Godzilla, the king of the monsters, has been called many things over the years. However, rarely has he been called cute. But Chibi-Godzilla has given the giant lizard a kawaii makeover that you can't help but fall in love with. And the YouTube series I'm Home! Chibi-Godzilla might just be the best thing to come out of the Godzilla franchise in years.
Chibi-Godzilla shouldn't be confused with Chibi Godzi, the small Godzilla from Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. This tiny green blob is actually the original king of monsters as a child. First introduced in the 2018 children's book Do Your Best, Chibi Godzilla, this character was designed by picture book illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki. And now Chibi-Godzilla is spearheading a new line of Godzilla media aimed at very young children.
Chibi-Godzilla has appeared in two other picture books, a music video and a few short trailers. However, the anime series I'm Home! Chibi-Godzilla is by far his best outing. In this series, the young Chibi-Godzilla lives with a normal woman named Satomi. While Satomi tries to care for the little monster, his powers and his crybaby nature get him into trouble and make simple tasks very complicated.
The first season ran from July to September of 2020, and then the ongoing second season began in December 2020. The whole series is available on the official Godzilla YouTube page, and while it is in Japanese, English subtitles are provided. However, don't expect thrills and spills, as each episode is only 25 to 35 seconds long. Each one is structured like a classic gag comic, with a short setup leading to a wholesome joke or pun that uses Chibi-Godzilla's powers in cute, unique ways.
The show is utterly charming with a distinct visual style. While Chibi-Godzilla and his kaiju pals are CGI, the rest of the world is rendered in 2D with limited animation. This works surprisingly well and gives the whole series a picture book vibe. This style also helps show off just how cute and squishy Chibi-Godzilla is. And, even though Chibi-Godzilla's animation is limited, it's surprisingly expressive. Serika Hiromatsu voices Chibi-Godzilla and does a great job at conveying childlike innocence, wonder and frustration in a way that really makes him feel like a hopeful kid who's just trying to make sense of the world around him. Mai Aizawa's performance as Satomi is also fantastic, really capturing the sound of a put-upon mom who loves her little kid, even if they're a struggle to deal with at times.
Other kaiju from the Godzilla franchise also make appearances, including Chibi Mothra, Chibi Ghidorah and Chibi Rodan. All of these kaiju are cleverly designed, remaining recognizable even in the expressive and bouncy CGI that I'm Home! Chibi-Godzilla uses for its monsters.
I'm Home! Chibi-Godzilla is a fantastic and heart-warming little show that won't fail to raise a smile. If you're looking for an instant spoonful of serotonin, then you need to give this show a try. Even if you're not a big fan of kaiju movies, you'll still find yourself falling in love with the little kaiju and his big dreams of world domination.
I'm Home! Chibi-Godzilla is available on the Godzilla Channel ゴジラ（東宝特撮）チャンネル on YouTube.
