Editing Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (section)

==Production==
[[File:GvMG - behind scenes.png|thumb|[[Wataru Fukuda]] during a suit-fitting session]]

The fifth film in the [[Heisei period|Heisei]] series of ''Godzilla'' movies was originally meant to be the last, in order to avoid competing with the upcoming [[TriStar Pictures|TriStar]] American ''Godzilla'' reboot film (which was later delayed) and to honor the recent passing of [[Ishirō Honda]].<ref name="kalat2010"/> Toho had initially wanted to produce a remake of ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'', but were unable to acquire the rights to use the [[King Kong]] character from [[Universal Pictures]]. When that project was scrapped, Toho considered pitting Godzilla against Mechani-Kong, a [[mecha]] first introduced in ''[[King Kong Escapes]]''. The plot would have involved Mechani-Kong sporting syringes containing G-Force special forces which would have been injected into Godzilla's bloodstream in a manner similar to ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]'', though the project was abandoned, as obtaining the rights to a monster even bearing the semblance of King Kong proved too costly.<ref name="ryfle1998">{{cite book |title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G |last=Ryfle |first=Steve |year=1998 |publisher=Toronto: ECW Press |isbn=1550223488 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl/page/n296 293] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl }}</ref>

Producers [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] and [[Shōgo Tomiyama]] felt that reviving [[Mechagodzilla]] was a logical next step for the series after the successful reintroduction of [[King Ghidorah]] and [[Mothra]] to contemporary audiences. Furthermore, effects artist [[Koichi Kawakita]] had already demonstrated his competence in designing and creating [[mecha]] contraptions like the Super XII, Mecha-King Ghidorah, and the machines featured in ''[[Gunhed (film)|Gunhed]]''. The decision to reintroduce [[Minilla]] (rechristened as [[Godzilla Junior|Baby Godzilla]]) was made in order to appeal to the largely female audience that made ''[[Godzilla vs. Mothra]]'' a financial success, despite objections by director [[Takao Okawara]], who held a low opinion of the 1960s movies the character had previously been featured in.<ref name="kalat2010"/> In the original ending for the film, Godzilla destroys Garuda but is killed by Mechagodzilla. Garuda's nuclear reactor explodes and resurrects the King of the Monsters. Another ending was considered in which Godzilla's escaping life energy mutates Baby Godzilla into a new adult Godzilla,<ref>[http://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_room/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla2_1st.htm Lost Projects: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (Early Draft)], ''Toho Kingdom'' (accessed February 16, 2016)</ref> a concept that was later used in ''[[Godzilla vs. Destoroyah]]''.

Toho promoted the film as [[Akira Ifukube]]'s last performance as composer, and aired the children's program ''Adventure Godzilla-land'', which portrayed Godzilla and Mechagodzilla as rival news anchors reporting on the events of the upcoming movie, as well as featuring the dance routine "Be like Godzilla". Shortly after the movie was released, Toho further promoted the film's merchandise by opening a Godzilla-themed simulation ride in [[Sanrio Puroland]] called "Monster Planet of Godzilla", which featured [[Megumi Odaka]] as the captain of a spacecraft which lands on a planet inhabited by Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra, who are then accidentally transported to contemporary Tokyo.<ref name="kalat2010"/>

Kawakita made more extensive use of [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] than in previous ''Godzilla'' movies he worked on, and made an effort for the featured monsters to be less reliant on energy beams during battle sequences, particularly [[Rodan]], who was portrayed via handpuppets and marionettes rather than through [[suitmation]]. Baby Godzilla was performed by series veteran [[Hurricane Ryu]], and was designed to look much more dinosaur-like than his previous incarnation. Mechagodzilla was redesigned to be much less angular in form, and was performed by [[Wataru Fukuda]]. The Mechagodzilla suit itself consisted of multiple separate elements which Fukuda wore like plate armor. Kawakita originally envisioned Mechagodzilla being able to split into aerial and terrestrial units, though this idea was scrapped in favor of the character merging with the flying battleship Garuda.<ref name="kalat2010"/> The new Godzilla suit was notably bulkier in profile than its predecessor, and had smaller shoulders and slimmer legs. The tail was also placed higher up the back, thus resulting in a very top-heavy appearance. Like the previous suit, the one used in ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II'' had an electronically operated head that could tilt its head independently of the body. The suit previously used for ''Godzilla vs. Mothra'' was recycled for the long shots during the battle with Rodan, the rampage through Tokyo, and the character's departure into the sea during the end credits.<ref name="biondi">Robert Biondi, "The Evolution of Godzilla – G-Suit Variations Throughout the Monster King’s Twenty One Films", ''G-FAN'' #16 (July/August 1995)</ref>