Showa era

Showa era
Nomenclature
Other name(s)	Showa period
General Information
Started	1954
Ended	1989
Production Information
First entry	Godzilla
Final entry	Terror of Mechagodzilla
Chronology
Next	Heisei era

The Showa series (昭和シリーズ,   Shōwa shirīzu^?) also known as Showa era and Showa period, is a term used to identify the years between 1926 and 1989 under the reign of Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

The first Godzilla film was to begin the Showa era of the kaiju industry, and is the usual kaiju to be affiliated with this era. During the beginning of this era, Godzilla was mainly antagonistic in nature, taking on the likes of Angruirus and Mothra.

By the time of Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster's release, Godzilla adopted what would soon become his most famous image: a heroic monster, battling terrible villains with other monsters by his side.

Films

• Godzilla
• Godzilla Raids Again
• Rodan
• Varan, the Unbelievable
• Mothra
• King Kong vs. Godzilla
• Atragon
• Mothra vs. Godzilla
• Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
• Frankenstein Conquers the World
• Invasion of Astro-Monster
• War of the Gargantuas
• Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
• King Kong Escapes
• Son of Godzilla
• Destroy All Monsters
• All Monsters Attack
• Godzilla vs. Hedorah
• Godzilla vs. Gigan
• Godzilla vs. Megalon
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
• Terror of Mechagodzilla

Associated films

• The Mysterians
• The Birth of Japan
• Matango
• Dogora
• Latitude Zero
• Space Amoeba
• Prophecies of Nostradamus

Television

• Go! Godman
• Zone Fighter
• Gimme Gimme Octopus
• Go! Greenman
• Godzilla/The Godzilla Power Hour

Monsters introduced

Godzilla film series Godzilla (1954) Godzilla (Godzilla Raids Again onward) Anguirus King Kong Giant Octopus Giant Lizard Mothra Mystery Bones of Infant Island Maneater King Ghidorah Rodan Ebirah Giant Condor Minilla Kamacuras Kumonga Baragon Gorosaurus Varan Hedorah Gabara Gigan Jet Jaguar Megalon Mechagodzilla King Caesar Titanosaurus Other King Kong Rhedosaurus Snowman Rodan Orochi Moguera Varan H-Man Mothra Vampire Plant Maguma Manda Matango Dogora Frankenstein Baragon Giant Sea Serpent Mechani-Kong Gorosaurus Gaira Sanda Giant Rats Bat People Black Moth Kamoebas Ganimes Gezora Mutant Leech Television Godman Kinger Ghoston Yasugon Tsunokeler Tsunosilver Madalan Gattlar Momonglar Folgon Bolbes Imogoras Bullman Dongolar Skeleto-Man No. 1 Skeleto-Man No. 2 Trunker Hotter Green Mask Funtlar Kappalge Batman Alien Tiborus Osotam Tsunojiras Elephantar Totsaurus Jilarji Wolflar Gejiba Trilorn Ibogilar ??? Stegodzillas Akumon Zone Fighter Garogas Red Spark Jikiro Destro-King Dorola Wagilar Spylar Dragon King Gilmaras Gelderah Garoga Spider Garoga Gorilla Spider Uros Shadorah Jipudoro Barakidon Garoborg Detragon Zandolla Mogranda Balgaras Gundarguirus

Goram Jellar Kastam-Jellar Super Jikiro Bakugon Needlar Kabutojira Grotogauros Flashers Jairock Zarizon Dragonda Blanca Sibilegon Red Rock Seguro No. 1 King Takoras Gejiru Megahertz Bulguerrilla Gyaron Danketto Alien Dorok Valingar Stock Giringa Spider Danbaraki Garamedon Antguirus Takora Monro Debura Greenman Maoh Tonchiki Minions of Maoh Bullpull Mohtles Foksaurus Iho Killer Gowarackdon Inbelun Lorbabla Spider II Kyupatto Cross-Dressing Kaijin Fonshuragon Ninja Kaijin Magic Kaijin Pattern Kaijin Godzooky Fire Bird Earth Eater Stone Guardians Megavolt Monsters Seaweed Monster Energy Beast Colossus Cyclops Creature Chimera Minotaur Siren Sisters Magnetic Monster Breeder Beast Great Watchuka Diplodocus Carnivorous Plant Time Dragon Giant Squid Giant Fly Axor Power Dragon Cyborg Whale Giant Ant Giant Dragonfly Giant Black Widow Giant Beetle Giant Bee Giant Venus Flytrap Giant Antlion Gravity Goliath Golden Guardians Giant Crab Giant Manta Ray Magma Lizard

Trivia

• This is the longest of the current four generations, lasting over forty years.
• Politically, The Return of Godzilla is a Showa film, as it was the last film to be made in the Showa era of Japan, with the Heisei era beginning on January 8, 1989.
• Despite the fact that the Showa era of the Godzilla franchise concluded in 1975, several unmade films that were to be released during the latter years of the 1970s indicate that this hiatus may have been unintended, with each successive cancellation further increasing the length of the hiatus.
• This era features the majority of appearances for several monsters. Rodan, for example, appears in four films (excluding six appearances in filmed stock footage) in the Showa era, whereas in the Heisei era and Millennium series, he only has one appearance in each.
• With the exception of Mechagodzilla, none of the monsters and mechas introduced in the Godzilla series after Invasion of Astro-Monster made any appearances in the Heisei series. However, they are reference in succeeding series. Ebirah, Minilla, Kamacuras, Kumoga, Hedorah, Gigan, and King Caesar were all reintroduced in the final film of the Millennium series, Godzilla: Final Wars; and Jet Jaguar was reintroduced in the anime Godzilla Singular Point, which is part of the Reiwa series. This leaves Megalon, Gabara and Titanosaurus as the only characters to have not appeared in a film since their debut, with the exception of cameos, stock footage, and appearances in other media.
  • Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, and Rodan are the only Toho monsters that have appeared, mentioned, or alluded to in all four Toho-established Godzilla film series in some form or another, leading to the use of the term "Big Five" in relation to the monsters.
    • All five monsters are also featured in the American-produced MonsterVerse.
  • Despite his popularity, Anguirus did not make any appearances in the Heisei series, although he appears in concept art for the unmade films Godzilla vs. Ghost Godzilla and Godzilla vs. Barubaroi.