In a fascinating twist of creativity, an artist known as ‘Bro, don’t like that la, bro,’ has asked and attempted to answer a hilarious question with their artistic abilities: How does Godzilla stand in the ocean? This imaginative piece gained momentum alongside the release of “Godzilla Minus One,” commemorating the 69th anniversary of the legendary monster movie franchise.1 The film performed monstrously, grossing over $100 million at the box office and earning a sport on the Oscar’s shortlist for Best Visual Effects.
The artist drew inspiration from a movie mistake shot in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” The particular scene, where Godzilla blasts his plasma breath into the sky, caught the eye of webcomic creator Ernest Ng.2 Ernest then set out to unravel the mystery of how Godzilla could stay on top of the (very deep) ocean waves.
Godzilla Art: A Blast from the Past
While the artwork has gained traction with the recent film release, it’s worth noting that these pictures actually came out a few years ago. The artist shared the drawing, accompanied by a caption pondering a point raised by their friend Dan Khoo, with a humorous touch, “Maybe the real problem is that I think too much”. Ernest Ng, no stranger to Hollywood’s take on the Godzilla legacy, gave some creative answers on how Godzilla was keeping things afloat.
The artist’s work spurred a lively conversation on Reddit, where users couldn’t help but question the practicality of a fire-breathing monster sporting extraordinarily long legs. One witty comment suggested, “Whoa dude, he could be a Victoria’s Secret model”. The discussion took a whimsical turn, exploring hypothetical scenarios of Godzilla’s swimming prowess and the physics behind his buoyancy. Amid the banter, users playfully speculated on the role of Godzilla’s “stumpy lil lizard legs” in creating ocean waves.
Questioning Godzilla
While some enjoyed giving ridiculous answers to Godzilla’s abilities, others sought to call into question other parts of the king of monsters. If we’re going to call into question a gigantic lizard breathing blue flame, maybe it’s ok to have a little fun about potential plot holes in physics, mm? More proposed imaginative theories suggest Godzilla’s swimming, diving, and even floating proficiency, with his “big tummy” acting as a buoy. Our favorite is the connection between walking on water and a certain religious figure doing the same many years ago.
While “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” made waves at the box office, critical responses have been varied. With a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics argue that the movie leans heavily on cutting-edge effects, overshadowing a compelling narrative. Whether or not that is true, the reasoning to go and watch a Kaiju movie would lean more on effects than a compelling narrative, if only one was to be chosen. But the Guardian’s review goes further, critiquing the film’s “utter gracelessness,” citing issues with visual effects, sound design, and lackluster dialogue.
Godzilla’s ability to stand in the ocean has, at the very least, sparked fascination and more discourse of the iconic monster. With the monster’s popularity surging again in the last decade, critical analysis from fans and artists alike only enriches the discourse. May Godzilla continue to captivate audiences globally for many years to come.