Toho Godzilla Suit 1
Shodai (1954)
- Gojira (1954)
- Godzilla King of the Monsters (1956)
The Shodai-Godzilla is popular with fans who prefer the first, serious tone Godzilla film.
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.
Godzilla King of the Monsters – 1956 Trailer
2006 Documentary
Making of the Godzilla Suit!
Eiji Tsuburaya aspired to create a film to rival his beloved King Kong, but when it came clear that traditional stop-motion, like that used for Kong, would be to time-consuming, he devised a more expedient technique involving miniatures and a man in a suit. The monster suit , made out of primitive materials including heavy urethane and bamboo, was weighty and inflexible, causing endless injuries and misery for the suit actors, Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka.
Shodai 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.
