What Happened to Your Favorite Childhood Movie Characters?

Few movie monsters hold the same level of recognition as Godzilla, who first debuted in the 1954 classic film “Gojira.” In contemporary cinema, Godzilla often comes to life through cutting-edge CGI or animation, or a blend of both. However, this wasn’t always the case. For many years, Godzilla’s eerie presence on the silver screen was brought to life by an actor within a massive suit, a technique that gave rise to the special effects genre known as suitimation.

Godzilla’s terror arrived in a visceral form as he demolished intricately crafted miniature city sets and clashed with other monsters, portrayed by actors similarly ensconced in suits. These scenes entrenched Godzilla’s iconic status in cinematic history. From the beginning, Toho Studios in Japan produced “Godzilla” films, carefully preserving many of the Godzilla suits used throughout the franchise’s extensive filmography. Each suit had unique variations, ranging from subtle adjustments to significant alterations, based on the specific demands of the film.

Sadly, a considerable number of these suits were lost over time, either falling apart due to age or being destroyed. Toho Studios’ surviving collection of Godzilla suits is now a key exhibit at The Eiji Tsuburaya Museum. Among the showcased memorabilia, the oldest suit still in public display is from the 1994 film “Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla.” Additionally, the museum holds newer suits as well as recreations, including a faithful replica of the iconic 1954 suit from the short film “Dream Challenge: Godzilla Appears in Sukagawa.”