The Future of Suitmation in Toho Godzilla Films

[Legion1979]

What makes the Toho (and Daiei and Tsuburaya) characters so charming and memorable is that they're really there. They exist as suits, props or whatever other physical items are used to bring them to life. They appeal to me because they're more than some random CGI "thing" that exists in a computer. Why do they have to switch to CGI just because the technology is there? What makes these creatures what they are is how they're brought to life.

Besides, I don't think Toho - assuming they ever bring back Godzilla - will ever master CGI well enough to do an entire movie with convincing computer generated monsters. But that's just me.

[Hellspawn28]

They could always do a mix between both. Look at the Hellboy movies for example.

[Tyler]

I'd go so far as to say that suitmation lives on in motion-capture technology. Now instead of a restrictive rubber suit, the "suit" actor has a free range of motion and an incredibly detailed "suit" made with CGI.

I agree. That's what LP should do at least.

[HayesAJones]

Motion capture could definitively works. And CGI-enhanced suits would be a good option too.

[Gojira-Fan]

To me, the "spirit" is the fact that in face of computer-generated imagerey, Godzilla still sticks to suitmation. It's a tradition. And I don't know about anyone else here, but I can almost always tell what I am looking at is CGI, except for a few things (water and fire look real as CGI).

This is also one of the reasons that I'm not all too excited over the new american Godzilla film, because it's going to be CGI. That's just going with the crowd. And to me, it's part of the Kaiju genre to use suitmation.

Then again, that's just me. If the general audience want's CGI Godzilla, then they will probably get CGI Godzilla.

[Legion1979]

To me, the "spirit" is the fact that in face of computer-generated imagerey, Godzilla still sticks to suitmation.

...hasn't been a Godzilla film in over six years.

It's a tradition. And I don't know about anyone else here, but I can almost always tell what I am looking at is CGI, except for a few things (water and fire look real as CGI).

And that's American CGI. Japanese CGI isn't even close. Personally I think a 100% CGI Godzilla out of Toho (in a full feature film, no one waste my time mentioning the single shot from Always 2) would look idiotic.

This is also one of the reasons that I'm not all too excited over the new american Godzilla film, because it's going to be CGI. That's just going with the crowd. And to me, it's part of the Kaiju genre to use suitmation.

I can forgive CGI in an American film. That's what they do. And American CGI has progressed to the point where the characters can still feel real and have a personality. I don't think the time and budget Toho Godzilla films are given can even come close when it comes to CGI. And the continued popularity of the Ultraman stuff (where all the monsters - or the majority of them - are still very obvious suits) shows that Toho doesn't have to abandon that route with Godzilla.

Providing they ever make another film.

Then again, that's just me. If the general audience want's CGI Godzilla, then they will probably get CGI Godzilla.

But...even if the Japanese wanted more Godzilla right now (they don't) would they want a CGI Godzilla?

[hammysammy59]

It's a tradition.

The "tradition" was started against the filmmakers will. They were forced into suitmation due to time and budgetary constraints... they wanted to make Gojira with stop-motion animation, but had to scrap that plan. I think they said they would have needed like 7 years to complete the movie they way they originally wanted to make it.

[Killswitch]

You need to think 10-15 years down the road, when today's CGI will be affordable for a studio like Toho.

[Goji]

It's a tradition.

The "tradition" was started against the filmmakers will. They were forced into suitmation due to time and budgetary constraints... they wanted to make Gojira with stop-motion animation, but had to scrap that plan. I think they said they would have needed like 7 years to complete the movie they way they originally wanted to make it.

...And? They stuck with it for decades, hence it became tradition. Derp.

[Chris55]

It's a tradition.

The "tradition" was started against the filmmakers will. They were forced into suitmation due to time and budgetary constraints... they wanted to make Gojira with stop-motion animation, but had to scrap that plan. I think they said they would have needed like 7 years to complete the movie they way they originally wanted to make it.

...And? They stuck with it for decades, hence it became tradition. Derp.

Yeah, that "derp" was a great addition to your "rebuttal". Very mature.

Personally, I'd like to see Toho mix up the suits with better CG so they match evenly. For example, ANYTIME a monster is thrown through the air and lands on the ground/hits a building, the monster would be rendered in CG (good CG so that it would match) so that it doesn't look like an obvious empty suit flopping around. I think that a happy medium can be found. It's just up to Toho to try and find it.

[Goji]

Ha, you're talking to me about maturity on these boards? Oh, the irony..Don't even start man. Seriously.


Anyways, I do agree that a combination of the two is the only way to go at this point. It's up to Toho to decide how much money their willing to spend for something like that. I think as long as Tsuburaya keeps doing things the old way (utilizing suits and miniatures), they're is a chance Toho will follow suit. Of course, that's assuming they'll ever make more Godzilla films, which seems even more unlikely in light of recent events, and the Japanese public's over lack of interest in the genre.

[Chris55]

Ha, you're talking to me about maturity on these boards? Oh, the irony..Don't even start man. Seriously.

There's a difference between joking around and being a dick.

[King Caesar]

Ha, you're talking to me about maturity on these boards? Oh, the irony..Don't even start man. Seriously.

Great Scott! The arrogance levels are off the charts!

[zilla103192]

there...

now. MY opinon on this, i can definetly see motion capture in the future.

and thats almost the exact same thing as suitmation... just digital.

[King Caesar]

^ There isn't anything there...

[Tyler]

I'd also like to direct your attention to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHxzAXaJOtU

If you didn't get goosebumps from that you're just jaded.

[Killswitch]

Ha, you're talking to me about maturity on these boards? Oh, the irony..Don't even start man. Seriously.

There's a difference between joking around and being a dick.

Its hard to distinguish at times. That's the problem with forums. You can't hear somebody's voice or see their facial expressions. Something that comes over as harsh on this board, may actually be a harmless joke.

[Legion1979]

I'd also like to direct your attention to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHxzAXaJOtU

If you didn't get goosebumps from that you're just jaded.

Guess I must be jaded.

[Legionmaster]

I'd also like to direct your attention to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHxzAXaJOtU

If you didn't get goosebumps from that you're just jaded.

Guess I must be jaded.

Well, you have been ruining the fandom since 1986.

[King Caesar]

I'd also like to direct your attention to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHxzAXaJOtU

If you didn't get goosebumps from that you're just jaded.

I've seen this before...and i knew right away it was from Always 2.