'Godzilla's Counterattack') is a 1955 Japanese kaiju film directed by Motoyoshi Oda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya.

The film stars Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Minoru Chiaki, and Takashi Shimura, with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Katsumi Tezuka as Anguirus.

In the film, Japan struggles to survive Godzilla's return, as well as its destructive battle against its ancient foe Anguirus.

A re-edited, English dubbed version was released theatrically in the United States on June 2, 1959, by Warner Bros. Pictures, under the title Gigantis, the Fire Monster.

Koji Kobayashi, another pilot, faces engine troubles and makes an emergency landing on Iwato Island.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) cut off the lights in the city and lure Godzilla with flares.

In the aftermath, Yamaji moves operations to Hokkaido to make full use of the fisheries and cannery, and also sends Kobayashi to guide trawlers.

The following morning, Tsukioka helps the JASDF search for Godzilla and tracks its location on Kamiko Island.

Because they lack firepower, the JASDF return to base to reload missiles and Tajima reluctantly accepts Tsukioka’s request to take him.

The JSDF creates a wall of fire to block Godzilla’s escape, while the JASDF triggers avalanches by blasting the mountaintops.

A few weeks after Godzilla was released in November 1954, a welcome home party was held for executive producer Iwao Mori.

[4][8] Kalat added that Oda was a director content with accepting B–picture level assignments, stating, "putting such a man in charge of the Godzilla sequel then was a clear signal of intent: This was to be a quickie profit center, not an artistic indulgence.

"[8] Screenwriter Takeo Murata originally wanted to show a scene of chaos and looting in the middle of the monster battle, but time and budget limitations forced him to drop this idea.

Due to heavy construction, the model failed to collapse even when the suit performers rammed into it as the crew members pulled the wires.

Tsuburaya ordered to "cut" but the crew members did not hear him and the castle model collapsed when camera were not rolling.

[1] A re-edited English dubbed version titled Gigantis, the Fire Monster was released theatrically in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on May 21, 1959, where it played as a double feature with Teenagers from Outer Space.

Panic, disaster, and military mobilization scenes from news reels were to be included between the Japanese monster footage.

[20] Toho approved of the idea and in early 1957, shipped the Godzilla and Anguirus suits to Los Angeles for additional photography.

[11] While filming Invasion of the Saucer Men, Bob Burns III and Paul Blaisdell recalled stumbling upon two crates holding the Godzilla and Anguirus suits.

"[21] Rybnick and Barison initially struck a deal with AB-PT Pictures Corp. to co-finance the film but the company closed shop in 1957.

This version had the working title of Godzilla Raids Again, but was changed to Gigantis, the Fire Monster upon its release.

[24] The film was dubbed at Ryder Sound Services in New York and featured the voice talents of Keye Luke, Paul Frees, and George Takei.

[30][31] Prior to the film's release, Schreibman approached Bill Foreman (then-President of Pacific Theaters) and convinced him to purchase the theatrical and television rights to both Gigantis and Teenagers from Outer Space and helped Foreman sell the theatrical rights to Warner Bros.

[22] After the film reverted to Foreman and his attorney Harry B. Swerdlow (who became designated owner of both films because Foreman did not want his name to appear on the copyright notices), they did not pursue any interest in continuing to sell the television rights, which resulted in Gigantis the Fire Monster disappearing from American theatres and television for two decades until the rights reverted to Toho in the mid-1980s.

"[34] Film critic Glenn Erickson wrote in DVD Talk that the film was an "underappreciated, action filled sequel to the original," and that although "the human plot [...] is a series of forgettable scenes about two pilots and their girlfriends, material so poorly organized that it's difficult to remember at all," the "design and execution of the monster battles is quite exciting [featuring] wonderfully dynamic battle scenes with excellent optical superimposures.

"[35] Writing for AllMovie, critic Bruce Eder noted that although "[t]here are interesting elements to this movie, few [...] are explored adequately in the rather slipshod screenplay," that "we never get far enough inside [the characters] to take advantage of the thematic material," and that "the poorer special effects, plus an indifferent music score, made the movie considerably less than its predecessor.

Ryfle noted the scene of Hidemi gazing at the flames of Osaka strikes parallels with the imagery of a mushroom cloud.

[41] In 1989, Video Treasures released the American version on EP and LP VHS in the United States and Canada.

[42] In 2007, Classic Media and Sony BMG Home Entertainment released both the Japanese and American versions on DVD in the United States and Canada.

The special features include an audio commentary by Steve Ryfle, a featurette titled The Art of Suit Acting by Ed Godziszewski and Bill Gudmundson, and a slideshow of the film's theatrical posters.