Gills.

[Jorzilla]

[Mysterio]

I'm personally not trying to parse him apart scientifically at all, I just don't see it as much of an enhancement and in general I am a "traditionalist". True, Godzilla varies significantly between movies anyway, but I nonetheless have my mental image pretty set by now. For example I like my comic book movies to at least roughly mirror "my version" of the characters from when I was first reading them as a kid.

But like I said it's no big deal and I'm looking forward to it anyway. If it was me, I wouldn't have added gills. If I were pressed to explain how he can stay under water so long, I personally might suggest that maybe he's not breathing underwater at all, perhaps he simply draws all his energy from his radioactive nature and doesn't need to breathe or eat at all. They never show him eating whales or scooping up krill or anything either, and I'm fine with that.

[Jorzilla]

[metal_bryan]

On the subject of films never showing what Godzilla eats, isn't there a scene in Destoroyah where a bunch of dead whales are found? Also, let's not forget the scrapped footage from the original film of Godzilla eating a cow. I'm not saying that the general consensus isn't that he consumes nuclear fuel only, but there is precedent for him actually using those teeth for something other than fighting. If we're going to be sticklers about biology, you need to pay attention to the carnivore teeth.

I am of the opinion that Godzilla's biological classification falls outside of known taxonomy. He's not a reptile or an amphibian. There's no established rule that he is classified as either of those, thus making any argument about the gills being out of place on a reptile rather silly to me. Instead, I offer you a very realistic and believable approach for justifying the existence of gills: pharyngeal slits. All chordates exhibit this feature during development. In the case of Godzilla, they can apparently turn into the structures we see in the new film. Are they gills? Maybe. Are they pressure release? Maybe. Are they simply a scale structure? Maybe. We don't know what they are yet. When we find out, I expect it to be one of those things and I find any of them to be entirely believable. Sure, it's a feature that has never been on Godzilla before, and I can respect fans being irked over that, but to say it's a poor design choice because of taxonomy makes no sense to me.

[Jorzilla]

I don't like the concept of a pressure release either. Wouldn't that reduce the force of the beam, by making his primary energy weapon vent out of his neck? That seems really stupid and just a visual think only which in my opinion. It's not like Godzilla needs a muzzle break or anything. Even if it was used like a muzzle break, by that standard he'd be venting hot gas/plasma onto his own shoulders.

Another poster alluded to this, but I'll mention it again. Its common knowledge that if you are attacked by a big fish/shark to go for the gills. By adding this to the design you are opening up a possibility that there will be a scene either in this film or a sequel where a monster attacks this feature as a weak spot on Godzilla. That scenario would be incredibly lame to me.

[TerranigmaFreak]

Let's just change his name to Gillzilla.

[mbozzo]

I don't care if he got gills or not. If he does have gills, have it on the inside, and can't be seen on the outside.

[Shonokin]

Every time I see the title of this post pop up, I immediately this of this guy. Guess I'm a die hard Kamen Rider fan. Hmm might have to rewatch some KR Agito soon.

[jellydonut25]

[walshiam]

Non-issue here. Doesn't make the monster any less recognizable either way. It's still Godzilla. My only issue is the fins. Very unflattering.

[tbeasley]

It’s an interesting touch. We'll have to see what they do in-movie, if they're given any focus at all. It just seems like a little touch, something to make him feel more “alive”, that they can accomplish with the help of CG.

[Gyaos1965]

Still can't understand how anyone could think the fins look good or that gills are a good idea.

WTF are the creators of the film thinking when to most G fans, the changes are unnecessary.

If there ARE gills, it will be a huge controversial discussion point when the film comes out. And there was no reason to put them there when no previous design came up with that lame idea.

[MosugojiNoGyakushu]

I don't really see the need to show visible fish like neck gills. I always worked under the assumption that Godzilla had internal gill like structures in his lungs for breathing underwater. Kind of like the way Aquaman does.

[jellydonut25]

[lhb412]

[BrollySupersj]

I love em. It doesn't look like they will be gills though. But if they do happen to be, then I'm all for it. Giving Godzilla gills just adds to his mistfying biology and nature. It's all good with me.

[tbeasley]

[metal_bryan]

I hope the back plates are bigger than the toys so far as well.

[jellydonut25]

I hope the fins are a touch bigger, but I just watched Gojira yesterday, and I enjoy that Godzilla design, and the fins weren't much bigger than we've seen on the toys thus far...I think they went back to basics a little bit in that respect. They won't get credit for doing so, because ZOMG THEY ADDED GILLS, but I feel like they didn't overthink this.

[metal_bryan]

[tbeasley]

The fins on the new toy don't look nowhere as prominent and varied as they were in 54. The toy fins are very simple, almost worn down.

[jellydonut25]

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

As I said before; I get the feeling the only toys that will retain LegendGoji's larger sized spines are collectors grades toys like NECA and SHMonsterarts.

Anything else showing off smaller spines is a toy for kids done for safety issues.

[tbeasley]

So they shrink the fins, and yet keep the long, pointy tail?