The Mahou Kaiju Series (魔法怪獣シリーズ Mahō Kaijū Shirīzu , Magical Monster Series) is the name given to a Japanese anime franchise in the kaiju genre created by filmmaker Sam Imbecile in collaboration with Toei Company and Kadokawa, which is composed of various movies and related media that were released in the span of fourteen years from 2019 to 2033.
The series takes place in a shared universe with Gamera, Daimajin and several old franchises and anime shows crossing over and given a revival treatment.
Development[]
Two weeks after Shin Gamera was released, Sam Imbecile spoke up at an interview that he envisions an expanded anime universe that is the "ultimate fantasy of anime watchers and fans" and a series of action and entertainment with some form of social commentary. He also said that Shin Gamera would no longer be a standalone movie and would serve as a launching point of Sam's new series of a shared universe that would run for over a decade through several movies and TV shows, mainly to compete with the massive successes of the Godzilla franchises and various media released by Toho, one of the biggest entertainment conglomerates in Japan and a rival of Toei and Kadokawa. Another idea from Sam was to take several obscure and forgotten anime, place them in his new series, which he and his production team deem as superior, and create a new spin on them to "immortalize them in the minds and hearts of the new generation".
Sam also wanted the television and theatrical installments of the Series to go a direction to compete with the various ultra-successful anime and movies created and/or distributed by Toho and the various entertainment companies that worked alongside Toho and benefitted greatly such as Aniplex, ufotable, Madhouse, Shogakukan and many more. He commented in a 2022 interview with news outlet Nikkei that any anime and movie that would be made nowadays would be massively dwarfed by the successes of anything with support from Toho. He also stated in the interview that if there was no "real competition" within ten to twelve years, which was what Sam aimed the Series to be as a means to help the rival companies grow and compete, Toho could control a potential monopoly over Japanese popular culture and the country's entertainment and fictional media industry as a whole.
Prior to 2025, the animations for the Mahou Kaiju Series was mainly provided by Bandai Namco Holdings subsidiary Sunrise (which was renamed Bandai Namco Filmworks), although TNK or Passione would handle secondary animation for TV shows and OVA's and additional animation in movies, and Toei Animation would also handle animation for installments based on Toei properties that were incorporated into the Series, such as Barom-1 vs. Babel II: Battle of the Ancients and Voltes V: The Master Race. With the continuing success of the Series, on January 28, 2025, Sam Imbecile formed a new animation studio under ownership of Kadokawa called Daiei Animation, to compete with the growing colossal success of TOHO Animation and primarily handle animations for the Series onwards, with Sunrise rotating with TNK and Passione in handling secondary animation or taking over in providing most of the animation in some instances, mostly in revived Sunrise properties such as the movie Zambot at World's End or the anime All-Star Daltanious and All-Star Invincible Robo: Trider G7.
Movies[]
The cinematic proper of the series is composed of fifty movies. From 2019 to 2023, it was mandated by Toei that every theatrical release in the series should be on a Saturday, however as of Gamera vs. the Goddamn Samurai, the ruling was changed so that every movie since then would instead be released on a Friday.
No. | Title | Release Date(s) |
---|---|---|
1 | Shin Gamera | June 15, 2019 |
2 | Anti-Demon Kaiju Taigaia | December 21, 2019 |
3 | Heaven and Hell: Daimajin | February 16, 2020 |
4 | Barom-1 vs. Babel II: Battle of the Ancients | June 13, 2020 |
5 | Gamera vs. Gamera: Rise of Legion | December 19, 2020 |
6 | Stampede Kaiju Calamity-Boar | March 13, 2021 |
7 | Thunder Kaiju Hanumerlin | August 14, 2021 |
8 | GoShogun: The Japanese Civil War | December 25, 2021 |
9 | Nagai: Signs of Pain, Rage and Sorrow | March 5, 2022 |
10 | Senryuukaku vs. Mudou | June 11, 2022 |
11 | Samurai Dragon Amatsu and the Lady in the Water | December 17, 2022 |
12 | Kaiju of Steel Kabugata | March 11, 2023 |
13 | The Goddamn Samurai | August 12, 2023 |
14 | Kaiju of Shadows Kurobare | December 16, 2023 |
15 | Gamera vs. the Goddamn Samurai | March 15, 2024 |
16 | Justice Alliance of Japan The Movie: Ancient Lamentations | June 14, 2024 |
17 | Kaiju of Retribution Tatsura | December 20, 2024 |
18 | Raideen vs. Raiga: Men and Monsters | March 14, 2025 |
19 | God-Sigma vs. God-Mars: War of the Gods | August 15, 2025 |
20 | Gamera vs. MechaGamera | December 19, 2025 |
21 | The Earth Defense Force | April 10, 2026 |
22 | Gaiking vs. Jeeg: Breaking Point | August 28, 2026 |
23 | Mouchuu: Little Kaiju of Pranks | December 25, 2026 |
24 | Voltes V: The Master Race | February 26, 2027 |
25 | Tatsura vs. Hellbourne | June 11, 2027 |
26 | Justice Alliance vs. Taimanin: Civil War | December 24, 2027 |
27 | Kozmoz: War in Space | February 18, 2028 |
28 | Daitarn 3: Supreme Hero | June 9, 2028 |
29 | Gamera vs. The Great General of Darkness | December 22, 2028 |
30 | Kaiju World War: Part 1 | March 2, 2029 |
31 | Zambot at World's End | June 8, 2029 |
32 | The Hows of Me and Liliana The Movie: Change! Ray of Bonds' | September 14, 2029 |
33 | Taigaia vs. Senryuukaku | December 21, 2029 |
34 | Space Warrior Baldios: World Break | March 1, 2030 |
35 | Mazinkaiser vs. Shin Getter Robo: Dual Force | June 7, 2030 |
36 | The Great Youkai War: Daimajin vs. Rakshasa King | September 13, 2030 |
37 | Kaiju World War: Part 2 | December 20, 2030 |
38 | Tetsujin-28: (Un)Fortunate Son | February 28, 2031 |
39 | All-Star Taimanin The Movie: Here Comes! Our Taimanin | May 23, 2031 |
40 | Young Braves Brigade The Movie: Connect the Dreams! | August 8, 2031 |
41 | Gamera vs. Aldrych - Earth Salvation Chapter | October 24, 2031 |
42 | Gamera vs. Aldrych - Demon World Chapter | December 19, 2031 |
43 | Babel II: End of the Legend | February 27, 2032 |
44 | Gamera vs. Mazinger Z: Divine Dominion | June 11, 2032 |
45 | Tatsura & Wataru: Celestial Rebirth | September 10, 2032 |
46 | Justice Alliance of Earth The Movie: The Fated Crossroad | December 24, 2032 |
47 | The Great Taimanin War: Returner | February 25, 2033 |
48 | Daikaiju Future Fight The Movie: Omniverse War | June 10, 2033 |
49 | Kaiju World War: Part 3 - The End of the Universe | October 4, 2033 |
50 | Kaiju World War: Part 3 - The Final War | December 23, 2033 |
TV Shows[]
No. | Title | Release Date(s) | No. of Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Yoroi the Last Emerald Light | April 3, 2021–September 11, 2021 | 24 |
2 | Babel II: Legend Reborn | September 18, 2021–February 26, 2022 | 25 |
3 | The Secretive Akko-chan: Magical Clusterfury | March 5, 2022–August 20, 2022 | 25 |
4 | Dragon Edge Glenmalt | September 4, 2021–August 20, 2022 | 51 |
5 | Machine Warrior Giganader | August 27, 2022–February 18, 2023 | 25 |
6 | The Taimanin Force | August 27, 2022–August 5, 2023 | 50 |
7 | Justice Alliance of Japan | August 19, 2023–April 20, 2024 | 37 |
8 | Galvion 2024 | April 27, 2024–October 5, 2024 | 24 |
9 | Justice Alliance of Japan Victory | October 12, 2024–October 18, 2025 | 53 |
10 | Cyberwar Laserion | June 8, 2024–November 4, 2025 | 24 |
11 | The Hows of Me and Liliana | November 23, 2024–November 15, 2025 | 51 |
12 | All-Star Jeeg | September 27, 2025–March 14, 2026 | 20 |
13 | All-Star Gaiking | March 21, 2026–August 22, 2026 | 23 |
14 | All-Star Combattler V | September 5, 2026–February 20, 2027 | 25 |
15 | All-Star Ginguiser | 25 | |
16 | All-Star Daimos | 24 | |
17 | Justice Alliance of Japan Victory Soul | 51 | |
18 | Young Braves Brigade | July 22, 2028–June 30, 2029 (1st season) January 12, 2030–September 14, 2030 (2nd season) |
48 (1st season) 36 (2nd season) |
19 | Mashin Hero Wataru: Return of the Savior | September 23, 2028–February 17, 2029 | 24 |
20 | All-Star Daltanious | February 24, 2029–May 12, 2029 | 15 |
21 | Mobile Hero Dai-Gundam | 24 | |
22 | Mazinworld | November 23, 2029–May 3, 2030 | 24 |
23 | All-Star Taimanin | June 8–November 16, 2029 (1st season) May 10–October 25, 2030 (2nd season) (3rd season) |
24 (1st season) 25 (2nd season) 60 (3rd season) |
24 | All-Star Invincible Robo: Trider G7 | April 20, 2030–September 28, 2030 | 24 |
25 | The Angry Jokers' Show | December 7, 2030–August 2, 2031 | 36 |
26 | Young Braves Brigade: Amazing Impact | December 7, 2030–August 2, 2031 | 36 |
27 | Daikaiju Future Fight | 25 | |
28 | Justice Alliance of Earth | January 9, 2032–December 17, 2032 | 50 |
29 | Shin Gravion | ||
30 | The Last Stories of the Mahou Kaiju Universe | September 24, 2033–December 10, 2033 | 12 |
OVAs/ONAs[]
No. | Title | Release Date(s) | No. of Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | E Pluribus Unum: Why We Fight | October 1, 2023–December 31, 2023 | 14 |
2 | Mashin Showdown: Rayearth × Wataru | ||
3 | Kaiju World Carnival | June 15, 2031–December 21, 2031 | 12 |
4 | Gravion × Bang Bravern × Mazinkaiser SKL: World Memory | 12 |
"Fight" Miniseries[]
No. | Title | Release Date(s) | No. of Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Daikaiju Fight | 12 | |
2 | Taimanin Fight | 12 | |
3 | Super Robot Fight | 12 | |
4 | Super Robot Fight: Grendizer vs. Vegan Empire! | 12 | |
5 | Taimanin Fight: Future Truth | 12 | |
6 | Super Robot Galaxy Fight I | September 29, 2030–December 15, 2030 | 12 |
7 | Super Robot Galaxy Fight II | September 29, 2030–December 15, 2030 | 12 |
8 | Daikaiju Future Fight: All Over | 12 | |
9 | Daikaiju Future Fight: Twin Cosmos | 12 |
"Chronicle" Series[]
No. | Title | Release Date(s) | No. of Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Taimanin Asagi: The Chronicle | ||
2 | Daikaiju Chronicle: Gamera and the Justice Alliance | ||
3 | Super Robot Chronicle | September 29, 2030–December 15, 2030 | 52 |
3 | Young Braves Chronicle | ||
3 | Taimanin Fuuma: The Chronicle | ||
3 | Kaiju World War Chronicle | 52 | |
3 | Mahou Kaiju: The Final Chronicle |
Reception[]
Box office[]
The theatrical installments of the Mahou Kaiju Series were massively successful in Japan, with some success shared abroad. Every film in the series has reached #1 in the Japanese box office in their opening weekend, even with the case of some of the less successful entries, such as GoShogun: The Japanese Civil War, which grossed the lowest out of all the movies. The series is notable for having the first and only Japanese films by far to each have reached over a billion dollars in global box-office sales, with its later installments not only becoming the highest-grossing movies from Japan, but also some of the highest-grossing animated films of all time.
Title | Japan gross | Worldwide gross |
---|---|---|
Shin Gamera | $201,158,700 (¥29.66 billion) | $255,789,300 (¥37.71 billion) |
Anti-Demon Kaiju Taigaia | $46,670,000 (¥6.87 billion) | $65,329,000 (¥9.62 billion) |
Heaven and Hell: Daimajin | $35,825,700 (¥5.27 billion) | $41,780,800 (¥6.15 billion) |
Barom-1 vs. Babel II: Battle of the Ancients | $25,552,100 (¥4.50 billion) | $30,678,900 (¥5.25 billion) |
Gamera vs. Gamera: Rise of Legion | $230,056,800 (¥33.87 billion) | $300,531,200 (¥44.25 billion) |
Stampede Kaiju Calamity-Boar | $47,551,000 (¥7.00 billion) | $62,127,800 (¥9.15 billion) |
Thunder Kaiju Hanumerlin | $40,662,100 (¥5.99 billion) | $53,348,200 (¥7.85 billion) |
GoShogun: The Japanese Civil War | $15,156,300 (¥2.23 billion) | $18,218,100 (¥2.68 billion) |
Nagai: Signs of Pain, Rage and Sorrow | $20,588,000 (¥3.03 billion) | $24,829,900 (¥3.66 billion) |
Senryuukaku vs. Mudou | $95,308,900 (¥14.03 billion) | $156,508,200 (¥23.04 billion) |
Samurai Dragon Amatsu | ||
Kaiju of Steel Kabugata | ||
The Goddamn Samurai | ||
Kaiju of Shadows Kurobare | ||
Gamera vs. the Goddamn Samurai | $302,987,000 (¥44.66 billion) | $497,560,200 (¥73.34 billion) |
Justice Alliance of Japan The Movie: Ancient Lamentations | $467,138,000 (¥71.81 billion) | $776,894,300 (¥160.58 billion) |
Kaiju of Retribution Tatsura | ||
Raideen vs. Raiga: Men and Monsters | ||
God-Sigma vs. God-Mars: War of the Gods | ||
Gamera vs. MechaGamera | ||
The Earth Defense Force | $120,001,600 (¥17.68 billion) | $188,770,400 (¥27.82 billion) |
Gaiking vs. Jeeg: Breaking Point | ||
Mouchuu: Little Kaiju of Pranks | ||
Voltes V: The Master Race | ||
Tatsura vs. Hellbourne | ||
Kozmoz: War in Space | ||
Daitarn 3: Supreme Hero | $147,364,800 (¥21.72 billion) | $211,506,500 (¥31.18 billion) |
Gamera vs. Great General of Darkness | $509,138,000 (¥75.04 billion) | $1,089,238,000 (¥160.58 billion) |
Kaiju World War: Part 1 | $526,551,000 (¥77.59 billion) | $768,903,000 (¥113.30 billion) |
Zambot at World's End | $154,344,900 (¥22.74 billion) | $250,879,300 (¥36.97 billion) |
Taigaia vs. Senryuukaku | $225,566,300 (¥33.25 billion) | $323,154,200 (¥47.63 billion) |
The Hows of Me and Liliana The Movie | $290,116,700 (¥42.75 billion) | $430,448,000 (¥63.43 billion) |
Kaiju World War: Part 2 | $654,200,000 (¥96.40 billion) | $1,217,231,400 (¥179.37 billion) |
Mazinkaiser vs. Shin Getter Robo | $216,708,600 (¥31.93 billion) | $341,108,400 (¥ billion) |
All-Star Taimanin The Movie | $374,667,400 (¥55.21 billion) | $607,827,000 (¥89.57 billion) |
Young Braves Brigade The Movie | $310,953,300 (¥45.82 billion) | $548,183,200 (¥80.78 billion) |
Gamera vs. Aldrych: World Break | $777,998,500 (¥114.63 billion) | $1,485,708,900 (¥218.91 billion) |
Tetsujin-28: (Un)Fortunate Son | $238,054,400 (¥35.08 billion) | $320,740,000 (¥47.26 billion) |
Justice Alliance of Earth The Movie | $629,332,800 (¥76.55 billion) | $1,057,800,000 (¥155.97 billion) |
Tatsura & Wataru: Celestial Rebirth | $552,914,700 (¥81.47 billion) | $973,605,200 (¥143.45 billion) |
The Great Taimanin War | $617,823,400 (¥91.03 billion) | $1,025,817,000 (¥151.14 billion) |
Gamera vs. Mazinger Z: Divine Dominion | $712,725,000 (¥105.05 billion) | $1,399,956,200 (¥206.38 billion) |
Daikaiju Future Fight The Movie: Omniverse War | $828,678,100 (¥122.15 billion) | $1,526,780,000 (¥224.96 billion) |
Kaiju World War: Part 3 | $1,009,783,400 (¥148.79 billion) | $2,003,520,000 (¥295.66 billion) |
TV ratings[]
Critical reception[]
Controversy[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first kaiju franchise to have most installments (with a few exceptions) with R and TV-MA ratings likely due to extreme amounts of violence, swearing, sexual content, religious references and disturbing topics.