Give your opinion on Godzilla and other kaiju designs NOT directly from the movies or shows

[GodOfOdo]

As most of the fandom probably knows, people giving their opinions on the various designs of Godzilla and sometimes his allies and enemies too, but what about designs not seen within the official movies or shows we've had over the years? This thread is the place where you can give your thoughts on various Toho monster designs depicted on things like movie posters both domestic and foreign, home media covers, cameos in works outside Toho's library, comics and manga with original stories like Kodansha's Godzilla, King of the Monsters series, maybe even bootlegs and more.

The only rules I have in mind for this thread is that the designs in question cannot be ones directly seen in the official movies or officially-licensed shows (e.g. the Hannah-Barbera cartoon or Godzilla: Singular Point), nor can they be fan designs (e.g. HorrorGoji from the Godzilla: Black Mass webcomic). However, if a work or other piece of media attached to a Godzilla movie like a poster uses a design radically different from what's seen in the movie itself (e.g. the poster for Gigantis, The Fire Monster, which is the US version of Godzilla Raids Again, or the 1st edition of the Japanese tie-in novel for the original Godzilla), then you are allowed to post it. As for concept art, I'll see if I can make a separate thread for giving opinions on them if there isn't one already since there is A LOT to pick from.

With that out of the way, enjoy!!!

I'll start this off with the Italian poster for Godzilla Raids Again (Il re de mostri). I'm not going to lie that saying at least for me it's difficult to discern which of the two monsters are meant to be Anguirus and Godzilla respectively because of how much they look alike. I think both are at least passable for Anguirus (just make either of them walk on all fours), but as Godzilla designs... I can't say that I like either for that role. Even without the Anguirus resemblance, the spikes on their backs look too small compared to the more prominent and striking ones of Godzilla and the arms look overly stumpy.

[Grand Seijin]

It’s hard to choose a specific design not from the movies, but I’ll give my thoughts on the American poster version of Rodan (1956)

How the poster portrays Rodan paints him less like a pterosaur and more akin to some chimeric-dragon-alien abomination of some sort. He’s got a long mouth with hundreds of small teeth, slitted yellow eyes, and two tendril-looking horns protruding from atop his head.

Why they made him this way still puzzles me.

[Mechagigan]

I'm a big fan of Snickers Godzilla from 2014ish, lol. Really good generic Godzilla, though I also dig how it's sort of a modernization of the '54/general Showa look. Believe it's also the largest Godzilla suit ever. I'd totally buy a figure of him if Bandai ever gets really, really desperate for Goji variants.

[Kagutaba]

I think the Ohrai Mechagodzilla design is one of the best and it's a shame it's never been truly utilized.

Props to Ready Player One for incorporating design elements though!

[JAGzilla]

It’s hard to choose a specific design not from the movies, but I’ll give my thoughts on the American poster version of Rodan (1956)

How the poster portrays Rodan paints him less like a pterosaur and more akin to some chimeric-dragon-alien abomination of some sort. He’s got a long mouth with hundreds of small teeth, slitted yellow eyes, and two tendril-looking horns protruding from atop his head.

Why they made him this way still puzzles me.

Most likely, the American poster artist was given some quick little blurb description of the movie that didn't include pictures. This was the pre-internet era, so he would've been hired through snail mail or over the phone and talked to someone who hadn't seen the movie.

[Grand Seijin]

It’s hard to choose a specific design not from the movies, but I’ll give my thoughts on the American poster version of Rodan (1956)

How the poster portrays Rodan paints him less like a pterosaur and more akin to some chimeric-dragon-alien abomination of some sort. He’s got a long mouth with hundreds of small teeth, slitted yellow eyes, and two tendril-looking horns protruding from atop his head.

Why they made him this way still puzzles me.

Most likely, the American poster artist was given some quick little blurb description of the movie that didn't include pictures. This was the pre-internet era, so he would've been hired through snail mail or over the phone and talked to someone who hadn't seen the movie.

Come to think of it, that's probably what happened to a majority of the American posters for a lot of monster movies. Godzilla vs the Thing's poster had Mothra look like some hideous, lovecraftian horror, and Reptilicus's poster had the beast, not only look more draconic, but attack the Golden Gate Bridge.

[edgaguirus]

Speaking of poster art, the Italian poster of Godzilla 54 gives Godzilla a nice look.

[Grand Seijin]

Speaking of poster art, the Italian poster of Godzilla 54 gives Godzilla a nice look.

You're referring to the "Cozzilla" poster or something else entirely?

[edgaguirus]

It's not the Cozzilla poster.

[Breakdown]

I always liked the way Godzilla looked on the poster art for Godzilla vs Biollante. He has a huge, mountainous body with short, humanlike arms; glowing red eyes; and dorsal plates that look very straight and even. I'm not usually a fan of repaints, but I'd buy a Hiya or SHMA of the poster version if they released one.

[Voyager]

I’ll echo that and say SpaceGodzilla’s poster design is pretty damn awesome. Same with King Ghidorah’s 91 poster.

I actually dig how Rodan looks on the American 56 poster, very hellish and it fits with the marketing.