Goodbye, Banno.

[BlueGojira]

I am a bit late on this topic, as this happened four days ago. (at the time I'm writing this) On May 7th, Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno passed away at the age of 86. This thread is intended to be a tribute to him, not exactly a discussion. Banno was the last surviving director of the Showa era, and will forever be remembered by his loved ones, friends, and Godzilla fans alike..

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

I was greatly sad about hearing this in the general discussion.

My condolences to his friends and family.

It feels weird, not having any Showa directors alive anymore. Its like something is missing.

[Ivo-goji]

Really sad to hear about this. He gave us one of the most unique and memorable kaiju films of all time. The Showa era is further away from us without him.

[SickleFeather]

Godzilla vs Hedorah was one of the most unique entries in the franchise.

It's sad to see him go.

R.I.P

[BlueGojira]

Since everyone else (Dr. Professor, Destorogoji, etc.) seems to be doing it, I'm changing my icon to Hedorah.

EDIT: I'm most likely keeping this as my icon for a very long time.

[LegendZilla]

Why has this news not made the headlines on this site?

[TheSecondComing]

^^Valid question!

Thank you so much for your art, Mr. Banno! Without your vision, Godzilla loses one of his most unique escapades, and also doesn't become Legendary. If there is one man to thank for today's climate of the Monsterverse, and beyond, it's Yoshimitsu Banno. I wish I could have shaken his hand in person like I've been blessed to do with Haruo Nakajima and Mizuho Yoshida.

[Destorogoji]

I will miss him. I never got to met him, but he made such a unique film for the series and I'm sure his legacy will live for a long time.

[Jiragozira14]

And with Banno's death, we've lost all the Showa-era directors.

It's tragic that he never got to make that second Godzilla vs. Hedorah he always wanted, but at least he managed to make one more credit in a Godzilla film before his passing.

And just like everyone, I've made my avatar Hedorah in light of this. I'll probably keep it as Hedorah for the rest of today, if not until tomorrow.

[Komenja]

Rest in peace, Banno. I loved your movie and especially your enthusiasm.

[Dr. Professor]

I wish I could've met him. He seemed super kind and I have a ton of respect for him and all that he's contributed to the franchise.

[Breakdown]

RIP Mr Banno and thank you for giving us one of the most unique entries in the Showa series, as well as one of the more memorable of Godzilla's foes. I wish Toho would have let you bring more of your ideas to life.

[Dawsbfiremind]

We will remember you Banno! In your memory, I shall temporarily switch my avatar to Hedorah instead of a Ghibli character.
We salute you.

[SoleMan]

Okay, so this is the same thing I posted in the dead celebrity thread, but I want to repost it here:

actually met Yoshimitsu on what may have been the greatest day of my life. I got to talk with him about his life for well over an hour, and he proceeded to give us a tour of Toho studios, and then we had dinner with him at a very nice restaurant up the road from us. He was a very charming old man, who loved to see young people so interested in his work. He even asked my professor to help fund his Godzilla side project for a mere $6 million. My professor left it in his other pants. He even tried to set his son up with one of my friends!


I feel like with his passing, it finally lays the era of Godzilla to rest. No more are there guys in rubber suits, no more are there fun, silly, kid-friendly Godzillas, no more are the days when you could make out in the back row with your sweetheart and your kid brother could be in the front, eyes glued to the screen. Instead we're left with the gritty, cold world of Hollywood and apocalyptic visions of nightmare creatures.

[BlueGojira]

I feel like with his passing, it finally lays the era of Godzilla to rest. No more are there guys in rubber suits, no more are there fun, silly, kid-friendly Godzillas, no more are the days when you could make out in the back row with your sweetheart and your kid brother could be in the front, eyes glued to the screen. Instead we're left with the gritty, cold world of Hollywood and apocalyptic visions of nightmare creatures.

Beautifully said. I couldn't have phrased this better..

I'm keeping this as a part of my signature forever. Banno would be amazed at all of us.

[Billzilla1974]

Okay, so this is the same thing I posted in the dead celebrity thread, but I want to repost it here:

actually met Yoshimitsu on what may have been the greatest day of my life. I got to talk with him about his life for well over an hour, and he proceeded to give us a tour of Toho studios, and then we had dinner with him at a very nice restaurant up the road from us. He was a very charming old man, who loved to see young people so interested in his work. He even asked my professor to help fund his Godzilla side project for a mere $6 million. My professor left it in his other pants. He even tried to set his son up with one of my friends!


I feel like with his passing, it finally lays the era of Godzilla to rest. No more are there guys in rubber suits, no more are there fun, silly, kid-friendly Godzillas, no more are the days when you could make out in the back row with your sweetheart and your kid brother could be in the front, eyes glued to the screen. Instead we're left with the gritty, cold world of Hollywood and apocalyptic visions of nightmare creatures.

I feel the opposite way, I don't think it "lays the era to rest" It leaves those who loved the era with a good reason to someday bring it back in some way. Banno's death didn't just lay an era to rest, we have lost one of the last vestiges of a great era in cinematic history. Lost is the creativity of the Showa Era, what's left is the beam-spamming grim-dark of the 80s onwards.
As long as the Showa Era has fans, it will always have a chance of being remade, with modern effects, but the humor remaining intact. Sooner or later people will want something that isn't horror/death/apocalyptic, and when that happens, an era similar to the Showa era will likely begin.
Of course, this is just my take on this.
Rest in Peace, Yoshimitsu Banno.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

Okay, so this is the same thing I posted in the dead celebrity thread, but I want to repost it here:

actually met Yoshimitsu on what may have been the greatest day of my life. I got to talk with him about his life for well over an hour, and he proceeded to give us a tour of Toho studios, and then we had dinner with him at a very nice restaurant up the road from us. He was a very charming old man, who loved to see young people so interested in his work. He even asked my professor to help fund his Godzilla side project for a mere $6 million. My professor left it in his other pants. He even tried to set his son up with one of my friends!


I feel like with his passing, it finally lays the era of Godzilla to rest. No more are there guys in rubber suits, no more are there fun, silly, kid-friendly Godzillas, no more are the days when you could make out in the back row with your sweetheart and your kid brother could be in the front, eyes glued to the screen. Instead we're left with the gritty, cold world of Hollywood and apocalyptic visions of nightmare creatures.

I feel the opposite way, I don't think it "lays the era to rest" It leaves those who loved the era with a good reason to someday bring it back in some way. Banno's death didn't just lay an era to rest, we have lost one of the last vestiges of a great era in cinematic history. Lost is the creativity of the Showa Era, what's left is the beam-spamming grim-dark of the 80s onwards.
As long as the Showa Era has fans, it will always have a chance of being remade, with modern effects, but the humor remaining intact. Sooner or later people will want something that isn't horror/death/apocalyptic, and when that happens, an era similar to the Showa era will likely begin.
Of course, this is just my take on this.
Rest in Peace, Yoshimitsu Banno.

Well said, both of you. Im sure the true Showa Era will return, in the future.

[Billzilla1974]

^^Agreed.^^

[SoleMan]

Well said, both of you. Im sure the true Showa Era will return, in the future.

"through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight, so very far away, maybe it's only yesterday..."

It's not like I hate the new era, in fact I really liked Shin Godzilla, and I liked the American film too. I'm just saying, that particular blend of cinema is no more. It's like it's the same thing, only different. (How's that for some Zen wisdom?)

As another song goes: "The future's in the air, I can feel it everywhere, blowing in the winds of change..."

[Desghidorah]

I didn't consider GvH a favorite, but it was most certainly memorable. Banno helped the project that became Godzilla 2014 get off the ground and helped consult the creative teams at Legendary to keep their movie faithful to the real deal. Because of 2014, we got Shin Godzilla and the Monster'verse. Because we got those three along with Pacific Rim, the kaiju genre has been revitalized. Sayonara Banno, you went far and we won't forget you!