REBIRTH OF MOTHRA II (1997)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *good*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *drama*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *cosmological,metaphysical*

Though the same writers worked on both REBIRTH I and II, there's a much better integration in II's script between all the disparte elements-- the two good Elias and their monstrous protector Mothra, vengeful Belvera and her desire to eliminate humankind, humanity's short-sighted abuse of the planet, an ancient civilization that unleashed a demon-creature (albeit out of good intentions), and happily, a new set of kids to be the viewpoint characters. There are practically no human adults in the story except a couple of fishermen whom Belvera brainwashes into becoming her flunkies.

I liked this set of kids because the script gives them a few scenes at school, enabling them to take on a modicum of personality. Grade school boys Yoji and Kohei are mischief-making scamps, and they get in trouble with the school authorities when their female classmate Shiori rats on them. This sets up a brief conflict in which the boys try to get even with their betrayer. However, Shiori happens to come across a weird little furball called Ghogo, and then all three kids get dragged into the hunt for an arcane treasure by the three Elias fairies. None of the fairy-girls know exactly what the treasure is, except that it can ward off a new monster-menace. Said menace is Dagahra, who plagues the already polluted oceans with dangerous starfish-creatures, the "Barem," whom Dagahra spawns from its own reptilian body.

Moll, Lora and the three kids journey to the area where the city of Nilakanai sank beneath the waves. More covertly, Belvera and her henchmen show up in the area as well. Dagahra, originally designed by the Nilakanaians to consume pollution, surfaces from the ocean and tries to attack the Elias. The fairies' protector Mothra flies in and battles the reptile creature, almost overcoming the beast. However, Dagahra unleashes the parasitic Barem onto the kindly moth, and drains Mothra's energies. Just then, the lost city of Nilakanai rises from the waves, making possible for Mothra to land on the island. Further, the island's defenses repel Dagahra, allowing both of the competing contigents to land as well.

After some minor scuffles between the kids and the mesmerized fishermen, the last surviving Nilakanaian, Princess Yuna, rises from some centuries-long sleep. Yuna challenges the two groups as to why either of them should possess Nilakanai's treasure. Not surprisinigly, Yuna finds in favor of the group linked to the human kids, who are "the hope of the future" or something like that. The treasure turns out to be Furball Ghogo, who holds the key to re-energizing Mothra so that the giant arthropod can rise again and defeat the destructive monster. Nilakanai returns beneath the waves with the body of Daghara and his spawn, and Belvera escapes for yet another sally in the third film.             

REBIRTH I seemed a little predictable re its visuals, but I liked Number Two's combination of traditional models, suitmation, and animated energy-effects as much as any of the best seen in Toho's Golden Age. REBIRTH II is a rare example of a sequel outpacing the original.