Manchu wrote:
Looking back over 60 years of Godzilla movies, one might assume the franchise always had a sort of inevitable quality. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Although the first Godzilla film was a big success, its immediate sequel Godzilla Raids Again (1955) failed to establish a firm basis for what would become the Godzilla franchise -- and this despite employing for the first time that magic formula of pitting Godzilla against another kaiju (in that case, Anguirus).

What happened? Audiences were certainly not already tired of kaiju. The 1956 re-release of RKO's King Kong did big business around the world. Toho Studios achieved further success with Rodan in 1956 and Varan in 1958. And Mothra first appeared in her own eponymous feature in 1961, seven years after Godzilla's own first appearance and six years since Godzilla had at that point last appeared on the big screen.

I think the problem was Anguirus. Whatever interesting facets he might later develop, Anguirus originally had no other purpose than to lose a fight with Godzilla. He even had the same back story as Godzilla, effectively making him "Godzilla except not as good." In other words, Anguirus was just "supporting cast" when what Toho really needed was a "guest star" crossover battle. It finally came together in 1962 with the smash hit King Kong v. Godzilla. And the very next Godzilla film? Mothra v. Godzilla in 1964. Starting with the Mothra crossover, Toho would release a Godzilla picture every year but one for the next decade.

In a way, it's no surprise that King Kong launched the Godzilla franchise. He had been a global superstar since 1933, after all. By contrast, Mothra was a nobody. And yet it was her fight with Godzilla that really cemented the franchise. Why? Simply put, because she was so interesting. Unlike Godzilla or Anguirus, who basically just came out of nowhere, Mothra is situated in a relatively dense narrative. She is the protector goddess of an ancient race of deminiutive humans who live on a strange island amid mutated flora and fauna. Also unlike Godzilla, we are aware of Mothra's rich inner life thanks to her Shobijin worshipers. Her essential benevolence is apparent from the start, in contrast to greedy, oppressive human antagonists.

Godzilla, meanwhile, is a much more ambiguous character in 1964. In Mothra v. Godzilla, he just sort of shows up without much preamble and starts kicking the gak out of Japan per usual. This happens right after the human bad guys get busy trying to exploit the hapless Shobijin, giving the impression that Godzilla is punishing humanity for its myriad faults. Mothra, on the other hand, favors humanity's capacity for goodness and comes to the aid of Japan in driving off Godzilla although she is ultimately overwhelmed by his raw power.

Keep in mind that Mothra was not the first kaiju killed by Godzilla. He had already baked Anguirus in the ruins of Osaka Castle nine years earlier. But that titanic first kaiju v. kaiju battle resolved basically nothing about the movie's plot. It was just kind of something that was also happening while the main issue was Godzilla attacking Japan again. Mothra's death is completely different: she dies defending the people from Godzilla. Her death scene is full of pathos precisely because she is a character rather than a monstrous prop like poor Anguirus. Indeed, her last act is to put her wing over her egg.

Her death scene of course paves the way for another iconic aspect of Mothra: the theme of resurrection. Although Mothra did not die in her own 1961 film, Christian imagery plays a very large role. Mothra's own symbol is a kind of cross and in the movie the protagonists, after seeing a heavenly backlit cross on a church steeple, decide to attract Mothra by painting a giant cross on a runway and ringing church bells at 3PM, which as it happens is traditionally believed to be the hour of Christ's death. The good guy humans reunite Mothra with the Shobijin, whereupon Mothra leaves and the world is saved, showing that the key to peace is compassion and goodness. Similarly, in the 1964 film, Mothra sacrifices her own life to help humanity.

All of this is kind of surprising considering she's a big bug. I don't think people usually associate insects with benevolence and love. Design-wise, Godzilla and most other kaiju are a lot more obvious. Of course a giant dinosaur would tear up buildings and smash stuff. But why would a giant insect care about protecting human beings? It's a very weird idea and weird is good when you're making kaiju films.

These factors don't just make Mothra herself an interesting character as far as kaiju go. Her character is also a great foil for Godzilla and makes him, and by association his whole world, more interesting. I think Mothra is a big part of why this franchise has lasted so long -- and why it got started in the first place.