Heisei era (1984–1995)

Nine years past after the release of  The Revenge of MechaGodzilla. Toho on the 30th anniversary of the original “Godzilla,” released a film marking the return of Godzilla to the big screen. This movie would spawn as series of seven films, culminating with Godzilla vs. Destroyer, in 1995, known as the Heisei series.

The 1984-1995 movies tells the return of Godzilla from the first 1954 original movie, explaining that he was not destroyed, but hibernated beneath the ocean.

In 1991, Godzilla vs. Mechakingghiorah is released. Time travelers move the Godzillasaurus from the Pacific island at which it was mutated to another island. This version remains the basis for the rest of the films from 1992-1995 until Godzilla melts down from his own radiation in 1995.

  • (“Gojira 1984”) / Godzilla  (1985)
  • Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
  • Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
  • Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
  • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993)
  • Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994)
  • Godzilla vs. Destroyer (1995)

The Return of Godzilla was released in 1984, five years before the new Emperor, but is considered part of this era, as it is a direct predecessor to Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), which came out in the first year of the new Emperor’s reign.

The Heisei films are set in a single timeline, with each film providing continuity to the other films, and brings Godzilla back as a destructive force of nature that is feared by humans. The biological nature and science behind Godzilla became a much more discussed issue in the films, showing the increased focus on the moral aspects of genetics.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah gave the first concrete birth story for Godzilla, featuring a dinosaur named Godzillasaurus that was mutated by nuclear radiation into Godzilla. Godzilla was portrayed by Kenpachiro Satsuma for the Heisei films while the special effects were directed by Koichi Kawakita, with the exception of The Return of Godzilla, for which the effects were directed by Teruyoshi Nakano.