After the smash success of Godzilla, Toho studios and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka wanted to cash in on that sweet sweet G-money, so with a quick turnaround they put together Godzilla Raids Again the following year. With the legendary Ishiro Honda who brought such intense gravity to the first outing committed to other projects, Motoyoshi Oda was tapped to follow in those gigantic train-car sized footsteps. Tsubaraya & team, along with Akira Watanabe returned to helm special effects and aimed to set the bar higher having learned lessons from their first foray into suitmation. This is the first time we see Godzilla battling another monster, and the introduction of the recurring kaiju Anguirus. The tone of this film is a distinct departure from the original, but has yet to really find a distinct voice. It’s a mixed bag that doesn’t quite hit the batshit insane notes of the rest of the franchise. Godzilla Raids Again feels like it’s got a foot in two worlds, showcasing the economic impact of devastated cities, and the more lighthearted jovial banter of our human cast paired with some goofball rubber monster suit wrestling.