# Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (ゴジラvsメカゴジラ)
**Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II** (ゴジラVSメカゴジラ, *Gojira tai Mekagojira*) is a 1993 Japanese kaiju film produced by Toho, the 20th entry in the Godzilla series and the fifth film of the Heisei era that began with *The Return of Godzilla* (1984). Directed by Takao Okawara from a screenplay by Wataru Mimura, it pits Godzilla against a human-built robot double of himself while a hatched infant Godzilla and the pterosaur Rodan complicate the conflict. It was produced as a 40th-anniversary work for the franchise, which began in 1954.[1](https://godzilla-sp.jp/history/) • [2](https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/129001657)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese release | December 11, 1993 (Toho); 20th film in the series[1](https://godzilla-sp.jp/history/) |
| Director and writer | Takao Okawara (director), Wataru Mimura (screenplay); special effects by Koichi Kawakita[3](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm) |
| Composer | Akira Ifukube, including a new Mechagodzilla theme and a choral theme written in the ancient Ainu language[4](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/14292/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii/) |
| Monsters | Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, Rodan, BabyGodzilla, with Mecha-King Ghidorah and Mothra appearing in stock footage[3](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm) |
| Box office | 3.8 million tickets sold and ¥1.87 billion earned, the second-highest grossing Japanese film of 1994[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II) |
| Runtime and rating | 108 minutes; rated PG in the United States[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii) |
| Followed by | *Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla* (1994)[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II) |
## Spoilers
### Story
The United Nations Godzilla Countermeasure Center (UNGCC) recovers the remains of Mecha-[King Ghidorah](https://www.edgepedia.org/king-ghidorah), the cyborg monster from *[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah](https://www.edgepedia.org/godzilla-vs-king-ghidorah)* (1991), and reverse-engineers them to construct [Mechagodzilla](https://www.edgepedia.org/mechagodzilla), a piloted robot built as a countermeasure against Godzilla.[9](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii) On Adonoa Island, a research team finds a giant egg guarded by Rodan; Godzilla defeats the winged monster and follows the egg to mainland Japan. The egg hatches not into a pterodactyl but into an infant Godzillasaurus, dubbed BabyGodzilla, and Godzilla makes landfall at a Japanese refinery, pushing Mechagodzilla into active duty.[3](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm)
The conflict is framed as a custody battle over the infant: [Sony Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-pictures)' synopsis describes Rodan and Godzilla both returning to claim the hatchling, while the human military effort centers on destroying Godzilla with the robot.[10](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/godzillavsmechagodzillaii) In the finale, a dying Rodan sacrifices his life force to revive Godzilla, and the badly damaged Mechagodzilla is defeated and destroyed by Godzilla.[11](https://www.slashingthrough.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii.html) • [5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II) • [14](https://godzilla.com/en-gb/blogs/monsterpedia/rodan) Critics noted the resulting shift in alignment: one Rotten Tomatoes-cited review observed that the film makes Godzilla appear as a protective parent against humans rather than the usual villain.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii)
## Production
The film was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and Shogo Tomiyama for Toho Company Ltd., with Okawara directing and Kawakita serving as director of special effects; the pair had also made the preceding *Godzilla vs. Mothra* (1992).[3](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm) • [7](https://nanaelibrary.jpn.org/movie/nihon/1993_n.html) [Akira Ifukube](https://www.edgepedia.org/akira-ifukube), the composer of the original 1954 *Godzilla*, returned to score the film. His new material included an epic cue for Mechagodzilla, a fast march for Godzilla's battle with the Japanese Self Defense Forces, and a choral theme written in the ancient [Ainu language](https://www.edgepedia.org/ainu-language).[4](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/14292/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii/) Kazuo Miyauchi received a Japanese Academy Prize nomination for Best Sound for his work on the film.[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II)
The cast is led by Masahiro Takashima as Kazuma Aoki, with Ryoko Sano as Azusa Gojo, a researcher at the National Institute of Biotechnics, and Megumi Odaka reprising her recurring Heisei-series role as the psychic Miki Saegusa.[3](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm) • [8](https://www.netflix.com/title/70020236)
## The title and the robot
The English title's "II" is a numbering quirk rather than a sequel marker: this was the first meeting between Godzilla and Mechagodzilla in the Heisei series and the third such meeting overall in the franchise, after the Showa-era films *Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla* (1974) and *[Terror of Mechagodzilla](https://www.edgepedia.org/terror-of-mechagodzilla)* (1975).[12](https://nerdsontherocks.com/kaiju-kommentary-godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii-1993/) The film is not a sequel to the 1974 picture.[13](https://wikizilla.teq.wiki/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II)
This incarnation of Mechagodzilla differs from its alien-built Showa predecessor: it is a human-built war machine, armed with shock anchors, plasma grenades, and a paralyzer missile, and piloted by humans for the first time in the franchise.[11](https://www.slashingthrough.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii.html) Its design has been described as a plausible military project rather than alien technology, and reviewers have frequently singled out the robot and Ifukube's theme for it as highlights of the film.[11](https://www.slashingthrough.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii.html) • [4](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/14292/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii/)
## Reception and box office
On release in Japan on December 11, 1993, the film sold 3.8 million tickets and earned ¥1.87 billion, making it the second-highest grossing Japanese film of 1994.[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II) On Rotten Tomatoes it holds an 83% Tomatometer from 6 reviews and a 72% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 5,000 ratings.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii) Critical opinion has been divided: Andrew Dowler of *NOW Toronto* gave it 3 of 5 stars, writing that the monsters "work at levelling Osaka and each other" and calling the action far from the series' worst, while Tim Brayton of *Antagony & Ecstasy* scored it 5 of 10 and found the monster scenes lacking context.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii) Among fans it is generally well received, in part for introducing what some consider the best incarnation of Mechagodzilla.[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II)
## Home media and availability
Toho released the film on Japanese DVD in 2002, with a making-of feature, the theatrical trailer, multi-angle footage, and an audio commentary by director Masaaki Tezuka.[2](https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/129001657) TriStar issued a Region 1 DVD in 2005 with Japanese and English stereo audio, and Madman released a Region 4 DVD in 2006.[5](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II) In the United States the film streams free with ads on YouTube and Tubi and can be rented or bought on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, and Fandango at Home.[9](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii)
## References
1. [ゴジラ映画ヒストリー, Godzilla Singular Point official site (Toho)](https://godzilla-sp.jp/history/)
2. [ゴジラVSメカゴジラ DVD product listing, Suruga-ya](https://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/129001657)
3. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Toho Kingdom](https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla_2.htm)
4. [Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla II review, DVD Talk](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/14292/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii/)
5. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), Wikizilla](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II)
6. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii)
7. [日本映画レビュー─1993年](https://nanaelibrary.jpn.org/movie/nihon/1993_n.html)
8. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/70020236)
9. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii)
10. [GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II, Sony Pictures Entertainment](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/godzillavsmechagodzillaii)
11. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II Review, Slashing Through](https://www.slashingthrough.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii.html)
12. [Kaiju Kommentary: Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II (1993), Nerds on the Rocks](https://nerdsontherocks.com/kaiju-kommentary-godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-ii-1993/)
13. [Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Wikizilla (mirror)](https://wikizilla.teq.wiki/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla_II)
14. [godzilla.com](https://godzilla.com/en-gb/blogs/monsterpedia/rodan)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Kaiju and giant-monster series film entries*
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