Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

I have been wanting to discuss this for awhile now...

I am a huge fan of the teasers (special announcements) and trailers for Toho's films. A big reason for that is because we often get to see shots that were later removed from the film, some are quick punches and kicks while others look as though they can be plot points in themselves however they were snipped, probably for timing reasons.

I decided to grab a few DVDs off my shelf and take a few shots to let you see some. The photos never do justice though, so I would recommend looking on Youtube for the shots in motion. Of course there are many more out there, if your interested I would be happy to hunt for more....or of course find your own. Enjoy!

In the trailer for 'Destroy all Monsters' there are a few quick shots labeling the kaiju that are to appear in the film. A lot of these shots are never seen in the film. For example, Angilas and Baragon.



In 'Frankenstein vs. Baragon' there are numerous shots of the the two beast's battle that were excluded from the film. Here are some examples:

A very nicely done green screen shot of onlookers witnessing the battle.


A short but cool shot of Baragon going from quadrupedal to bipedal.



'Son of Godzilla' has a ton of excellent shots that didn't make it in.

Godzilla entering the jungle after exiting the ocean, he walks all of the way in before the shot ends.


an alternate shot of Godzilla walking past the tower ejecting the silver iodide.


This one is very interesting, apparently Godzilla either planned to abandon Minya and escape to the ocean or he didn't bother to look behind him and notice the little guy wasn't following him. Either way he ends up crashing through the frozen water before having a change of heart (or noticing Minya's not behind him) and turns around.


In 'Godzilla vs Megalon' while Gigan is holding Jet Jaguar down and he is being kicked by Megalon, JJ quickly turns his high beam eyes on Megalon causing him to cover his eyes and back off.



'Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla' has some really cool sequences that were cut and really makes me wonder why such great shots were cut.

Apparently Kitamura noticed this shot as well because in their battle, King Seesar jumps all the way across the screen and lands right on Mechagodzilla!


The Godzilla does another on screen transformation on what appears to be in a mountainous area. I am guessing it was shot before deciding to change the battle to an industrial area. It could also have been shot just for the trailer but the budget for the film was so small I don't see them doing that.

The final shot at the end of the Ghidrah trailer always baffled me. It's a semi long shot of King Ghidora on the ground mostly covered in smoke with only his wings visible. I don't have an image capture so I can't do much else but describe it. Anyone?

The theatrical trailers are usually chock full of SPFX outtakes/source footage! They're just as entertaining as the films themselves.

I think Mechagodzilla's alternate transformation may have been done for publicity purposes. (I remember seeing a shot of it in a vintage Godzilla kids book from the 70s or 80s.)

One of my favorite deleted scenes is the one from King Kong Vs. Godzilla, from Godzilla's first attack sequence, one shot of him actually turning his head around towards the camera and shooting radioactive flame from his mouth! This scene was actually so effective, it should've been kept in the film.

Wow, that's a really great shot. It's too bad it never made it into the movies.

Thanks to Mac for reminding me and Youtube's KMGO0 for uploading it onto his channel. Here is the shot Legion was talking about,

Ah okay, much clearer. Thanks!

Sometimes, these shots are from ends, NG Cuts (No Good), B Rolls, or were shot specifically for the trailers (ala MG's transformation in the MECHAGODZILLA trailer).

this thread is even neater than the time

Camera test.



NG shot.





Shot specifically for the trailer.



B-Roll footage.