English Translations of ‘Godzilla’ and ‘Godzilla Raids Again’ Novelizations Debut for the First Time

OVERVIEW
The inaugural novelizations of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again are being made available in English, giving a fresh generation the opportunity to delve deeper into the narratives behind these famed movies. Toho Studios is set to bring Godzilla back to his original form with Godzilla: Minus One, the first Japanese live-action Godzilla project since Shin Godzilla in 2016. Pre-orders for the novelizations are now open and will be released on October 3, while Godzilla: Minus One is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 3 and in the US on December 1.

Almost 70 years have passed since the initial appearance of Godzilla on the big screen with the release of the original Japanese masterpiece. To mark the franchise’s upcoming anniversary, the original novelizations of the first Godzilla and its follow-up Godzilla Raids Again, written by Shigeru Kayama, will be published in English for the first time, as reported by Bloody Disgusting.

Coming in a two-for-one package, these two books, considered science fiction classics, will be available on October 3 through the University of Minnesota Press. The translations have been undertaken by Jeffrey Angles, known for his translations of Orikuchi Shinobu’s The Book of the Dead and Hiromi Ito’s The Thorn Puller. With these classic kaiju films’ novelizations making their debut in English, a new audience can gain a profound understanding of the narratives behind both movies, which have left an indelible imprint on the genre.

Directed by Ishirō Honda and Motoyoshi Oda respectively, the first pair of Godzilla films are considered kaiju cinema classics, pioneering a wave of giant monster films that have gone on to influence other renowned movies such as Mothra, Rodan, and Gamera. Though the Godzilla franchise has evolved significantly from its initial frightful origins, enthusiasts can return to where it all began with the release of the first two films’ novelizations this fall.

Toho Studios Revives Godzilla to His Original Form

Following the success of Legendary’s MonsterVerse, where Godzilla shared the screen with King Kong, Godzilla has enjoyed a recent boost in popularity with mainstream audiences. A sequel, titled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, is slated for release next spring. However, a Godzilla film from Toho, the original studio behind the character, has a unique appeal. A new Toho production is on the horizon, with the studio reviving the classic monster with Godzilla: Minus One, the first live-action Godzilla project in Japan since Shin Godzilla in 2016. Details of the forthcoming film are still under wraps, but it’s known to be a reboot of the Godzilla franchise set in post-war Japan. The movie is set to make its debut in Japan on November 3, followed by a US release on December 1.

The novelizations of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again are ready for pre-order, with a release date set for October 3. Don’t forget to check out the official trailer for the eagerly awaited Godzilla: Minus One below.

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More about Godzilla novelizations translation

• Toho Studios
• Godzilla on Wikipedia
• Bloody Disgusting
• University of Minnesota Press
• Jeffrey Angles
• Legendary’s MonsterVerse
• Shin Godzilla