The heisei Gamera films are based on an unproduced Godzilla movie??

I knew about Godzilla vs. the Gryphon, but the Gamera Heisei films were based on it?!?!?! 0_0

That's always been speculated. While it's not unlikely Kaneko and Ito heard about some of the material for the original Tristar Godzilla, the time frame seems a little too close for there to have been a thorough investigation from the Gamera: Guardian of the Universe team.

But I do think Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is the '94 Tristar Godzilla we never got regardless of inspiration.

Actually it's seem that Japanese are quite good in working with speed run projects, because in Heisei era we got basically Godzilla, Mothra and Gamera films per year, and the same goes for the Millennium Godzilla era. Maybe could be hard, but not impossible, specially quoting Gamera: the Guardian of Universe as you are saying above.

Personally I liked the plot, but what I see quite weird to take is the idea of trapping and transporting Godzilla like King Kong or Yongary. But overall, the Gryphon project was good.

I don't think there's any way you could peg the same backgrounds as a coincidence especially based off how original it was. I feel like they took the amount of info they knew and ran with it, changing things that would better fit their movie, but overall I don't think there's anyway you could not think there was at least inspiration from the ideas in the 94 Godzilla.

The way I see it, even though Godzilla '94 was never actually made, it still got spiritually made in two parts: Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and Godzilla 2014. I feel that both films adapted major points of the script, and together did it justice and brought it to the big screen, just not as the film it was originally intended to be. As much as I would have liked to see Godzilla 1994 be made, I take solace knowing that its script was partially used to revive two kaiju franchises.

Gojira19,
You could say they're good at "speed run" projects, but it's really just how the Japanese film industry runs. Most movies in Japan are planned, shot and edited within a year. They just don't have the same size cinema industry to spend as much money, manpower and time (time is money) as Hollywood.

It was worse in the 50s-70s. Two Godzilla movies were released by the exact same production team in 1964 (Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster) and Terror of MechaGodzilla was shot within one month. If anything the Heisei movies had more time behind them. And remember, no matter what decade, Godzilla movies have typically been some of the most expensive movies made in Japan from 1954-2004.

Gamera 3 is an exception to the rule that took two years. I think it was pushed back for scheduling issues. I can't remember.

GMAN2887 › You have a point. It's true they have to deal with limited resources compared with Hollywood productions, but ever since they are able to do so I think they possibly took some ideas and used them quickly. 

THE KING OF THE MONSTERS › Yes, the 2014 film has some similarities, specially with the old Brody tragedy and the ancient rivalry between Godzilla's species and Muto's; but it can easily be taken as a new context. That reminds me how we thought Brian Cranston character would have a big role in the ENTIRE movie due the advertisings; but he ended in a big flop! It's a shame.

I suppose when you boil it down to a synopsis of a few sentences, it could sound familiar. It's even possible. But remember, Gamera's back story has always been that he was created by an ancient civilization. It was somewhat glanced over in the original 1965 film when they uncovered the tablet that accompanied Gamera's release.