I loved the introduction to the short animated film Godzilla’s Day Off by Myra Sito Velasquez. It was very retro and fun. I love, love, love this style of animation, it's very South Park which is the reason I was so drawn to this piece. It's very nostalgic for me as my dad was always watching South Park when I was growing up #cartman #godzillabuiltlikecartman #southparkxgodzilla #cartmansdayoff.
To get more into the artistic nature of this I love how they crinkled the background to look like a rock and that everything makes sense with Godzilla’s character. To be honest I’ve never seen the orginal film Godzilla so I do not know if this film accurately represents his day off or his personality, I think he might appear in a season of the Flash, but that was past my time so I have no idea. The colors are warm and bright which provides a sense of childlike whimsy accompanied with the fact each drawing looks to be created with crayons or some pencil found on the ground in a middle school hallway, as it appears everything is shaded with the same graphite color, beats me though I left the drawing world a long time ago #theyvelostme. Lowkey did not know Godzilla had a gender until now. I had to look that up, I was super confused about the dream and all that, I thought he was meant to be some confused genderless monster and that's why he was terrorizing the people (?). Godzilla lowkey got beef with everyone, like a girl you’d expect on his rest day he wouldn’t be picking a fight with everyone, but alas you are wrong, but honestly maybe that's what Godzilla truly finds peaceful, that's his zen, it's the calm before the storm. He is like me, someone who is always on edge and takes everything as a personal attack and I love that for him #mybrotherjustanotherme.
I cannot imagine how long this took, due to the fact that it is a paper animation (at least I assume it is), that just shows you how dedicated the artist is to their craft. I wish it was longer, as it’s only three minutes long so there is not a lot to work with, even though I think every minute is worth it, adding length to a film like this would only create more depth and dimension, and obviously the story could be expanded on. My favorite part was when he was unable to cut his toenails due to his very, very tiny arms, like attention to detail or something, also when he fights King Kong (?) because I believe that is a collab they had at one point, I do not know if they are lovers, that would have been a fun twist, as to me Godzilla is gay but to each their own I guess. I think he is just confused and is unable to understand who he truly is in this world. Who knows how gays are viewed in the Godzilla community, maybe he is ashamed or fearful of what could happen if he ever comes out and that is why he is so angry, because humans can, for the most part, come out and be free, and maybe something similar with apes like King Kong, but then again that would not explain why King Kong is so angry. Maybe they are lovers to enemies, destined for each other in every possible format, but alas they cannot have each other due to their backgrounds and beliefs. I feel like I need that explanation about their lore, maybe that could be the expanded short film of this, why are they angry and who is the aggression directed towards? (just throwing some ideas out there!)
I loved this film, it was super fun to watch and obviously left me wanting more and needing to know more about Godzilla, like who would have thought. #GodzillaxKingKongcomingwhen?<3
Godzilla's Day Off will screen at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival as part of Shorts Program #1 on Saturday, May 30, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 5PM! Get tickets and more info here.
The 31st Annual New Jersey International Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 29-June 7, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Most of the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. The in-person screenings will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. For more info on the Film festival go here: https://2026newjerseyinternationalfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome
