The design of Shin Gojira revealed

This is the drawing by Jeff Fornow that I meant to post:

I look forward to seeing the whole suit from various angles ala the chouzenshus published by Shogakuken. 

^ i actually really like that 

Quick note you guys. Please stop comparing Godzilla with the likes of Freddy Kruger, Jason Voorhees, and other American horror films. Hollywood films and tokusatsu films aren't the same as a whole.

As for the budget, it won't be any different with the older Godzilla films. It's tokusatsu. A unique filmmaking that is very traditional in Japan and what Godzilla is king of. 

@Jamaal,

The more I look at the design, the more I tremble. This is what you and I have wanted. Not just the classic but, the horrifying. I'm glad Toho let Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno put such a twist with this design. It screams "fear me."

Godzilla this time is truly representing the horrors of the atomic bomb and what all that radiation has done to him as a whole. Grotesque in form, yet shows the resemblance of 54'. This is without a shadow of a doubt the ugliest Godzilla to date but, in a good way.

I don't see anything wrong with comparing Godzilla to this generations' horror icons. If this Godzilla is anything like a nightmare he might be very comparable to Jason Voorhees who has an insanely tragic background, but still isn't necessarily viewed sympathetically at most times. Depending how this Godzilla acts he could be very similar.

"Godzilla this time is truly representing the horrors of the atomic bomb and what all that radiation has done to him as a whole. Grotesque in form, yet shows the resemblance of 54'. This is without a shadow of a doubt the ugliest Godzilla to date but, in a good way."

@Huge-Ben:

I'm very happy with design (as much as we've seen). And it does look like Anno and Higuchi are going for a nightmare-inducing, terrifying Godzilla, one that shocks with what he does and how he looks. I hope he's directed in a way that imbues him with a real malevolent personality. At the same time, though, his obvious disfigurement from The Blast and the resulting transformation make him an object of pity. Look at what was done to him! I think we read here that Jeff Fornow's drawing was described by people in the know as 'very close.' Hopefully we'll see real soon.

These are great times.

@Jamaal,

I'm tickled to death with the design of Godzilla myself. Yeah, I said he was ugly but, it's in a good way. I really do think Toho has made the right decision with letting Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno give us this style of Godzilla. Something not too pretty but can't really take your eyes off of him.

Grotesque, menacing, down right scary, and unique. There's never been a design like this. 

And as a side note, I gave Jeff zornow the descriptions. His skin is burnt. Like it's been roasting in the fires of 1,000 Atomic bombs. It's ripped, torn, thrashed and cracked. That's why his drawing is "pretty close." I talked to Jeff zornow on Twitter and let him go at it. Again, he nearly nailed it. I'm currently drawing mine and look to have it posted soon.

When a very good friend of mine let me in on the descriptions, my mouth hit the floor. I'm not mentioning him by name, he knows who he is but, to know he's trust worthy and told me what he saw pretty much told me just how disfigured Godzilla is. I made an earlier drawing which of course, I'll post it along with the new one very soon. When I got those descriptions, I knew immediately that most "fans" would despise it. This is actually something I saw coming. 

Anyway, very happy Godzilla is living in Toho again where he can rule with supremacy in tokusatsu. 

I actually like the new design. Godzilla looks like he was scarred by the blast that mutated him.

I am not at all displeased with Shin-Gojira being compared to horror icons; it has been a fitting pantheon for Godzilla since the very beginning in 1954. When he first took to the screen, Godzilla terrified audiences, so much so that moviegoers within one theatre (I have forgotten the particular establishment's name) actually fled into the streets - having believed the monsters attack was actually taking place! The superb American film, Jaws, is also a good mate to pair with Godzilla, for it evokes the same sense of fear that centers upon the unknown. In the end, I feel that a monster should be taken and accepted for what it is: a monster.

@Huge-Ben:

This design, what we have of it, is great. I can't stop looking at it. Really looking forward to pictures of the entire suit. And we are saying, "suit." This is great in itself. It's as if the Series and the genre have come full circle, to their origins. Now, if the VFX/SPX and writing are on point, and Anno, Higuchi and the cast and crew do what they are capable of, we'll have a Godzilla film not seen in a long, long time, God willing.

I know that a lot of love and care is going into the film to make ot meaningful, entertaining and visually magnificant at the same time. I have a really good feeling about Shin Gojira.

If, the drawing by Jeff Zornow is close to the actual design, it would seem that a pronounced degree of angularity is going to be part of this Godzilla. It has seen suggested that this could be expected in a design for a film directed Hideaki Anno. And the hiring of Mahiro Maeda to do the design would also indicate this. To this fan, it would also be indicative of an edginess to the film, its design, look and feel, if the look of Godzilla is to be congruent with the atmosphere of the film and its story.

Sometimes I want to pinch myself. Here we are, discussing a new, Toho-produced Godzilla film! A film co-directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, with the former writing the screenplay and the latter helming the Special Effects. This, is bigger than any disagreements among fans about designs and characterizations.

However, I am a fan of, and very pleased with, how things are looking so far. Everything on my list has been checked up to now.

I am anticipating a film with a modern, sleek look that will be contrasted by (but complemented with) the stylistic flare of tokusatsu effects, judiciously augmented by CGI.

I look forward to discussing the film with all of you here as things progress, God willing.

While I love the teaser photo I hope he doesn't look like the Zombie-zilla artwork. At least not through the entire film. If they have a prologue or flash back to the original explosion and show Godzilla afterwards covered in the fresh burns, then sure. But I do really like that second piece, as it still looks like the '54 suit, with all of the bulk and still keeping some of the scars.

"It's as if the series and genre have come full circle."

And that right there is something that hasn't been done since the passing of the late, great Eiji Tsuburaya, Akira Ifukube, Ishiro Honda, and Tomoyuki Tanaka.  Everything flowed together with the score, the directing, and special effects because these men were on the same page. Stay ahead of the competition. 

To know that Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno are fans of tokusatsu, the style of filmmaking that Godzilla revolutionized is what makes this movie so special. These two men know exactly what they are doing. When Shinji Higuchi directed the special effects for the Gamera heisei trilogy, three of the greatest of all time, we wanted him to handle the special effects for Godzilla. Now, that wait is over. 

His assistant, Katsura, his handling the visual effects who mind you did the Attack on Titan live action films 1 and 2 which should really stand out for the most part.

This is actually a blessing to consider that Godzilla has returned home in tokusatsu. I'm really looking forward to what comes next with this Godzilla film. It's very obvious we haven't seen anything yet. We, hopefully, will see something that just blows our minds away and leaves us breathless. 

"To know that Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno are fans of tokusatsu, the style of filmmaking that Godzilla revolutionized is what makes this movie so special. These two men know exactly what they are doing. When Shinji Higuchi directed the special effects for the Gamera heisei trilogy, three of the greatest of all time, we wanted him to handle the special effects for Godzilla. Now, that wait is over. "

It's been a long time coming. I cannot think of two people I'd rather have helming this film. When I first saw Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, I thought, "I wish the SPX director could get his hands on Godzilla." Now, he does. Co-directing with Hideaki Anno! That the two directors are fans of tokusatsu, who revere it, is tremendous. That they are gifted artists is evident. Now, this respect for tradition and artistry and vision are being applied to Godzilla, with whom it all started.

This is just so right.

    My greatest hope, in general, is that Shin-Gojira evokes and take us back to the original 1954 Gojira. When I sit before the screen in anticipation, I will not be hoping for state-of-the-art special effects. No; I will be waiting for a piece of actual, tangible art that my mind tells me is real. I will be waiting to see something that was fashioned primarily by the hands and imaginations of those who strove to bring this new vision of our most beloved monster to us. In so doing, we will, with a tad of luck, once again have a few moments of our lives dedicated to something not so lifeless as the 1s and 0s utilized in the creation of CGI. We'll have the pleasure, and honor, of viewing Godzilla in the same light as the men and women of 1954 - mostly unchanged by advancement in theatrical computer technology; unadulterated. Pure.

"Now this tradition and artistry and vision are being applied to Godzilla,with whom it started."

Beautifully said Jamaal. 

" My greatest hope, in general, is that Shin-Gojira evokes and take us back to the original 1954 Gojira. When I sit before the screen in anticipation, I will not be hoping for state-of-the-art special effects. No; I will be waiting for a piece of actual, tangible art that my mind tells me is real. I will be waiting to see something that was fashioned primarily by the hands and imaginations of those who strove to bring this new vision of our most beloved monster to us. In so doing, we will, with a tad of luck, once again have a few moments of our lives dedicated to something not so lifeless as the 1s and 0s utilized in the creation of CGI. We'll have the pleasure, and honor, of viewing Godzilla in the same light as the men and women of 1954 - mostly unchanged by advancement in theatrical computer technology; unadulterated. Pure."

This encapsulates my hopes for Shin Gojira.

Thank you, SOMETHING REAL.

And thank you, HUGE-BEN, for the kind words. I feel like we're all kind of living a dream here, with this new Godzilla film. And it's unfolding right in front of our eyes. And this part in the process is really fun: looking to see, each day, if something new has revealed or released. For me, it's imagining, for example, what the full suit will look like. Then, actually seeing it. I never cease to marvel at the craftsmanship and care that go into the making of these wonderful suits and miniatures. I have nothing but respect and admiration for these artists. Any insight into their world is most appreciated. So, I hope the journey that is the making of this most anticipated kaiju eiga is being recorded and documented in great detail and with much care.

JAMAAL - You are most welcome! However, you need not thank me; we are all in this together as Godzilla's ardent fans! Like you said: it is like living a dream. However, the best part about this dream is that we all get to share it and amplify one-another's speculations! It is certainly a very good time to be a Godzilla fan! :)

If his ears are burned off, that means he can't hear the pain and suffering he is causing. A being, shrouded in chaos at what it has become, and it can't even hear it's own pain.