A perfectly horrifying re-imagining of the 1954 design that masterfully evokes equal parts dread and tragedy in the character, with aspects added onto it that make the Monster King look and feel—despite being an exaggerated monstrous abomination—like a real animal. The glowing red nuclear sores, the rugged and bumpy keloid-scarred skin, the jaws full of jagged, uneven mako shark-teeth, the beady snake-like eyes, the cancerous blood vessel-exposed dorsal plates glowing with nuclear power, the exposed musculature on the back, all of these design choices help result in the most disturbing representation of Godzilla as an animal twisted into deformity by the horrors of nuclear radiation. And I really dig the gigantic tail.
And I love his previous forms just as much; both of them have equal parts the same level of disturbing dread as well as a unique mix of shark and dinosaur-like feel—the latter of which is present especially in the third form—that fits this Godzilla’s evolving nature.
Unpopular opinion: Shinagawa-Kun is one of the best Godzilla designs. A perfect intermediate blend of classic Godzilla and a Tyrannosaurus Rex, with a touch of shark and snake thrown into the mix.
2. GyuraGoji
Also one of my favorite Godzilla designs to date. A big love letter to the GyakushuGoji, especially in the face and tusk-like fangs—and I especially dig their sideways curve. Almost gives him a viper/Smilodon vibe. Love the thick, stocky body rippling with armored pads resembling a samurai’s armor, and the blood vessels in the stone-white dorsal plates paint a beautiful contrast. Like with Shin, I also love this Godzilla’s long tail; it feels like a long spiny whip, and it somewhat reminds me of the tail of a Diplodocid sauropod. Above all of that, I especially dig the yokai/Oni references in this design’s face, especially those eyes.
And like with Shin, I dig the hell out of his previous forms. I’m tied between Amphibia and Terrestris as my favorite of the three; so far Terrestris holds out. Dinosaur/kangaroo/snake/Oni-Godzilla is a very unique combo and a big win in my book.
3. GareGoji
The design responsible for the very creation of the aforementioned designs above and signaled Godzilla’s glorious return to the movie screens. I don’t hate the 2019-2021 look, but I definitely wish that Dougherty didn’t touch Gareth’s design; to me, G14 is by far the superior look for the grizzled old bastard that is Legendary’s Godzilla. The gray, armored skin and the jagged glass-shaped dorsal plates evoke an archaic, brutal and combat-filled backstory for this Godzilla in a manner very fitting for this revamped version of the character, something that I feel the KOTM design lacks. He just looks far more primal, rugged, ancient and aggressive than the later designs used, and I wish they didn’t trade that for making him look even more ‘classic.’
Also, his tail feels a lot larger and a lot more formidable in this design than it does in the later MonsterVerse entires. I felt my stomach turn when he smacked the male MUTO with that monstrous warhammer of a tail.
