Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
- GodzillavsRayquaza
- Site Staff
- Posts: 6335
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 1:39 pm
Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Just something that popped into my head due to looking through concept art of FW Godzilla. Between the famous spikey-as-hell concept version apparently having an exposed spine (which paints it in a whole new light), and another concept art version of the character which looks straight out of a more Shin Godzilla-esque feature, it seems there were ideas for a movie much darker and grimmer than what we got. Neither of these designs seem fitting for what FW ultimately was, and while yeah that obviously why they’re just concept art, the fact that two separate horror-esque designs were drafted up intrigues me.
KWC Co-Operations Manager
KWCE Administrator
KWCE Administrator
ShinGojira14 wrote: Neither. Hideki Anno wins because he writes a hilarious comedic satire movie where Shin and Legendary have to team up to destroy a grotesque crap-monster created by the constant toxic bickering of Shin fans and Legendary fans.
SoggyNoodles2016 wrote: Yup, my dad works at Legendary, the Nebulans are gonna be in the next movie and they're gonna get beat because Madison throws coffee in the leaders face.
- Gigantis
- Sazer
- Posts: 10547
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:52 pm
- Location: Nebula of the Orion
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I honestly can't imagine some weird, darker toned version of Final Wars tbh. I think the designs were just made to try and make Godzilla more "streamlined" and "cool" for the younger audience lol
A guy who randomly stumbled upon this place one day, invested much too much time into it, and now appears to be stuck here for all eternity..and strangely enough, i do not regret it!
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
GFW's concept art was done by primarily a mix of long-time Toho staff (notably Shinji Nishikawa) and artists brought on by Kitamura. The latter included Yoji Shinkawa (who did the three sketches at the end of OP's post) and Katsuya Terada, both of whom had very distinct styles that didn't really mesh with what Nishikawa and co. had been doing for years. I'm not sure who designed the final version of Godzilla, but it might have been Shinichi Wakasa or his staff. At any rate, of the other monsters, Nishikawa designed all but Monster X, Keizer G, and Gigan -- those three were by Terada, and that's why the three main villain monsters look so out of place. Ditto the Godzilla concept art shown here.
I bet Nishikawa was employed in large part because of the amount of character and world designing required by the script. Had the film been granted much more pre-production time, I bet Kitamura would have relied solely on his selected artists. Their work is already pretty edgy for the Godzilla series (at that time, especially), and I think it's Nishikawa's designs and Wakasa's monster costumes that are just about all that seems traditionally "Godzilla."
I bet Nishikawa was employed in large part because of the amount of character and world designing required by the script. Had the film been granted much more pre-production time, I bet Kitamura would have relied solely on his selected artists. Their work is already pretty edgy for the Godzilla series (at that time, especially), and I think it's Nishikawa's designs and Wakasa's monster costumes that are just about all that seems traditionally "Godzilla."
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
- Major sssspielberg!
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2261
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:48 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Now, Yoji Shinkawa is the guy who worked for Kojima, right?
You can see a lot of similarities between the concept art above and his NERV Anti-Godzilla Mechagodzilla figure. I'd be open to seeing that take on Godzilla at some point.
You can see a lot of similarities between the concept art above and his NERV Anti-Godzilla Mechagodzilla figure. I'd be open to seeing that take on Godzilla at some point.
Kaltes-Herzeleid wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 9:44 am I love Final Wars. I praise Final Wars. Simple as.
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Per Wikipedia, yeah, Shinkawa is the "lead character and mecha designer" of Metal Gear.Major sssspielberg! wrote: ↑Sun Aug 22, 2021 8:40 pm Now, Yoji Shinkawa is the guy who worked for Kojima, right?
You can see a lot of similarities between the concept art above and his NERV Anti-Godzilla Mechagodzilla figure. I'd be open to seeing that take on Godzilla at some point.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
- LegendZilla
- Sazer
- Posts: 10373
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:57 am
- Location: British Columbia, Canada
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
- Voyager
- Keizer
- Posts: 7989
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:34 pm
- Location: On a boat
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I cannot imagine this, it would’ve been so bizarre
Would it still have been balls to the walls crazy?
Would it still have been balls to the walls crazy?
For Emperor and Empire!
- Rando Yaguchi
- G-Force Personnel
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
This would have at least made the movie entertaining.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
SoggyNoodles2016 wrote:Misato stans just built different.
- ClandestineCanine9
- Monarch Researcher
- Posts: 328
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:15 am
- Location: the clay pit
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?Rando Yaguchi wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:25 pmThis would have at least made the movie entertaining.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
there are many valid criticisms of Final Wars. I've never found entertainment to be one of them
that wasn't very cash money of you
モスラ! ゴジラ! ギドラ!
モスラ! ゴジラ! ギドラ!
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Well, what entertains one is entirely subjective, so you don't have to agree with him for his complaint to be valid.ClandestineCanine9 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:31 pm there are many valid criticisms of Final Wars. I've never found entertainment to be one of them
GFW might objectively have a lot of action, but I personally find very little of it enjoyable or entertaining.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
-
- GPN Volunteer
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2021 12:29 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I disagree. We already had Godzilla die at the end of the Heisei series. Combined with GFW not being connected to the other Millennium films would just make it feel awkward. At least the Heisei Godzilla we knew for entry upon entry. We felt his death. In GFW we get a whole new Godzilla that we just met and it would be too drastic. Godzilla dying is also a terrible way to celebrate his 50th anniversary.Rando Yaguchi wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:25 pmThis would have at least made the movie entertaining.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
- Rando Yaguchi
- G-Force Personnel
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I didn't say it would be good, I said it would be entertaining lol
SoggyNoodles2016 wrote:Misato stans just built different.
- Gojira1604
- JXSDF Technician
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:38 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Wasn't he going to be killed by a Manda like dragón?LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
- Mac Daddy MM
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5050
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:27 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Holy crap, I remember this too. The pre-FW hype and rumors was something to take in, even more so than G'14 and Shin. The shit storm alone when GINO (G'98) was RUMORED to have an appearance... That makes me feel old. Another big rumor from FW was that Godzilla would die in Shanghai of all places at the hands of a "Fire Dragon." This was a rumor spurred directly from a Chinese news source at the time.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
I will never forget when the Japanese Godzilla website updated into FW mode and we saw concept art of Gigan for the first time and silhouettes of all the monsters (minus Keizer Ghidorah and Zilla), giving us a confirmation of who was in it. With Anguirus, Hedorah and King Caesar confirmed, I don't think I had ever been so excited in my life up to that point. Damn...
Last edited by Mac Daddy MM on Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Quote of the Year:
plasmabeam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:03 am Hear me out on this. What if Godzilla is actually Suko’s father? In GvK when Godzilla defeated Kong and they were roaring at each other, what if Godzilla inseminated Kong at that moment and that’s why they were screaming?
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Yeah, I tried going through the old Monster Zero forums to find the (probably now-dead) Chinese article link a while back without any luck. Godzilla's death was definitely reported in one Chinese source, or at least that's how it was translated by the time it reached the G-fandom.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:41 amHoly crap, I remember this too. The pre-FW hype and rumors was something to take in, even more so than G'14 and Shin. The shit storm alone when GINO (G'98) was RUMORED to have an appearance... That makes me feel old. Another big rumor from FW was that Godzilla would die in Shanghai of all places at the hands of a "Fire Dragon." This was a rumor spurred directly from a Chinese news source at the time.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
- Mac Daddy MM
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5050
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:27 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I remember reading it on the old Rodan's Roost and GojiStomp, but now both of them are dead and gone as well.Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:56 amYeah, I tried going through the old Monster Zero forums to find the (probably now-dead) Chinese article link a while back without any luck. Godzilla's death was definitely reported in one Chinese source, or at least that's how it was translated by the time it reached the G-fandom.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:41 amHoly crap, I remember this too. The pre-FW hype and rumors was something to take in, even more so than G'14 and Shin. The poop storm alone when GINO (G'98) was RUMORED to have an appearance... That makes me feel old. Another big rumor from FW was that Godzilla would die in Shanghai of all places at the hands of a "Fire Dragon." This was a rumor spurred directly from a Chinese news source at the time.LegendZilla wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:43 am I remember before the movie came out, I read information branded as spoilers. It stated that humankind was going to kill Minya and Godzilla was going to lash out in vengeance. At the end of the movie, Godzilla was going to die.
Quote of the Year:
plasmabeam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:03 am Hear me out on this. What if Godzilla is actually Suko’s father? In GvK when Godzilla defeated Kong and they were roaring at each other, what if Godzilla inseminated Kong at that moment and that’s why they were screaming?
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Not to mention the original iteration of Toho Kingdom. MZ was a long shot, although that's where "Eric von Zipper" first revealed the inclusion of Zilla in the monster cast and no one believed him.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:10 amI remember reading it on the old Rodan's Roost and GojiStomp, but now both of them are dead and gone as well.Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:56 amYeah, I tried going through the old Monster Zero forums to find the (probably now-dead) Chinese article link a while back without any luck. Godzilla's death was definitely reported in one Chinese source, or at least that's how it was translated by the time it reached the G-fandom.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:41 am
Holy crap, I remember this too. The pre-FW hype and rumors was something to take in, even more so than G'14 and Shin. The poop storm alone when GINO (G'98) was RUMORED to have an appearance... That makes me feel old. Another big rumor from FW was that Godzilla would die in Shanghai of all places at the hands of a "Fire Dragon." This was a rumor spurred directly from a Chinese news source at the time.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
- Mac Daddy MM
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5050
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:27 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
Oh God, do you remember when TK's main site wasn't set up like an app and had a side menu for everything... Those were the days.Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:15 amNot to mention the original iteration of Toho Kingdom. MZ was a long shot, although that's where "Eric von Zipper" first revealed the inclusion of Zilla in the monster cast and no one believed him.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:10 amI remember reading it on the old Rodan's Roost and GojiStomp, but now both of them are dead and gone as well.Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:56 am
Yeah, I tried going through the old Monster Zero forums to find the (probably now-dead) Chinese article link a while back without any luck. Godzilla's death was definitely reported in one Chinese source, or at least that's how it was translated by the time it reached the G-fandom.
Quote of the Year:
plasmabeam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:03 am Hear me out on this. What if Godzilla is actually Suko’s father? In GvK when Godzilla defeated Kong and they were roaring at each other, what if Godzilla inseminated Kong at that moment and that’s why they were screaming?
- shadowgigan
- Futurian
- Posts: 3167
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:11 pm
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
I think that's just Nishikawa's art style. I had the pleasure of building one of those T's Facto kits recently. Here's my take on it, spoilers because large images:
I vaguely remember hearing something about Godzilla dying. I swear rumor chasing was so much more fun in those days where technology wasn't such a part of our lives.I don't remember the part about Minya but remember hearing about Godzilla dying being a possibility.
Edit: Think I may have found the article.
Godzilla Monster to Die in Shanghai
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Edit: Think I may have found the article.
Godzilla Monster to Die in Shanghai
Last edited by shadowgigan on Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- DirektorSplennic
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2181
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:07 am
- Location: Nebula M78
Re: Was Final Wars originally planned to be a darker movie?
It's so interesting hearing about what speculation and leaks were like back then. I'm 18 and I got into Godzilla around 2010-2011, so Final Wars and everything before that were to me movies that had come and gone that I could go back and enjoy. Is there anything else you can recall from when the Millennium or even Heisei movies were coming out that were supposed leaks, whether true or not?Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:15 amNot to mention the original iteration of Toho Kingdom. MZ was a long shot, although that's where "Eric von Zipper" first revealed the inclusion of Zilla in the monster cast and no one believed him.Mac Daddy MM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:10 amI remember reading it on the old Rodan's Roost and GojiStomp, but now both of them are dead and gone as well.Terasawa wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:56 am
Yeah, I tried going through the old Monster Zero forums to find the (probably now-dead) Chinese article link a while back without any luck. Godzilla's death was definitely reported in one Chinese source, or at least that's how it was translated by the time it reached the G-fandom.
I remember years ago before the IMDb forums closed I was browsing them out of boredom and there were rumors from 2002 that had people talking about Kamoebas' involvement in Tokyo SOS, and if he was going to have a fight scene with Godzilla.
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.sculpts/