Theme and Kaijus

Fun fact: I've been trying to write this article for nearly six months now. Literally, since summertime. But for whatever reason, something's been stopping me.

I'm sure you've had that feeling before. When your work just isn't quite right? You can't put your finger on it, but you can feel it. That something's off, but you aren't sure what. And it isn't for a lack of desire or motivation to finish.

You know what you're doing is important and meaningful. You want to complete the project as badly as I want a plate of cookies (sorry, I'm in the middle of a diet, and it's kicking my ass). But no matter what you do, there's a little voice in the back of your skull that says, "No, this isn't it. Sorry, man. Try again later."

That's been me. For the majority of this past year—with this article about the importance of theme.

And then, all of a sudden, it hit me. I figured it out. I found the hidden key—the long missing clue that unlocked the whole thing. It was akin to the end of the Usual Suspects when the detective puts all the pieces on the white board together, I had the answer:

Godzilla.

Yes, really.

Here's the thing, y'all: theme often goes overlooked whenever we talk about the integral elements of high-quality storytelling. Plot and character get all the love in the world. Emotion gets a ton of focus, too. That's what almost everyone discusses ad nauseam. Because they're there. Right smack dab in front of your eyeballs. They're literally impossible to miss.

But theme happens invisibly. It exists underneath the surface, like a secret level in "Starcraft" that you have to work to unlock. You have to dig to find it. And as a writer, it requires a hell of a lot of work to implement. You must be intentional about placing it within your story. It doesn't happen by accident.

Make no mistake, though. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not essential. It very much is.

One of the things I say all the time doing my work for the Script Pipeline Workshop is "theme is the difference between a good script and a great one." And I firmly believe that. It's what separates the contenders from the pretenders. It's what makes people talk about a movie, novel, or even a video game for years after it has been released. And it's something that will elevate the writing of each and every person reading this.

Now is a good time to explain the difference between 'theme' and 'plot.' Because on the surface, it can be easy to confuse the two. Whenever I try to explain this, I'll tell people that "theme is what your story is about," and oftentimes, I'll get a confused look in return.

"Uh, Spike, my story is about an assassin who gets caught up in a global deep-state conspiracy," my clients will say, "You read my script, you should know that. Duh."

And this is where the mistake lies. An assassin getting caught up in a global deep-state conspiracy is what happens in your story. It's the plot. It's the surface level window dressing you use to create an entertaining scenario for the audience.

What your story is about is different. That's what you, the writer ... the creator of the work ... the author of this piece ... are trying to say about the world. It's the message you want to convey to the reader/audience. It's the theme of the whole thing.

Yes, I know I just defined the word theme by using the word theme, which isn't helpful. So, let me break it down a bit further. I even drew this cute little picture to help explain my point:

I want you to ignore my pathetic attempt to draw trees and look past how some of my gemstones look like pizza slices. Just cause I went to art school doesn't mean I’m good at art …

Instead, imagine you are a prospector in the 1850s digging for gold. And you’ve stumbled across a huge vein of precious metals. Hurrah! However, you also know that the deeper you dig, the more valuable the gems become. It'll take a lot of work to get down to the core ... but if you do, the reward will be immeasurable and will make you undeniably wealthy. You inarguably want to get as deep as possible.

The first level is what we already talked about. It's your plot, which as we now know, is what happens in your story. It's the "See Spot Run" level of storytelling. Spot is a dog who lives on a farm, and carries out his days, exploring the fields, sniffing around, and interacting with the other animals. But one day, he decides, "I want to jump over the fence at the edge of the property and explore outside the farm!" He tries, and he tries, and he tries and finally he is able to do so. BAM.

That's a complete narrative. Spot has a goal, encounters an obstacle, but overcomes it and succeeds. Storytelling 101.

The next level down is character. Specifically, character change. So, let's say that in the above story, Spot is a pessimist. He has a glum outlook on the world in general and doesn't believe good things ever happen to him. But by going through the ordeal with the fence, facing obstacles, and eventually jumping over it, he realizes, "hey, you know what? Life isn't so bad!" He learns to look on the bright side more often and becomes an optimist.

The story gets more complex because the protagonist grew as a result of his actions. He changed as a person (er ... dog).

Continuing on, the next realm we reach is emotion. I've spoken at length about this in other articles, but basically, narratives become more dynamic if you can get the reader emotionally invested in the protagonist's struggle. You want the character and the audience to be feeling the same thing, at the same time. This forms a level of connection between the two that creates an inseparable bond. It forges a relationship where the reader instantly empathizes and connects with the character.

Once you've done that, it becomes really, really hard for the audience to put down your story.

So, let's say that Spot had a bigger reason to jump over the fence; he wants to find his long lost mother. As a puppy, he remembers the warm cuddles he used to have with his Mom ... the fond memories they shared together ... but one day, she went over the fence and never came back. He's missed her every day since then, and you could even show him having cold nights by himself where he feels alone and yearns for his parent back.

Placing enough scenes in the story where the emphasis is on Spot's feelings will create emotional resonance ... the reader will connect Spot's struggle to emotions they have, too. Thereby, the reader is rooting for Spot to jump over the fence and find his mom and get that emotional pay off.

Already, I think you can see that this little story we started with is becoming infinitely better, right?

Ahh, but we haven't reached the final layer yet. And that layer is theme! This is what we've been working towards the whole time. And again, if plot is what happens in the story, then theme is what the story is really about. It's the message that you (the writer) are trying to convey.

So, what if all the other farm animals heard about Spot's desire to jump over the fence, and derided him for it? Literally, every single creature told him he couldn't do it. The cows, the sheep, the ponies, and even the tiniest little mouse. Each of them said Spot was a fool for wanting to jump over the fence ... that he shouldn't even try. There was no point. It was impossible.

And then he does it.

In this instance, not only does Spot learn, "Hey, I can do hard things, and I should be an optimist," but the story also pushes forth a valuable lesson. "Don't let other people's limiting beliefs hold you down from achieving goals that are important to you." It teaches something through the vehicle of narrative storytelling.

That's theme!

Does a story need theme to work? Ultimately, no. There are plenty of movies and books that have all the necessary elements to tell a story that don't have one. But I would go out on a limb and say that those movies/books are mostly forgettable. They're the type of content you consume, maybe enjoy for a second or two, and then completely forget about. They don't stick with you or have any lasting meaning in your life.

They're just sort of ... blah. And I think every writer should strive to do better than that.

Meanwhile, stories with theme TEACH the reader something. Whether it be a life lesson, how to see the world from a different perspective, a socio-political opinion, or even the true meaning of Christmas! The story has a deeper purpose for existing. Which is why the narrative becomes a thousand times more meaningful.

There's a deliberate nature to a story with a theme ... the author has to do real work to plant the seeds which will pay off later and create it. This is where artistry comes into play.

And this is where we address the elephant in the room. If that elephant was a ten-thousand ton, fire-breathing kaiju named Godzilla. Because I kid you not, that gigantic bi-pedal lizard is the perfect illustration of the power of theme in action.

Within the span of six months, two feature films starring the 1000-foot tall dinosaur came to theaters. Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire was released in March, 2024, and Godzilla: Minus One in October, 2023. And while both films ended up being profitable at the box office, the reaction from audiences and critics alike was clear: Godzilla: Minus One is a better film than Godzilla x Kong. And it wasn't even close. I have heard so many people rave about Minus One, but can't think of a single friend who enjoyed the Kong version.

And why is that, you ask?

Theme.

One movie has one. The other one doesn't.

One movie has a deeper message at its core ... the other is low-grade, mass-produced garbage. Plain and simple.

Godzilla: Minus One takes place in a post-WWII Japan. America has just dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japan to surrender. And the main characters in this story are left to deal with that fallout. They have to grieve the loss of innocent loved ones, overcome the shame of defeat, and rebuild their country, homes, and lives. And a significant portion of the film is dedicated to that.

We watch as the protagonist (a war veteran holding onto a great deal of personal guilt and shame) takes in a complete stranger and child into his home. And over time they become a family. But what happens next?

Godzilla shows up. And in this version of the IP, the beast doesn't just destroy buildings or breathe fire ...

It has nuclear powers. Whenever Godzilla uses its breath attack, it causes a nuclear explosion. We literally see a mushroom cloud form after it attacks mainland Japan.

Godzilla threatens to destroy a rebuilding Japan, and it must be taken out.

In the context of the story, Godzilla is clearly the antagonist. It's the "bad guy." The obstacles that must be defeated by the protagonists to win.

But it also has a deeper meaning. Have you figured out what it is?

Godzilla represents the nuclear bomb that America dropped. The one that defeated Japan in the war.

The characters in this film aren't just fighting a giant lizard. They are fighting against the bomb that beat them. The one that killed their loved ones and destroyed their home.

These Japanese soldiers have to defeat the metaphorical bomb that beat them. It's about Japan rising above the nuclear attack and emerging victorious. That's the theme of the movie. And it's fucking brilliant.

The other Godzilla movie, in comparison, has none of that. It's about a giant lizard and a giant monkey joining forces to defeat some other giant monster. That's as deep as it goes. There's no theme. No message for the fans to ruminate on or discuss. It's pure spectacle for the masses to sit through and turn their brains off for three hours. But there's nothing else there.

One film did the work to create a deeper, lasting meaning. The other one didn't.

One writer dug all the way to the core and emerged with the most valuable gems imaginable. One gave up at the first level.

So, is it any surprise that fans are still raving about Godzilla: Minus One, and nobody is talking about the Kong version? I think not.

Listen, theme is hard to create. I'm not sitting here telling you it's easy. But if you have the desire to make it in this business ... if you want to craft stories that are impactful and memorable ... then telling stories with a clear theme is THE BEST WAY TO DO SO. Full stop.

Make yourself stand out. Set yourself apart from the pack of wannabes who don't and go the extra mile.

Or just use a nuclear breath attack to wipe out all your competition. That works too. ;)

Godspeed y'all, and happy writing.

*Feature image Godzilla: Minus One (Toho Pictures)