Countdown To Godzilla 2014: BatoGoji Suit

Films: Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)

The build of the 1992 Godzilla suit was thinner than the 1989/1991 suits, which gave this costume a sleek, sturdy but less powerful image than the previous ’90’s vintage Godzilla suits. For the 1992 Godzilla, the arrangement of the dorsal plates was changed and the largest plate was located in the middle of the back. The legs were very well-detailed, though less bulky than the legs of the 1989/1991 costumes. The arms were jointed with more flexibility at the biceps, but unfortunately this made the suit appear unnatural from certain angles. The face was essentially the same as the 1989/1991 costumes, though the 1992 suit featured new attributes: a smaller, flat forehead, golden eyes and a thick neck with pronounced ribbing. The golden eyes made the face of the 1992 Godzilla look more expressive than the 1989/1991 costumes, yet also compromised the more realistic, animal-like expression of the latter suits. The size of the teeth also appeared smaller than the 1989/1991 costumes. The 1992 Godzilla suit also included a new feature; by means of an electronic device the head could tilt up or down independently of the body.

A three-quarter suit, Sea 1992 Godzilla, was constructed from the remains of previous ‘90’s vintage Godzilla costumes and was used for the fight with Mothra and Battra in the Philippine Sea. This suit, which had brown eyes though the main suit had golden eyes, would later appear for water scenes in Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla. Since the Sea 1992 Godzilla suit and the 1991 Godzilla B suit were used extensively in Godzilla vs. Mothra, the 1992 Godzilla suit only appears in the precredit sequence, during close shots in the sea battle with Mothra and Battra, and from when Godzilla destroys the powerlines at Mt. Fuji to the finale.

The 1992 Godzilla suit was also used in Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla, specifically for the battle with Rodan at Adonoa Island (though several close-ups of the 1993 Godzilla suit were intercut during this sequence), for several scenes of Godzilla’s initial rampage through Japan, and when Godzilla wades into the ocean at the finale.

Additionally, the 1992 Godzilla suit was employed for water scenes in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994). Since this costume would only be seen from the waist up, the legs were cut off at the knees and the tail was removed. The tail was manipulated underwater by means of a lever-like device, which was a good but not always convincing effect.