The film “King Kong vs Godzilla” was originally to be in stop motion, but once they realize how slow the process was, it was only used for 2 scenes. The figure was gifted to a kid becoming the first Godzilla action figure. Photos 1962.
Title: The Untold Story Behind “King Kong vs. Godzilla”: Stop-Motion Dreams, Suitmation Reality, and the Birth of the First Godzilla Action Figure (1962)
Meta Description: Discover how King Kong vs. Godzilla almost used stop-motion animation, pivoted to suitmation, and accidentally created the first Godzilla action figure. Dive into the lost 1962 photos!
Introduction: A Clash of Titans… and Filmmaking Techniques
When King Kong vs. Godzilla roared into theaters in 1962, it became a landmark kaiju showdown, pitting Japan’s iconic Godzilla against America’s giant ape. But behind the spectacle lies a lesser-known tale of abandoned ambitions, technical limitations, and a serendipitous gift that birthed the first-ever Godzilla action figure.
At the heart of this story? A scrapped stop-motion animation plan—and the tiny model that became immortalized in toy history.
Stop-Motion Dreams: Toho’s Original Vision
Director Ishirō Honda and special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya initially envisioned King Kong vs. Godzilla as a groundbreaker in stop-motion animation, inspired by Willis O’Brien’s pioneering work on King Kong (1933). Stop-motion promised cinematic realism and fluid movement, but the technique was notoriously slow: animators painstakingly moved models frame-by-frame, with seconds of footage taking days to complete.
The Reality Check:
- Toho Studio quickly realized stop-motion was impractical for a tight production schedule.
- Only two scenes featuring King Kong were completed using stop-motion before the team abandoned the technique.
Ironically, one of these test models would outlive the film itself—but not in the way anyone expected.
The Pivot to Suitmation: Saving the Showdown
With stop-motion deemed too time-consuming, Tsuburaya shifted to his signature “suitmation” approach: stunt actors in rubber suits (like Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla) stomping through intricately crafted miniature sets. This method allowed Toho to:
- Film action sequences faster and cheaper.
Cartoony battles leaning into physical comedy—a tonal shift from Godzilla’s darker 1954 origins.
The result? King Kong vs. Godzilla became Japan’s highest-grossing Godzilla film of the Showa era, proving suitmation’s viability.
But one tiny relic of the failed stop-motion experiment was about to make history…
The First Godzilla Action Figure: A Prop’s Second Life
The stop-motion Godzilla model, crafted meticulously but never fully utilized, was gifted to the young son of a Toho crew member as a wrap-day souvenir. This 8-inch figure, designed for animation tests, became the world’s first-ever Godzilla action figure—predating even Bandai’s iconic 1964 vinyl toys.
A Collector’s Holy Grail:
- Photos from 1962 show the child posing proudly with the unique model.
- Unlike mass-produced toys, this one-of-a-kind piece was hand-painted and articulated for animation.
- Its fate remains unknown, making it a legendary “lost artifact” among kaiju enthusiasts.
For decades, this origin story was obscure trivia—until archivists uncovered production documents cementing its place in toy history.
Legacy: How a Failed Idea Shaped Pop Culture
King Kong vs. Godzilla’s stop-motion pivot had ripple effects beyond the screen:
- Suitmation Dominance: It cemented the technique as the gold standard for kaiju films until CGI emerged.
- The Toy Revolution: That discarded Godzilla proto-figure ignited demand for monster merch. By 1964, Bandai launched its first Godzilla vinyl toy line—kickstarting a billion-dollar industry.
- Lost Media Lore: The film’s unreleased stop-motion footage and the “first figure” photos remain sacred relics for fans.
Conclusion: A Happy Accident for Kaiju History
What began as a frustrated director’s compromise became a cultural landmark. King Kong vs. Godzilla not only delivered a popcorn spectacle but inadvertently birthed a defining piece of collectible history. The next time you see a Godzilla toy, remember: it all traces back to an abandoned 1962 stop-motion experiment—and a very lucky kid.
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