Saturday Night Showcase: Godzilla: the original animated series

Were it not for the two-parter I was already doing, this would have been posted last week, when I was discussing Godzilla, the forthcoming IDW comic. Yes, tonight it is time to look at the animated version of the King of the Monsters. I decided not to go with episode #1, but instead a later episode, as Godzilla fights a giant turtle.

No, not him.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/205097

Someday I plan to go into greater detail about this series, mistreated by some fans because of details like altered Godzilla powers, or the human character. Or Godzooki, who gets sadly little love.

In the credits you see the name “Henry G. Sapserstein”. A quick Wikipedia search says that he was responsible for bringing some of the Toho monster flicks to the US (Invasion of the Astro-Monster, one of the Godzilla movies, as well as War of the Gargantuans are mentioned in the article), so I’m assuming that he helped Hanna-Barbera get the Godzilla licence.

However, he didn’t get rights the famous roar, so voice artist Ted Cassidy would take on the role (with the late Don Messick as Godzooki). Apparently, Cassidy also voiced the Incredible Hulk in the live-action series, yet it was Lou Ferigno “they” wanted for the UPN animated series. Oh, and Cassidy apparently had a more famous role.

I’ll give you a hint. He’s really tall, and had his own dance. Wrap your mind around that. 🙂

(Wikipedia also says that the American movie didn’t get the rights, but attempted to make one that sounded like it, and this is the one used in the spin-off cartoon of that film.)

None of the other Toho monsters were licensed as well. Whether they didn’t try or it wasn’t available I wouldn’t know, but Marvel (who was making the comic version at the time) didn’t try to and neither did Dark Horse when they had their run, at least as far as I know. IDW is the first to actually get any of the other monsters, and I’m curious to see what they do with it.

Sadly, only the first season is available (legally) on DVD or Hulu. I’m hoping they release the rest of the shows soon. I enjoyed it as a kid and some of the best stuff was in season 2.

Related Articles

• Tronix’s Ideas For IDW’s Godzilla pt.1: what I want to see (bwmedia.wordpress.com)
• Tronix’s Ideas For IDW Godzilla pt 2: Team Godzilla (bwmedia.wordpress.com)
• Tronix’s Ideas For IDW Godzilla finale: the bad guys (bwmedia.wordpress.com)