Godzilla The Original Animated Series: The Firebird (Episode 1) Review | Godzilla Island Archive

The Plot: “The Firebird”

The episode opens on a volcanic island where two geologists are studying seismic activity. Suddenly, an earthquake hits, setting off the volcano and trapping them on the island. As they send out a distress call, a massive bird-like monster rises from the erupting volcano — the Firebird!

Meanwhile, aboard the Calico, Pete and Godzooky are fooling around when a giant tidal wave approaches the ship. With no way to escape, Captain Carl activates the Godzilla Signal.

Godzilla rises from the ocean depths and lifts the Calico out of harm’s way, holding firm against the wave like a living mountain. Once the sea calms, Godzilla gently sets the ship down and returns to the deep.

The crew soon receives the distress call from the island and races to help. They rescue the trapped geologists, who warn that another eruption could trigger a chain reaction of volcanoes around the Pacific — a potential global disaster.

To investigate further, Dr. Quinn and Brock fly to the island and discover a network of ancient tunnels leading toward the volcano’s core. The Calico team enters the tunnels to explore, while Pete and Godzooky secretly follow.

Inside, Godzooky slips near a molten pit, nearly falling in, while elsewhere, the crew encounters the Firebird rising from the lava. It becomes clear that this fiery Kaiju is responsible for the island’s instability.

The team escapes the erupting volcano and calls for Godzilla to stop the Firebird before it triggers a cataclysmic chain reaction.

Godzilla faces off against the Firebird in a blazing battle of heat and fury. In addition to his iconic atomic breath, this version of Godzilla can fire laser beams from his eyes!

The Firebird retreats north, and the Calico crew tracks it to the Arctic. They believe the creature plans to nest and multiply, threatening the world. Godzilla confronts it again, and though Godzooky tries to help, his efforts only lead to comic relief.

During the underwater struggle, the Firebird hides in an ice cave. Godzooky accidentally knocks a boulder into the sea, partially blocking the cave’s entrance. Godzilla then seals it completely with a larger rock — trapping the Firebird beneath the ice and saving the planet.

The episode ends with the crew celebrating another successful mission for Godzilla and the Calico team.

My Thoughts

Watching this again felt like being a kid on Saturday morning. Even though this series is geared toward children, it’s still a fun and charming entry for any Godzilla fan. I originally watched these episodes on Boomerang growing up and revisiting them now feels like pure nostalgia.

Yes, the tone is light and Godzooky is a bit silly but that’s the point. The Firebird’s design and origin clearly take inspiration from Rodan, with its volcanic birthplace, red coloring, and heat-based attacks.

I watched this episode on DVD, and the animation holds up surprisingly well for its time.

The Godzilla: The Original Animated Series is available across three DVD volumes, which together include all 13 episodes of Season 1. They’re also available on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. The first two volumes are pretty affordable (around $5 each), while the third usually costs about $15. The second season still has not got a physical media release well at least a legitimate one.

If you’re a fan of classic Kaiju media, this show is worth checking out. It’s lighthearted, nostalgic, and features a unique take on Godzilla. Plus, it’s the only series where Godzilla literally shoots lasers from his eyes!