Growing up in Japan, becoming acquainted with the likes of Godzilla and Gamera is inevitable and sometimes defines people's paths in becoming a member of the film industry. In the case of director Takafumi Sakabe this is certainly the case and he has held on to his passion for the kaiju-genre and SFX, which is evident in his short feature “Kaiju Girl”, which blends the well-known genre with a story and friendship and growing up. His efforts have not gone unnoticed in the festival circuit, with the movie being awarded the Cinefil Award at Yokohama Independent Film Festival and the Audience Award at Japan Indies Film Fest 2022.
Kaiju Girl is screening at Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia
Following the attack of a giant monster simply named “Kaiju” by the media, the Japanese public is understandably in panic with government announcements and news about the repercussions of the event defining the new normal for many people. Even in the village where high-school student Himika (Himika Kondo) lives with her parents, everybody talks about what will happen now and whether the monster might attack them next. However, as her best friend Mizuki (Mizuki Miyahara) does not show up at their meeting and becomes more and more reclusive, Himika and a fellow classmate visit her in her small studio, a small cabin in the woods. As it becomes obvious that their friend feels a certain connection with the kaiju, Himika decides to help her in attempting to appease the monster, especially after she has damaged one of her friend's small-scale models of the kaiju.
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Although it is certainly a love letter to the genre, director Sakabe explains in his statement about the feature that his aim was to “express the overflowing energy of a child around the age of 14” as well as the “anxiety” in the aftermath of the pandemic, the wars in the world and the rise of the Internet. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the focus of the story lies with its teenage protagonists as they find ways to deal with the catastrophe which occurred just a few kilometers away from them. The monster itself, while present in a few scenes and, of course, as the small-scale models in the studio, becomes more of a metaphor, much like the original Godzilla itself, for fears and anxieties in the face of a profound change, which, again, stays true to the core of the kaiju-genre as a whole.
At the same time, the conversations between the two protagonists are a showcase for the admiration of the kaiju-genre, which will likely bring a smile to viewers equally fond of it. Especially Mizuki's passion for the models and her goal of becoming an SFX-designer when she graduates, reminds us of the joy we had watching those movies as children and how important they were (and perhaps still are) in our lives. This way, Sakabe manages to tell quite a heartfelt story about outsiders, people such as the main characters, who dedicate their lives to their friendship and their love for something others find too special or too nerdy.
In conclusion, “Kaiju Girl” is a teenage drama with many allusions to the kaiju-genre. Takafumi Sakabe's love for the “Godzilla” and other features is quite evident, but also his affection for the outsiders and the nerds dedicating their lives and free-time for something others find too special or outlandish.
