If you have even a passing familiarly with kaiju – the genre of Japanese films that features giant monsters – you’re not doubt well acquainted with Mothra. The giant moth first appeared (as a giant caterpillar) in 1961’s Mothra but eventually went on to show up in about 15 films.

In many of those films, Mothra played a supporting role to Godzilla, but she did star in her own trilogy in the late 90s. Mothra even made an appearance in this year’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Mill Creek Entertainment has gone back to the source and released a gorgeous new Blu-ray version of the 1961 classic (out now). This release also marks the North American debut of the film on Blu-ray. And reader? It’s beautiful. If you’re only exposure to the film has been through grainy VHS or less-than-ideal digital versions, the Blu-ray is like watching the film for the first time.

This Steelbook release includes both original Japanese version of the film and the edited U.S. theatrical cut. Special features include a feature-length commentary with authors and Japanese sci-fi historians Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, trailers, and a photo gallery.

The commentary track (on the English version) is packed with interesting nuggets, but I’ll be honest – it can be a slog to get through. Ryfle and Godziszewski clearly know their stuff, but the entire commentary is them reading from a script. There’s no spontaneity or life to it. But like I said, if you’re interested in making-of tidbits, it’s chock full of ’em.

So, without further ado, here are 19 fun bits-o-trivia that I learned while watching this beautiful new release:

1. The original treatment of the story was written by novelist Shinichiro Nakamura. This was a departure from other films of the genre, which had been written by science fiction writers.
2. Nakamura wrote the story while undergoing electroshock therapy.
3. Nakamura chose a moth for the story since he wanted a creature that would undergo a transformation naturally.
4. The name Mothra is a mash-up of the English word moth and ra, which was the last syllable in Godzilla’s Japanese name: Gojira.
5. Even though Mothra causes a lot of destruction, she was the first Japanese monster hero. All previous monsters (e.g., Godzilla) were mindless villains.
6. Nakamura was joined by two other writers (Takehiko Fukunaga and Yoshie Hotta) to flesh out the story, which was serialized as The Luminous Fairies and Mothra in Weekly Asahi.
7. The serialization of the story was incredibly long, complicated, and meandering. Shinichi Sekizawa was later brought in to simplify the story and craft the screenplay.
8. The original script included a detailed backstory for the island natives and mythology explaining their relationship with Mothra. It would’ve required entirely too much screen time to explain, so it was cut.
9. The lyrics for the Mothra song were first written in Japanese and then translated into a Polynesian language (they don’t specify which one).

10. The English version of the film came out in 1962, roughly a year after the original Japanese.
11. The English version is about 11 minutes shorter, but most of the edits (about 15-18) are relatively insignificant to the plot.
12. Frankie Sakai, who plays journalist Zenichiro Fukuda, was a popular comedian in Japan. He was also an accomplished jazz drummer.
13. The made-up country of Rolisica, which is the primary adversary in the film, is a stand-in for America, but it’s also a cross with Russia. The Rolisican flag is a cross between the Stars and Stripes and the Hammer and Sickle.
14. Jerry Ito (who plays villain Clark Nelson) was incorrectly – and hilariously – credited as Jelly Ito in the credits to the English version.
15. Ito had only been studying Japanese for a few years when he made Mothra, and director Ishirō Honda remarked that his accent and pronunciation were “truly terrible.”
16. In previous treatments of the screenplay (really, in all but the final version), Mothra flew into space at the end rather than return to the island as its protector.
17. The twin female fairies at the center of the film (aside from Mothra) were actually a massively popular musical duo known as The Peanuts (Yumi Ito and Emi Ito).
18. Yumi and Emi Ito turned 20 during filming of Mothra, and they were at the height of their popularity.
19. The Peanuts’ first hit was “Kawaii Hana” (“Pretty Flower”) in 1959, and they eventually had 25 albums.