In the early days of the Godzilla franchise, the King of the Monsters appeared different in almost every film. New suits emphasized varied features or added accommodations to ease use. Modern models of the character are computer-generated. Creating a new form requires the same VFX artists already making most of the film rather than the team of tactile craftspeople making suits. In his four films, Monsterverse Godzilla has taken three distinct varieties with fascinating changes to his design.
Godzilla stories come in two flavors. The most recent entry, Godzilla Minus One, is the best of the serious-minded, excellently crafted pieces of blockbuster epic metaphoric storytelling. Their next scheduled outing, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, is a massive, goofy action spectacle delivering most of its dialogue through roars and promising the chance to see an ape in a power glove. These are and have always been the two ways to enjoy Godzilla, and they’re both valid and necessary.
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Original Monsterverse Godzilla
Standing 355 feet tall and weighing in at 90,000 tons, Titanus Gojira debuted on the cover of the April 2014 issue of Empire magazine. This iteration of Godzilla is his default presentation in the Monsterverse franchise. In sequels, his height was raised to 393 feet, and his weight increased to 99,634 tons. Gareth Edwards, who directed the new design’s first feature in 2014, emphasized the importance of believability in his Godzilla. Edwards and his design crew used animals in almost every aspect of his appearance. Bears contributed to his fighting style and facial appearance alongside eagles, dogs, and Komodo dragons. In an interview with Annalee Newitz for i09, Gareth Edwards characterized his Godzilla, saying,
The way I tried to view it was to imagine Godzilla was a real creature and someone from Toho saw him in the 1950s and ran back to the studio to make a movie about the creature and was trying their best to remember it and draw it. And in our film you get to see him for real.
The Monsterverse Godzilla maintains the spirit of Toho’s earlier creations. He is noticeably different but distinctly inspired by fifty years of history. He’s considerably broader than any Japanese iteration. His posture leans forward while the older Godzillas stood bolt upright. Amazingly, Monsterverse’s Godzilla is the first to feature gills. His dorsal spines are small and sharp but still designed in the maple leaf shape of his predecessors. The Monsterverse’s designers selected a burly build for their Godzilla and tooled his physical traits to fit a natural appearance. This Godzilla quickly became iconic, and fans broadly enjoyed the new look.
Burning Godzilla from King of the Monsters
In the epic conclusion of Michael Dougherty’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the titular titan battles King Ghidorah for the world’s fate. Mothra sacrificed herself for the cause, allowing Ghidorah to vaporize her to empower Godzilla. Godzilla’s body developed glowing orange cracks and passively emitted heat capable of melting nearby skyscrapers. Burning Godzilla is a brief power-up phase for the King. He hasn’t shifted into this form since its debut. This iteration took its name and basic concept from a similar enhanced Godzilla, the hero of 1995’s Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. That film depicted Godzilla reaching dangerous levels of radioactivity. As a result, he posed a threat to the planet while opposing the film’s sinister antagonist. That Burning Godzilla wore prominent lava-like patches on his chest, stomach, and thighs. Both versions have enhanced abilities, but the one from the 90s got more screen time.
Pink Godzilla from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
The upcoming sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong showed off the King of the Monster’s new design. He glows with a vibrant pink that paints the tips of his spines. Those dorsal spikes are longer, thinner, and more crystalline. Even his gills shine bright with his new favorite color. Godzilla’s atomic breath has changed colors numerous times. The most notable example is the Red Spiral Ray, a far more powerful version of his most iconic attack. Godzilla x Kong will feature Godzilla’s new pink form, a visible increase in raw destructive potential. The recently released first trailer depicts him emerging from a chrysalis of sorts. Godzilla must be pulling out all the stops to take on the Scar King, including an alliance with his old mortal enemy.
The Monsterverse employed some restraint in its Kaiju designs. Regularly remodeling Godzilla, even two or three times per film, would be a savvy marketing decision. Every new Godzilla sells new toys. While Pink Godzilla might seem like a recolor in the style of old 80s cartoons, fans will have to wait and see whether Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire finds a compelling reason to redesign the King. The Monsterverse’s takes on Godzilla remain iconic and visually beautiful. Later iterations could incorporate even more fascinating and strange directions.
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