So it's safe to say Godzilla is Toho's mascot..but

[DrunkenGamer]

who else do you think deserves just as much fame and glory as the King of Monsters?

I personally don't REALLY have an opinion, but I'm interested to see what all of us think.
I'm a bit partial to Mothra and Ultraman, though I admit I don't know much about the latter. It just seems like Mothra could do just as well independently against different monsters (think Mothra vs Battra...but good), and Ultraman could use a bit more fame and stuff.

What do you think?

[Blackout286]

Well with the King of Monsters still slowly waking up from his hibernation, Ultraman has pretty much taken over for a while.

[Arbok]

Are we talking about Toho characters or any character?

Ultraman is the face of Tsuburaya Productions after all.

In terms of monsters, I don't think the genre has enough appeal for Toho to have two characters on the same level of popularity as Godzilla. The other members of the big five (Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Rodan) are all quite popular, but none come even close to Godzilla.

I personally wouldn't mind seeing an attempt to rejuvenate the Rodan character, but he will never reach even close to the level of popularity that Godzilla has.

[Blackout286]

Are we talking about Toho characters or any character?

Ultraman is the face of Tsuburaya Productions after all.

In terms of monsters, I don't think the genre has enough appeal for Toho to have two characters on the same level of popularity as Godzilla. The other members of the big five (Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Rodan) are all quite popular, but none come even close to Godzilla.

I personally wouldn't mind seeing an attempt to rejuvenate the Rodan character, but he will never reach even close to the level of popularity that Godzilla has.

Does Mothra come close? Since she had her own mini series and all.

[KaneLocke]

She comes close, but her success compared to Gojira is near nothing. She's kinda like Toho's second-favorite stepchild.

[Blackout286]

True, it does look that way.

I can't really see any other kaiju representing Toho than Godzilla himself. There's Mothra to some extent but the character doesn't have any real meaning unlike the King.

Maybe King Ghidorah since he's hugely popular with the G-Community.

[tokyostateofmind]

Ghidorah is very popular but for Toho's mascot. A lot more people know Godzilla name than any other characters in the saga. Of course the people have actually seen the movies know who Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra are. No doubt about Godzilla, the KING of the monsters is the only mascot for Toho. Thats what they are most famous for in the general world public.

[johnhayman15]

IMO Godzilla will always be Toho's mascot.

[Tyler]

I think Toho's best known for Godzilla and Kurosawa movies.

[Mecha-Anguirus]

Actually I think that the seven samurai could also fit the bill. They're about as famous. Actually, their movie is now regarded as one of the best movies of all time.

[Showa Gyaos]

When I hear "Toho", I think of Godzilla, so he seems to be the star child of Toho.

[edgaguirus]

Godzilla will always be Toho's most famous monster. He was the first, after all. Ultraman deserves that honor too.

[James23873]

Godzilla will always be Toho's most famous monster. He was the first, after all.

Ah but don't forget about the monster who was his inspiration. Godzilla may have been Toho's first, but King Kong was there long before him. I think Kong deserves his spot as one of the most successful monsters of all time.

[KaneLocke]

I doubt anyone will argue that point, but Kong isn't a Toho monster, thus can't really be the face of Toho.

Sooo it is a bit beside the point...

[GotengoXGodzilla]

If anything outside of Godzilla is going to be Toho's mascot, then I guess it would be Akira Kurosawa/Toshiro Mifune.