Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

For the discussion of Toho produced and distributed films or shows released before 1980.
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Legion1979
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Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by Legion1979 »

One of my favorite things about revisiting the films from Toho's golden age is listening to all the great sound effects they came up with. Not just the monstet roars but all sorts of other things too that give these movies such an unforgettable quality. Three that stand out to me are...

1) squealing brakes/tires (even on roads where cars shouldn't make that noise)
2) loud metal "clangs" (falling metal objects but most remembered for Gigan and Mechagodzilla's footsteps
3) the sound of something electronic opening and closing (such as automatic doors at alien bases)

Anyone have any other favorites?
Last edited by Legion1979 on Sun Aug 21, 2022 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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SpiderZilla
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

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Legion1979 wrote: Sun Aug 21, 2022 11:08 am Anyone have any other favorites?
I like the sound of the alien guns in DAM during the beach shootout. They sound so cool and futuristic!

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Voyager
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by Voyager »

The military sound effects.
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ShinGojira14
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by ShinGojira14 »

Voyager wrote: Tue Aug 23, 2022 3:50 pm The military sound effects.
Exactly this. I'll never not get chills hearing the classic Showa era tank sounds and explosions coming out of the JSDF in Shin Godzilla, when he faces the military.
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by edgaguirus »

I liked the sounds made by the Xilien spaceships.
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Terasawa
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by Terasawa »

The squealing naval siren heard here at 32:47.



I also like the really chunky explosion sounds that started turning up in the 1980s:

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Legion1979
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by Legion1979 »

Wow, those are both great choices. That navel siren is definitely a common 60s one that, if I heard it anywhere else, I'd immediately think of Toho effects films.

As for those choppy 80s explosions, yeah those were all over the two Godzilla films from that decade. Do you happen to know exactly when Toho dumped their old sound effects library?
Last edited by Legion1979 on Wed Aug 24, 2022 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by mikelcho »

My favorites are the lasers and Maser Cannons.

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Terasawa
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by Terasawa »

Legion1979 wrote: Wed Aug 24, 2022 5:31 pmDo you happen to know exactly when Toho dumped their old sound effects library?
All of the Toho FX films beginning with Deathquake were predominately/exclusively stereo releases (and I think all *after* Deathquake were some form of Dolby). I think Deathquake is also the first such film with the more modern destruction sound effects, so the switch to multi-channel releases must have been a major factor.
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G-Matt
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by G-Matt »

I'm a sucker for the Showa explosion sounds, especially this one:
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by LegendZilla »

Which films did each particular sound effect originate?

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ebirahsmeg1
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Re: Favorite Classic Toho Sound Effects

Post by ebirahsmeg1 »

G-Matt wrote: Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:13 am I'm a sucker for the Showa explosion sounds, especially this one:
This would be at the top of the list for me as well.

Also, these are some other SHOWA sound effects I just love (Kaiju ASMR I suppose :xilian: :mugal: )

- The humming noises for the inside of the Xiliens' and Black Hole Aliens' spaceships, along with the opening of the mechanical sliding doors in these ships.
- Earthquake / earth trembling-collapsing sound effects used throughout the series with earthquake scenes, volcano scenes, kaiju appearing from underground, etc.
- The firing sounds of the A-Cycle Light Ray and the Mazor Tanks.
- Building/bridges/structures collapsing sound effects
- Footsteps of Gigan and MechaGodzilla, as Legion pointed out earlier.
- Squealing of the rocket engines of Moonlight SY3 (used countless times on other flying mech as well).

Here are some nice compilations of them here:
Last edited by ebirahsmeg1 on Wed Jul 05, 2023 9:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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