Here is a concise summary of the text:
**The Evolution of Godzilla**
* Introduced in 1954 as a symbol of post-war Japan's nuclear trauma
* Initially a serious, black-and-white film; later became more entertaining and colorful
* Over 31 live-action films, with Godzilla's character evolving from a villain to a hero monster
* Key milestones:
+ 1955: First sequel
+ 1962: **King Kong vs. Godzilla**
+ 1984: Series reboot with a darker tone
+ 1998: First American CGI version (criticized for deviating from the original)
+ 2014: **Godzilla** (US), launching the Monsterverse
+ 2016: **Shin Godzilla** (Japan), a new, sinister iteration
+ 2017: Animated trilogy (**Planet of the Monsters**, etc.)
+ 2021: **Godzilla vs. Kong**, part of the Monsterverse
Here are the extracted key facts, each with a number and in short sentences, excluding opinions:
1. There are over 30 live-action Godzilla films.
2. The total number of Godzilla films is 31 (live-action) or 32 (including Godzilla Vs Kong).
3. The first Godzilla film was released in 1954, 9 years after Japan's nuclear attacks.
4. The 1954 film used a combination of costume and animatronics.
5. The original concept for Godzilla was a giant, people-like creature.
6. Godzilla's name in Japanese is a combination of "gorilla" and "whale".
7. The first color Godzilla film was released in 1962 (King Kong vs Godzilla).
8. The 1962 film marked a shift towards more entertaining, less serious Godzilla movies.
9. Godzilla's character evolved to become more heroic after the 1962 film.
10. Godzilla has faced numerous monsters, including King Kong, Rodrigo, King of Zoras, and Biollante.
11. A son of Godzilla was introduced in the 1967 film "Son of Godzilla".
12. Godzilla faced a brief hiatus in Japan before the 1984 film "Return of Godzilla".
13. The 1984 film attempted to take itself more seriously and reset the Godzilla chronology.
14. The first American Godzilla film was released in 1998.
15. The 1998 film was one of the first to use CGI for Godzilla's special effects.
16. The Japanese franchise resumed in 2004 with "Godzilla: Final Wars".
17. Godzilla entered another hiatus before the 2014 American film, which launched the Monsterverse.
18. The 2014 film was well-received and spawned a sequel.
19. The Japanese franchise rebooted in 2016 with "Shin Godzilla".
20. An animated Godzilla trilogy was released from 2017 to 2018.
21. The latest film mentioned is "Godzilla Vs Kong" (release year not specified in the provided text, but known to be 2021).