The 2014 stateside Godzilla remake from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards really energized the franchise's core base in Japan. The original studio behind the big monster was so rejuvenated by Gojira's box office prowess worldwide that they decided to embark on their own reboot, which arrived in that country this June titled Godzilla: Resurgence. It will be released in the U.S. later this year. Now, Toho isn't taking a rest, with their next movie already planned. Only, this one will be quite a bit different than anything they've ever done before. Yes, Toho is ready to unleash the first ever Godzilla animated movie!

This new feature film is simply titled Godzilla. And it will be released in Japan sometime in 2017. Tokyo-based Polygon Pictures is producing for Toho. Kobun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita are directing the movie from a script by popular graphic novel and anime movie writer Gen Urobuchi. He's the one responsible for the hit 2015 animated thriller Psycho-Pass: The Movie.

Over the years, there have been a number of animated Godzilla TV shows and specials. But this is the first feature length film ever produced with the sole intent of premiering on the big screen in the franchise's 62 year history. Shizuno had this to say to Variety.

"We're aiming to make a big-scale animation entertainment that people who love Godzilla and people who know nothing about him can both enjoy."

Godzilla: Resurgence has been doing extremely well at the Japanese box office since its release June 29. The Toho produced movie has logged in over 2 million tickets. And it is expected to finish its box office run in that country alone with over $50 million in U.S. dollars. The 2014 Godzilla movie from Warner Bros., Legendary and director Gareth Edwards only managed to earn $31.6 million in Japan by comparison. The new animated movie does not have a set release date in Japan at this time. And it isn't known of it will get a stateside debut.

Funimation is set to release Godzilla: Resurgence in the U.S. sometime in the last quarter of this year, but the distribution company hasn't locked in a firm date. The theatrical release will probably be sold as a one or two day event. As Funimation has constantly worked in bringing Toho's more recent releases to theaters across the country, it's likely that they'll also be delivering this new animated Godzilla sometime in late 2017 or early 2018. The initial report does not say whether this will be a hand-drawn animated movie or a CGI feature.