Don Messick, Ted Cassidy, Hilly Hicks, Brenda Thompson
Godzilla animated series cartoon intro
Godzilla is a 30-minute animated series co-produced between Hanna-Barbera Productions and Toho Ltd. in 1978 and aired on NBC in the United States and TV Tokyo in Japan. The series is an animated adaptation of the Japanese Godzilla movies produced by Toho. The series continued to air until 1981, for a time airing in its own half-hour timeslot until its cancellation.
The series follows the adventures of a team of scientists on the Calico, a hydrofoil research vessel, headed by Captain Carl Majors. The rest of the crew include scientist Dr. Quinn Darien, her nephew Pete, and her research assistant Brock. Also along for the ride is Godzooky, the "cowardly nephew" of Godzilla and Pete's best friend, who has a lighthearted role in the show. Godzooky can attempt to fly using the small wings under his arms. Whenever Godzooky tries to breathe fire, he usually just coughs up smoke rings.
The group often call upon Godzilla by using a special signaller when in peril, such as attacks by other giant monsters. Godzooky is also able to roar to summon Godzilla. Godzilla's size in the animated series shifts radically, sometimes within a single episode or even one scene. For instance, Godzilla's claws can wrap around a large ship, and only minutes later the team of scientists fit rather neatly on Godzilla's palm. In addition, Godzilla's trademark atomic breath is altered so he breathes simple fire. He can also shoot laser beams from his eyes much like Superman's heat vision.
Hanna-Barbera was unable to use Godzilla's trademark roar, so they cast Ted Cassidy to voice the character, similar to his role in the live-action series The Incredible Hulk. The basic formula of a scientific team and research vessel in league with Godzilla investigating strange phenomena was revived in another cartoon, Godzilla: The Series, which served as an animated continuation of the 1998 Godzilla film. Each episode would include a brief exposition on a scientific instrument or phenomenon, thus providing an educational segment for the show.
Production
In regards to the origin of the series, Joseph Barbera came up with the idea of licensing Godzilla. He explained in a 1990s interview "My job back then was to dig up new characters, new ideas, new shows, and I had wanted to do Godzilla for awhile. I liked the monster thing, and the way it looked, and I thought we could do a lot with it. So I contacted Henry Saperstein, who was a very good friend and we got talking about it. Then there was an executive at the network who wanted to get into the act, and urged us to lighten the story line up. So, I came up with the character Godzooky, who was like his son. The show had a sort of father-son relationship, which we had done before on shows like Augie Doggie and Jonny Quest.
Barbera also explained why the show had little violence and deviated from the source material. "The problem with the show was simply this: When they start telling you in Standards and Practices, 'Don't shoot any flame at anybody, don't step on any buildings or cars,' then pretty soon, they've taken away all the stuff he represents. That became the problem, to maintain a feeling of Godzilla and at the same time cut down everything that he did. We managed to get a fair show out of it. It was OK. Godzooky kind of got the kids going."
Voices
Jeff David – Captain Carl Majors
Brenda Thompson – Dr. Quinn Darien
Hilly Hicks – Brock Borden
Al Eisenmann – Pete Darien
Don Messick – Godzooky
Ted Cassidy – Godzilla
Additional voices
Norman Alden -
Marlene Aragon -
Joe Baker -
Michael Bell -
Bill Boyett -
Virginia Eliea -
Al Eisenman -
Ron Feinberg -
Joan Gerber -
Jane Jones -
Stanley Jones -
Casey Kasem -
Ross Martin -
Vic Perrin -
Barney Phillips -
Michael Road -
Michael Rye -
Brenda Thomson -
Les Tremayne -
Katherine Victor -
Janet Waldo -
B.J. Ward -
Bill Woodson -
Series monsters and villains
The Fire Bird (Episode 1)
The Earth Eater (Episode 2)
The Stone Creatures (AKA The Stone Guardians of Ramal, Episode 3)
The Megavolt Monsters (Episode 4)
The Seaweed Monster (Episode 5)
The Energy Beast (Episode 6)
The Colossus of Atlantis (Episode 7)
The Cyclops Creature (Episode 8)
The Chimera (Episode 9)
The Minotaur (Episode 9)
The Sirens (Morphea is the only one named) Episode 9)
The Magnetic Monster (Episode 10)
The Breeder Beast (Episode 11)
The Watchuka (Episode 12)
Great Watchuka (Episode 12)
Diplodocus (Episode 13)
Carnivorous Plant (Episode 13)
Time Dragon aka Allosaurus (Episode 13)
Godzooky Clone (Episode 14)
Voltrang's Clone Monster (aka The Giant Squid, Episode 14)
Giant Fly (Episode 15)
Giant Octopus (Episode 16)
Axor (Episode 17)
The Power Dragon (Episode 18)
The Cyborg Whale (Episode 19)
Giant Black Widow Spider (Episode 20)
Giant Venus Flytrap (Episode 20)
Giant Ants (Episode 20)
Giant Beetle (Episode 20)
Giant Antlion (Episode 20)
Giant Bees (Episode 20)
Giant Dragonfly (Episode 20)
Moon Monster (aka 'Gravity Goliath', Episode 21)
The Golden Guardians (Episode 22)
Flying Manta Ray (Episode 23)
Spider Crab (Episode 23)
Jellyfish (Episode 23)
Sea Turtle (Episode 23)
Tropical Fish (Episode 23)
Sharks (Episode 23)
Squids (Episode 23)
Electric Eels (Episode 23)
Giant Magma Lizards (Episode 24)
COBRA (a fictional terrorist group armed with nuclear weapons technology, not to be confused with the group of the same name from the G.I. Joe franchise) (Episode 25)
The Ice People of Frios (Episode 26)
Broadcast history
Godzilla originally aired in the following formats on NBC:
The Godzilla Power Hour (September 9, 1978 – October 28, 1978)
The Godzilla Super 90 (November 4, 1978 – September 1, 1979)
Godzilla (September 8, 1979 – December 1, 1979)
The Godzilla/Globetrotters Adventure Hour (December 8, 1979 – September 20, 1980)
The Godzilla/Dynomutt Hour (September 27, 1980 – November 15, 1980)
The Godzilla/Hong Kong Phooey Hour (November 22, 1980 – May 16, 1981)
Godzilla (May 23, 1981 – September 5, 1981)
The Godzilla Power Hour consisted of half-hour episodes of Godzilla and Jana of the Jungle. A total of 13 original episodes were produced in 1978, with the first eight airing as part of The Godzilla Power Hour. In November 1978, the show was expanded to 90 minutes with the addition of Jonny Quest reruns and retitled The Godzilla Super 90.
For the second season beginning in September 1979, the show was separated from its package programs and aired in its own half-hour timeslot as simply Godzilla. The original plan was to keep it as part of another 90 minute arc. Only it was to be paired up with episodes of The Shmoo and The Thing. The planned title was Godzilla Meets the Shmoo and The Thing. However these plans dissolved, and the show was simply aired on its own in its own half hour timeslot. Hanna-Barbera would pair episodes of The New Fred and Barney Show with the Shmoo and the Thing instead as Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo. A month later, new episodes of Godzilla and The Super Globetrotters were packaged together as The Godzilla/Globetrotters Adventure Hour which ran until September 1980.
On September 27, 1980, after 26 half-hour episodes, the show went into reruns and Godzilla was once again teamed up with other Hanna-Barbera characters: the first was The Godzilla/Dynomutt Hour (also appearing in this series were reruns of 1971’sThe Funky Phantom), which ran until November 1980, followed by The Godzilla/Hong Kong Phooey Hour which ran until May 16, 1981. On May 23, the show returned to the half-hour format as Godzilla and the last regular showing aired on September 5, 1981 (to be replaced by The Smurfs, which would last three times as long). Throughout the 1980s until the late-1990s, the series rested in limbo (with the exception of a limited videocassette release of two episodes). Since 1993, it has been rebroadcast on TNT, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
Episodes
Nº = Overall episode number
Ep = Episode number by season
Production credits
(Season 1)
Executive Producers: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Producer: Doug Wildey
Directors: Ray Patterson, Carl Urbano
Developed for Television by: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Creative Producer: Iwao Takamoto
Story Editors: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Story: Don Heckman, Duane Poole, Dick Robbins, Tom Swale, David Viliare
Story Direction: Moe Gollub, Paul Gruwell, Sherman Labby, Desmond Serratore
Recording Director: Wally Burr
Voices: Marlene Aragon, Michael Bell, Ted Cassidy, Jeff David, Al Eisenman, Hilly Hicks, Don Messick, Barney Philips, Michael Road, Michael Rye, Brenda Thompson, Les Tremayne, Bill Woodson
Graphics: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
Title Design: Bill Perez
Musical Director: Hoyt Curtin
Musical Supervisor: Paul DeKorte
Character Design: Doug Wildey, George Wheeler
Layout Supervisor: John Ahern
Key Layout: Larry Huber, Floyd Norman
Layout: Cosmo Anzalotti, John Bruno, Garnett Bugby, Owen Fitzgerald, Hak Ficq, Drew Gentle, Charles Grosvenor, Paul Gruwell, Mike Kawaguchi, Mark Kirkland, Jack Manning, Earl Martin, Jim Mueller, Dan Noonan, Mike O'Mara, Lew Ott, Mike Ploog, Tom Roth, Linda Rowley, Glenn Schmitz, Bart Seitz, Peter Shelley, Toby
Animation Supervisors: Bill Keil, Jay Sarbry
Assistant Animation Supervisor: Bob Goe
Animation: Ed Aardal, Frank Andrina, Cliff Auguston, Ed Barge, Tom Barnes, Bob Bemiller, Oliver Callahan, Lars Calonius, Rudy Cataldi, Roger Chiasson, Jesse Cosio, Doug Crane, Joan Drake, Marcia Fertig, Hugh Fraser, Al Gavioto, Mark Glamack, Fernando Gonzalez, Jeff Hall, Terry Harrison, Bob Hathcock, Fred Hellmich, Harry Holt, Volus Jones, Mario Julio, Rick Leon, Hicks Lokey, Ernesto Lopez, Dan Mills, Ken Muse, Constantin Mustatea, Margaret Nichols, Eduardo Olivares, Margaret Parkes, Bill Pratt, Tom Ray, Morey Reden, Veve Risto, Mitch Rochon, Mark Simon, Ken Southworth, Dave Tendlar, Dick Thompson, Richard Trueblood, Robert Tyler, Carlo Vinci, James Walker, John Walker, Ron Westlund
Background Supervisor: Al Gmuer
Backgrounds: Deborah Akers, Dennis Durrell, James Hegedous, James Hickey, Andy Philipson, Sera Segal-Alsberg, Dennis Veinzelos
Checking and Scene Planning: Cindy Smith
Xerography: Star Wirth
Ink and Paint Supervisor: Billie Kerns
Sound Direction: Richard Olson, Bill Getty
Camera: George Epperson, Jerry Smith, Tom Epperson, Chuck Flekal, Ron Jackson, Larry Smith, Terry Smith, Brandy Whittington, Jerry Whittington
Supervising Film Editor: Larry C. Cowan
Dubbing Supervisor: Pat Foley
Music Editor: Joe Sandusky
Effects Editor: Ric Eisenman
Show Editor: Gil Iverson
Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
Production Manager: Jayne Barbera
Post-Production Supervisor: Joed Eaton
A Hanna-Barbera Production
In Association With Henry G. Sarperstein
This Picture Made Under the Jurisdiction of IATSE-IA Affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.
Executive Producers: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Producer: Doug Wildey
Directors: Ray Patterson, Carl Urbano, Oscar Dufau, George Gordon
Developed for Television by: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Creative Producer: Iwao Takamoto
Story Editors: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Story: Kathleen Barnes, Don Heckman, Bob Johnson, Ray Parker, Duane Poole, Bob Stitzel, David Viliare
Story Direction: Moe Gollub, Rick Hoberg, Sherman Labby, Will Meugniot, Desmond Searatore
Recording Directors: Wally Burr, Doug Wildey
Voices: Marlene Aragon, Michael Bell, Ted Cassidy, Jeff David, Al Eisenman, Michelle Hart, Hilly Hicks, Stanley Jones, Don Messick, Barney Philips, Michael Road, Michael Rye, Brenda Thompson, Les Tremayne, Katherine Victor, Janet Waldo, Bill Woodson
Graphics: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
Title Design: Bill Perez
Musical Director: Hoyt Curtin
Musical Supervisor: Paul DeKorte
Character Design: Gil Dicicco, Fred Irvin, George Wheeler, Doug Wildey
Layout Supervisors: John Ahern, Don Morgan
Key Layout: Drew Gentle, Larry Huber, Terry Morgan, Floyd Norman
Layout: Cosmo Anzalotti, John Bruno, Curtis Cim, Owen Fitzgerald, Hak Ficq, Charles Grosvenor, Ross Herin, Fred Irvin, Mike Kawaguchi, Jack Manning, Jim McLean, Dan Noonan, Lew Ott, Paul Power, Linda Rowley, Bart Seitz, Tony Sgroi, Dave Stevens, Toby, Sandra Tucker
Animation Supervisors: Bill Keil, Jay Sarbry
Animation: Ed Aardal, Cliff Auguston, Ed Barge, Maxwell Becraft, Richard Bowman, Lars Calonius, Roger Chiasson, Richard Coleman, Doug Crane, Joan Drake, Gail Finkeldei, Hugh Fraser, Charles Gammage, Fernando Gonzalez, Jeff Hall, Bob Hathcock, Fred Hellmich, Harry Holt, Mario Julio, Rick Leon, Hicks Lokey, Ernesto Lopez, Mauro Maressa, Dan Mills, Constantin Mustatea, Sean Newton, Eduardo Olivares, Bill Pratt, Tom Ray, Morey Reden, Mitch Rochon, Tom Ruegger, Mark Simon, Barry Temple, Dick Thompson, Robert Tyler, James Walker, Ron Westlund
Assistant Animation Supervisors: Bob Goe, Mark Glamack
Background Supervisor: Al Gmuer
Backgrounds: Deborah Akers, Dennis Durrell, Ann Guenther, Eric Heschong, Mike Humphries, Bill Proctor, Jeff Riche, Dennis Venizelos
Checking and Scene Planning: Cindy Smith
Xerography: Star Wirth
Ink and Paint Supervisors: Billie Kerns, Alison Victory
Sound Direction: Richard Olson, Bill Getty
Camera: George Epperson, Candy Edwards, Chuck Flekal, Bob Marples, Larry Smith, Neil Viker, Jerry Whittington
Supervising Film Editor: Larry C. Cowan
Dubbing Supervisor: Pat Foley
Music Editors: Tom Gleason, Joe Sandusky
Effects Editors: Ric Eisenman, Mark Green, Mark Mancini, Karla McGregor
Show Editor: Gil Iverson
Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
Production Manager: Jayne Barbera
Post-Production Supervisor: Joed Eaton
A Hanna-Barbera Production
In Association With Henry G. Sarperstein
The name and character of Godzilla in this picture are used by permission of and with the consent of Toho Co., Ltd.
This Picture Made Under the Jurisdiction of IATSE-IA Affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.
Executive Producers: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Producer: Doug Wildey
Directors: Ray Patterson, Carl Urbano
"Godzilla" was developed for television by: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Creative Producer: Iwao Takamoto
Story Editors: Dick Robbins, Duane Poole
Story: Herb Armstrong, Don Heckman, Bob Johnson, Duane Poole, Dick Robbins, Sam Roeca, George Shea, Bob Stitzel, Tom Swale, David Viliare
Story Direction: John Bruno, Moe Gollub, Jan Green, Paul Gruwell, John Zarr Haber, Rick Holdberg, Larry Huber, Mark Kirkand, Sherman Labby, Will Meuginot, Don Rico, Desmond Serratore, Dave Stevens, Bill Wary, Tom Yakutis
Recording Director Wally Burr
Voices: Norman Alden, Marlene Aragon, Joe Baker, Michael Bell, Bill Boyett, Ted Cassidy, Jeff David, Virginia Eiler, Al Eisenman, Ron Feinberg, Joan Gerber, Hilly Hicks, Jane James, Casey Kasem, Ross Martin, Don Messick, Vic Perrin, Barney Philips, Michael Road, Michael Rye, Brenda Thompson, Les Tremayne, B.J. Ward, Bill Woodson
Graphics: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
Title Design: Bill Perez
Musical Director: Hoyt Curtin
Musical Supervisor: Paul DeKorte
Character Design: Fred Irvin, Doug Wildey, George Wheeler
Layout Supervisors: John Ahern, Warren Marshall
Key Layout: Larry Huber, Floyd Norman
Layout: Cosmo Anzalotti, Lyle Beddes, John Bruno, Garnett Bugby, Todd Curtis, Sukhl Dail, Cory Dangerfield, Owen Fitzgerald, Hak Ficq, Drew Gentle, Simon Gittins, Moe Gollub, Charles Grosvenor, Paul Gruwell, Dave Hanan, Jack Huber, Mike Kawaguchi, Boyd Kirkland, Mark Kirkland, Brad Landreth, Jack Manning, Earl Martin, Jim Mueller, Dan Noonan, Mike O'Mara, Lew Ott, Mike Ploog, Gerrard Pointak, Debra Pugh, Tom Roth, Linda Rowley, Keith Sargent, Glenn Schmitz, Bary Seitz, Doyle Shaw, Peter Shelley, Roy Smith, Thomas Tholen, Greg Thurber, Toby, Grant Wilson
Animation Supervisors: Bill Keil, Jay Sarbry
Assistant Animation Supervisor: Bob Goe
Animation: Ed Aardal, Carlos Alfonso, Frank Andrina, Cliff Auguston, Ed Barge, Tom Barnes, Bob Bemiller, Oliver Callahan, Lars Calonius, Amaro Carretero, Rudy Cataldi, Roger Chiasson, Jesse Cosio, Doug Crane, Joan Drake, Marcia Fertig, Hugh Fraser, Al Gavioto, Manuel Garcia Galiana, Mark Glamack, Fernando Gonzalez, Jeff Hall, Terry Harrison, Bob Hathcock, Fred Hellmich, Harry Holt, Angel Izquierdo, Volus Jones, Mario Julio, Rick Leon, Hicks Lokey, Ernesto Lopez, Roberto Marcano, Luis Martinez, Dan Mills, Pedro Mohedano, Ken Muse, Constantin Mustatea, Margaret Nichols, Eduardo Olivares, Margaret Parkes, Bill Pratt, Tom Ray, Morey Reden, Veve Risto, Mitch Rochon, Vincente Rodriguez, Mariano Ruceda, Mark Simon, Ken Southworth, Dave Tendlar, Dick Thompson, Richard Trueblood, Robert Tyler, Carlo Vinci, James Walker, John Walker, Ron Westlund, Xenia
Background Supervisor: Al Gmuer
Backgrounds: Deborah Akers, Dario Campanile, Dennis Durrell, Ann Guenther, James Hegedous, James Hickey, Paro Hozumi, Michael Humphries, Alison Julian, Bill Lorencz, Andy Philipson, Jeff Richards, Jeff Riche, Sera Segal-Alsberg, Peter Van Elk, Dennis Veinzelos
Checking and Scene Planning: Cindy Smith
Xerography: Star Wirth
Ink and Paint Supervisor: Billie Kerns
Sound Direction: Richard Olson, Bill Getty
Camera: George Epperson, Jerry Smith, Tom Epperson, Chuck Flekal, Ron Jackson, Larry Smith, Terry Smith, Brandy Whittington, Jerry Whittington
Supervising Film Editor: Larry C. Cowan
Dubbing Supervisor: Pat Foley
Music Editors: Danieas McLean, Joe Sandusky
Effects Editors: Ric Eisenman, Patricia Peck
Show Editor: Gil Iverson
Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
Production Manager: Jayne Barbera
Post-Production Supervisor: Joed Eaton
A Hanna-Barbera Production
In Association With Henry G. Sarperstein
This Picture Made Under the Jurisdiction of IATSE-IA Affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.
In response to the Y2K hype, Cartoon Network created a short ("Godzilla vs. the Y2K Bug") in which the Calico is attacked by a personified Y2K Bug. The Godzilla calling device is useless because the crew forgot to update the embedded microchip.
Professor Quinn Darien appeared as Dr. Gale Melody, a music expert, in the Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law episode "Shoyu Weenie" voiced by Grey DeLisle.
DVD release
All 13 Godzilla episodes from the first season have been released on DVD, in three separate volumes titled Godzilla: The Original Animated Series. Volume 1 contains the first four episodes, Volume 2 contains the next four, and Volume 3 contains the next five.
As of November 9, 2011, all episodes of Season 1 are also available for streaming on Netflix and Hulu. (Season 2 has never been officially released on any home media format.)
