The audio of the first half of this video special, "Godzilla Fantasia," is edited from the 3-act "Symphonic Fantasia" concerto, composed by Akira Ifukube, conducted by Yasuhiko Shiozawa, and premiered/recorded at Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya Public Hall on August 5, 1983. Akihiko Hirata dramatically opened the event as his character, Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, from the original Godzilla (1954), delivering his famous monologue ("A-bombs against A-bombs, H-bombs against H-bombs... as a scientist-- no, as a human being, adding another terrifying weapon to humanity's arsenal is something I can't allow.") before stepping out of character to normal lighting and a round of applause from the audience. Joining Hirata on stage (and each delivering a speech) were Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka; the man of honor, composer Ifukube (whom Tanaka presented with flowers); and finally, film director Ishirô Honda, after which the orchestra was assembled and the concerto began. At the end, conductor Shiozawa invited Maestro Ifukube to the stage, and twice more the maestro came to bow to the audience to a very long round of applause.
The second half of this video special, "Godzilla Legend," was edited from selections of the Godzilla synthesizer music tribute album of the same name (which came out in 3 volumes on LP from 1983 to 1984) arranged by Makoto Inoue.
The "Symphonic Fantasia" was in the works as far back as 1978, when there was discussion (between tokusatsu historians Hiroshi Takeuchi and Hiromitsu Nishiwaki) about whether the tokusatsu film music of Akira Ifukube could be orchestrated. Finally, in February 1983, at Gotanda U-Port Hall, the staff of King Records, Toho Music Publishing, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra held the first-ever concert dedicated to the tokusatsu film music of Ifukube, predating this first recorded version from early August of that year. Ifukube was initially reluctant to be involved, but because he was deeply touched by the immeasurable fan and staff demand, he took up the challenge. By May, Ifukube composed a fully-structured 3-part version of the "Symphonic Fantasia," ready for the recorded concert in August.