Saturday Morning Memories: Godzilla (1978)

In the Autumn of 1978, my favorite Saturday morning cartoon had to be Hanna-Barbera’s Godzilla. I was already well versed in the giant atomic monster, but this show with its simple line-work brought me into drawing my own Kaiju. For a while it was an obsession. I lament that I didn’t keep the monster books I would create around this time, although I still have fond memories of crafting them. The cartoon wasn’t much by way of a plot, or even action, but when you are eight you take anything you can get. It was also around this time when Mattel’s Shogun Warriors line released a Godzilla toy, although I wouldn’t get one until 1980.

I mean, those were truly halcyon days for me. As far as the cartoon goes, I think the most memorable part has to be the title theme. I can still hear it echoing in my mind. The rest of the show was just background noise until Godzilla was inevitably called to rescue Godzuki and the human protagonists from some large threat. I was probably eating cereal, and drawing in the meantime, before GZ was called upon. From time to time, I’ve attempted to rewatch the program but my interest wains as soon as the theme song is over and for me, that is more than enough to bring a smile to my face.