The Future of Suitmation in Toho Godzilla Films

[Mini-Godzilla]

I'll have no more of this vile talk in my classroom. Now, let's get back to current events: which direction shall Toho take in future films? I agree with those who have said that motion capture is the best option.

[Tyler]

Does it involve the consumption of turd nuggets?

And penis.

[King Caesar]

'Ey! Mini-G said no more, man! Knock it off!

Anyways, I like tradition, but if need be, I wouldn't mind seeing the conversion to CGI. Either way, I'll still be a loyal fan.

[Gojira-Fan]

I will lose a lot of my interest in these movies if they start using CGI exclusively to portray Godzilla.
Also, Japanese CGI kind of sucks most of the time.

[King Caesar]

I will lose a lot of my interest in these movies if they start using CGI exclusively to portray Godzilla.
Also, Japanese CGI kind of sucks most of the time.

And the SyFy channel has good CGI? I know Avatar is amazing CGI and all, but we still have our fair share of suckage too

[Gojira-Fan]

Sci-Fi (or Scy Fy) movies are not released to movie theatres. Unlike in Japan, where Godzilla movies are given a theatrical release.

[Mecha-Anguirus]

I think they should stick to suitmation. Honestly, they had the budget to make GFW 100% CGI (of course, they would have to cut like 30% of the monsters) and they didn't, but the product is still "good" (special effects wise). Also, suitmation and Godzilla are basically synonymous, so if you kill suitmation, Godzilla dies too. On the other hand, if they could make CGI look exactly like the suit, I feel it could lend a more dynamic aspect to the battles, if used sparingly. So basically, suitmation for everything except dynamic parts of the battles. (Wow, this post is really long and rambly)

[StonedHope]

I'm see alot of comments towards Always sunset 2 for an example of Godzilla looking good in CGI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEEXydQc9KE
Watching this clip I find it thrilling,not so much G himself.

Where I think its best for the industry to go in a healthy mix. Where there would be filming with a suit but in more CG environments. Much like how sin city would provide only some props and the rest was CGI. I think they should still have some detailed model work surrounding him but then fill the streets. Make the city Godzilla is in come alive with CGI. The films just work better when there's something really infront of the camera, acting. Always sunset 2 just proves that Japaneses CG isn't ready to replace Godzilla.

Godzilla 200 did alot of suit in green screen filming and I loved it cause it sold Godzilla being in a city or river alot better.

[TokyoVigilante]

Watch the scenes with the Kraken from the recent Clash of the Titans.

That sense of sheer scale and monstrous size, is simply not possible with a physical suit. The suit has charm and gravity and character, but I'd love to get that sense of huge-ness from these classic Monsters.

[Tyler]

Watch the scenes with the Kraken from the recent Clash of the Titans.

Blink and you'll miss it!

[Goji]

Godzilla 200 did alot of suit in green screen filming and I loved it cause it sold Godzilla being in a city or river alot better.

Really? Because those scenes look AWFUL.

[Hellspawn28]

I thought the CGI in G2k look like total shit and it look like something from a Dreamcast game.

[King Caesar]

I thought the CGI in G2k look like total shit and it look like something from a Dreamcast game.

Frankly, the only movie Godzilla looked good in CGI was the movie that didn't revolve around him. Oh the irony!!

[Primevalgodzilla V2]

Godzila looked amazing in CGI in one G movie! But it wasn't really him. And it cost 100 million dollars.

[King Caesar]

Godzila looked amazing in CGI in one G movie! But it wasn't really him. And it cost 100 million dollars.

By today's standards, I think Zilla looked okay. The main thing that I noticed was their lack of environmental change. The coloring was always the same (dark, occasionally a gloomy blue). I can't imagine he would have looked all that amazing if he had been in the daytime. Now if they threw Godzilla into a CGI production...

[Tyler]

I didn't think the CG in G2K was THAT bad. I thought the underwater shot was pretty cool.

[Malchik]

You know, its' kinda ironic if Toho does use motion capture, seeing as you still have to make a suite to put the actor in to restrict his movements to that of a dinosaur, though cheaper.

You couldn't make Godzilla in CGI without making some sort of prop. They needed to make models with sensors for Jurassic park because no animator could figure out exactly how a dinosaur could move.

[Tohosaurus]

Watch the scenes with the Kraken from the recent Clash of the Titans.

That sense of sheer scale and monstrous size, is simply not possible with a physical suit. The suit has charm and gravity and character, but I'd love to get that sense of huge-ness from these classic Monsters.

This. Plus I'm sure you mentioned this because that was also Legendary's work.

[hammysammy59]

Watch the scenes with the Kraken from the recent Clash of the Titans.

That sense of sheer scale and monstrous size, is simply not possible with a physical suit. The suit has charm and gravity and character, but I'd love to get that sense of huge-ness from these classic Monsters.

This. Plus I'm sure you mentioned this because that was also Legendary's work.

Seriously, this. Just be sure to use mo-cap suits to create the CGI. Don't think of it as CGI replacing suitmation, think of it as CGI enchancing the hell out of suitmation.

[Crocodile]

Watch the scenes with the Kraken from the recent Clash of the Titans.

That sense of sheer scale and monstrous size, is simply not possible with a physical suit. The suit has charm and gravity and character, but I'd love to get that sense of huge-ness from these classic Monsters.

This. Plus I'm sure you mentioned this because that was also Legendary's work.

Seriously, this. Just be sure to use mo-cap suits to create the CGI. Don't think of it as CGI replacing suitmation, think of it as CGI enchancing the hell out of suitmation.

Okay I'll bite, why does Godzilla needs a motion capture suit? He's a giant dinosaur, they could animate him fine enough without the need for motion capture.