by James Hanton
Gamera, like his A-list kaiju rival Godzilla, has gone from being originally cast as a destructive force of nature to becoming a powerful defender of humanity. Gamera Rebirth, the first Gamera-focused TV series and coming seventeen years after the monster’s last film, is a deeply impressive return to the fold. Chronicling Gamera’s epic battles with five of his classic-era foes, Hiroyuki Seshita’s anime works by finding that elusive balance between awesome (albeit sometimes silly) action and sincere emotional weight.
Set in the summer of 1989, the motion-smoothed animation doesn’t do the human characters much service in the way of visual detail. But it works wonders for the kaiju, allowing the battles to be played out with breathtaking speed and ferocity. The inevitable science talk doesn’t weigh down the plot, and unlike Godzilla Singular Point, this kaiju anime doesn’t lose itself in baffling exposition. A relatively simple supporting story, focusing on the bond between a group of four children thrown deep into the action, is surprisingly affecting. By focusing on emotion as much as narrative complexity, Gamera Rebirth flourishes.
Most importantly, this is a welcome return to stardom for the world’s most famous mega-turtle. It is supremely exciting to see Gamera’s old rivalries rekindled in a format that allows for the most stupendous of fights to ensue, and Seshita’s eye for the action is formidable. Gamera Rebirth is at its thrilling best when it sits back and allows you to bask in the might of these creatures, hurtling you into the battles when the time is right. Between this and Skull Island, this has been a strong year for kaiju anime.
GAMERA REBIRTH is out now on Netflix
