Can Godzilla Survive Without Camp?

Can he survive without it? Sure. Is it a part of the character that should be embraced? Absolutely. Campiness is part of the franchise as that's perfectly fine. It's not a bad thing--It's a style--One that's made the series fun and unique unto itself.

Will we see it again anytime soon? Hard to say. Godzilla: King of the Monsters certainly has a chance to implement it the right way, ala, Pacific Rim or even Kong: Skull Island. But I don't know if Dougherty is as skilled at utilizing it as del Toro.

David Kalat goes into this in his commentary for Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster. I would suggest checking it out to get an interesting opinion on the matter. Also, you get to watch Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster.

Anything I would personally add has already been said by Gman.

Honestly, I think animation is the way to go for campiness.

You can get away with a lot more bold gags and expressions in an animated medium with giant monsters than you could in live-action, at least in my own personal opinion.

Serious portrayal or campy portrayal, I am fine with both. KOTM is clearly going with the serious portrayal.

Of course, a serious portrayal of the big G can still mean a fun movie to watch.

While it is true that the 70’s were campy - we must remember that Gojira 1954 was a very serious film that was a response to the horrors Japan faced as a result of the nuclear bomb. It also was a love story. In the 80’s and forward Gojira again became a force against mankind’s disregard for the planet.

Of course, we have to remove the American bastardizations and dubs - especially 1955 King of the Monsters, King Kong V Godzilla 1963, Godzilla 1995 and Godzilla 1998. I love all of these films but let’s face it - you can’t take them serious. Ok, Gojira vs King Ghidorah and the beach scene with the Godzillasarus is pretty hilarious too. And there is Final Wars which is a blast for us Gojira fans but for a TOHO work - Uhm yeah we only have to remember “X”.

Godzilla 2014 was a serious work just think of it as an introduction to the big guy with 11 minutes of screen time. I know we are all excited to see what the last two films are like.

Netflix’s joint venture with TOHO was very well made. If you love anime like me and love Gojira - you should see them. Serious work for sure.

Hanna Barbara Godzilla and Godzooky - you need to be a G fan. All cartoons sucked then - trust me as I was a kid then.

The 1998 Godzilla cartoon wasn’t campy and was actually better than the movie.

Shin Godzilla 2016 - many hate it. I love it. It was serious and I hate that it won’t be continued.

This brings us full circle to the question of survival without camp and the Gojira Universe. I think this is an incredible idea on Toho’s part. With the successes of Marvel and DC rebooting characters from a serious side, it only makes sense that Gojira and the monster island gang get the same shot. Can you imagine Varan, Gorosaurus, Angiuras, Gigan and King Ghidorah being reworked from a modern realistic perspective? I am chomping at the bit.

As one who has watched Gojira since 1962 and knows every detail by heart - I want a serious view that returns to when Gojira was nominated for two Japanese academy awards and won one for special effects  (the other was 7 samurai, there was no way Gojira could beat it for best picture). I love the camp it makes me laugh so hard. I would recommend watching all in Japanese as they are not as campy.

Yoosh!

"I want a serious view that returns to when Gojira was nominated for two Japanese academy awards and won one for special effects  (the other was 7 samurai, there was no way Gojira could beat it for best picture)."

The Japanese Academy Awards didn't exist until 1978. It was a different program back in 1954. (The Japanese Movie Association awards I believe.)

Also, Shin Godzilla was nominated for 11 Japanese Academy Awards and won 7, so... wish granted?