Gamera, the Giant Monster
Gamera, the Giant Monster is a 1965 film from Japan, directed by Noriaki Yuasa, running 79 minutes. reelscum files it under kaiju & tokusatsu.
- Year
- 1965 · 1960s films
- Country
- Japan
- Runtime
- 79 min
- Director
- Noriaki Yuasa
- Updated
- 10 Aug 2026
- Obscurity
- known (31/100)
- Also known as
- Gamera · Gamera: The Giant Monster · Giant Monster Gamera
Defined in the glossary: Kaiju & tokusatsu
Daiei's cut-price answer to Godzilla. A flying turtle. Children loved it.
Daiei's cut-price answer to Godzilla, a giant fire-breathing turtle that flies by tucking in its legs and spinning. It is cheaper and cruder than Toho's films, but it started a franchise beloved by a generation of children, largely because Gamera was positioned early as a friend to kids.
The original is a straight Godzilla riff, black and white and destructive, before the series leaned fully into its child-friendly absurdity. There is real charm in the sheer commitment to a flying turtle.
Historically the start of Godzilla's most enduring rival, and endearing in its cheapness.
Trailer
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