For years, Toho has been sitting on 4K remasters of Godzilla classics. While these movies have been shown via broadcast, there have been no plans to release them on home video outside of King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) in 2021. Finally, after years of speculation and crossed fingers, seven other 4K remasters of the Godzilla franchise will finally be released in Japan.
Toho Video has announced the seven titles will be released in waves between October 25, 2023 through December 20, 2023, encompassing the release window for Godzilla Minus One this November 3rd. The movies will be released on both 4K Ultra HD and a 2K downscale of the 4K remasters will also hit regular Blu-ray disc. (Common practice as UHD is less popular in Japan.)
Wave One - October 25th, 2023
Godzilla (1954)
Special Features & Specs:
- HD remaster of the Cinemascope version of "Godzilla, King of the Monsters"
- Akira Takarada Audio Commentary
- Trailers
- Still Gallery
- Akira Ifukube Interview
- The Oxygen Destroyer
- Re-orchestrated Godzilla Theme
- Unused Godzilla Footage
- Barrier-free Japanese Subtitles
- Original Mono Audio
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
Special Features & Specs:
- Champion Festival "Mothra vs. Godzilla" (’70 re-release HD upgrade)
- Behind-the-Scenes 8mm Film
- Unused Special Effects Footage
- Kenji Sahara Audio Commentary
- Trailers
- Still Gallery
- The World of Godzilla Modeling
- "Mothra vs. Godzilla” Battle Sketch Collection
- "Mothra Attacks Tokyo" 8mm + flexi-disc
- Picture Book "Mothra Attacks Tokyo."
- Japanese Subtitles
- Original Mono Audio
- 5.1 Audio Remix
You can pre-order Godzilla (1954) here and Mothra vs. Godzilla here.
Wave Two - November 22, 2023
Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster (1964)
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
Wave Three - December 20, 2023:
Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
Cover art and special features for the second and third waves will be reported as the information comes.
It's important to note that these releases will not have English subtitles to them, as has been standard practice for Toho Video releases since they started releasing DVDs. However, we doubt that will stop some fans around the world from importing these great transfers. Hopefully an overseas distributor, such as Criterion, will rerelease these films on 4K soon!
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Source:
Note.com
More to explore from the Monsterverse:
- About Godzilla x Kong: Supernova
- Godzilla x Kong: Supernova forum
- Godzilla x Kong: Supernova Image Gallery
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2
- Spin-off Godzilla series
Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will hit theaters on March 26th, 2027!
More to explore from Toho:
- Godzilla Minus One sequel now in development!