Some cursory images popped up overnight giving us our first peak at the new Toho Goji. These are quite.... interesting. I am not quite sure just yet what to make of them, or what this is going to say about the upcoming Shin Godzilla. Given that the film is being put together by the creative team of Hideki Anno and Shinji Higuchi though, it is perhaps a bit unsurprising that big ol' G has such a gruesome, realistic look. But I am intrigued by what this might mean for the story. Is it giving a link to his radiation origins? battle damage from fighting another monster? a design meant to put us all in a 'horror' mindset of what an actual attack by a giant kaiju might give? Certainly less lizard-like than past incarnations. And I am very happy they have done away with the whole 'doghead' profile so prevalent in recent versions. One thing is for certain, that stare is definitely unnerving. Channelling a lot of skeksi for me. Anyhow, I think it is interesting to see, as much as I like going in to movies with a clean slate. Let's just hope it gets executed better than AoT.




I also have no idea if these were taken from an 'official' release from Toho (seems doubtful) so there is that. Anything at this point is speculation. I do think it is an interesting new take on Godzilla. I am very cautiously optimistic this is going to be scary, terrorising Godzilla, that also makes for a fun, enjoyable film.

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the big bad Ben (@Thebigbadben90)

I'm with team battle damage theory. It looks to be a skinless version, showing those hunky Goji muscles. And in the close-up, he appears charred.

"... Anno's conceit recalls the initial concept for Godzilla by Ishiro Honda, as a literal victim of the H-Bomb — his scales resembling keloid scars — and may not be his only form or mutation." - August Ragone

I sure hope that this isn't the main look for him in the film. As a final form, Great, but not representing his normal appearance.

Yeah, that is kind of what I was initially taking it as. I think they are going for a very 'mutated' look, and the direct connection to Goji being a by-product of the atomic age (and hence an homage to the original film and vision). Plus, I still can't help but see the Titan connection there, especially in the exposed muscle and savagely grotesque body.

I was actually thinking about this quite a bit, and I think it would be pretty cool - my preference in fact - if they actually did this as a period film, i.e. if they are going to 'reboot' the franchise, make it just like the original. A post-war mutant Godzilla would be so much cooler (to me) than one rampaging about a modern day Tokyo. But, I admit, I probably have this same bias applied in all movies.