Evolution of Godzilla: Theatrical Appearances and Story

Original Series

• First Appearance (1954):
  • Small arms, thick legs, dorsal plates, tiny pupils, fangs, pointy ears.
  • Disintegrates to bone after attacking Japan.
• Godzilla Raids Again (1955):
  • Thinner, longer arms, smaller head, larger pupils, jutting teeth.
  • Buried in ice.
• King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962):
  • Color appearance, plump, lizard-like head, yellow eyes, no ears, no fangs.
  • Faces King Kong, tumbles into ocean.
• Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964):
  • Slimmer, wider head, wide eyes, smooth brows.
  • Covered in silk, drops into sea.
• Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964):
  • Slimmer face, longer tongue.
  • Starts defending humanity.
• Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965):
  • Thinner, more defined dorsal plates, dull claws, rounder head.
  • Alien mind control, new dance moves.
• Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966):
  • Less angry brows, battles lobster, escapes exploding island.
• Son of Godzilla (1967):
  • Elongated neck, pudgier, flimsy dorsal fins, stubby nose, bugged eyes.
  • Raises son Minilla.
• Destroy All Monsters (1968):
  • Slimmer, similar face to Astro Monster.
  • Alien mind control again.
• 1970s Films:
  • Consistent look, helps son face bully, fights pollution monster, gains flying ability (shrimp form), learns to speak.
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974):
  • More detailed muzzle, angrier face.
  • Gains magnetism, fights Mechagodzilla.

Heisei Series

• Return of Godzilla (1984):
  • Taller, larger dorsal fins, fourth toe, returns fangs and ears.
  • Falls into volcano.
• Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989):
  • Smaller head, muscular build, larger outer fins, cat-like face.
  • Fights plant monster.
• Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991):
  • Becomes taller, muscular, angrier.
  • Continues as core Godzilla.
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993):
  • Slimmer shoulders/legs, blue-toned baby.
  • Defeated but revitalized easily.
• Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994):
  • Bulkier, less neck detail, larger eyes.
  • Son grows bigger.
• Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995):
  • Meltdown, radiation absorbed by son.
  • Son becomes new Godzilla.

Millennium Series

• 1998 American Godzilla:
  • Mutated iguana, blue spines, hanging dewlap.
  • Offspring destroyed.
• Godzilla 2000:
  • Shorter, green skin, purple spines, reptilian face.
  • Swallowed but survives.
• Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000):
  • Lighter, longer neck, smaller mouth.
  • Sentenced to a black hole.
• Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001):
  • Ghostly form for WWII victims, smooth skin, white eyes.
  • Mutilated by drill missile.
• Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002):
  • Jagged elements, wolf-like face.
  • Scarred chest.
• Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003):
  • Silk-covered, sunk into sea.
• Godzilla: Final Wars (2004):
  • Taller, smoother, slender, long ears, red eyes.
  • Fights multiple creatures.

Reiwa Series and Beyond

• Shin Godzilla (2016):
  • Evolves from armless creature to large red form.
  • Long tail, varied skills, unhinging jaw.
  • Frozen to stop evolution.
• Anime Trilogy (2017-2018):
  • Muscular, tree-bark texture.
  • Grows 19,000 years later.
• 2014 American Godzilla:
  • Plump, jagged spines, wide feet, gills.
  • Fights against MUTO.
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019):
  • Taller, beefier, fiery new look.
  • Retains kingly status.