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KaijuSamurai — Gigantis Goji turnaround
Published: 2010-02-11 22:35:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 93578; Favourites: 1736; Downloads: 2052
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Description
The follow-up to this drawing here:[link]
Part of a series of designs for , one of the most agreeable kaiju fans I've had the pleasure of meeting
ADDENDUM: Allow me to elaborate on the creative process -
The directive was "Godzilla Raids Again," and that was about it. Immediately, I thought of the contrast between Godzilla and Anguirus, and how, according to a few eye-witness accounts, the Gyakushu-Goji was something of a gray-green, maybe a little on the brown side, as Godzilla was frequently depicted in promotional art at the time. So, I ran with a much more desaturated brownish-Godzilla, which gives him a toned-down, yet still ancient and menacing palette to contrast Anguirus, who was reportedly a mix of blues and reds!
As for the body, I also was reminded of how much slimmer and agile Gyakushu-Goji was when compared to Shodai-Goji (the original Godzilla), and it wasn't a far leap to Finaru-Goji (from Final Wars) as well. Naturally, I wanted to squeeze in some elements of GINO and the Delgado-Goji to give him a sleek, fast and strong look - the perfect fighting machine. However, most importantly, I wanted Godzilla to be proud and noble, with a puffed-out chest, and his head held high, but with a slight incline to indicate his saurian bone structure.
I also decidedly wanted to involve his fearsome breastbone, something rarely elaborated on in past Godzilla designs - That prominent breastbone is usually why so many Godzilla toys have a light silver tone on the chest. It gives him a bit more balance too, and allows for his front visage to have some variety.
I specifically referenced Mosu-Goji for the face, with some gangly teeth ala the Gyakushu/Mire-Goji's. The spines are a personal touch, developed from Godzilla Neo's. The tail is, obviously, Delgado-Goji inspired with a crocodilian flair.
Anguirus next!
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Comments: 227
It looks like you've incorporated almost all the Godzilla movie designs into one being, including the 1998 version. Interesting.
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Excluding that one, if you ask me.
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The Digigrade legs is straight out of the '98 movie. The Japanese designs never used digigrade legs in their designs.
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Okay, maybe I was wrong there. But it still doesn't look that muhc like Zilla's legs. Especially due to the Hallux being on the inside, how it should be for a theropod dinosaur, while Zilla has it on the inside.
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Did you mean while '98 Godzilla had it on the outside? If that's the case, he did indeed have it on the inside, just like a theropod and this design. The only real difference between the legs of this design and the '98 movie design is the digigrade isn't quite as pronounced and they're thicker, more robust.
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Okay, the Hallux Claw is technically always on the inside. But I was more referting to the equivalent to the dimunitive Hallux found on Therpods and to a certain extent also on Godzilla. Zilla has three fully developed claws and the diminutive claw is on the outside. Then we have the overall design and thickness of the legs, which does not leave much of Zilla.
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'98 Godzilla also had a diminutive Hallux as well. The thicker legs of this design and slightly less pronunciation of the digigrade is the only real difference in the legs between this design and the '98 Godzilla design. Both are digigrade which is not a trait of the original Japanese design. Both have the diminutive Hallux, as is common in all theropods. Theropods have five toes with both the innermost and outermost toes being diminutive. [link] [link]
This design's outer toe has apparently been devolved to the point where it's completely subcutaneous and vestigial.
If you look at these pictures, [link] [link] [link] you can clearly see the reduced Hallux on the inside of the foot along with the reduced outermost toe, just like in a typical theropod.
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I'm aware of the outermost toe of the Theropods. But being reduced as much as it is, it would not be visible on the living animal, while the Hallux is also reduced, but still visible. Same for the japanese Godzilla, who might have lost the outer toe completely.
Now if you look at Zilla, the Hallux is so much reduced that that it is barely visible, even often ignored on official artwork, making it comparable to the outer toe of the Theropods, while the out toe is comparable to the Hallux of theropods.
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Actually, the reduced outer toe was still visible on theropods, as was the hallux, and the Hallux on '98 Godzilla is also still visible. In fact, in some shots, it's almost as big as the central three. Regardless, we're getting into minutia This design above does indeed take the '98 Godzilla into account. It combines all of the various Godzilla designs into one, No other official Godzilla design used proper Theropod legs except for the '98 Godzilla design.
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Visible on some of the more primitive ones at best, but the reduced Halux, three fully developed middle toes, invisible outer toe ( with some seemingly not having one at all) Design came into play very early.
And Zilla ( that is his given name, and I also refuse to call that Lizard Godzilla ) does have a very small Hallux at best in some shots, with the outer toe sometimes having similar proportions to the others ( at beast ) and the Hallux not existing at all.
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Regardless of how small it is the hallux is there, just like on any Theropod. His design was specifically based upon the theropods. The Japanese Godzilla was not based upon theropod design. It's a man in a suit. It doesn't have digigrade legs at all. Only '98 Godzilla did. '98 Godzilla also took some cues from modern Moniter lizards which do have a visible outer toe.
Also, it wasn't only primitive Theropods that had a visible outer toe. Raptors did as well, as shown on this page: [link] These pictures of the deinonychus specifically show the outermost claw is visible, and they were not "primitive" theropods: [link] [link]
Regardless of personal viewpoint, '98 Godzilla is a Godzilla. That is his proper given name, not "Zilla", so don't expect me to refer to him as such, and this design certainly took the '98 Godzilla into it's design. IF you want to get really technical, none of them are properly called "Godzilla". That's the Anglicanization of the name. The proper given name is Gojira. This is even stated in the '98 movie.
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His basic Design was based on a Theropod, but overall he looks more like an Iguana trying to be a Theropod. And yes, his feet fit for a Monitor Lizard, but not a theropod.
Yes, the true Godzilla is a man in a suit, but 1954 was a different time and the Design has its own esthetic. Suitmation is form of art.
Sorry, those Dinosaur Pics fail to show an visible outer toe, unless you can call a little bumb, which looks more like the ankle joint an outer toe. And in cade of the Deinonychus, it looks more like part of it's feathers...
Zilla was later identified as a mistake, which was desbribed as the Americans just thinking that it was Godzilla, but it wasn't. Zill was also given the name Zilla, which for sure sounds better than GINO ( Godzilla in Name only ) or Tuna Eater.
Gojira is actully properly refered to as Godzilla in Japanese Material whenever his name is romanized.
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"Zilla" may be a fan term for him, but he's still Godzilla. Whether you consider it a "mistake" or not. Personally, I enjoyed the movie whole-heartedly, and I loved the design of Godzilla in it.
As for his design, it is a theropod design. and yes, those pictures, especially the red Deinonychus, show the outermost toe claw on the right foot just below the ankle.
Regardless, that's all moot anyway and besides the point. My point is that the artist of this picture did take the digigrade legs of '98 Godzilla into account in this design. You're the only person not accepting that. '98 Godzilla was the only Godzilla design to ever use digigrade legs. No Japanese design ever did.
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Actually Zilla is an official term, while GINO is a Fan Term. Read this Interview: [link]
Is that good enough for you?
Mistaking him for the real deal comes "Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack"
His Design is more of a convergent Evolution, with the toes failing at being an actual theropods, with him failing at Hallux and outer Claw! Seriously, there are pics of him fwhere he has no Hallux at all.
And I really can't see the outer toe on these Theropod pictures.
The Digigrade coming from Zilla is probably the only point I would agree with you on. If it weren't for the CGI Godzilla from "Always 2" [link]
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It's still not an official term, just a nickname this producer gave him. And the only reason why he gave him that nickname is because the '98 Godzilla didn't have the god-like nature to him. He wasn't a supernatural kaiju, but rather an animal. He also said that the '98 Godzilla was fully approved by Toho and that he loved the movie. He is a real Godzilla.
As for the convergent evolution, within the story context, you are correct. '98 Godzilla was specifically shown to have evolved from mutated monitor lizards. The actual design though was specifically based upon theropod dinosaurs. The designers used theropods as the main reference to design him, particularly his legs and the way he walks. He is a theropod. Theropod simply means "beast foot".
As for that Always 2 clip. You can't even see his feet or ankles, so there is no way of telling if it has digigrade legs or not. As for those deinonychus pictures, the outer toe claw is there. On the red one, it's on his left foot right below the heel. Remember, animals with digigrade legs run on their toes only, not on the full foot. the heel is up well off the ground. the reverse bend is not a reverse knee, it's the heel. The outer claw is right below that point on the left foot.
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And Toho soon regretted approving to that one. But Zilla is now the official Toho Name. And I wuld say that it beats those other names.
Wrong, he is an marine Iguana ( the monitor lizard is his girlfriend ) who mutated in a way making him similar to a Theropod, as there is nothing but the suborder of Saurischia called that.
Here clearer pics of Always 2 Godzilla: [link]
Not the most realistic Digigrade, but hey, it's Godzilla.
I know how Animals with Digigrade legs walk, so you don't need to tell me that. But seriously, there is no outer toe on those pictures.
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Yeah, those pics of Always 2 Godzilla are not digigrade at all. He's standing on the full foot. Also, according to the article you provided by this producer, he specifically states that there was no regret. To quote the specific questions and answers:
PENNY BLOOD: You were quoted as saying that you "renamed Hollywood’s 1998 version of the monster ‘Zilla’ because they took the God out of Godzilla.” When I read that quote, I interpreted it to be a slam against Hollywood’s Godzilla (1998.) I’m getting the impression now that your statement was referring to the “spiritual interpretation” of Godzilla in Japan versus Hollywood’s “monster interpretation.” It really wasn’t meant as a putdown. Is that correct?
SHOGO TOMIYAMA: Yes, because Hollywood’s Godzilla is just a normal monster. He’s not a God. Hollywood treated Godzilla as a live monster or live animal. They shot him down with missiles and all that.
PENNY BLOOD: Quite a few fans hate that version of Godzilla. What did you think of the Hollywood movie? Were you disappointed with Hollywood’s interpretation of your star performer in Godzilla’98?
SHOGO TOMIYAMA: No. There was always very good communication between Tokyo and Hollywood. We knew exactly how they were going to do it, and we knew what Godzilla was going to look like. So, as a movie there’s no complaining.
RYUHEI KITAMURA: I liked the film. I like most of that director’s films.
Note, there is nothing stating that the name "Zilla" is official by any means. It's simply that Tomiyama felt that Emmerich took the "God" out of godzilla by making him an animal that could be killed by missiles and such. Also, there is nothing indicating any regret on the part of Toho or these two Toho filmmakers. No complaints, not regrets. They knew going in what to expect regarding both the story and design, and liked the movie.
As for the outer toe in those deinonychus pictures, On the reddish brown one, coming out from the left heel there is a shiny black claw surrounded by a feathered tuft. It's right on the outside of the heel and is reversed compared to the other claws. You might be interpreting it as just feathers, but it looks like the claw of the outer toe claw to me. Regardless, the key element of Theropod foot design is that both the first and fifth toes are reduced, not the degree of reduction. Thus, there is certainly a wide range of variation possible.
Also, if he were a mutated marine iguana, he'd be a plant eater, not a fish eater. All Iguanas are herbivores. According to the movie, Nick Tatopoulos deduces that he might have evolved from a mutated marine iguana, but, this is just his theory, not a statement of fact. You can chalk that up to the writers or director no knowing anything about what Iguanas eat. Since iguanas are herbivores, it is actually more likely that he evolved from a monitor lizard, which is a carnivor. And ultimately, all the movie itself shows is that he was a mutant lizard of unspecified species. Also, since the animated/'98 Godzilla and the "girlfriend" were of the same species, they would have had to have both evolved from the same species, not two different ones. Thus both would have to have evolved from either the monitor lizard or the iguana, not one from each.
Regardless, now we're simply dealing with our views of the movie and getting away from the main subject, which is Kaiju Samurai's drawing and the influences that went into it.
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You can kind of see it in the chin and spines, but that's all, just minor. Also, that movie sucked!
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Actually the spines looke more like Final Wars Godzilla or better: how he looks on the Final Wars poster artwork.
The Chin looks like a spikier version Godzilla Neo's rather than Zilla's.
And yeah, the Movie sucked. Maybe not as a Monster Movie, but as a Godzilla Movie.
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I thought Zilla was the shit until I saw 1954. Then , it really did become shit.
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Can't beat the Original.
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I'm glad we could come to an agreement.
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Pure awesome! I can't wait for Anguirus!
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