Summary
- The Corridor Crew YouTube channel compares the filmmaking of Shin Godzilla and the American MonsterVerse, highlighting how the Japanese film captures horror and destruction through its use of practical effects, miniature sets, and CG.
- Shin Godzilla is praised for its intercutting between a CG and animatronic Godzilla, as well as its cinematography and motion capture, which make the creatures feel more realistic compared to recent MonsterVerse films.
- Godzilla effects have evolved over the years, from hand puppeteering and rubber suits in the original 1954 film to the use of CG in the 1998 version and the fully CG Godzilla in Gareth Edwards’ reboot.
The Corridor Crew YouTube channel breaks down how Shin Godzilla and other modern Japanese Godzilla movies stand out from their American MonsterVerse counterparts through how the filmmaking captures the horror and destruction caused by the Kaiju. The modern American giant monster franchise began with Gareth Edwards’ 2014 reimagining of Godzilla and has expanded to feature other creatures including King Kong and Mothra in a still-ongoing shared universe. 2016’s Shin Godzilla was directed by Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno who envisioned an ever-evolving Godzilla that adapts to whatever threats it may face.
In an installment of their VFX Artist React to Bad & Great CGI series, Niko, Sam, and Wren of Corridor Crew sat down to watch Shin Godzilla, where they compared it to how the creature is brought to life in Legendary’s MonsterVerse.
Niko revealed that not only did the film utilize both a CG and animatronic ever-evolving Godzilla designed so ” the CG one looks like the animatronic one” for near-perfect intercutting between the two, but it utilized miniature sets and CG to strike a balance between classic Kaiju movie camp and a more realistic, grounded vision. Niko also praised the cinematography and motion capture for making it feel like actual creatures, as opposed to the MonsterVerse‘s approach in recent features including Godzilla VS. Kong that made them feel like “Three wrestlers in the ring“.
How Godzilla Effects Have Evolved Since Its 1954 Debut
When Godzilla first made its debut as Ishiro Honda’s symbol of nuclear weapon fears in 1954, the creature was brought to life through hand puppeteering and the work of performers Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka. While a hand-operated puppet was used for close-ups, both performers took turns wearing a 220-pound suit that was both physically demanding and difficult to operate. Nakajima would continue to play Godzilla in following films until 1972, though new suits were developed, and further details including Godzilla’s tail also received puppet recreations.
While further advancements and animatronic details were incorporated into Godzilla movie productions for greater quality and a less strenuous undertaking for the crew, 1998’s Roland Emmerich-directed Godzilla marked the franchise’s biggest leap at the time as CG effects were incorporated. While practical effects, suits, and animatronic pieces were still used, CG shots utilizing a digital model of Godzilla wreaking havoc were utilized. Edward’s Godzilla reboot would take another leap once more, as a fully CG Godzilla was used without a need for practical effects.
With Godzilla having reigned over cinema for almost 70 years, the creature has been brought to life in a number of ways. From heavy costumes to digital creations, to fully animated adventures, the infamous Kaiju has been the subject of many filmmaker’s visions and imagined through many techniques that attempted to explore both its physical and deeper existential horror in a new way. However, with Shin Godzilla perfectly marrying the practical and digital sides of the Kaiju genre’s approaches, many viewers may have a new appreciation for Anno’s approach and hope future films by both Legendary and Toho take note of his techniques.
Source: Corridor Crew