March of the Monsters: Looking Back at Godzilla vs. Gigan and Godzilla vs. Megalon

March has often been an important time for the King of the Monsters. In Japan, the season coincides with school holidays and the beginning of spring, making it a natural place on the calendar for moviemakers to present titles aimed at younger audiences. During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, TOHO Studios organized many of these releases through its TOHO Champion Festival programs, where kaiju films appeared alongside animated shorts and other family features.

Among the Godzilla films produced for release during the TOHO Champion Festival were Godzilla vs. Gigan, released on March 12, 1972, and Godzilla vs. Megalon, which followed on March 17, 1973. Made during a period when the series leaned toward fast-paced adventure and clear-cut heroics, both films present Godzilla as a heroic defender who joins forces with allies to face new and unusual threats.

Godzilla vs. Gigan

Directed by Jun Fukuda, Godzilla vs. Gigan was the twelfth film in the Godzilla series. The story follows a group of people investigating a new theme park built around a giant Godzilla-shaped tower. Their curiosity reveals a hidden masterplan that soon draws Earth’s monsters into the conflict.

Godzilla and Anguirus respond to the threat and confront two powerful opponents: Gigan and King Ghidorah. Gigan, making its debut in the series, is one of the era’s most distinctive creatures, with a partially mechanical body, curved hooks for hands, and a spinning blade embedded in its chest.

The film builds toward a sequence of battles in which Godzilla and Anguirus work together to overcome their opponents. One remarkable moment occurs when the two kaiju allies briefly communicate verbally with each other, a playful scene that reflects the lighter tone of the period.

Behind the scenes, Godzilla vs. Gigan aimed to deliver intense monster battles while keeping the story easy to follow. Director Jun Fukuda had already guided several entries in the series (including Son of Godzilla and Ebirah, Horror of the Deep) and brought a light touch, along with a strong sense of rhythm, to the drama and action scenes. The Godzilla-shaped tower that dominates the amusement complex became one of the film’s signature images, linking the attraction in the story with the famous monster itself.

Godzilla vs. Megalon

The following year’s Godzilla vs. Megalon continued the trend toward hero-driven storytelling while introducing a new character who would become closely associated with the series. Again directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects direction by Teruyoshi Nakano, the film marked the thirteenth installment in the Godzilla franchise.

The story begins when a large underground experiment near the Aleutian Islands triggers disturbances across the Pacific. The upheaval damages the underwater kingdom of Seatopia, prompting its emperor to send the guardian monster Megalon to the surface. At the center of the story is Jet Jaguar, a robot created by inventor Goro Ibuki. After agents from Seatopia seize control of the machine and use it to guide Megalon’s advance, Ibuki regains control and sends Jet Jaguar to summon Godzilla. When the battle escalates and Gigan arrives to assist Megalon, Godzilla joins Jet Jaguar in a final confrontation that drives the attackers away.

Megalon’s unique design stands out among Godzilla’s many opponents. The insect-like monster possesses drill-shaped forearms and the ability to travel underground, giving it a distinctive fighting style. Jet Jaguar, meanwhile, reflects the influence of Japanese television superheroes of the era. After breaking free from its captors, the robot develops a will of its own and enlarges to monster size, allowing it to face Megalon directly before joining forces with Godzilla.

Production on Godzilla vs. Megalon moved forward on a tight schedule. Special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano later recalled that the film was completed in roughly a month, requiring the crew to plan scenes carefully and make efficient use of available resources. Despite the short schedule, the filmmakers created several standout sequences, including a large-scale miniature dam used during Megalon’s destructive advance and Godzilla’s flying dropkick, one of the most widely recognized images from this chapter of the franchise.

A Spring Tradition in Godzilla History

Together, Godzilla vs. Gigan and Godzilla vs. Megalon capture a moment when the Godzilla series embraced bright visuals, imaginative monster designs, and team-based battles. The introduction of Gigan and Megalon added striking new adversaries to the series, while Jet Jaguar became one of Godzilla’s most beloved allies.

The month of March would see other Godzilla premieres over the years, but these two films remain closely linked to the season. Whether revisiting them or discovering them for the first time, Godzilla vs. Gigan and Godzilla vs. Megalon remain a perfect way to celebrate this era of the King of the Monsters.