Godzilla Earth
| Godzilla Earth | |
|---|---|
| Godzilla character | |
 Scarlet Godzilla Earth in Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018) | |
| First appearance | Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017) |
| Last appearance | Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018) |
| Based on | Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | |
| Species | Hyper-evolved plant-based lifeform |
| Children | Godzilla Filius (smaller, cell-divided clone) |
| Status | Alive |
Godzilla Earth (Japanese: ゴジラ・アース, Hepburn: Gojira Āsu)[2] depicted as Godzilla (Japanese: ゴジラ, Hepburn: Gojira) in its films, is the titular main protagonist of the Godzilla Earth trilogy between 2017 and 2018. He is a giant plant-based monster who evolved to become the most powerful lifeform on the planet.
This Godzilla specimen spawned another Godzilla specimen, Godzilla Filius, a smaller, nearly identical, cell-divided clone of itself, which acted as the main antagonist of the 2017 film, Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters.
Overview
[edit]Name
[edit]In the 2018 film, Godzilla: The Planet Eater Godzilla Earth was nicknamed Scarlet Godzilla Earth (Japanese: 緋色のゴジラ・アース, Hepburn: Hiiro no Gojira Āsu), this form would also be unsuccessfully used during the events of The Planet Eater, as Ghidorah attacked and siphoned power from Godzilla.[a]
Design
[edit]The 2017 design of Godzilla Earth follows in the footsteps of his 2016 predecessor, Shin Godzilla, by incorporating elements of past designs within its own, in this case, that of the 2014 Godzilla iteration. Differences in his design boil down to the dorsal plates being much more spiky and frayed in appearance, almost looking like a hybrid between the 2014 and 2016 designs for Godzilla's dorsal spines. The statue for this design depicts them as much more leaf-like in aesthetic, even possessing veins, further solidifying his origin from plant-based organisms. Said dorsal plates run all the way down to his tail.
This Godzilla also looks like he has exposed musculature over his entire body in a manner similar to the 2016 Godzilla. However, this Godzilla deviates from looking like pure muscle, and instead bears more of a likeness towards the roots of plants, with moss-like details being prevalent on his feet as well. Oddly enough, this Godzilla's foot design is biologically similar to that of a human's: featuring a similar arch between the toe and heel (or calx pads) as well as a similar toe arrangement. The leg design is overall similar to that of the Heisei era Godzilla: featuring a simple thigh and shin build, over being digitigrade. The torso resembles that of the GMK Godzilla, along with some of the 2014 Godzilla incarnation’s characteristics.
The head of this Godzilla bears more than a passing resemblance to the 2014 Godzilla, but features a much more natural, and normal shape, almost akin to that of a sea turtle when looked at head-on. Despite this, he possesses a slight underbite, with the lower jaw being marginally thicker and more built up than the upper jaw. His eyes are a low blue in coloration, and interestingly enough, this Godzilla lacks natural teeth, instead having tooth-like appendages forming from his skin. The mouth of this Godzilla also possesses an odd, unintentional smile, with the back of his lips curving upwards.[1]
This Godzilla's skin tone is a deep green in coloration, making this the first green Godzilla since 1999's MireGoji design. It was confirmed that this Godzilla would also exceed the already enormous size of the Godzilla from the Shin Godzilla continuity family, coming in at 300 metres (30,000 centimetres; 300,000 millimetres; 12,000 inches; 980 feet), something that would be described in the film as well.[3] The basic concept of the design was inspired from large trees, especially sacred trees in Shintoism. Additionally, it was aimed to be a realization of imaginary creatures like dragons, not to emphasize biological reality, but instead aiming for surreal aesthetics. According to the director, Godzilla's physique was based on a sumo wrestler, depicting "a beautiful form of sumo". His head was designed to be not carnivorous in appearance, this included an integration of his teeth with its jaws, along with a rather calm expression. The head was designed to be considerably small in size compared to his body.
His expression was aimed to "be dignified like a God", with another aesthetic design choice hearkening to a philosopher of ancient Greece, with combed back hair. The protrusions on Godzilla's head were designed from a general image of the latter. His eyes were designed to be "very gentle and calm, and not being fierce" while resembling a cat's eye, with eyelashes being added to emphasize a tender nature.[4]
His skin was inspired by gregarious moss plants on a surface, and his dorsal plates were designed on the basis of leaves from holly trees and included vein-like lines. After the unsuccessful attack by the humans and Bilusaludo at Mechagodzilla City, Godzilla's skin became heated, with vein-like fire lacing new cracks in his hide, while his eyes become yellow.
Roar
[edit]This Godzilla specimen shares a roar with the Millennium series' Godzilla iterations, having used the roar as he finally awakens. AniGoji and Godzilla Filius also emitted low growling and snarling noises. In Godzilla: The Planet Eater, Godzilla uses a pitch-shifted version of Godzilla's long roar from the Showa era when he is under attack by Ghidorah.
Appearances
[edit]Films
[edit]- Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017)[5][1]
- Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018)[1]
- Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018)[1]
Novels
[edit]- Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse (2017)
- Godzilla: Project Mechagodzilla (2017)
- Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2018)
- Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018)
Video games
[edit]- Grand Summoners (2016; mod to the game in 2017) - Android and iOS
- Eternal Linkage (2017; mod to the game in 2018) - Android and iOS
- Godzilla Battle Line (2021; mod to the game in 2022) - Android, iOS, and PC
Public displays
[edit]In 2017, a statue of Godzilla Earth was installed at TOHO Cinemas Ueno in Taito Ward, Japan as promotional material for Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters.[6]
In 2018, a statue of AniGoji was installed at the 2018 Tokyo Anime Fest.[7][8] A 2-metre (200-centimetre; 2,000-millimetre; 79-inch; 6.6-foot) tall statue of Godzilla Earth was installed at the Nitroplus's booth for the 2018 Winter Wonder Festival as part of promoting the upcoming Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle.[9] The statue would be moved and displayed alongside a statue of Powered Suit, a character also from the 2017 film Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters.[citation needed] Between April 26 and May 31, 2018, another statue of Godzilla Earth was installed at the Godzilla Store Hakata Marui Branch, on the first floor of Hakata Marui.[10]
In 2019, a statue of Godzilla Earth was installed at the large shopping mall "Ario Yao" in Yao, Osaka, Kansai.[11]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b As depicted in Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Gaul, Jack (2024-08-14). "The Best Godzilla Designs of All-Time". CBR. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ "『ゴジラ怪獣惑星』超巨大ゴジラの名前がゴジラ・アースと判明 | アニメイトタイムズ". 『ゴジラ怪獣惑星』超巨大ゴジラの名前がゴジラ・アースと判明 | アニメイトタイムズ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ "アニメ映画「GODZILLA」新ビジュアルで歴代最大サイズのゴジラが初披露！ : 映画ニュース". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ "アニメ版ゴジラに"まつげ"がある理由とは？虚淵玄も苦労を吐露". NewsWalker. November 25, 2017. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ White, Jeanette (2021-02-07). "Godzilla Earth: The Powers, Weaknesses and Enemies of Gojira's Final Form". CBR. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ "【感想】映画『GODZILLA 怪獣惑星』ゴジラ約四十年ぶりのアニメ作品！ 地球の全ては破壊された！". アイディアをひらめいた! (in Japanese). 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ Amigareaction (2018-06-10). "Godzilla Statue. Tokyo Anime Fest 2018". Steemit. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "「サイコパス」から細田守新作まで…歴史を辿れるTOHO animationブース【AJ2018】 2枚目の写真・画像". アニメ！アニメ！ (in Japanese). 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "人類をほぼ壊滅状態に追いやったゴジラ". MOVIEW (in Japanese). 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "『ゴジラ・ストア博多マルイ出張所/5月21日まで開催中！』". 福岡特撮座談会のブログ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "GODZILLA SHOW BASE に行ってきた!! 其の弐". 海豹屋・Kのblog (in Japanese). 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
Further reading
[edit]- "アニゴジ三部作最終章『GODZILLA 星を喰う者』は哲学的なストーリーと新しいビジュアルで登場するギドラが見所･･･しかしゴジラ映画として見るとやや不満が残る！". ポンヌシアター (in Japanese). 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
