As a gamer and a die-hard fan of all things nostalgic, let me tell you that the 90s were a golden era for pop culture, and one of its most iconic moments has to be the Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley commercial. Growing up, I remember watching this commercial over and over again, mesmerized by the sheer absurdity of it all – a giant monster, the King of Monsters himself, challenging a human-sized basketball legend to a game!
For more than seven decades, Godzilla, the monarch of monsters, has engaged in epic battles with legendary adversaries. Mothra, the queen of these titans, often clashes with Godzilla, reflecting their respective king and queen roles. King Ghidorah, a ferocious three-headed predator, typically requires a coalition of kaiju to be defeated. Another formidable foe is Mechagodzilla, designed as a mechanical doppelgänger meant for the original’s destruction. In recent MonsterVerse films, Godzilla has even shared the screen with King Kong, sparking humorous debates among fans about whether their relationship could be described as “enemies to lovers.” However, there is one adversary from the 1990s that stands out among all others due to its unique nature.
Legendary NBA All-Star Charles Barkley started his professional journey in 1984 when he debuted as a rookie on the Philadelphia 76ers. Known for his exceptional skills, he was one of the world’s top basketball players during the 1980s. Spending eight years with the 76ers, he was later traded to the Phoenix Suns where he was awarded MVP for the 1992-1993 season. He concluded his playing career as a member of the Houston Rockets and retired in 2000. Known affectionately as “Sir Charles,” Barkley has since moved on to have a successful second career as an analyst and TV personality. Now, you might be wondering how Godzilla connects with this NBA Hall-of-Famer? Well, there doesn’t seem to be a direct connection between the two.
The Original Iconic Commercial
The answer is the greatest sneaker commercial of all time. In the ad, Godzilla is rampaging through Tokyo, pausing in his destruction only when he hears a giant basketball dribble. He turns around to find a kaiju-sized Charles Barkley, silently challenging Godzilla to a game. Godzilla accepts by donning a pair of possibly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-inspired pink basketball goggles. Although Godzilla manages to knock the ball from Barkley’s hand, Barkley elbows Godzilla in the face. Godzilla falls and crashes into a building while Barkley dunks the ball. However, at the end of the advertisement, they’re on good terms. Barkley walks away with his arm around Godzilla, telling him, “The Lakers are looking for a big man.” (In Japan, he says, “Have you ever thought about wearing shoes?”) Check out the video below to see the full ad.
This incredible Nike commercial was one of the big advertising events of the 1990s. It had a trailer. It premiered during the 1992 MTV Awards. There were tie-in media including posters, T-shirts, and a comic book (more on that later). It came to be when Nike hired advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy. When the agency was hired to advertise a shoe for the Asian market with Charles Barkley as the face, two executives, Warren Eakins and Steven Sandoz, instantly thought of Godzilla. Nike loved it, Toho approved, and soon the commercial was set to be produced by Industrial Light and Magic.
The Making Of The Ad
Interestingly enough, the Godzilla basketball advertisement shares a similarity with the much-loved sequel of Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II: they both feature miniature sets. Originally designed for the film, these miniatures were later modified to resemble downtown Tokyo and utilized in the commercial instead.
The brief commercial was meticulously designed, as evidenced by the custom-made size 22 sneakers worn by Barkley, a departure from his regular size 16 footwear, to ensure a striking visual impact. There were negotiations with Toho regarding the suitable expressions for the golden kaiju. Finding the ideal actor to embody Godzilla was also a challenge, ultimately choosing Ron Thiele, who is not only an accomplished dancer but also the principal dancer of the Oakland Ballet.
The group cherishes fond recollections of Barkley, going out of their way to ensure he stayed amused by constructing a basketball court and instructing him on operating a forklift. In essence, the event seemed like an ideal scenario – one filled with pure enjoyment.
The Comic Book Adaptation
Back in the day, the buzz around this commercial was off the charts! I remember it being turned into a Dark Horse comic book on December 1, 1993 – talk about nostalgia! Mike Baron, who’s known for penning tales like The Punisher, handled the script. As for the plot, it was penned by Alan Smithee, a pseudonym often used by directors when they want to distance themselves from a project. Who knows if the Godzilla story in the comic deviated greatly from its original tale? We may never know, but one thing’s certain – that comic is an absolute beast!
In the comic, Godzilla destroys a cargo ship (pretty standard violence). However, then the story shifts to Matt, who wants to meet Charles Barkley who is shooting a commercial nearby. Matt comes across one of the victims of Godzilla’s cargo ship disaster, who warns him of the kaiju’s approach. Matt assumes Charles Barkley is the man for the job. Barkley hilariously agrees, and Matt’s magic silver doller that his grandpa gave him makes Barkley Godzilla-sized. Basketball ensues, and the Round Mound of Rebound wins. Truly, a masterpiece of its day.
Suitably, the Godzilla series is renowned for its colossal scope. Some installments, such as Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, depict terrifying scenarios where The Titan’s powers verge on catastrophe. Conversely, productions like Son of Godzilla present a more tender Godzilla, nurturing his young ones. The commercial and comic titled Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley, however, are simply delightful fun. Despite their role in marketing, these media pieces should be cherished as an unusual chapter in the history of Godzilla. They deserve acceptance as part of Godzilla’s colorful past.
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2024-08-20 17:03