Despite all of the incredible works coming out of the indie comic book scene, rarely does the world of tokusatsu expand into independent feature filmmaking outside of films in Japan like Hoshi 35, Brush of the God, and the upcoming Fukuiraptor. This is aiming to change in the West, with a new toku production called Gargantuan that is being toted as a character-driven, practical-effects kaiju adventure and described as “A24 meets Power Rangers.”
Atlanta-based indie studio Mirror Box Films (This World Alone, Guacamole Yesterdays) has begun a Kickstarter campaign that is running until the end of the month. The crew is aiming to crowdfund $15,000 to complete color correction, sound design, the original score, and to fund the first leg of a nationwide theatrical tour. Rewards include early-access screenings, collectible merch, and “Name-a-Kaiju” perks, with that last one being of particular note for kaiju enthusiasts. As we’ve seen with other similar independent features like Primitive War, securing theatrical distribution on an indie level is no easy feat, with most of it relying on word of mouth and demand, so the production will need all the help they can get to accomplish this.
©Mirror Box Films
Shot over two weeks in early 2025, Gargantuan was made “summer-camp style” by a 20-person crew living under one roof, building miniatures, monster suits, and cockpit sets by hand. The film follows five washed-up heroes, once celebrated as the “Invincible Action Teens,” who reunite for one last shot at redemption, piloting their giant robot to save the world from a new kaiju threat. The goal of the production is to showcase the power of community-driven productions over big, bombastic Hollywood romps when making independent cinema.
“Think if A24 made a Power Rangers movie,” says writer and producer Hudson Phillips. “We used monster suits, miniatures, puppets, and in-camera tricks inspired by Tokusatsu, Super Sentai, and ILM to tell a personal, emotional, character-driven adventure flick.”
©Mirror Box Films
“Gargantuan is a big story with big characters asking big questions,” says director Jordan Noel. “We’re a team of wildly ambitious filmmakers trying to have the most fun possible while tackling life’s hard questions with a micro-budget and a ridiculously tight schedule.” Previously, Jordan Noel and writer/producer Hudson Phillips collaborated on the Hulu-released This World Alone and the grounded sci-fi romance Guacamole Yesterdays, which toured arthouse theaters across 13 cities before its digital release.
Actress Jade Malka also remarked upon her experience with the production, stating “To say I loved it is an understatement. Gargantuan is a larger-than-life monster sci-fi story that still feels nostalgic and deeply relatable.”
Production Designer Kelley Boonruang commented upon the community-oriented nature of the production and how memorable it was. “I will never, ever forget the making of this movie. A slightly delirious endless summer camp sleepover of wonderful movie making. Everyone who worked on this is the funniest, most delightful creative I’ve ever met!”
Check out the official teaser trailer below. For more information on Gargantuan, we encourage you to visit their official Kickstarter page. Stay tuned for more updates on the film and other indie productions like it on Kaiju United. The official Kickstarter will run until October 30th, with the campaign currently sitting at $10,142 of the $15,000 goal.
