Shin Gamera is a 2019 Japanese kaiju film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written and produced by Hideaki Anno. A pseudo-remake of both Gamera, the Giant
Monster (1965) and Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), the film is a co-production between Kadokawa Daiei Studio, Shochiku and Cine Bazar, and presented by Khara, Inc. It is the 13th film in the Gamera franchise and Anno and Higuchi's second reimagining of a tokusatsu franchise, following Shin Godzilla (2016) and being followed by Shin Ultraman (2022) and Shin Kamen Rider (2023). The film stars Haruma Miura, Munetaka Aoki, Yuko Miyamura, Akira Ohashi, Aimyon, Morio Kazama and Kyusaku Shimada. In the film, a giant turtle kaiju called Gamera emerges, rampaging as he tries to find and fight Barugon.
In 2017, Anno was tasked with producing a Gamera film after Shin Godzilla's success. Kadokawa announced the film on June 20, 2018, just as principal photography began a few weeks earlier. Filming took place in Sagami Bay, Koto, Tokyo, Kurobe Dam, Hakone and the Port of Kobe throughout summer and fall 2018.
Shin Gamera was released on July 20, 2019, becoming a success, earning $98 million worldwide, becoming the most commercially successful Gamera film. The film received critical acclaim, with praise for it's visual effects, cinematography, acting, music and action sequences. It was nominated for three Blue Ribbon Awards and was nominated for Picture of the Year at the 43rd Japan Academy Film Prize.
Plot[]
In the Arctic Ocean, a UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter shoots down an unknown force that the pilot thinks is a UFO. However, upon investigation, they find that it is a kaiju. Returning to Japan, the people involved claim the beast to be a prehistoric turtle with tusks. It is revealed that the turtle kaiju is an ancient being called Gamera.
(TBA)
Cast[]
- Haruma Miura
- Munetaka Aoki
- Yuko Miyamura
- Akira Ohashi
- Aimyon
- Morio Kazama
- Kyusaku Shimada
Production[]
Development and writing[]
Following the success of Shin Godzilla (2016), Hideaki Anno was approached by Kadokawa to make a similar film for their kaiju, Gamera. The first draft was complete in November 2016. The final draft was complete by March 2017.
Design[]
Gamera's design was revealed on November 17, 2018. It takes elements of both the Showa and Heisei Trilogy incarnations of the character, as well as small influences from Shin Godzilla's design.
Filming[]
Principal photography began in May 2018. Several sequences of the film were shot on iPhones, using camera movements, lens sizes, angles and zoom timing to mimic modern filming techniques. Filming was complete by September 2018.
Visual effects and editing[]
Visual effects where created by Shirogumi. Shirogumi would return for Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider.
Music[]
Taku Iwasaki performed the film's score. The film's theme song is "Anti-Hero" performed by Sekai no Owari. Iwasaki would return to compose Shin Kamen Rider (2023).
Release[]
Marketing[]
On June 20, 2018, the film was announced with it's 2019 release date. The design of Gamera was revealed on November 17, 2018. On November 27, 2018 (the 53rd Anniversary of the first Gamera film), the trailer released, receiving praise from Guillermo del Toro, Shusuke Kaneko, Mamoru Oshii and James Wan (director of the MonsterVerse films Gamera and Gamera vs. Cthulhu).
The Marketing would be quiet but would go on full swing by April 2019. A new trailer released on April 19, 2019, revealing the film's antagonist, an updated version of Barugon, Gamera's first opponent kaiju. A new poster also released that day. A final, one minute long trailer was released on May 22, 2019.
On February 13, 2022, Toho, Kadokawa, Khara, Toei and Tsuburaya Productions announced a collaborative project called Shin Japan Heroes Universe for merchandise, special events and tie-ins. The project unites the properties by Anno that bear the title "Shin," such as Shin Godzilla, Shin Gamera, Evangelion, Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider.
Theatrical[]
The film had it's premiere in several japanese theaters on July 18, 2018. It had it's nationwide release on July 20. It was screened in IMAX, 4DX and Dolby Cinema as well as standard screenings. The film was released in the United States on July 23, 2019, via Fathom Events. The film was released internationally on August 2, 2019.
Home media[]
In December 2019, Shin Gamera was released on DVD, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Standard Blu-ray in Japan. In January 2020, the film was released in the United States and United Kingdom by Arrow Films on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray. It was also released as part of Arrow's Gamera: The Complete Collection. As of 2023, Shin Gamera is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Reception[]
Box Office[]
The film earned $98 million worldwide, becoming the most commercially successful Gamera film in the history of the franchise and one of the most successful kaiju films "in years," before being beat by Godzilla Minus One (2023).
Critical response[]
The film was met to positive reviews upon it's release. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of critics gave the film a positive review with an average rating of 9.1/10, the website's critical consensus reads, "Gamera returns with a bang with this new film. It is a visual effects epic with engaging kaiju and human characters that you should not miss. It is the Gamera film 13 years in the making." Matt Schley of The Japan Times gave the film a 5/5 score, saying "it is the best kaiju film I have ever seen," and "is better than Shin Godzilla."
Potential sequel[]
In November 2022, Shinji Higuchi said he has an idea for a Shin Gamera sequel TV series called "Shin Gamera: Gyaos Invasion."
Gallery[]
