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Original Godzilla, Director Higuchi Accept Shin Godzilla's Blue Ribbon Film Award
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The Association of Tokyo Film Journalists held its 59th annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony at Tokyo's Iino Hall on Wednesday. The 2016 Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film went to Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's Shin Godzilla film. A special guest appeared with Higuchi to accept the award.
A not-so-giant version of the colossal monster Godzilla himself appeared to accept the honor. However, Internet users were quick to notice something strange about his appearance. The creature that accepted the award was not the Shin Godzilla that appeared in the 2016 film. Instead, the monster that accepted the award was a different version of Godzilla. The "shin" in the film's title means "new," but an old veteran Godzilla had to accept the award in the CG monster's stead.
Net commenters shared their thoughts:
"Hey! I think you're different than the Godzilla that won the award!""Godzilla came to have complex feelings: 'It's me, but it's not me, this film'"
"Association of Tokyo Film Journalists: 'Yo, Godzilla. Congrats.'
Godzilla: 'Yes, thank you...' (Godzilla is Godzilla, but Shin Godzilla is not me, though)"
Director Higuchi appeared in a black tuxedo to receive the award, and the unworthy Godzilla joined him to accept it. Regarding Anno's absence, Higuchi said, "Naturally, general director Hideaki Anno was supposed to come, but in anticipation of today's circumstances (of Godzilla appearing), he decided to devote all his efforts to his duties.... I came today." Higuchi also said, "Prominent films are not my strength, but from now on I want to make a lot of films that [people] can enjoy."
Anno and Higuchi's film received a nomination for the Japan Academy Prize Association's Picture of the Year award this year. The film earned 8.2 billion yen (about US$72 million) at the Japanese box office after opening on July 29. The film is the highest-earning domestic live-action film made since 2013's The Eternal Zero.
Funimation hosted two premieres for the film in Los Angeles on October 3 and in New York on October 5. Due to the success of the screenings, the company extended the live-action film's North American theatrical run until October 27.
Source: The Hochi Shimbun via Hachima Kikō
