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Godzilla (TriStar)

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Godzilla (TriStar)
Godzilla film series character
TriStar's Godzilla (left) as featured in the 1998 film and Zilla (right) as featured in Godzilla: Final Wars.
First appearanceGodzilla (1998)
Last appearanceGodzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Based onGodzilla
by Toho Co., Ltd.
Adapted byDean Devlin
Roland Emmerich
Designed byPatrick Tatopoulos
Portrayed byKurt Carley
(suit actor)[1]
Voiced by
In-universe information
Alias
  • Godzilla '98[3]
  • TriStar Godzilla[4][5]
  • American Godzilla[6]
  • Godzilla-USA[7]
  • French Godzilla[8]
  • G.I.N.O. (Godzilla In Name Only)[9]
SpeciesMutated marine iguana[10]

Godzilla (/ɡɒdˈzɪlə/ ɡod-ZIL-ə)[a] is a giant monster, or kaiju, based on Toho Co., Ltd.'s character of the same name. The character first appeared in the 1998 film Godzilla, released by TriStar Pictures. Designed by Patrick Tatopoulos, it was modeled after iguanas with a slim theropod appearance rather than the thick, bipedal designs of Toho's Godzilla. It is the second incarnation of Godzilla to be reimagined by an American studio, after Hanna-Barbera's 1978 animated series Godzilla. Initial reception towards the 1998 film and its version of Godzilla were generally negative, however, both would receive reappraise in later years. Reception for the animated sequel Godzilla: The Series was more favorable.

In 2004, a new iteration of TriStar's Godzilla was featured in Toho's 2004 film Godzilla: Final Wars as Zilla (ジラ, Jira). That version has since appeared in various media under the “Zilla” trademark, but with the variants from the 1998 film and Godzilla: The Series retaining the Godzilla copyright and trademark.

Overview

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TriStar era (1998-2000)

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Kurt Carley in the adult Godzilla suit.

During the production of the 1998 film, special effects artist Patrick Tatopoulos was contacted by director Roland Emmerich and asked to create a new design for the Godzilla character. According to Tatopoulos, the only specific instructions Emmerich gave him was that it should be able to run incredibly fast.[11] Emmerich intended to depict the character as an animal rather than a monster.[12] Godzilla was originally conceived by special effects director Eiji Tsubaraya, special effects designers Akira Wantanabe and Teizo Toshimitsu and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka as a robust, erect-standing, plantigrade reptilian sea monster, played by an actor in a rubber-latex full-body suit. Based on the instructions Emmerich gave him, Tatopoulos reimagined it as a lean, digitigrade bipedal iguana that stood with its back and tail parallel to the ground, rendered via computer animation.[13] The monster's distinctive facial features include a prominent lantern jaw, inspired by the fictional tiger Shere Khan from Disney's animated adaptation of The Jungle Book.[14]

TriStar's Godzilla color scheme was designed to reflect and blend in with the urban environment.[11] At one point, it was planned to use motion capture to create the movements of the computer-generated monster, but it ended up looking too much like a man in a suit.[15] The Baby Godzilla scenes utilized a combination of CGI and purpose built costumes donned by actors.[16] Kurt Carley portrayed the suitmation sequences for the adult Godzilla in the 1998 film[1] while voice actor Frank Welker, foley artist Gary A. Hecker, and the film's sound designer Scott Martin Gershin provided additional vocals for both Godzilla and its offspring.[17][18][2] Upon pending approval for the design, at the time, Shōgo Tomiyama commented on the new look, saying "It was so different we realized we couldn't make small adjustments. That left the major question of whether to approve it or not."[19] Though TriStar's Godzilla was referred to by the film's characters as a "he", Patrick Tatopoulos stated on a DVD audio commentary that the effects crew sculpted female genitalia into the CG model of the creature.[20]

In the 1998 film and animated series, TriStar's Godzilla is portrayed as a territorial, piscivorous, 180 feet (54.86 m) tall[21][22] mutated lizard. Atypical of Toho's giant monster characters, TriStar's Godzilla is not immune to conventional weaponry, and instead relies on its cunning and athleticism to outflank its enemies. It can travel long distances over land and sea, burrow underground and reproduce via parthenogenesis, and is able to lay over 200 eggs,[23] unlike its offspring in the animated series which was unable to reproduce.[22] It possesses an ignitable radioactive breath weapon called "Power Breath", although its offspring could breathe a green atomic Power Breath in the animated series (where also the parent, resurrected as a cyborg called Cyber-Godzilla, possessed a blue version), in which it was pitted against a rogues gallery of original monsters, after the producers were unable to secure the rights to adapt Toho's classic monsters.[24] It was also featured in advertisements alongside the Taco Bell chihuahua.[25]

Toho era (2004-current)

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Early concept artwork depicting the showdown between Godzilla and Zilla in Godzilla: Final Wars.

During production of Godzilla: Final Wars, director Ryuhei Kitamura asked producer Shōgo Tomiyama whether or not they were allowed to include TriStar's Godzilla in the film. Tomiyama checked Toho's contract with Sony and saw they were allowed to use it, stating, "since this was the 50th anniversary film, I thought ‘Why not include the American Godzilla?'" This incarnation of TriStar's Godzilla was named "Zilla".[26] This decision was made because they also felt that Emmerich's film had taken the "God" out of "Godzilla" by portraying the character as a mere animal, however, Kitamura admitted to "liking" the 1998 film and Emmerich's works.[27] The name "Zilla" was chosen for the character by Tomiyama as a satirical take on counterfeit Godzilla products that use "Zilla" as a suffix.[28]

A 3D scan of the Trendmasters "Ultimate Godzilla" toy was used as reference for Zilla.[29] In the film, Zilla engages Toho's Godzilla in a battle intended "to show which Godzilla is stronger".[26] Zilla would fight Godzilla again in a slightly longer battle, and even team up with Godzilla to fight other monsters, in the comic series by IDW Publishing titled Godzilla: Rulers of Earth running between 2013 and 2015.[6]

The "Zilla" trademark has led to confusion by fans over the character's relationship to TriStar's Godzilla and the possibilities of rebranding. Matt Frank (co-writer and illustrator of IDW Comics' Godzilla: Rulers of Earth) clarified, "Toho makes zero distinction between 'Zilla' and 'Godzilla 1998' with the exception of title alone. Ever since 2004, Toho's official stance has been that any future incarnations of the character be referred to hereafter as 'Zilla'."[26][30] Keith Aiken (co-editor of SciFi Japan) also clarified that "'Zilla' is a variation of the '1998 Godzilla' but stressed that only the incarnations from the 1998 film and the animated series retain the Godzilla copyright and trademark.[31][26]

Reception

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The design and characterization of TriStar's Godzilla was negatively received.[32] Film critic Richard Pusateri of G-Fan Magazine coined the acronym GINO ("Godzilla In Name Only") to distinguish it from Toho's Godzilla.[33] while other publications referred to it as the "American Godzilla".[28][34]

Tom Breihan from Deadspin stated that TriStar's Godzilla "wasn't motherfucking Godzilla at all," elaborating that the character was treated like a "tapped animal", lacked Godzilla's signature blue atomic breath, ran and hid, caused less damage, and that Emmerich and Devlin had "completely missed the entire point" of Godzilla.[35]

These sentiments were echoed by veteran Godzilla suit actors Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma, and by Shusuke Kaneko, director of the '90s Gamera films. Nakajima ridiculed the character design, stating: "Its face looks like an iguana and its body and limbs look like a frog".[36] Satsuma walked out of the film, saying "it's not Godzilla, it doesn't have his spirit".[37] Kaneko opined "[Americans] seem unable to accept a creature that cannot be put down by their arms",[38] and later alluded to the character in his film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack as a monster that Americans mistook for Godzilla.[39] Thomas Tull (producer of Legendary's Godzilla series) criticized the design of TriStar's Godzilla, stating, "I’m always puzzled as a fan when you take things so far it’s unrecognizable."[40] Toho publicist Yosuke Ogura later called TriStar's design a "disaster."[41]

The animated version of the character was more positively received than its live-action predecessor, due to being closer in line with the spirit of Toho's Godzilla, possessing the ability to breathe atomic fire, battle monsters, and withstand attacks.[42][43] However, the negative response to both Emmerich's Godzilla as well as the Disney remake of Mighty Joe Young released that same year, had caused giant monster movies to fall out of vogue for several years after, with films such as Peter Jackson's King Kong remake being postponed until 2005.[44] Poor merchandise sales for the film led to a cancellation of a toy line based on Godzilla: The Series, and resulted in significant financial losses for toy manufacturer Trendmasters.[45] Nicholas Raymond from Screen Rant described Toho's subsequent treatment of TriStar's Godzilla as "a clear sign that Toho doesn't regard the 1998 Godzilla as the King of the Monsters. It would appear that to them, he's just a giant lizard."[41]

In later years, the 1998 film and its version of Godzilla would receive reappraise from journalist and fans that grew up with the film.[46][47][48][49] Ten years after the film's release, director and co-writer Roland Emmerich felt the film was better than what critics said it was and said that the film is a favorite amongst his friends' kids.[50] While promoting Godzilla: Final Wars, director Ryuhei Kitamura admitted that he "liked" both the 1998 film and Emmerich's films.[27] In 2024, filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki, director and writer of Toho's 2023 film Godzilla Minus One, spoke favorably of the 1998 film. He felt that on its own merits, the 1998 film is "fun" and "quite well executed" and was technologically a huge achievement but understood why some are hesitant to consider it part of the franchise.[51]

Despite the 1998 film's initial negative reception, its animated sequel Godzilla: The Series earned successful ratings and was more popular with fans of Toho's Godzilla.[52]

Appearances

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TriStar's Godzilla has been featured in other media outside of TriStar-produced content under various aliases.

TriStar's Godzilla has only made two film appearances in Godzilla (1998) and Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) and was vaguely referenced in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). TriStar originally planned to produce a trilogy,[53] and Tab Murphy was commissioned by Emmerich and Devlin to write a story treatment for Godzilla 2. However, the sequels were cancelled due to the 1998 film's poor reception and TriStar let their remake/sequel rights expire on May 20, 2003.[26] An animated television series, Godzilla: The Series, was produced instead and served as a sequel to the 1998 film.[54] It featured the surviving offspring from the 1998 film as the new Godzilla, as well as a reanimated cyborg version of its parent, named "Cyber-Godzilla".[54]

For the video games Godzilla: Save the Earth and Godzilla: Unleashed, developer Simon Strange decided not to include Zilla due to the character's unpopularity among fans. Strange received criticism from fans for not including Zilla in Godzilla: Unleashed.[55][56] In 2024, the children's web series Godziban introduced a bright pink female Zilla character named "Zillala" as a co-host for its Go! Godzi Godzi BANBAN segment.

In 2023, Spiral Studios licensed the character from Toho as "Zilla" for a 124 cm statue.[57] In 2024, Bandai released Movie Monster Series toys for two iterations of the character; one as Godzilla (1998) and the other as Zilla (2004).[58]

Films

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Television

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Video games

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Literature

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  • Godzilla by Stephen Molstad (novel – 1998)
  • Godzilla by H. B. Gilmour (novel – 1998)
  • Godzilla: A Junior Novelization by H. B. Gilmour (novel – 1998)
  • Godzilla by Kimberly Weinberger (book – 1998)
  • Godzilla: Attack of the Baby Godzillas by Gina Shaw (book – 1998)
  • Fox Kids Magazine – Godzilla: The Series (comic – 1998)
  • Godzilla: Rulers of Earth (comic – 2013–2015) – as Zilla
  • Godzilla: Oblivion (comic – 2016) – as Zilla
  • Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse (novel – 2017) – as Zilla or French Godzilla[8]

Music

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Tracks from the 1998 film's soundtrack Godzilla: The Album make references to TriStar's Godzilla and even feature the character in a few music videos.[59]

Cultural references

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: ゴジラ, Hepburn: Gojira; IPA: [ɡoꜜʑiɾa] ⓘ

References

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Citations

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  2. ^ a b Miller, Bob (April 1, 2000). "Frank Welker: Master of Many Voices". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Fisher, Kieran (May 23, 2018). "'Godzilla' (1998) Isn't As Bad As You Remember". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  4. ^ Kalat 2010, p. 222.
  5. ^ Kalat 2010, p. 229.
  6. ^ a b OniGoji (June 2, 2013). "Comics: Writer Chris Mowry Gives Insight On IDW's Godzilla: Rulers of Earth". Comic Book Movie. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Godzilla Generations 1998 Sega Dreamcast game
  8. ^ a b Oki 2017, p. 205.
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Bibliography

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