Why is Heisei Godzilla Toho's Favorite Incarnation?

[Dillyziller]

It seems the Godzilla incarnation Toho uses to symbolize Godzilla himself the most is heisei. Why is this?
If you don't know what i'm talking about, here are some examples.
Statue at the studio:

Spoiler:

Art on a wall of the studio:

Spoiler:

The Godzilla themed hotel in Shinjuku:

Spoiler:

Statue in Tokyo:

Spoiler:

Godzilla slide:

Spoiler:

So again why is this? Was it just a popular design amongst Toho?

[MDK]

Because the Heisei movies made the most money.

[edgaguirus]

I believe the G vs Biollante suit is quite popular with fans. That could be it.

[Mechagigan]

Because the Heisei movies made the most money.

Definitely this. They made the most cash, so naturally, they'd be the most recognizable.

Also, the Heisei Godzilla is very 'general' in his design; it doesn't have the weird purple spines, or big puppy dog eyes... it's just straight-up Godzilla. That could be why.

[kpa]

g2vd asked me to chime in, and from my understanding it is a continuation of Toho policy from the 1990s. Koichi Kawakita oversaw the revamp of Godzilla's design for BIOLLANTE and, as FX director for the rest of the Heisei Series, he maintained a fairly consistent look for the character for several films. At the same time, Toho was starting to do more licensing with Godzilla in America and they wanted the merchandising designs to be consistent (that word again) with the current films... if you look at the Nike GODZILLA VS CHARLES BARKLEY campaign, the Dark Horse Comics, the Trendmasters toy line, the Horizon figure, etc they're all based off the Heisei Godzilla design. So that became Godzilla's "look" both in Japan and internationally, and has carried over in more recent years.

I also think Mechagigan makes an excellent point that the Heisei Godzilla has a "traditional" appearance, with classic spines, grey coloring, etc. It also doesn't hurt that BIOLLANTE was recently voted the favorite Godzilla movie by Japanese fans... the core audience in Japan clearly likes that version of Godzilla.

[Breakdown]

Man that wall painting would make a kickass background. Link to a pic of it if possible?

Also as others have said Heisei Godzilla is the most recognizable along with Gpdzilla 2000.

[Vankor]

I will agree with the reasons mentioned above and add the fact that the Heisei design is still "classic ". It evokes the spirit of the 54 Godzilla but is not campy like the 60's and 70's look. He looks powerful and intimidating but has personality especially in his face. The post Heisei designs are a bit more controversial in their look, with the exaggerated spines and unique colors. His Millennium design especially in G2K and Megaguirus look cool but he has a more lizard like, less anthropomorphic face. Since Toho wants him to be more of a serious character now I'm sure they don't want a Showa look.

[bczilla91]

g2vd asked me to chime in, and from my understanding it is a continuation of Toho policy from the 1990s. Koichi Kawakita oversaw the revamp of Godzilla's design for BIOLLANTE and, as FX director for the rest of the Heisei Series, he maintained a fairly consistent look for the character for several films. At the same time, Toho was starting to do more licensing with Godzilla in America and they wanted the merchandising designs to be consistent (that word again) with the current films... if you look at the Nike GODZILLA VS CHARLES BARKLEY campaign, the Dark Horse Comics, the Trendmasters toy line, the Horizon figure, etc they're all based off the Heisei Godzilla design. So that became Godzilla's "look" both in Japan and internationally, and has carried over in more recent years.

I also think Mechagigan makes an excellent point that the Heisei Godzilla has a "traditional" appearance, with classic spines, grey coloring, etc. It also doesn't hurt that BIOLLANTE was recently voted the favorite Godzilla movie by Japanese fans... the core audience in Japan clearly likes that version of Godzilla.

And also according to your article on the Jan De Bont Godzilla the 1989 Godzilla design was the basis for the American Godzilla design correct?

[Tyrant_Lizard_King]

I'd say so. Ricardo Delgado's original design sketches looked very much like a more dinosaurian take on the Heisei design. Even Stan Winston's redesign has a rather Heisei-esque face.

[LegendZilla]

Man that wall painting would make a kickass background. Link to a pic of it if possible?

Also as others have said Heisei Godzilla is the most recognizable along with Gpdzilla 2000.

^Typo

[kpa]

And also according to your article on the Jan De Bont Godzilla the 1989 Godzilla design was the basis for the American Godzilla design correct?

Correct! In the article I posted the reference artwork Toho sent TriStar, and it was of the Godzilla design from GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH. The first FX test by Sony Imageworks used a maquette based off the Heisei Godzilla model by Horizon. And Ricardo Delgado said he was inspired by Japanese model kits and Arthur Adams' work for the Dark Horse comics, which used the Heisei design.

I'm not sure how exactly what version of Godzilla was the basis for Winston Studio's design, but I would think they were given the same reference Toho provided to TriStar and Jan De Bont. Joey Orosco did say he closely studied the Toho design and took measurements so his Godzilla would be close proportion-wise to Toho's.

[Kaiju no Kami]

Because Japan loves big thighs and they can not lie.

[M.o.g.u.e.r.a14]

Is it because this design is well-known and popular? Could be.

[Legion1979]

It's because this is the design that appeared in the most financially successful series of movies. It's no mystery.

[Kaiser]

It's a good design that looks both modern and formidable whilst having a bit of a classical aspect to it through it's similarities to the original '54 incarnation of Godzilla.

[eabaker]

As KPA indicated, it's the only time that Toho has had an "official" look that carried across multiple movies. It's not so much that they decided to treat it as the official look as that, over the course of the 90s, Kawakita and his team refined it to create an something like an official look.

[VisibleNinja]

I think it's a combination of his Design (Menacing, yet not something to fear), the fact all the movies have a strong Continuity with each other and that it was a time when people who grew up in the 60's and 70's watching the Showa movies started having families of their own that started watching.

It was a Golden Age, or at least Silver.

[KingKaiju]

I don't know, but I just got back form Japan and that Shinjuku Godzilla hotel was SICK!!!

[Mechagigan]

I don't know, but I just got back form Japan and that Shinjuku Godzilla hotel was SICK!!!

Did you get any cool pictures of it? I absolutely love that it even exists.

[Dino-Mario]

Not only were the Heisei movies the most popular, the Heisei Godzilla (89-95) is one of the most classic and well remembered incarnations of Big G. BioGoji, BatoGoji, RadoGoji and Moge/DesuGoji all have this sense of power, of magnificence, that firmly establishes Goji himself as the indomitable, uncontrollable, yet at the same time tragic and strangely innocent force of nature he is. Specially BioGoji (The latter suits somewhat ruined it with those thunder thighs) His expression is just so primal and furious, which makes it one of the most well-received kaiju designs to ever exist and one of the top best Godzilla suits.