Next Club Meeting:September 20, 2025,at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.
This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
GODZILLA x KONG: The New Empire The guardians of nature. The protectors of humanity. The rise of a new empire.
Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of “Godzilla vs. Kong” with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of “Godzilla vs. Kong” with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
Once again at the helm is director Adam Wingard. The film stars Rebecca Hall (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” The Night House”), Brian Tyree Henry (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Bullet Train”), Dan Stevens (“Gaslit,” “Legion,” “Beauty and the Beast”), Kaylee Hottle (“Godzilla vs. Kong”), Alex Ferns (“The Batman,” “Wrath of Man,” “Chernobyl”) and Fala Chen (“Irma Vep,” “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”).
The screenplay is by Terry Rossio (“Godzilla vs. Kong” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series) and Simon Barrett (“You’re Next”) and Jeremy Slater (“Moon Knight”), from a story by Rossio & Wingard & Barrett, based on the character “Godzilla” owned and created by TOHO Co., Ltd.. The film is produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric Mcleod, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Brian Rogers. The executive producers are Wingard, Jen Conroy, Jay Ashenfelter, Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira.
Once again, Wingard is collaborating with director of photography Ben Seresin (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “World War Z”), production designer Tom Hammock (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “X,” “The Guest”), editor Josh Schaeffer (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Molly’s Game”), costume designer Emily Seresin (“The Invisible Man,” “Top of the Lake”). The composers are Tom Holkenborg (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”) and Antonio Di Iorio (additional music on “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the “Sonic the Hedgehog” films).
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, A Film By Adam Wingard, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” It is slated for release nationwide only in theaters and IMAX on April 12, 2024 and beginning 10 April 2024 internationally, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures except in Japan, where the film will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd and in mainland China, where it will be distributed by Legendary East.
"Godzilla vs Megalon" Directed by Takuya Uenishi, who produced the short film "Godzilla vs Giganrex,'' which was released at last year's Godzilla Fest 2022 and currently has over 8.3 million views on YouTube. This year, "Godzilla vs. Megalon" featuring Megalon, which celebrates his 50th anniversary, will be released at Godzilla Fest! With the backing of Toho's production label "GEMSTONE Creative Label", we will deliver a monster battle that has been scaled up many times more by collaborating with Akihiro Shibata, the video creator who gained attention with "Gifu Godzilla".
MONARCH - LEGACY OF MONSTERS Premieres November 17 on Apple TV+
Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army Officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. Based on the Monsterverse from Legendary, and starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski, this dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Check out the teaser trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, an upcoming ten-episode series based on Legendary’s Monsterverse. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stars Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski.
Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga – spanning three generations – reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Hailing from Legendary Television, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is co-developed and executive produced by Chris Black and Matt Fraction. Matt Shakman directs the first two episodes and serves as executive producer alongside Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, Andy Goddard, Brad Van Arragon, and Andrew Colville. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship with the film franchise.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on November 17 with the first two episodes, followed by one episode every Friday through January 12.
Check out the official teaser for Godzilla Minus One directed by Takashi Yamazaki! Set in a post-war Japan, Godzilla Minus One will once again show us a Godzilla that is a terrifying and overwhelming force. Major Japanese studio Toho Co. has announced “Godzilla Minus One” as the title of the latest instalment in its “Godzilla” film franchise.
We went to the Godzilla theme park in Nijigen no Mori on Awaji Island and tried out the recently opened zip line attraction that goes straight into Godzilla’s mouth! There was also a short film, a shooting game, a museum, and Godzilla themed food at the park’s restaurant!
Godzilla Singular Point features a brand new staff and original story which depicts the young geniuses Mei Kamino, a female researcher, and Yun Arikawa, a male engineer, as they take on an unprecedented threat with their companions. Now available on NETFLIX.
In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity's fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans' origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.
Godzilla: Singular Point features a brand new staff and original
story which depicts the young geniuses Mei Kamino, a female researcher,
and Yun Arikawa, a male engineer, as they take on an unprecedented
threat with their companions.
The series' production is a joint collaboration between Bones and Orange, blending hand-drawn and computer animation styles respectively. Atsushi Takahashi serves as director with scripts from Toh EnJoe, and music composed by Kan Sawada. Character design is handled by Blue Exorcist manga creator Kazue Kato with former Studio Ghibli animator Eiji Yamamori designing the monsters. First images and poster art were released on October 26, 2020 during Netflix's Anime Festival, with the streaming service releasing the series' teaser trailer later that same day.The teaser revealed that the series would feature monsters from the Godzilla franchise, such as Rodan, Anguirus, Jet Jaguar, and Gabara.
On October 12, 2020, it was announced that Takahashi, EnJoe, Bones producer Naoki Amano, Orange producer Jiro Ando and Toho producer Takashi Yoshizawa would all appear in a panel during the Godzilla Fest Online 2020 event on November 3, 2020
Following the global success of “Godzilla” and “Kong: Skull Island” comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse: “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history.
"This is Godzilla's world."
The film was directed by Michael Dougherty (“Krampus”), and stars Kyle Chandler (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Manchester by the Sea”) as well as Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring” films); Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) in her feature film debut; Bradley Whitford (“Get Out”); Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (“Shape of Water”, “Blue Jasmine”); Charles Dance (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”); Thomas Middleditch (HBO’s “Silicon Valley”); Aisha Hinds (“Star Trek Into Darkness”); O’Shea Jackson Jr. (“Straight Outta Compton”); Oscar nominee David Strathairn (“Good Night and Good Luck”), with Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai) and Golden Globe nominee Ziyi Zhang (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”).
"We just live in it."
The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
The next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' cinematic MonsterVerse: an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. Starring Bradley Whitford, Millie Bobby Brown and Vera Farmiga.
Knights of Sidonia studio Polygon Pictures is hard at work with Toho on a Godzilla anime, known as Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, which will arrive on Netflix at some point this year. The Godzilla anime will be directed by Kobun Shizuno, who directed the Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare and other Detective Conan movies, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Kenshirô, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki and Knights of Sidonia, and Hiroyuki Seshita (Blame!, Ajin). The screenplay will be penned by graphic novel writer Gen Urobuchi (Madoka Magica, Thunderbolt FantasyPuella Magi, Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass).
“We’re looking forward to bringing a spectacular entertainment experience for both existing fans of Godzilla and people new to the franchise,” said Godzilladirector, Kobun Shibuno in a statement.
“I’m thrilled to collaborate with two very talented colleagues, Mr. Gen Urobuchi and Director Kobun Shizuno to bring to life a unique vision of a universal human drama set in an epic world.” Meanwhile, screenplay writer Gen Urobuchi added, “I am very honored to join this Godzilla project as one of its Japanese creators. I’m grateful for all the support and really excited to bringing this content to fans worldwide.”
"We are truly delighted to unveil Godzilla, which is the latest addition to our growing catalogue of Netflix original anime content”, said Greg Peters, President, Netflix Japan. "Working with the best creators such as Toho in bringing Godzilla to Netflix users in over 190 countries marks a major milestone for us."
Here's the first trailer for Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, which looks gorgeous!
Here's the voice cast:
Yuki Kaji (Attack on Titan, AJIN: Demi-Human), Takahiro Sakurai (AJIN: Demi-Human, BLAME!), Tomokazu Sugita (Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure), Junichi Suwabe (Nodame Cantabile, Prince of Tennis), Kana Hanazawa (BLAME!, Psycho-Pass) and Mamoru Miyano (AJIN: Demi-Human, The Seven Deadly Sins).
Godzilla is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japanese popular culture around the world. Starting in 1954 and through 29 films Toho’s Godzilla was the face of atomic fears that gripped Japan since bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first time an anime version of a Godzilla character appeared on Japanese television was in a crossover with Crayon Shin-chan. The Godzilla franchise inspired a western animated series from Hanna-Barbera in 1978 and then a follow-up to the maligned 1998 American Godzilla film from Roland Emmerich.
Over the years, there have been many iterations of Godzilla created. As the King of the Kaiju, the giant lizard has served as the unofficial mascot for monster movies in general. Still, attempts to modernize him haven’t always worked. That all changed in 2014 when Legendary Pictures reintroduced the character in a gritty new fashion. Helmed by Rogue One director Gareth Edwards, the movie kicked off a new MonsterVerse for Legendary, one that got its second installment a few weeks ago with Kong: Skull Island. With the success of both films, Legendary are poised to dominate the market on kaiju films, especially considering The Great Wall and Pacific Rim are also their creations.
While those latter two aren’t connected to the new MonsterVerse, neither are all versions of Godzilla. We’ll see the 2014 version revisited in 2019 with Godzilla: King of Monsters, but fans of the character will get another look at him later this year as well. We learned last year that an anime version of Godzilla would be released in 2017, and more recently found out it would be coming to Netflix after premiering in Japan. Now, we not only have a title for the film, but a poster and synopsis.
Thanks to Crunchy Roll, we know the new movie will be called Godzilla: Monster Planet. It will premiere in Japan this November, before Netflix picks it up. The adventure will focus on a future world where Godzilla and other kaiju rule the planet, and humans have to fight to survive. Check out the poster, along with the full translated synopsis, below:
The last summer of the 20th century. On that day, the human race realized that they were not the only ruler of the planet earth.
The emergence of gigantic monsters “kaiju” and the ultimate existence that even can destroy the kaijus, Godzilla. After half-century of the war against the kaijus, the human race repeatedly defeated and decided to escape from the earth. Then finally in the year 2048, only people who were chosen by the artificial intelligence under the control of the central government went on board the interstellar immigrant ship Aratrum and left for the “Cetus: Planet Tau e” which was 11.9 light years away from the earth. But the environmental condition difference between the earth and Tau e, which took 20 years to reach, was far exceeded the predicted value, and there was no way to survive for the human race.
A young man named Haruo is on board of the immigrant ship. His parents were killed by Godzilla right front of him when he was 4, since then, he has been thinking about only going back to the earth and killing Godzilla for 20 years. Since there is no hope for immigration to other planets, the “Return to the Earth” group including Haruo becomes the mainstream in the ship as its living condition is getting worse, then they decide to try the long distance hyperspace navigation.
However, 20,000 years have already passed when they finally arrive the earth, and it becomes a totally unknown world dominated by an ecosystem topped by Godzilla. Can the human race take the earth back, and the fate of Haruo will be…?
The announcement also came with some concept art, showing more pieces following a similar announcement earlier this year. Mostly, they tease the ships and tech that exist in this far future.
There’s no word yet on when exactly Netflix will air the film, but it will likely arrive before the year is out. That should hold fans over until 2019’s live-action return of the king. After that, Kong and Godzilla will be duking it out in 2020’s Kong vs. Godzilla. If the anime’s a hit, expect more looks into the future of kaiju to emerge soon as the Godzilla resurgence continues.
Godzilla: Monster Planet premieres this November in Japan before coming to Netflix.
UPDATED 3/31/17 [Source: Syfy] Toho's first-ever animated Godzilla movie is heading to Netflix later this year. I repeat: Toho's first-ever animated Godzilla movie is heading to Netflix later this year!
According to a piece over at Bloody-Disgusting, Netflix Japan made the announcement via Twitter that Polygon Pictures' animated movie featuring the King of the Monsters will stream globally on Netflix, as well as play in select theaters, sometime in 2017. How cool is that?
Written by Gen Urobuchi (Psycho-Pass) and co-directed by Hiroyuki Seshita and Kôbun Shizuno (Knights of Sidonia), Godzilla will feature a Japanese voice cast that includes Yuuki Kaji, Takahiro Sakurai, Mamoru Miyano, Junichi Suwabe, Kana Hanazawa and Tomokazu Sugita. No word yet on whether the movie will be dubbed or simply subtitled.
It's definitely a great time to be a Gojira fan. Everyone's favorite giant lizard is getting a major sequel to 2014's Godzilla with Godzilla: King of Monsters (slated for a March 22, 2019, premiere) before clashing with Kong (who crushed the box office over the weekend in Kong: Skull Island) in Godzilla vs. Kong on May 29, 2020. Toho's Shin Godzilla also recently nabbed the Japanese Academy Award for Best Picture, which is impressive.
There’s no logline for the Godzilla animated film yet, but from the poster and two pieces of concept art included below, it seems like the film will be set in the future while featuring what looks to be a prehistoric-like Earth? Have a look, and let us know if you're excited about Toho and Polygon Pictures' first-ever animated Godzilla film.
Gen Urobuchi will write the script for Toho’s upcoming Godzilla anime movie.
Look out Bambi, you’re not the only cartoon game in town anymore. Toho announced that Knights of Sidonia studio Polygon Pictures will produce a Godzilla feature anime picture. The Godzilla anime will be directed by Kobun Shizuno, who directed the Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare and other Detective Conan movies, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Kenshirô, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki and Knights of Sidonia, and Hiroyuki Seshita (Blame!, Ajin). The screenplay will be penned by graphic novel writer Gen Urobuchi (Madoka Magica, Thunderbolt FantasyPuella Magi, Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass).
The Godzilla anime feature is currently in the works for a 2017 theatrical premiere. The upcoming anime project will be the Godzilla's first animated feature film. The first time an anime Godzilla character appeared on Japanese television was in a crossover with Crayon Shin-chan on July 22. The Godzilla franchise inspired a western animated series from Hanna-Barbera in 1978 and one a follow-up to the 1998 Godzilla film.
Godzilla is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japanese popular culture around the world. Starting in 1954 and through 29 films Toho’s Godzilla was the face of atomic fears that gripped Japan since bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. American films about Godzilla opened in 1998 and 2014.
Japan’s movie giant, Toho has announced the production of a feature-length Godzilla animation. Simply titled “Godzilla,” it is set for release next year. Tokyo-based Polygon Pictures is handling production duties with Kobun Shizuno (“Detective Conan” series) and Hiroyuki Seshita (“Knights of Sidonia”) co-directing. Gen Urobuchi, a popular of s, light novels and...
Toho Ad Co., Ltd registered the godzilla-anime.com domain earlier this month.
The latest Godzilla film, Godzilla: Resurgence (Shin Godzilla) opened in Japan on July 29. Funimation plans to release the film in theaters in late 2016.
Legendary plans to release a Godzilla sequel in 2019. Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to hit theaters in 2020.
Japan will get their first taste of the King of Monsters in Godzilla Resurgence
Toho has made it official: Godzilla: Resurgence will be a reboot. It will not be a sequel to any previous Godzilla films. The upcoming film will tell “…a story in which Godzilla appears in Japan for the first time.“ That means the actors can’t reference old Godzilla movies, like the 1954 classic that started it all.
This will be the third time in the Godzilla franchise that the creature has attacked Japan “for the first time.” The monster had an origin story in Godzilla 2000.
Shin-Gojira, as the iconic creature’s film will be titled in Japan, is going to be the largest Godzilla in record.
The cast includes Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, Rando Yaguchi, and Ren Osugi.
Godzilla: Resurgence will hit theaters in Japan on July 29th.
"Japan vs. Godzilla," round one. The official theatrical trailer for Godzilla Resurgence shows a nation preparing for attack, as the strings of the soundtrack swell into an emotional theme that evokes the national pride and mourning of recent all-too-real terroristic attacks.
Godzilla Resurgence, which will be called Shin Gojira in Japan, is directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi.
The Godzilla design was created by Mahiro Maeda (Mad Max: Fury Road,The Animatrix) and Takayuki Takeya (Kamen Rider Drive, Attack on Titan). The based the designs on the concepts by Maeda and Anno.
Godzilla Resurgance stars Hiroki Hasegawa (Attack on Titan), Yutaka Takenouchi (Hoshi no Kinka) and Satomi Ishihara (Attack on Titan,Pokémon the Movie).
Godzilla isn’t quite ready for his close-up, but he’s showing off a toothy grin in the latest leaked photos from the set of Toho’s upcoming Godzilla Resurgencemovie.
Low resolution images of private photos that were taken at Toho Studios were uploaded to Twitter and Facebook this morning. The shots feature the "monster suit" at the center of the new Godzilla movie.
Toho released their first teaser trailer for Godzilla: Resurgencein October.
Don’t panic. Tokyo id experiencing Godzilla-related turbulence. News footage shows the population running for their lives. But this is not a terror attack and it is not a drill. It is the new trailer for the upcoming film Godzilla: Resurgence from Toho. The new trailer doesn't show the oversized kimono dragon, but we hear it.
The upcoming Godzilla: Resurgence will be the first Godzilla film by Toho since 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars. That movie wasn’t final enough. What started as a science fiction allegory of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has become an unstoppable cinematic force.
Toho also released the first poster for the upcoming thriller.
Besides the teaser trailer and the poster, Japanese rock band Katokutai also uploaded what looks like an offiical music video for the new Godzilla movie to their YouTube page. The poster imagines Katokutai as oversized mutant rockers treating the city like their own personal concert stage.
Godzilla Resurgenceis co-directed by the screenwriter, Hideaki Anno, who made Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi, who brought us Attack on Titan, who helmed the special effects.
Production on the 29th Godzilla movie took place over the summer.
Toho will unleash Godzilla: Resurgence on theaters on July 29, 2016.
