Toho Godzilla Suit 3
KinGoji (1962)
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
One of the most popular Godzilla designs, the Kingoji was radically different from any Godzilla suit before or since.
This suit featured a heavy lower body, small arms and a large, round head. The face had pronounced brows while the eyes were completely round with tiny pupils, a feature unique to this costume. The suit also included several features particular to itself and to the Gyakushu-Godzilla: fangs, four toes, a rough underside for the tail and pointed tail tip, and staggered rows of dorsal plates (these features would reappear with the “second” series of Godzilla films from 1984 to present). The dorsal plates for both the Shodai-Godzilla and the Gyakushu- Godzilla were dynamic in design and unique to the two costumes. During filming, a separate pair of Godzilla legs were used for close-up shots of Godzilla’s feet.
Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G"
The Kin-Goji Godzilla suit is one of the best in the entire series
More bulky, ominous, and powerful than the streamlined suit deployed in Godzilla Raids Again and recapturing the monolithic proportions of the first Godzilla, while still flexible enough to allow suit actor Haruo Nakajima to perform full-body rolls and other very physical stunts. This being the first Godzilla movie in color, the monster is painted a slightly darker shade of gray than in the first two films. He has a long, slinky tail (used to great effect throughout), large, prominent dorsal fins, and an enlarged head with thick eyebrow ridges and a pronounced snout. When viewed from a profile or three-quarter angle, Godzilla looks absolutely menacing; however, when glimpsed from the front in a few shots, the monster has mumpy cheeks and a rounded muzzle that are less striking. This particular incarnation of Godzilla has remained a worldwide fan favorite throughout the decades, and its design was the basis for a popular Godzilla model kit sold in the U.S. by Aurora for many years.
KinGoji Suit Reference Images
The images below were captured from the newest Criterion Blu-ray, found online, and scanned in from books. Some of the images may have been modified to see the textures more easily.
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