Godzilla: The Planet Eater
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
With the defeat of the Bilusaludo's nanometal city, the destruction of humanity seems inevitable. Worse yet, Captain Haruo Sakaki's refusal to sacrifice his humanity has come under fire from the remaining Bilusaludo troops, who blame him for their defeat. In their darkest moment, the few surviving humans turn to the religion of the Exifs, which promises that devotion is the path to salvation from Godzilla. However, the Exif are not what they seem. As the survivors become more and more zealous in their devotion, Sasaki wonders what exactly the priest Metphies is hiding—especially regarding his relationship with the monster known as Ghidorah.
Audience Consensus
Audience opinion is highly divided, with strong praise for its philosophical depth, character development, and technical aspects like CGI and music, contrasted by harsh criticism of its pacing, underwhelming monster fights, and a particularly frustrating and nonsensical ending. Many feel it deviates too much from traditional Godzilla fare, while others appreciate its unique, thought-provoking approach.
Strengths
- Beautiful CGI that mimics anime well
- Excellent music and sound design, enhancing emotional impact
- Character development and exploration of motivations
- Engaging philosophical themes about humanity, religion, and technology
Weaknesses
- Slow and boring first half
- Underwhelming and bland monster fights
- Awkward and mechanical character animation
- Lifeless scenery and textures
- Confusing and nonsensical plot resolutions, particularly the protagonist's ending
- Protagonist's actions are contradictory and frustrating
- Lack of traditional Kaiju action alienates some viewers
- Poor English translation on Netflix