animated trilogy. The sequel, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, has been touting the arrival of the robotic kaiju MechaGodzilla and features an updated look at the gargantuan metal beast across its marketing and social media. Toho Animation has now officially premiered the second Godzilla anime film in Japan and one spoiler-y aspect has fans outraged. Spoilers for Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle follow!
The Godzilla fervor began when Toho Kingdom member Nicholas Driscoll shared their experience with the film during its opening day. Sadly, it seems the sequel’s first showing was a disappointing one. Not only was this premiere hit by poor marketing and attendance, but the ensuing Godzilla anime also featured no shortage of letdowns. The biggest of these ire-inspiring reveals was MechaGodzilla itself or the lack thereof, as the robotic rival is reportedly barely in the movie at all.
Driscoll describes the all-out monster brawls that most would expect as “few and far between,” adding that City on the Edge of Battle features even less action than the first Godzilla anime film. The monstrous omissions were said to be so widespread that MechaGodzilla doesn’t even get to fight with the series’ supergiant Godzilla Earth.
For all intents and purposes, Mechagodzilla is not in this movie. There is a city called Mechagodzilla City which I think was at least partially made from Mechagodzilla leftover parts, but I can’t speak in detail about that because I may have misunderstood the dialogue. I can only remember the briefest of glimpses of the somewhat insectoid interpretation of the robot itself from the poster.
We never see a full body that I can recall (maybe in the background somewhere?), and we certainly never see it moving or attacking Godzilla. I kept expecting the giant robot to make an appearance, but it never does. This despite all the merchandise, the action figures, and the teaser poster that prominently feature the striking new Mechagodzilla design.”
MechaGodzilla’s sparse animated appearance after so much hype is surely a bummer for fans. It’s a pretty puzzling decision to cut the giant mech’s scenes short, especially with how prevalent the character was in the film’s marketing. Driscoll went on to point out that this year’s easter egg-filled Ready Player One featured a far-and-away longer screen time for MechaGodzilla, and even showed the big bot in action.
Just to be clear: Ready Player One (2018) has a new Mechagodzilla design that we actually see in action. Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018) does not. We see more of the giant robot in Ready Player One than we do in Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle. I am really quite dumbfounded by this decision, and the exclusion of Mechagodzilla I think is going to really tick off a LOT of fans. It seriously disappointed me.”
While the film is devoid of much MechaGodzilla, the rest of Driscoll’s impressions say the Godzilla anime sequel is not completely without merit. The film is said to actually hold quite a few spectacular and surprising moments despite the disappointment. For those willing to check it out for themselves, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle is in the middle of its limited run in Japanese theaters, where afterwards the film will debut domestically on Netflix.
What do you think? Are you upset that MechaGodzilla was barely featured in the Godzilla anime, or do you feel the metal monster will end up appearing in the third movie instead? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more from the anime realm, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
