“Gamera Rebirth” Review – The Iconic Kaiju Returns in a Compelling Animated Series

One of the greatest underdogs in daikaijū history is a turtle. To be more exact, a giant turtle who breathes flames, flies by jet propulsion and, most importantly, protects mankind from other colossal monsters. And after a lengthy absence on screen, the herculean turtle Gamera is back in an animated series called Gamera Rebirth. Netflix has gifted eager fans an exciting new story that demonstrates the titanic turtle’s appeal and extends his legacy.

While Gamera isn’t exactly unknown by the masses, his presence is, for the most part, limited to the East. There is also the undeniable fact that Gamera is overshadowed by his clear inspiration and pop-cultural counterpart, Godzilla. Between these two Japanese icons, though, Gamera has had a tougher time overcoming his past. An acclaimed ‘90s trilogy of films, one that reimagined Gamera as a serious antihero, was directly responsible for the monster’s critical reevaluation. Yet after those films and a standalone reboot in 2006, Gamera disappeared from the public eye. So to say fans were itching for more of the turtle kaijū is an understatement. 

It might seem like an animated series is the least desirable route for the Gamera franchise. Especially when fans have been clamoring for another live-action film, and when other recent kaijū animations have yielded mixed responses. Rebirth, however, is a more than ample continuation of Gamera’s legend. With six extended episodes to tell its story, the series wastes no time getting the titular titan on screen and delivering a plot that would surely lose something in a standard-length film.

Admittedly, the biggest hurdle of Rebirth is its art. This unique visual style, which is similar to Netflix’s Ultraman, amounts to awkward and stiff animation a lot of the time. The series’ visual aesthetic, though, best suits the kaijū battles. The monsters themselves possess uncanny texturing and movement that make them appear appropriately out of this world. Redesigns of once goofy-looking villains from the classic films are stunning; the likes of Jiger and Zigra are now marvelously realized and imposing. Seeing them in action is the highlight of each episode.

With Rebirth’s story set in 1989, fans of Shūsuke Kaneko’s Heisei trilogy will be disappointed to learn this isn’t the long-sought continuation of things set up but left unresolved in Revenge of Iris. So you can’t expect to see kaijū who don’t even exist yet. That doesn’t mean Kaneko’s films are entirely ignored, though. Gamera’s role as the planet’s sole protector remains intact, and the mystical bond shared between young humans and Gamera is here as well. Rebirth indeed functions more as a reworking of the Shōwa era, mainly due to the show having children as Gamera’s human emissaries. Yet the end-of-world stakes, dark machinations, and the use of ancient prophecies and conspiracies all give the series a modern quality. Gamera’s own physical appearance and superpowers are also influenced by the Heisei period.

The human element in kaijū stories can often be lacking or plain uninteresting. Rebirth manages to defy the odds by serving up compelling human subplots that tie well into Gamera’s mission. The four young protagonists — Japanese locals Boco, Joe, and Junichi, and one American army brat nicknamed Brody — aren’t just here to pad the time until the monster action starts up. They have distinct backgrounds, personalities, and motivations that not only make them a massive improvement on the kind of kids routinely seen in the vintage Gamera films, but they also anchor everything. They are similar to the children of Gamera the Brave in the sense that they are well written and never exceptionally annoying.

Fans of Gamera may be inclined to disregard an animated series starring children, but that would be a mistake. While Rebirth looks like kiddy fare, this series is well suited for older audiences. You can expect mature language, moments of graphic violence, and undiluted kaijū carnage. More than that, the story also becomes increasingly bleak and severe with each new episode. Gamera’s greatest admirers will understandably want another live-action adventure. In the meantime, this emotional, ambitious, and well-told story has more than enough to tide you over before Gamera can hopefully take flight again.

Gamera Rebirth is now streaming on Netflix, and the entire live-action catalogue of Gamera movies – 12 in total – is now available to stream on SCREAMBOX.

Image: Netflix