Godzilla's Theme(s) 1954-2021 (All 36 Movies)

G. H. (Gman)

Here it is. In one video, the many themes of Godzilla heard in all 36 films.

Although Ifukube's theme is considered the penultimate motif for the King of the Monsters--Check that. Ifukube's theme IS the penultimate motif for Godzilla. But many other talented composers have put their own spin on him over the last 67 years. Here's their journey:

Godzilla's Theme from:
Godzilla (1954) - Akira Ifukube - 0:00
Godzilla Raids Again (1955) - Masaru Satoh - 2:19
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) - Akira Ifukube - 4:06
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - Akira Ifukube - 5:56
Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster (1964) - Akira Ifukube - 7:45
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)* - Akira Ifukube - 8:58
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (1966) - Masaru Satoh - 10:20
Son of Godzilla (1967) - Masaru Satoh - 12:08
Destroy All Monsters (1968)* - Akira Ifukube - 13:41
All Monsters Attack (1969) - Kunio Miyauchi - 15:14
Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) - Riichiro Manabe - 16:17
Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) - Akira Ifukube (stock music) - 17:11
Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) - Riichiro Manabe - 17:28
Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1974) - Masaru Satoh - 18:25
Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975) - Akira Ifukube - 19:37
The Return of Godzilla (1984) - Reijiro Koroku - 20:19
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) - Koichi Sugiyama - 22:37
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) - Akira Ifukube - 28:37
Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) - Akira Ifukube - 31:37
Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II (1993) - Akira Ifukube - 35:15
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) - Takayuki Hattori - 37:57
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) - Akira Ifukube - 41:25
Godzilla (1998) - David Arnold - 46:05
Godzilla 2000 (1999) - Takayuki Hattori - 47:43
Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000) - Michiru Oshima - 50:16
Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)** - Koh Otani - 54:09
Godzilla x MechaGodzilla (2002) - Michiru Oshima - 55:55
Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003) - Michiru Oshima - 58:52
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) - Daisuke Yano*** - 1:02:39
Godzilla (2014) - Alexandre Desplat - 01:04:47
Shin Godzilla (2016) - Shiro Sagisu - 01:06:42
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017) - Takayuki Hattori - 01:11:42
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018) - Takayuki Hattori - 01:14:32
Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018) - Takayuki Hattori - 01:17:01
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) - Bear McCreary - 01:20:28
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) - Tom Holkenborg - 01:23:00

*w/ Ifukube's Rodan's Theme
**w/ Otani's King Ghidorah Theme
***Multiple Composers credited for the score, but Yano wrote Godzilla's Theme

Djdndnejwnwn

This is my Forte!
I hate myself for that.

Djdndnejwnwn

I really like the Anime themes.

Especially this one, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8lI9LSyyiE

and this Ghidorah theme has gotten no attention which makes me sad      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNYTlWCZCJQ

Kattozilla

f o r t e, h m?

ok I won't make a reference to that

but yes, I of course also really like the themes. I can't pick a favorite at the moment

Djdndnejwnwn

Also, I noticed the City on the edge of battle on and GVK one are similar in style. They are kinda patterns of chords. Not a bunch or variations 

Djdndnejwnwn

G. H. (Gman)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the OG goji theme meant to convey the army and not Goji?

G. H. (Gman)

SarcasticGoji,
Yes, the main march was originally supposed to provide a sound for the JSDF. But even Ifukube acknowledged that it had become so, "synonymous with the character" that he used it to underscore Godzilla by the time Terror of MechaGodzilla came around.

Interestingly enough, it still works as Godzilla's theme in the original movie as it's heard during his second attack on Tokyo and as he fights the air force.

As for City on the Edge of Battle, like Ifukube before him, Hattori uses the same theme for Godzilla in each anime film. He simply plays with it a little differently each time.

Djdndnejwnwn

I just thought it was interesting.

sonictiger

Link please?

G. H. (Gman)

sonictiger,
It's in the original post.

sonictiger

ok

EdCh

Awesome, I love videos like these. Thanks for compiling this!

BTW a few years ago I did fairly thorough track by track analysis of Ifukube's Showa Godzilla scores. I probably need to do his Heisei scores one of these days...

http://cuebycue.blogspot.com/p/godzilla.html

Djdndnejwnwn

Yeah, you should

G. H. (Gman)

EdCh,
Just got done reading your Godzilla '54 and King Kong vs. Godzilla analyses--Loved reading the attention to detail you gave to the evolution of what you call the "Fury" theme. I compiled a video based on that specific motif's progression here.

Looking forward to reading the rest.