The Future of Suitmation in Toho Godzilla Films

[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.

[Legion1979]

When the Japanese Godzilla stops being a guy in a suit he stops being Godzilla. Period.

Tsuburaya gets it.

[SuperSaiyan4Godzilla]

When the Japanese Godzilla stops being a guy in a suit he stops being Godzilla. Period.

Tsuburaya gets it.

Tsuburaya is dead.

Even the company is.

[Tyler]

When the Japanese Godzilla stops being a guy in a suit he stops being Godzilla. Period.

I don't agree with this.

Even the company is.

Well, Ultraman's doing a lot better than Godzilla right now.

[SuperSaiyan4Godzilla]

When the Japanese Godzilla stops being a guy in a suit he stops being Godzilla. Period.

I don't agree with this.

Even the company is.

Well, Ultraman's doing a lot better than Godzilla right now.

Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and various other tokusatsu shows have been on a down turn.

[King Caesar]

Do you know what's been on the rise lately, if anything?

[Crocodile]

Do you know what's been on the rise lately, if anything?

Gas Prices

[Legion1979]

Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and various other tokusatsu shows have been on a down turn.

Oooookay.

[Showa Gyaos]

That is a frightening thought. Even the tokusatsu genre is depreciated?

[StonedHope]

IS the argument for CGI, that its more convincing??

I think the Godzilla suit was at its most convincing in GMK and that was 10 years ago. Many are talking about the improvements of Japanese CG (budget CG) and that its at the point where it can take the place of suitmation.

But the art of the man in the suit has also been growing (i haven't been follow much of any kaiju movies since GFW so I'm not speaking from viewers perspective, I'm just saying its been a long time since GMK, there has to be more the industries can do with less).

I think it'd be sick to lean towards the sin city style of filming, where you have the suit and limited set pieces around the actor with the rest filled in digitally. Mixed with a healthy dose of total CG Godzilla for shots that require it and you can pull off a convincing Suited Godzilla.

[Tyler]

Do you know what's been on the rise lately, if anything?

Gas Prices

Insanity.