Heisei era (daikaiju eiga)
Encyclopedia
In the context of Japanese monster cinema (daikaiju
eiga) the Heisei Era refers not to the current era
in Japan but to all kaiju eiga made between 1984
(Toho
's The Return of Godzilla
) and 1999
(Toho's Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
, before Kadokawa Pictures
released Gamera the Brave
). It follows the Shōwa era
by several years but closely precedes the Millennium era
, which begins with Godzilla 2000
, also released in 1999. Even though The Return of Godzilla
was produced and released toward the end of Japan's Showa era, it is considered part of the daikaiju (giant monster) Heisei series since it started a new continuity that continued on through the true Heisei era in Japan.
Within the Godzilla
and Gamera
film franchises, this term refers to the VS Series (1984's The Return of Godzilla
to 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
) and Gamera
Trilogy (1995's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
to 1999's Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
), respectively. During that era, there was also the Rebirth of Mothra
trilogy.
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
eiga) the Heisei Era refers not to the current era
Heisei
is the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...
in Japan but to all kaiju eiga made between 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
(Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
's The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
) and 1999
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
(Toho's Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
is a 1999 Kaiju film. It is the third and last film in the Gamera Heisei series, and the last to be distributed by Toho. It was released in the United States on DVD in 2003 under the title Gamera: Revenge of Iris.-Plot:...
, before Kadokawa Pictures
Kadokawa Pictures
is a Japanese movie studio.-History:One of the most famous studios in Japan and founded in 1942 as , it is best known for having produced the giant monster Gamera film series and the Daimajin Trilogy. It also produced the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyoshiro film series and the television series Shōnen Jet...
released Gamera the Brave
Gamera the Brave
Gamera the Brave, released in Japan as , is a kaiju film released in 2006, produced by Kadokawa Pictures. This is the 12th and final Gamera film and the first produced by Kadokawa Pictures after they purchased a percentage of the remaining assets of Daiei Motion Picture Company, the original...
). It follows the Shōwa era
Showa era (daikaiju eiga)
In the terminology of daikaiju eiga the Shōwa Era refers not to the actual reign of the Shōwa emperor but to all daikaiju eiga made between 1954 and 1980...
by several years but closely precedes the Millennium era
Mireniamu era (daikaiju eiga)
In the terminology of daikaiju eiga the Millennium Era refers not to the third millennium but to all daikaiju eiga made since 1999, beginning with Toho's Godzilla 2000, which was jump-started in response to the America Godzilla film. The most recent film of the era is Daiei's Gamera the Brave...
, which begins with Godzilla 2000
Godzilla 2000
is a 1999 Japanese science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura. It was the twenty-third film released in the Godzilla series. It is the only film to feature Orga. The film was released on December 11, 1999...
, also released in 1999. Even though The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
was produced and released toward the end of Japan's Showa era, it is considered part of the daikaiju (giant monster) Heisei series since it started a new continuity that continued on through the true Heisei era in Japan.
Within the Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
and Gamera
Gamera
is a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
film franchises, this term refers to the VS Series (1984's The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
to 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
) and Gamera
Gamera
is a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
Trilogy (1995's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
, is a 1995 Kaiju film directed by Shusuke Kaneko. It is a reboot of the Gamera film franchise. It is the ninth entry in the Gamera film series and first in Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera trilogy. It was followed by Attack of The Legion and Revenge of Iris....
to 1999's Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
is a 1999 Kaiju film. It is the third and last film in the Gamera Heisei series, and the last to be distributed by Toho. It was released in the United States on DVD in 2003 under the title Gamera: Revenge of Iris.-Plot:...
), respectively. During that era, there was also the Rebirth of Mothra
Rebirth of Mothra
Rebirth of Mothra, released in Japan as , is the first in a trilogy of Kaiju films produced by Toho, in which Mothra's son saves the world from environment-threatening monsters. This film features the monsters Mothra, Mothra Leo, Fairy Mothra, Desghidorah , and Garugaru...
trilogy.