Godzilla’s daughter comes out as trans in a stop motion film. (Cressa Maeve Beer)
Godzilla’s daughter came out to her parent as trans in an adorable stop-motion film.
The fictional prehistoric seamonster, best known for destroying buildings and being generally quite terrifying, has not traditionally been thought of as a queer icon.
But it’s 2020, so obviously that was going to change.
A new short film shows Godzilla sitting down with its daughter over a cup of tea – stay with us – as she comes out as trans.
Godzilla junior is seen struggling with her gender identity, hiding in her bedroom and watching Sailor Moon intently, before telling Godzilla that she is trans.
Godzilla reacts in the absolute best way possible: by going away, doing some research, and knocking on its daughters door, presenting her with a hand-knitted trans flag.
Thanks to @beeragon for putting together this amazing short titled “Coming Out.” #HappyPride 🌈 pic.twitter.com/wG9OptRSZm
— GODZILLA.OFFICIAL (@TOHO_GODZILLA) June 30, 2020
No seriously, you’re crying.
Godzilla said trans rights.
Cressa Maeve Beer, a stop motion artist and video producer, created the short to celebrate Pride Month. It was subsequently shared on the official Godzilla Twitter account.
It’s the latest in a series of irreverent films she’s made based on Godzilla, which portray the creature as less of a monster, and more of a beleaguered parent who gets annoyed at things like people (or monsters) texting in cinemas.
Interestingly enough, Godzilla started life without a binary gender.
The original 1954 Japanese film referred to Godzilla with a gender-neutral pronoun, equivalent to “it”.
It was the 1956 American cut, which began the use he/him pronouns and introduced the title “King of the Monsters”. This dichotomy continues to this day, with American dubs gendering Godzilla, and the Japanese originals eschewing the binary.
There have been 35 Godzilla films over the years, including three Hollywood creations.
Godzilla junior made her debut in the 1993 Japanese film Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla, in which she hatched from an egg, and was seen again in 1995’s Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, where she was known as Little Godzilla.