Gamera: Rebirth (2023– ) User Reviews

HE'S BACK!!!!

[DanTheMan2150AD · 7/10 · 7 September 2023]

17 years later and Gamera is finally back on our screens! It's about damn time!

Hiroyuki Seshita has more than made up for the Godzilla anime trilogy with this. Granted the frankly awful 3D character models don't blend at all with the 2D backgrounds nor more stylistic kaiju designs but for what it's worth, the writing is actually rather decent despite the confused tone which can't decide if it wants to be for kids or adults. It constantly vibes like one of those 80s "band of kids go on an adventure" movies, e.g. The Goonies which is probably why I liked it so much, it also pays homage to every Gamera movie and iteration although much more from the Showa era than the superior Heisei trilogy. Helps that the episodes are 45 minutes long which makes it feel like linked mini-movies as opposed to an actual series. The music by Shuji Katayama is awesome, every time Gamera appears he is accompanied by a rocking guitar riff and the songs by WANIMA are pretty fabulous as well. The voice acting is all pretty good but no one really stood out to me in either language. Overall, Rebirth is a particularly fine return to the screen for our loveable giant turtle. It's not perfect but I would gladly take more if they could iron out the animation issues.

A surprisingly satisfying story, but unclear about its target audience

[RogerBorg · 7/10 · 7 September 2023]

Gamera is a friend to all children, and on the face of it, that's what we get here: three plucky Japanese boys thrown together with a cowardly, low-IQ, thuggish US antihero - careful now, there's a bit of politics creeping on the stage here.

The first three episodes follow the same basic kaiju trope of introducing a new villain-monster which eventually gets stomped or toasted by ol' rocket-shell. But before the showdown, you have to sit through half an hour or so of annoying kids doing annoying kid things, and getting into all sorts of avoidable scrapes.

And that's where it gets weird, as the pre-teen lads getting up to their boys-will-be-boys hijinks makes this seem as though its for children of that age. But this is intercut with graphic and bloody dismemberment and devouring, and some unnecessarily jarring adult language in the English dub, which makes it unsuitable for Gamera's younger chums.

The art and animation are also disjointed. There's a mix of hand drawn and CG backgrounds and buildings, basic low frame rate flat cell-shaded CG characters and vehicles, and spiky 3D kaiju that look very peculiar when they share the same scene. It's possible that this is a deliberate homage to the compositing in the original films, but it doesn't make it any less quirky.

All that said, if you stick with it, you'll find that the protagonists are well fleshed out with backstories, their interactions become increasingly character-based, and there's a commendable amount of development among the boys - with some very surprising twists and payoffs that I've carefully avoided spoiling - so full credit for that. The series gets a lot more mature and consequential as it progresses, and actually develops a solid plot, which is a surprise given its frivolous early feel.

This isn't the worst animation that Netflix has produced, not by a long way, and it improves as it goes on. It's just that I suspect some of its audience will tune out in the first two episodes as it doesn't settle on a consistent tone quickly enough.

Gamera's Return is Peak Kaiju Mayhem

[juliodrino · 8/10 · 8 September 2023]

With a straight forward, valanced plot overflown with jaw-dropping monster fights and a sympathetic cast of characters, Gamera: Rebirth is probably Netflix's best take on Kaiju Eiga to date, and a more than worthy return for the Guardian of the Universe himself.

While the human animation might look pretty awful at times, it doesn't take long to get used to it. The stars of the show --Gamera, Gyaos, Jiger, Zigra, and Viras-- on the other hand, look absolutely gorgeous, shining their brightest during the fights.

Scale is managed perfectly, making every step, punch, and bite feel as massive as they can. The human aspect, on its part, is pretty decent. The cast isn't exactly the best or the most outstanding for kaiju films, but the characters are easy to like and care for.

The only drawbacks I would take into consideration would be the animation and the feeling that Gamera's relationship with the main cast could have been done better.

Treat for the Kaiju fans !

[attitude_guitarist · 7/10 · 10 September 2023]

If you're a kaiju enthusiast, the Gamera series on Netflix is a treat you shouldn't miss. Each episode brings a new kaiju to the forefront, delivering a fresh and exciting experience with every installment.

For fans who've been craving more kaiju action since Godzilla, the Gamera series fills that void admirably. The constant introduction of new kaiju keeps the series dynamic and engaging, providing viewers with an ever-expanding roster of monstrous adversaries.

However, while the Gamera series excels in many aspects, it's not without its drawbacks. One noticeable downside is the animation style. Some viewers might find it a bit lacking in quality, which can be distracting at times. The less polished animation can take away from the immersive experience that kaiju fans often seek.

Comparing it to the Godzilla animation, it's evident that there's room for improvement in terms of animation quality. Godzilla's animation set a high standard, and Gamera could benefit from a similar level of visual finesse.

In conclusion, the Gamera series on Netflix is a must-watch for kaiju enthusiasts, offering a continuous stream of epic monster battles. However, the animation style might leave some fans wishing for a more polished look. Despite this minor setback, the series is a thrilling addition to the world of kaiju entertainment.

An OK 6-part animated reboot of Daiei Studio's improbable rocket-powered chelonoid hero

[jamesrupert2014 · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

This 6-part anime series finds the titanic tusked turtle battling most of its nemeses from the original Showa-era movies in an attempt to save us all from an existential threat. The animation is basic but serviceable and the characters serve to move the story along (although a lot of time is spent on child-hood issues and angst). The reimagined kaiju are OK although there is some inexplicable lengthening of tails, tongues, tentacles, etc and the monster-fights are as entertaining as always. There is some over-the-top 'America bashing' in the first episode and whatever point was being made would have benefitted from a bit more subtlety. An abrupt, and surprising, character shift in the 5th episode livens up a story that was falling into the repetitive 'monster-of-the-week' formula. Fans of Daiei Studio's answer to Toho's money-making 'Godzilla' franchise should get some eye-rolling pleasure out of watching the shelled saviour face off against old foes although, like me, they may miss the silly charm of the original series' bargain-basement suit-mation (and the memorably chipper theme music). Considering this is a show about a giant flying turtle repeatedly saving the lives of four children, there is a surprising amount of course language (possibly Netflix's attempt to make the series more 'edgy'). Much more entertaining than the pretentious anime Godzilla series that Netflix ran a few years back.

This is surprisingly very good. Sure it is aim at kids, but there is plenty for adults to chew on.

[zinny999 · 9/10 · 10 September 2023]

The series will focus on Gamera facing off against five different Kaiju.

I know the plots and other elements aren't deep compared to other genre.

Whatever they plotte was just great. We have three childhood friends who want to make sure that no matter how far apart they are , they're always gonna be together. The bond between Joe and Boko was the most intriguing one. We are told how Joe's little brother and mom died while he was in grade school and how his dad spiraled into depression forcing Joe to work as a paper boy to pay off their debts. Character development was also unique in the case of sea weed hair from Eustace.

Plus there is also for adults, especially to those who believe in conspiracy. Such as the Foundation organisation and how they could seen as modern day 1%. Who controls a lot of things like WEF. Wants to wipe humanity out of this planet and have a great RESTART. While they are completely in charge.

Lots of little cookies 🍪 in this one.

North Americans will find it acceptable.

[jonfmac · 6/10 · 8 September 2023]

I thought that I was watching something from American comics such as DC. Lots of action but poorly written and conceived. It's a passable time waster if you you have low expectations or nothing better to do.

The animation on the kaiju was fairly well done but the rest was at best average. All of the music was unmemorable.

What it really comes down to is that this series could have been much better but there was no investment placed in the storey making and world building. If they had at least targeted a specific market it could have been much better then the mishmash that was presented. It gives the impression of somebody cashing in. Continuity was lost in the first few minutes of the first episode. A North American distribution will find it acceptable.

The Guardian of the Universe comes back with a bang.

[kevinxirau · 8/10 · 13 September 2023]

We truly live in a glorious age of titans. Godzilla, King Kong, and even Ultraman have been gracing us with their presence for a decade now, but, weirdly, someone was missing. Godzilla's old box office rival, the giant turtle Gamera, had been absent from cinema since 2006. In comes Netflix to the rescue as he's given a 6-part anime series to give him much-needed life: "Gamera Rebirth". Did it succeed?

Plot: In the year 1989, four children suddenly find themselves amidst numerous attacks by man-eating kaiju that are especially fixated on them. Lucky for them, one beast, Gamera, comes to defend them, though the military is very reluctant to trust him. Where did the kaiju come from? Why is Gamera different? What makes these children special? Grand battles and shocking revelations ensue.

The best way I can describe this series is "Stranger Things" with giant monsters. Though the protagonists are children, don't mistake this for silly kid stuff. They occasionally find themselves in violent situations and even swear from time to time; there's a shocking number of F-bombs thrown in. We get insight into what makes each of them tick and why they are so close, and the story and conflicts allow them to mature and contribute in individual ways. There are a few standout characters too like James, a jaded man with dreams and insecurities of his own forced to watch over the children, and an American army general struggling to deal with the crisis. There are also some sprinkles of social commentary like military relations between Japan and America to help spice things up a bit. Admittedly, the way the characters look and move in the animation are a little odd, but the writing behind them compensates for it.

Gamera has never looked better, ferociously taking action without hesitation and putting others before himself as is true to the spirit of the character. He also comes with a rockin' musical theme that gets you pumped for action. The turtle's enemies, most of which have been absent from film for half a century, are all given awesome updates and are treated as formidable foes for both Gamera and the humans, providing intense fight scenes that don't shy away from being bloody and violent as combatants throw each other around, trade blows, and show off cool abilities. The mystery surrounding the kaiju and their origins was engaging, leading to big reveals that I didn't see coming in a good way, especially with how the humans play into them. I do think the pacing of the episodes can be improved by speeding things up a little.

All in all, "Gamera Rebirth" is a smashing shell of a good time. Slight shortcomings aside, it is a much-needed refreshing take on a classic monster that provides both monster mayhem and a compelling human narrative interweaved into it. Hopefully, another season is made as well as a new movie.

A Flawed Return for The Giant Turtle

[FinalSmash1689 · 6/10 · 12 September 2023]

PROS: -Gamera and his foes get AMAZING redesigns!!!

-The Kaiju fights are BRUTAL!!!

-A good 'coming of age' story.

-The characters are likable even though they're all stereotypes.

-The 5th episode reveals a far more interesting plot beneath the surface.

CONS: -The 3D Computer Animation is GARBAGE!!!! It's even more infuriating because it's against these gorgeous 2D landscapes. All of the characters and their movements feel like a bad videogame cut scene from the early 2000's!!!

-The Formula of Gamera showing only at the end of every episode becomes stale by the fourth episode.

Gamera is my 2nd favorite kaiju, and I've dearly missed him. I was apprehensive about this project as both anime attempts for Godzilla were massively disappointing. However, I actually quite enjoyed this! There's an emotional honesty to the kid's portrayal. They fight, they swear, they care about each other and all they truly want to do is enjoy their last summer together. The plot is pretty basic for those that know Gamera, but in episode 5 they really expand on this world's mythology and I'm very curious how a season 2 would continue to build on that. Most of the adult characters are generic stereotypes, until episode 5 when one character's true intentions are revealed. Gamera, Gyaos, Zigar, Jiger and Viras all get beautiful redesigns, and their battles are really fun to watch. I already mentioned but I have to say this: I would have enjoyed this 1000x more if the character animation was traditional 2D instead of this cheap 3D computer animation nonsense. It pulls you out of the show because it just looks so terrible. Honestly, I would've rated this much higher, but the animation is key in a project like this and Netflix really cheaped out in this aspect. I'm happy to see Gamera again but if they make season 2, they really need to fix this animation going forward. 6/10.

A few decent fight scenes don't make up for 5 hours of mediocrity.

[stalinjoeman · 2/10 · 10 October 2023]

Having just binged this with several friends, I feel quite comfortable saying that unless you are a die hard fan of our oversized turtle, you can very easily skip this without missing much.

The Kaiju fights, the only entertaining segments and primary reason people watch this genre, are few and far between. Instead the focus is placed on irritating children, useless side characters and villains with little build-up, motivation or pay-off. Character personalities switch on a dime, animation is rough at best and downright lazy at its worst.

Overall not worth the over 5 hour run time, spare yourself the pain and just watch the fight scenes on YouTube if you're that curious.

The protector of children is back

[dinohugoale · 8/10 · 21 September 2023]

If there is something to applaud this series is how it was able to deliver an interesting plot along with combats at the height of this Kaiju.

Now yes, let's start well, this is the first time I see a Gamera product and I must say that I was very surprised, I knew it was the "rival" of Godzilla in Japan, while one was the terror, the other was the protector.

This series is the first time we see the Kaiju after many years and I must say that in the format he returned was very good since we come from very questionable animated products (Godzilla Singular Point, Ultraman, etc).

The only thing I must say I didn't like was the 3D style animation, as it felt very bad at times but contrasted with the phenomenal kaiju designs.

The plot is easy to understand and each chapter has its touch and at the same time the way they present Gamera's rivals is very interesting.

I'll just say that if you're looking for a kaiju series with a simple but complex plot, this series has it.

Also, the ending, tremendous ending, I just hope a second season is confirmed.

I also hope that the series does well and we have more of the protector of children and the universe, yes, it was the first time I saw Gamera in action and I liked it, I have no doubt that you will like it too.

And don't get carried away by the animation, because once you get caught up in the series you won't be able to put it down.

Gamera's Back???

[robertdlar · 7/10 · 12 September 2023]

First off, I have been a Gamora fan since I was a child, as the movies were targeted towards younger kids. As I got older I saw how silly they were but they were still fun to watch if you didn't take them too seriously. Gamera was kept alive thanks to the efforts of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, until the triumphant return in 1995 which featured some of the absolute BEST man-in-suit Special effects in any Kaiju movie to date. This new Gamera was more edgy and hardcore and violent, which gave it a broader appeal to older age groups, specially this one. The 3 90s movies were so good I wanted more, but bancrupcy and other issuse plagued the studio and Gamera was done.

When I heard about the rebirth project I was at first excited but then concerned that it was going to be made an anime like Godzilla Earth. This neuvo-animation style seems to have become popular but like 'lens flare' and 'shaky cam' I hope its just a passing fad because it is not as good as traditional animation and frankly the kind of effort and work they put into it, they may as well go live action and enhance the CGI, its just a cheap way out.

As far as the plot, this is the first time I have ever seeen in ANY Japanese movie, the involvement of the American forces embedded in Japan. It always seemed like it was all up to the Japanese alone to defend their island when the very presence of the American forces was to aid in the islands defense. This would have been a new and unique take on Kaiju movies if they didn't make the Americans a bunch of racist incompetent jerks. Why can't we just tell a story and let the Kaiju be the bad guys for a change?

As goofy as it's source material

[willster-83146 · 7/10 · 12 September 2023]

Completed Gamera Rebirth last night and it's another Netflix anime that's too mature for kids but too childish for adults. This one does a little better than Skull Island in maintaining the more mature side. I liked it a lot, though. It was fun, adventurous, and heartfelt at moments. Animation is janky, like most modern CG anime, but it's passable. Voice acting is okay, I watched it dubbed. Overall it's a fun watch if a bit tonally all over the place. As a kaiju lover though, I really liked it. Possibly my favorite of the Netflix Kaiju animes. A lot more fun than Godzilla Earth and much easier to follow than Godzilla Singular Point.

Fan Service does not a good anime make

[marshalsea-547-992254 · 6/10 · 10 October 2023]

There's a lot of OK about Gamera: Rebirth.

It's not necessarily bad - unless you're talking about the exceptionally poor CGI animation. Bring back Reboot all is forgiven! I'm sure some apologetics will describe it as edged or something, but its a failure as animation style.

For genuine fans of Kaiju this will be a non-event. Yes x, y, z appears, but it's all so lacklustre most of the time.

Could this be seen as "my first trainee Kaiju" - well, yes. It feels like it's aimed at a young audience: 10-12, and not aimed at a universal audience like the original films - which can be watched and enjoyed at any age. So it's a fail on the writing team... which is surprising when you look at them. But I guess they're adapters not writers.

Worth a watch, just... could have been better.

The best kaiju anime EVER made!

[joaopedrocarafantoche · 10/10 · 7 September 2023]

I was very excited to see this anime, Gamera is by far my favorite kaiju franchise and watching the anime, yeah, the wait was really worth it, I LOVED this anime, the story is very good with an immersive universe, the characters are really cool and well written, the touching scenes are really emotional, the animation is really good (especially with the monsters) And talking about the monsters, they look amazing, the designs are sensational and faithful to the originals and the fights are very, very, VERY good, and of course, as you can't miss in a Gamera work, the soundtrack is spectacular. In summary, I loved this anime as a Gamera fan, it's the perfect combination of the Showa Era with Heisei and I highly recommend you watch it.

A Kaiju Masterpiece!

[pcotsoradis · 10/10 · 9 September 2023]

Gamera has always been the "People's Champion", and this Anime doesn't disappoint! Plenty of action, with excellent monster creation and detail. There was also a great human element to the story line, with fleshed out characters and backstories with pathos. Some tropes, of course, but that is to be expected in this genre. Yes, the good guys are going to win, but it's a matter of how much they are going to sacrifice to get there. Beautiful visuals with 80's period details, and terrific sound design down to Gamera's trademark scream. It's a fist-pumping good time from start to finish for any Kaiju fan! I loved it!

Rare that gets better each episode

[elechien · 8/10 · 17 September 2023]

I'm have been a Gamera fan since I was a kid in 70s. I watched it with my son who is a huge Gamera and Godzilla fan. The story is almost astonishing where it goes and yes the animation isn top tier but when the battles with the legendary opponents it's epic. Imagine if this was live action with that script lol. Yes the adults are basically clueless and dumb and the kids save the day but this has been Gameras MO for decades. The Kaiju designs are a little risky but I appreciate there take on those legendary characters in the Gamera universe hell I have bought several of them for my collection.. recommend Stay with it the last episodes are worth it.

Cheap animation relying too much on action

[goblissm · 2/10 · 18 September 2023]

What strikes me 1st: the animation. It looks cheap - i've seeen small indie studios make better computer generated animations than this. Waaay better. Looks like a game made for the old generations of game consoles. 1/10

Monsters: too much detail is not good. Yes, monsters are well made, to the smallest detail. But it just makes them look out of place in that whole poor computer generated frame. Less detail would help so much... 1/10

Characters:their animation is terrible too. Face expressions, the way they move - even more fake then computer generated environment they are in. 1/10

Voice acting - ofc talking about original Japanese. Japanese voice actors rarely disappoint ;) 8/10.

Everything that you'd want from an animated Gamera

[messerdaniel-50376 · 8/10 · 6 February 2024]

While an epic and amazing piece of media. The animation does leave a lot to be desired. The characters are classic while avoiding the Kenny trope that predominants much of classic Gamera. The Guardian of the Universe is back abd he is still Friend to the Children. The fights have the weight that you'd expect and Gamera is the bruiser that'd you expect him to be. The classic monster gore is back and Gamera even has motal kombat style fatalities. His classic villains from the Showa era are back and actually threatening as opposed to comical. Gamera's orgins along with his villains orgins are more Heisei.

A solid Kaiju adventure in an anime reboot of the beloved franchise

[hundick · 10/10 · 23 January 2024]

Epic Kaiju battles, smooth animation and an engaging storyline make this a must-watch! One of the best versions of Gamera ever - and the same goes for the other classic Kaiju in the show.

Besides the amazing choreography of the monster fights, the Human characters' relationships and subplots are pretty compelling as well. There are unexpected twists and surprises in the storyline most people won't see coming.

While there was some negative criticism for the animation style, I found nothing wrong with it. The Kaiju are animated in 3D, much like those in Godzilla: Singular Point and this contrast makes them seem all the more larger than life. All in all, a splendid anime and I look forward to a sequel.

This anime is Really Neat and Filled with Meat!

[loschrod · 8/10 · 14 September 2023]

In 1965, Godzilla received a rival, a monster to compete with the King. The monster, known as Gamera, despite being seen by some people as a Godzilla Rip Off, became popular enough to become a whole franchise almost as big as Godzilla's. The original franchise had 8 movies (or 7, since there is one I don't know if is actually canon). After 15 years without movies, a reboot trilogy got released in the 1990s, and in 2006 we got a standalone reboot.

Now, 17 years after the last live action movie, we get "Gamera: Rebirth", not only the first series in the franchise, but also the first animated entry in the franchise. Now, what can I say about it? First of all, the main characters are kids, like in the original franchise, but unlike the original movies, the kids here aren't annoying, I actually enjoyed and related to them. But also, the humans aren't very well animated, they should have just made it 2D, because 3D anime humans don't look very good to me. The monster fights were pretty decent, Gamera looks amazing in this anime, the old monsters from the Showa era look pretty cool. But I also missed some other stuff, like Barugon from the secound movie, and I missed some Jiger habilities, like her rays and making Gamera Pregnant.

Overall, it's a decent Kaiju series, I hope we get more Gamera content in the future.

So full of heart and so much fun !

[sahildograsd · 8/10 · 22 September 2023]

This series has so much heart. The characters are so lovable and well-written. No one is annoying and everyone has their own unique qualities.

I love the non-linear story-telling. Especially in the starting 3 episodes.

It's starts off very strong and piques your interest for different types of Kaijus that might show up. Also it's good that we get 1 Kaiju per episode which keeps you watching.

The animation is also nostalgic and new-age at the same time. I don't care what nobody says, the mix of 3D and 2D animation was good. I liked it.

Hope there is a season 2 and we get to see these characters again.

I would love to dive deep in this world again. They are so lovable and fun.

Super-fun how to end the summer. Not too long, not too short. Solid 8/10.

Gamera: Rebirth is a worthwhile addition to the monster universe and a must-see for genre fans

[kevin_robbins · 8/10 · 29 November 2023]

I recently watched the series Gamera: Rebirth (2023) on Netflix. The storyline revolves around Japan under kaiju attack and the government failing to stop them. Society is left with no other option but to turn to Gamera as a potential solution. The question lingers: is Gamera a friend or foe?

Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita (Ajin), the animation style is fantastic, aligning seamlessly with Netflix's recent Godzilla trilogy. While the storyline is straightforward for the monster universe, the use of children, akin to classic Gamera pictures, might be a bit annoying. Nonetheless, the depictions of the kaiju are fantastic, the battle scenes are tremendous, and Gamera's powers are portrayed brilliantly. I thoroughly enjoyed this series.

In conclusion, Gamera: Rebirth is a worthwhile addition to the monster universe and a must-see for genre fans. I'd rate it 8/10 and strongly recommend it.

Gamera's return

[kaiju-50331 · 10/10 · 18 February 2024]

After a long seventeen years gamera returns and I love it. The characters are nicely rewritten even if they look a little weird with being 3D animated but the Gamera and the other giant monster look great with fantastic new designs and with a nice backgrounds to them. And it only six episodes long, so it a quick watch too and hope there is a season 2 because i don't think my heart can take about seventeen more years without Gamera. They're is also a comic that takes place way before the show if you are interested in that, on that note I hope to see this giant flying turtle again soon in the future and I hope you enjoy this show.