Gigantis, the Fire Monster

Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMotoyoshi Oda
Hugo Grimaldi
Written by
  • Shigeaki Hidaka
  • Takeo Murata
Story byShigeru Kayama
Produced by
Starring
Edited byHugo Grimaldi
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • June 2, 1959 (1959-06-02) (United States)
Running time
78 minutes
CountriesJapan
United States
LanguageEnglish

Gigantis, the Fire Monster is a 1959 kaiju film directed by Motoyoshi Oda and Hugo Grimaldi, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is an American re-edited English dubbed version of Toho Co., Ltd.'s 1955 Japanese film Godzilla Raids Again, the second entry in the Godzilla franchise. In the film, two prehistoric “fire monsters” called Gigantis and Anguirus emerge from their slumber to resume an ancient rivalry that cultivates in a decisive battle in Japan.

After acquiring the North American rights, the American producers planned to produce a new film titled The Volcano Monsters that would be centered around the Japanese monster footage. Despite a completed script and cooperation from Toho (who shipped the monster suits for additional filming), the project was cancelled after funding fell through with AB-PT Pictures Corp. Instead, the Japanese film was dubbed to English. Grimaldi served as director and editor for the dubbed version.

The film was released in the United States on June 2, 1959, four years after Godzilla Raids Again was released in Japan by Toho.