To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the birth of the King of Monsters, "Godzilla," Toho Co., Ltd. recently announced the official launch of its 70th Anniversary Art Project, "GODZILLA THE ART." The first phase of the project will feature the inaugural exhibition, "GODZILLA THE ART by PARCO," held from April 27, 2023, to May 15, 2023, at Shibuya PARCO B1F. This exhibition will not only showcase Godzilla creations and displays by invited artists Isamu Gakiya and NOH Sangho but also offer a wide array of exclusive Godzilla merchandise.
Among these, the most eye-catching item is the "Godzilla (1954) Prototype" from Bandai's MOVIE MONSTER Series. The design of the original 1954 Godzilla film was based on author Shigeru Kayama's concept of "a creature in the process of evolving from a marine reptile to a terrestrial beast." Manga artist Kazusuke Abe was commissioned to draw the initial image, which was then sculpted and refined by modelers such as Teizo Toshimitsu. The very first prototype featured Stegosaurus-like dorsal fins, a massive, mammal-like head, and round, fish-like scales covering its entire body. However, this version was deemed too gentle, leading to subsequent revisions that incorporated crocodile and amphibian skin textures, a mushroom cloud-like head, and other features, ultimately resulting in the iconic original Godzilla design we know today.
The "MOVIE MONSTER Series Godzilla (1954) Prototype" is a soft vinyl figure that recreates the original prototype from 70 years ago, featuring its full body covered in fish scales. While the soft vinyl material may slightly obscure some skin details, it largely reproduces key features such as the white, pupil-less eyes, the square, massive head, the white brow and dorsal fin tips, and the fish scales covering its entire body, making it highly commemorative. However, this product is currently only available for pre-order exclusively at the event venue, and other sales methods have not yet been announced.
Movie Monster Series Godzilla (1954) Prototype
Reference Price, Release Date: To be announced at the venue
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