The series had intended to end with the previous entry, Destroy All Monsters. A new film was made due to Godzilla's increased popularity with children. Cutting down cost meant the film had to use stock-footage rather than the expansive sets of the past. This film would serve to kick off the Toho's highly successful Champion Festival. This was a seasonal film-festival for children where they could enjoy various anime, tv-shows, and shorted Godzilla films (excluding the first 2).