View source for Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo

{{short description|2012 film by Shinji Higuchi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
| image          = Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo poster.jpg
| caption        = Film poster
| native_name    = {{Infobox Japanese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|kanji=巨神兵東京に現わる|revhep=Kyoshinhei Tōkyō ni arawaru}}
| director       = [[Shinji Higuchi]]
| screenplay     = [[Hideaki Anno]]
{{Infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1=Monologue by|data1=[[Ōtarō Maijō]]}}
| producer       = Hideaki Anno<br>[[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]]
| narrator       = [[Megumi Hayashibara]]
| cinematography = Keiichi Sakurai<br>Keizo Suzuki
| editing        = Atsuki Sato<br>Hidemi Ri {{small|(theatrical version)}}
| music          = Taisei Iwasaki
| studio         = [[Studio Ghibli]]<br>[[:ja:特撮研究所|Special Effects Laboratory Co., Ltd]]<br>[[Khara (studio)|Khara, Inc.]]
| released       = {{Film date|2012|07|10}}
| runtime        = 9 minutes<br>10 minutes {{small|(theatrical version)}}
| country        = Japan
| language       = Japanese
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo'''''|巨神兵東京に現わる|Kyoshinhei Tōkyō ni Arawaru|lead=yes}} is a 2012 Japanese ''[[kaiju]]'' short film directed by [[Shinji Higuchi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/studio-ghibli-giant-god-warrior-short-nausicaa-neon-genesis-evangelion/|title=Studio Ghibli's Full 'Giant God Warrior' Short Appears Online [Video]|author=Caleb Goellner|date=24 April 2013|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|access-date=4 February 2017|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922180302/https://comicsalliance.com/studio-ghibli-giant-god-warrior-short-nausicaa-neon-genesis-evangelion/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[live-action]] [[prequel]]<ref name="Screen Rant">{{cite web|first=Padraig|last=Cotter|url=https://screenrant.com/giant-god-warrior-first-live-action-ghibli-short/|title=Giant God Warrior Appears In Tokyo Is Ghibli's First Live-Action Film|website=[[Screen Rant]]|publisher=Valnet Inc.|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=July 23, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320232153/https://screenrant.com/giant-god-warrior-first-live-action-ghibli-short/|archive-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref> and [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]]<ref name="spin-off">{{cite web |date=May 10, 2012 |title=『風の谷のナウシカ』スピンオフ!?短編映画『巨神兵東京に現わる』上映決定！｜シネマトゥデイ |url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0041910 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803102314/https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0041910 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=July 23, 2022 |website=[[:ja:シネマトゥデイ|Cinema Today]] |publisher=[[:ja:シネマトゥデイ (企業)|Cinema Today Co., Ltd.]] |language=Japanese}}</ref> of [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s 1984 [[Anime|anime film]] [[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)|''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'']], the film is a co-production between [[Studio Ghibli]], [[:ja:特撮研究所|Special Effects Laboratory Co., Ltd]], and [[Khara (studio)|Khara, Inc.]] In the film, a woman from [[Tokyo]] recounts how her city was obliterated within hours by giant divine warriors.

==Plot==
As mysterious orange spores appear in [[Tokyo]], an unnamed female resident of the city receives a strange visit from her brother who tells her that the city will be destroyed tomorrow and she should leave beforehand. Due to her belief that it is merely a rumor on the internet, she dismisses his warning and does not inform her fellow city residents of the supposed danger.

The following day, the orange spores combine over Tokyo to form a Giant God Warrior hovering in the sky. As the being descends upon the city, it shrinks to the size of a large building. After observing its surroundings, the warrior opens its mouth to reveal a weapon that shoots red bullets and a purple laser beam called the proton beam.<ref name="Anno Effects Museum">{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/news/20120709/8/|title=「館長 庵野秀明 特撮博物館」開幕、「巨神兵東京に現わる」全ぼう明らかに|first=|last=|website=[[:ja:映画.com|Eiga.com]]|publisher=[[Kakaku.com]]|language=Japanese|date=July 9, 2012|access-date=July 22, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603184559/https://eiga.com/news/20120709/8/}}</ref> A direct opposite of the Genesis creation narrative is displayed onscreen as the city is destroyed. An army of Giant God Warriors then can be seen walking holding spear-like objects in a blazing Tokyo.

Following this event, the warriors launched an event known as Seven Days of Fire, which destroyed most of the human civilization on Earth and recreated the planet's ecosystem.{{Efn|As depicted in [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s 1982 manga ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]'' and its [[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)|1984 eponymous film adaptation]].|name=Nausicaä|group=}}

==Production==
===Design===
The design of the film's giant creature was provided by [[Hayao Miyazaki]], from his [[manga]] series ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jerry Beck |date=25 April 2013 |title=Watch Studio Ghibli's first live action short "Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo" |url=http://www.indiewire.com/2013/04/watch-studio-ghiblis-first-live-action-short-giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo-123027/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113230/http://www.indiewire.com/2013/04/watch-studio-ghiblis-first-live-action-short-giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo-123027/ |archive-date=7 February 2017 |access-date=6 February 2017 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Meredith Woerner |date=24 April 2013 |title=First live-action monster movie movie from the minds of Studio Ghibli |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/first-live-action-monster-movie-movie-from-the-minds-of-480229723 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207114754/http://io9.gizmodo.com/first-live-action-monster-movie-movie-from-the-minds-of-480229723 |archive-date=7 February 2017 |access-date=6 February 2017 |website=[[io9]]}}</ref>
===Special effects===
The film was [[Studio Ghibli]]'s first [[Live action|live-action]] production<ref>{{cite web |author=Alanna Bennett |date=30 July 2012 |title=Watch the Trailer for Giant God Warrior Appears In Tokyo, Studio Ghibli's First Foray Into Live-Action |url=http://www.themarysue.com/giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922180233/https://www.themarysue.com/giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo/ |archive-date=22 September 2020 |access-date=6 February 2017 |website=[[Dan Abrams#The Mary Sue|The Mary Sue]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Todd Brown |date=24 April 2013 |title=Watch Studio Ghibli's GIANT GOD WARRIOR APPEARS IN TOKYO |url=http://screenanarchy.com/2013/04/watch-studio-ghiblis-giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112916/http://screenanarchy.com/2013/04/watch-studio-ghiblis-giant-god-warrior-appears-in-tokyo.html |archive-date=7 February 2017 |access-date=6 February 2017 |website=[[Screen Anarchy]]}}</ref> and features exclusive use of digital composition techniques and special effects technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=July 10, 2012 |title=東京都現代美術館の企画展「館長 庵野秀明 特撮博物館」が開催 ～エプソン製プロジェクターで特撮短編映画「巨神兵東京に現わる」を上映 |url=http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/545898.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522053234/https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/545898.html |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=PC Watch |publisher=Impress Co., Ltd. |language=Japanese}}</ref> Some of the [[Miniature effect|miniatures]] used in the film were previously constructed, used, and stored at [[Toho|Toho Studios]], [[:ja:マーブリング・ファインアーツ|Marbling Fine Arts]], and [[:ja:特撮研究所|Special Effects Laboratory Co., Ltd.]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 1, 2013 |title=YEARBOOK 2013 |url=http://hobbyjapan.co.jp/books/book/b121103.html |magazine=[[Uchusen|Spaceship]] |publisher=[[Hobby Japan]] |language=Japanese |volume=140 |page=32 |isbn=978-4-7986-0594-4 |access-date=July 22, 2022}}</ref>

==Release==
===Theatrical===
''Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo'' received a theatrical release in Japan on November 17, 2012, preceding ''[[Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2012 |title=『ヱヴァQ』同時上映に『巨神兵東京に現わる』が決定！ジブリ鈴木Pの提案で実現！｜シネマトゥデイ |url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0047646 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602035053/https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0047646 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=[[:ja:シネマトゥデイ|Cinema Today]] |publisher=[[:ja:シネマトゥデイ (企業)|Cinema Today Co., Ltd.]] |language=Japanese}}</ref> Director [[Shinji Higuchi]] decided to add new [[sound effects]] and give the Giant God Warriors new [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] wings in the final scene of the film for its theatrical release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2013 |title=日本にフルCGアニメは根付くのか？ 第11回：樋口真嗣（映画監督・特技監督） |url=http://cgworld.jp/regular/011-higuchi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424044119/http://cgworld.jp/regular/011-higuchi.html |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=CGWORLD.jp |language=Japanese}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Accolades===
On February 23, 2013, the film received the VFX-JAPAN Award for CM, Hakuten Video Division.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2013 |title=「三丁目の夕日'64」、もののけ島、巨神兵など VFX-JAPANアワード受賞 |url=https://animeanime.jp/article/2013/02/23/13100.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107181243/https://animeanime.jp/article/2013/02/23/13100.html |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=AnimeAnime.jp |language=Japanese}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|2511906}}
*{{anime News Network|anime|17207|noparen=yes}}
*[https://www.ntv.co.jp/tokusatsu/english.html Official web page for the film's exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo]
{{Shinji Higuchi}}{{Hideaki Anno}}{{Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind}}
{{Studio khara}}
{{Studio Ghibli}}

[[Category:2010s Japanese films]]
[[Category:2012 short films]]
[[Category:2012 films]]
[[Category:Studio Ghibli]]
[[Category:Khara]]
[[Category:Kaiju films]]
[[Category:Tokusatsu films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Shinji Higuchi]]
[[Category:Films set in Tokyo]]
[[Category:2010s Japanese-language films]]
[[Category:Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]