Big News for Godzilla 2016! (update w/ video)

I like plenty of things just because I don't share your likes doesn't mean I don't have any.

Gorilla,
Yes, but do you really think Hideaki and Higuchi had insider knowledge on Godzilla '14? Even movies under the same studio have contracts that keep filmmakers from knowing details about each others work and Godzilla '14 was made under a different studio. Since the size of Godzilla '14 wasn't revealed until late 2013 I doubt Hideaki and Higuchi had any knowledge of it. They're two of the most reknown visual artists in the country, they're not going to go into the script (outlined before G'14 started shooting) without an idea of how their Godzilla is going to look, move and stand.

Durp,
You're not the only one with reservations, but take into consideration that Higuchi is co-directing and has only improved in both visuals and dramatic handling over the course of his career.

Lets also recall the Hideaki and Higuchi partnership gave us one of the most moody and gorgeous shorts in toku.

This news could not be better.

Shinji Higuchi directing both live action and special effects.

I believe this means practical and digital effects.

I'm a very happy man.

The hype is real

I just watched the short on the link posted by Gman2887.

The makers of this are obviously two great artists. The short itself was beautiful: convincing enough to buy into, so to speak, but graced with that stylistic flair that distinguishes tokusatsu.

If these men are making Godzilla 2016, then I believe, God willing, we're going to see and experience something unprecedented in the genre.

After my disappointment (for different reasons) in both American productions, I have felt that Godzilla is better served as a Japanese production. So far, the lip service is encouraging, and I like the direction and tone they seem to want to take this in, but I remain cautiously optimistic. I'm a bit nervous regarding one of the filmmaker's comments regarding production schedule and budget (GMan's link to August Ragone's article), but still this is great news for us fans. At the very least, we don't have to wait another 3 years to see our favorite monster.

Go go Godzilla!

For me, this is like late 1998 all over again, when Toho announced that they were making another Godzilla film. I cannot adequately describe my joy at hearing and reading about this news. It feels real now, since we the names of artists to put with the film's production. What we know about Anno Hideaki and Shinji Higuchi will give us a lot to speculate about as the film moves toward being lensed. And that's a great deal of the fun, isn't it?

I could not be happier with the choices.

These are great times.

The directors' statements as posted on August Ragone's blog:

http://augustragone.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-directors-of-godzilla-2016-speak.html

Their enthusiasm and love for this project and its subject jump off the page at you. It's palpable.

Bravo, Toho.

August makes an educated guess that shooting will wrap before December giving Anno and Higuchi 5-7 months of post-production. That's nearly double the amount of time any of the Heisei and Millennium films got. And considering Higuchi is a far more talented effects director than the men in either of those eras I'm not too worried about the production schedule. At least not compared to previous movies.

The amount of time between the end of principal photography and the projected release is itself a cause for great hope for this film. Then, if you factor the skill and vision of the filmmakers into it, you have good reason to be optimistic about Toho Godzilla 2016.

In fact, the comments about the production schedule, along with the announcing of the filmmakers, have given me much hope that an imaginitive, artistically distinct Godzilla film is now just over the horizon. After reading the statements of Hideaki and Higuchi, I feel that this is within reach, like it's really going to happen. I believe more than ever, that this film will have wide appeal, and not just appeal to 'fans.' 

the only thing im worried about now is dubbing. i hope that the dubbing is much better then the other films

^That's the last thing I'm worried about. I just won't watch it dubbed. There's still some Millennium movies I haven't seen dubbed.

I miss a lot! 

First off, I'm glad that Shinji Higuchi is the special effects director. This means that we will get the quality of the gamera trilogy in terms of special effects. Now, the question remaining on my mind is how tall this Godzilla will be. Im placing bets that he will be 120 meters. Any takers? 

If, one the of the reasons for this film is to make a statement, then I can see a 120 meter Godzilla, provided his size can be realized in a way that does not diminish the believability of the other effects. I believe 120 meters is about 396 feet.

With Shinji Higuchi helming the SPFX/VFX, I'm for it.

I remember Gareth Edwards pointedly mentioning that Godzilla in his film would be the tallest.

So there.

Ironically, a 120 meter tall Godzilla would be close to the height attributed to him the 1956 Raymond Burr-featured, Godzilla, King of the Monsters. I believe Burr's Steven Martin said that Godzilla was 400 feet tall as he described him walking out of Tokyo Bay.

So, Hideaki Anno is the Supervising Director and Screenwriter, and Shinji Higuchi is the Director and Visual Effects Director.

My question is: is Anno primarily responsible for the script and general oversight, with Higuchi directing the VFX and live action? Or, will Anno direct some of the live action as well? 

Any ideas or news? 

@Jamaal,

No, not yet. What August Ragone has confirmed is all we know. Good God it's good to see you again old friend! :)

Now, with Shinji Higuchi directing the special effects and visual effects, i really think it's safe to say that we're in good hands there. I mean look at his work on the Gamera trilogy. If history teaches us anything, he'll provide the special effects at some of it's best. He is my 3rd favorite special effects director. I consider him to be up there with Eiji Tsuburaya, and Teroyoshi Nakano.

Now, ironically enough, yes, 120 meters is 394 feet tall. Granite that according to Steve Martin (Raymond Burr)  he was supposed to be as tall as a 30 story building. It was Dr. Yamane in the american version that said he was 400 feet tall.  If they go with 150 meters, i feel like that may push the limits a lot with the film. However, Shinji Higuchi with the movies he has worked on, I'm sure he'll make Godzilla look like a "living mountain." (Not that he isn't already.) 

The question remaining on my mind now is, will this be that dark, and serious Godzilla film that we have been waiting for? 

I got my fingers crossed with this film. Oh and Jamaal, i think we are getting what we have talked about on the official Godzilla 2016 discussion thread. That is, Godzilla having that broad and destructive atomic breath. How badass will Godzilla look in this film? That's something else that ponders my mind, judging from the teaser footprint, I'm willing to bet he'll look impressive.

It'll be pretty dark, looking at Anno's previous work. Which is fine. It's something to separate it even further from Legendary's series which isn't really dark, just extremely serious.

And looking at Anno and Higuchi's past designs, it's unlikely this Godzilla will look much like the 2014 design. Anno and Higuchi seem to favor more angular designs, where-as the 2014 Godzilla is more round with few sharp edges.

"Anno and Higuchi seem to favor more angular designs, where-as the 2014 Godzilla is more round with few sharp edges."

@Gman: do you think this means we will get something like the earlier Millennium designs, or at least influenced by them?

" Oh and Jamaal, i think we are getting what we have talked about on the official Godzilla 2016 discussion thread. That is, Godzilla having that broad and destructive atomic breath. How badass will Godzilla look in this film? That's something else that ponders my mind, judging from the teaser footprint, I'm willing to bet he'll look impressive."

@BigBadBen: I agree. I think (at least, I hope) that we will a more destructive take on Godzilla. Higuchi promised us our "worst nightmare." And no doubt, with the SFX Director of the Heisei Gamera films at the helm, Godzilla will impress and be horrible at the same time. Personally, I think the design will be great as both Anno and Higuchi are sel-professed fans of the Series at it's peak. Anno spoke about giveing back to those who came before. I also think that Godzilla will be a killer, overwhelming, and not a benign restorer of balance.

I aslo like that Anno and Higuchi are life-long friends.

I'm not thinking Millennium which seemed jagged and stiff, but if you look at creatures like the Giant God Warrior, Gamera in the last two films of Kaneko's trilogy, the angels and EVAs in Evangelion you'll notice they seem to favor tall figures with lots of sharp angles, but still with a lot of organic features. It's very anime-esque.

To me the early Millennium suits weren't that organic and more jagged than angular.

@BigBadBen:

It's good to see you too.

In the absence of anymore news, while we're in the Hopeful Speculation phase, I feel confident in saying that we may get a dark, gripping Godzilla that many of us want.

@Gman2887: Your comments about how Godzilla may look makes a lot of sense. I hope it's true, as I'm a big fan of the Heisei Gamera films, and I love the kaiju designs in them. As you mentioned some time ago, the Heisei Gamera designs seems to fit the feel and atmosphere of the films of that series. I would expect (and hope for) the same here, with Godzilla's look (and bearing and movements, etc.) corresponding to the tone of the film. And I believe this is important. First, that there be an atmosphere, a 'feel' that the film has. Personally, I like creepy, with elements of horror and shocking events that overwhelm the viewer.

Secondly, I would really like to see distinctly Godzilla purposeful in this film with a well-developed personality, without, however, being overly anthropomorphic. With Anno and Higuchi  directing, I don't believe we have to worry about this. I anticipate many memorable, visually stunning shots, with a well-written human narrative right in the midst of them. 

Congruence between the kaiju design and the the world that the film puts us in, and I really, really hope it does put us in 'a world' while making us forget that we are watching a movie, is something I expect and want to see. 

What I was trying to say, albiet, very clumsily, is that I want Godzilla to be a real character, and not just a plot device.I want us, the fans, to be able to identify with him and be in awe of, and afraid of him at the same time.

This is going to take a great design, memorable suit acting and inspired direction from Shinji Higuchi.

I am looking forward to this. All of it: the pre-production, the reports from the set, the leaked/released photos, the rumors about the plot, the actors and their characters. I also want to hear from the filmmakers as things progress. I'm thinking along the lines of something like the progress reports filed by Norman England during the production of Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. Reading those reports, the staff profiles, their views on the film and its story, the description of what was being filmed that day, these and other things resulted in an experience not unlike looking at the production itself.

Something like this would be most welcomed.

I want to be able to understand, and, to a degree, see the reasoning behind what Godzilla does in this film, however frightening. Especially if another kaiju is involved.

@Jamaal,

I couldn't agree more my friend. This movie needs a emotional feeling with it. It needs a meaning. It needs great actors. It needs to grab the audiences attention and keep them at the edge of their seat from beginning to end. I want this movie to be very successful in Japan and if lucky who knows, maybe get a release worldwide. I know that is doubtful but, you never know.

The thing is though, we currently don't know the plot or the story. After watching gamera 3 last night, i do know that Shinji Higuchi will pull through with the special effects. Now as Gman2887 said, we need to wait and see if they will bring their A-game. I'm sure they will cause as you pointed out, Shinji Higuchi promised us, "our worst nightmare." 

I, like many, want that bone chilling, spine splitting Godzilla film that will keep us in awe. I want so much for this film but the old saying goes, "you sometimes don't always get what you want. And sometimes what you get is not always what you want."

So, keep in mind that this could go the wrong path, but with the two men announced that seems to be highly inaccurate. I've seen what these two men are capable of, i know that they'll do it right. (At least I hope so.)

Now this could be just me but, with that teaser footprint, if you closely at, you'll see a trilobite. That could be a indication that they're going in the path of the documentary style realism approach like the original 1954 Godzilla film delivered. I'm looking at that footprint and i see a somewhat upgraded style to the originals foot. They could be upgrading the 54 suit with a more badass look to it. But like I said though, that's just me speculating.

@BigBadBen:

But this is nice speculating.

If the triobite is some kind of indication of the direction of the film, in terms of look, feel and story, thats fine with me. I anticipate a dark, realsitic film, with a Godzilla design that matches the film's atmosphere.  

August Ragone shared this on his facebook page. It's Shinji Higuchi standing with freaking Teruyoshi Nakano and Takashi Naganuma (who worked in the Art Department on various Toho effects films in the):

From August: "SHINJI HIGUCHI GEARS UP FOR "GODZILLA 2016": The co-director of the new, Japanese Big G movie slated for release next summer, posted this earlier today, outside the main gates of Toho Studios, with legendary effects director Teruyoshi Nakano (right) and effects crewman Takashi Naganuma (back). Writing, "Paying respects to the master." The film begins shooting this autumn!"

This is so cool. They're really treating this as something special.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that for the most part, visually, the 2016 Godzilla film is almost certain to please. However, then we get to the story/character side of things. Not having much experience in developing actual good characters, I wouldn't know too much.

But what I do know is that the new film can't just be retreading old styles. At least, not completely. The development of the plot and its involved characters, especially Godzilla himself, needs to feel fresh and inspired in comparison to the later films, along the lines of the original 1954 film.

I also think I can safely say that most G-fans have outgrown the campy/over-the-top style Godzilla films have presented in the past. Now, campy is sorta outta the question, but over-the-top can still work if done in a manner that doesn't scream pure cinematic overindulgence.

"But what I do know is that the new film can't just be retreading old styles. At least, not completely."

"My prayer is that this will not be just a repeat of science fiction visuals of the past," - Hideaki Anno

"Now, campy is sorta outta the question,"

....