Godzilla vs Evangelion Collaboration
Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D is an amusement park attraction that created the world’s first collaboration between two major Japanese production franchises, Godzilla and Evangelion. This Godzilla vs Evangelion ride is an interactive 4D attraction released only at the Universal Studios in Japan. The ride is a 20 minute attraction that showcases an action packed battle between Godzilla and the Evangelion Unit robots. A half movie half ride and comes complete with 3D effects and lights, vibrating seats, bubbles and water and artificial scents that make viewers feel as if they are in the movie itself.
Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan is one of six global theme parks owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd around the world. The park is located in Konohana-ku in Osaka and the only park in Japan. The park opened on March 31 2001, and has similar attractions found at the Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood. However, it is very popular for limited time attractions only found in Japan such as Biohazard, One Piece and Attack on Titan.
About Godzilla
Godzilla is an enormous, dinosaur-like monster character or ‘Kaiju’ famous to the world as being the King of Monsters. The character first appeared in the 1954 film of the same name ‘Godzilla’ directed by Ishiro Honda. A creature taller than buildings, and said to be empowered by nuclear radiation, the character is portrayed as a monster that causes destruction in a variety of different films, comic books, and games. However in some situations it has also taken the role of the ‘good guy’ saving the earth from other more villainous creatures. Godzilla is a globally known character and is a pop culture icon of Japan.
Collaboration Background
The Godzilla and Evangelion franchises are different franchises and were first separate attractions opened for limited times at USJ. To mark the release of the movie ‘Shin Godzilla’, the Godzilla: The Real 4-D attraction opened from January 13 to June 25, 2017. Following Godzilla, the Evangelion: THE REAL 4-D opened in limited time festivals within 2017 and 2018. Both attractions were extremely popular.
The most recent Godzilla movie and the Evangelion anime are both directed by Hideaki Anno. Naturally, the two 4D attractions were later crossed over in a world-first collaboration creating Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D between May 31 and August 25, 2019.
Plot
The plot of the story is based on the timeline of the Evangelion anime series, after Second Impact, the capital of Japan had been moved from Tokyo-II to Osaka-III during a period when the world was at war with the ‘Angels’.
The story starts with an alert of cosmic waves causing electrical disturbances throughout Japan. Assuming an appearance of an Angel, a government observation team sends out GLAUX a special flying vehicle to survey the disruption.
Suddenly, Godzilla appears and knocks the GLAUX from the sky. Seconds from being stomped on by Godzilla, the vehicle is saved by Evangelion Unit 01, piloted by Shinji Ikari. Quickly following in support is Evangelion Unit 00 piloted by Rei Ayanami and Evangelion Unit 02 piloted by Asuka Langley Soryu. They group to start their attack on Godzilla.
However to no avail, their attacks have no effect on Godzilla and were easily brushed away beaten down with Godzilla’s large body and tail. Just when Godzilla has the upper hand, Godzilla starts to glow purple and releases his atomic breath. But this beam was not aimed at the Evangelion Units but at a section of the clouds in the sky.
To the surprise of the pilots, the explosion in the sky reveals the entrance of King Ghidorah, a three-headed dinosaur like monster, an archenemy of Godzilla. As King Ghidorah descends on the city, it exchanges spars with Godzilla and with a mighty gravity beam blow, knocks Godzilla down into the ground. With Godzilla down for the count, the Evangelion pilots pursue their attack on the three-headed monster with little to no effect. Given the time to recover, Godzilla gets back on his feet and continues to exchange beams and attacks with King Ghidorah, leaving the Evangelion Units in the wake. In a risky move, Shinji Ikari and Evangelion Unit 01 uses a piece of building debris as a spiked weapon and pierces King Ghidorah in the chest and falls to the ground. However, once again King Ghidorah rises from the rubble unharmed.
This triggers the final attack of King Ghidorah as it once again shoots a gravity beam, in which Godzilla shoots its atomic breath in a counterattack. Both monster’s beams lock creating a pulse of destruction. Eventually Godzilla begins to have the upperhand and slowly begins to push closer and overpower King Ghidorah. Finally the beam completely overpowering and reaching King Ghidorah the final attack ends with a massive blinding explosion.
When the smoke and ash clears, King Ghidorah is nowhere to be seen, leaving Godzilla and the Evangelion pilots victorious in this battle. With the enemy defeated, the story ends with Godzilla returning to the sea.