The Future of Suitmation in Toho Godzilla Films

[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.

[Malchik]

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.

Because for fifty years he's walked and moved similar to a human than that of a dinosaur. You need to look past what he's supposed to be and understand what has been consistent for decades. Having Godzilla move like a dinosaur would be disturbing, he's shown such humanity in his locomotion. The same argument can be made for Kong or Gollum. They're simple humanoid creatures, why can't they animate them? Because, why try and emulate function in the box when they can record the real thing? Also, like Kong, putting a man in a suite even with the sensors, will limit the actor to the creatures physical limitations.

[TokyoVigilante]

People like the idea because it provides all the little organic nuances that you get from a real actor and the "actor" approach to what amounts to a big hunk of special effects that makes Godzilla so endearing to begin with. It's a romanticized middle ground.

However, as the Weta crew found out during King Kong, having an actor play a CG character 100% produces absurd amounts of data that has to be managed and dealt with. That's why Serkis is only really acting for Kong in the 'calmer', not action-intense scenes; and that was a prestigious $500 million production.

[Mecha-Anguirus]

However, as the Weta crew found out during King Kong, having an actor play a CG character 100% produces absurd amounts of data that has to be managed and dealt with. That's why Serkis is only really acting for Kong in the 'calmer', not action-intense scenes; and that was a prestigious $500 million production.

But that was 2008. Motion-capture has come much farther since then. Look at the recent Christmas Carol remake. Disney did that with motion capture, and I'm fairly sure it had less of a budget then 500 mil.

[omgitsgodzilla]

However, as the Weta crew found out during King Kong, having an actor play a CG character 100% produces absurd amounts of data that has to be managed and dealt with. That's why Serkis is only really acting for Kong in the 'calmer', not action-intense scenes; and that was a prestigious $500 million production.

But that was 2008. Motion-capture has come much farther since then. Look at the recent Christmas Carol remake. Disney did that with motion capture, and I'm fairly sure it had less of a budget then 500 mil.

Not to mention that Godzilla is a hell of a lot slower than Kong. At least in his typical movements.

[Malchik]

Kong also had a lot more screen time then Godzilla ever had in a single film. And they wouldn't use the actors facial expressions nearly as much on Godzilla than an ape.

[Tyler]

I actually hope they bring out the facial expressions. Godzilla's got that great mammalian face that makes him stand out from other reptilian monsters.

[Malchik]

I actually hope they bring out the facial expressions. Godzilla's got that great mammalian face that makes him stand out from other reptilian monsters.

I just hope the artists behind the design realize such potential. My fear is we'll get something too dinosaur-ish.

[Tyler]

I hope they keep the ears at least.

[StonedHope]

Not to mention that Godzilla is a hell of a lot slower than Kong. At least in his typical movements.

Yeah but the way Godzilla is filmed the actor moves at an accelerated pace and the camera speed is adjusted to make it appear as if he is moving slow and sluggish.

[TokyoVigilante]

...but the final portrayal of Godzilla is of a slow ponderous creature. I don't know what point you're trying to make.

[StonedHope]

^
Sorry, probably should have put the full quote:

However, as the Weta crew found out during King Kong, having an actor play a CG character 100% produces absurd amounts of data that has to be managed and dealt with. That's why Serkis is only really acting for Kong in the 'calmer', not action-intense scenes; and that was a prestigious $500 million production.

But that was 2008. Motion-capture has come much farther since then. Look at the recent Christmas Carol remake. Disney did that with motion capture, and I'm fairly sure it had less of a budget then 500 mil.

Not to mention that Godzilla is a hell of a lot slower than Kong. At least in his typical movements.

I was just saying that cause Godzilla on film is slow and lumbering doesn't necessarily mean that the filming process will produce less data to deal with.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Not to mention that Godzilla is a hell of a lot slower than Kong. At least in his typical movements.

Yeah but the way Godzilla is filmed the actor moves at an accelerated pace and the camera speed is adjusted to make it appear as if he is moving slow and sluggish.

That was due to the need to make the miniatures and suit appear bigger and heavier. With CGI all that can be done in the computer, allowing the actor to move at the same speed Godzilla will appear to move in the film.

[SuperSaiyan4Godzilla]

Am I the only one that really doesn't care if suitmation doesnt return to the Godzilla series?

If not, good.

[Killswitch]

Am I the only one that really doesn't care if suitmation doesnt return to the Godzilla series?

If not, good.

For this genre to grow, it needs to get with the times. That's why its so important for this new LP movie to do well.

[Showa Gyaos]

I don't want rubber suits to go away entirely, but if LP makes its point with a CGI Godzilla that looks more realistic, I suppose it's time to retire the technique.