One of if not the most important figures in the Japanese Giant Monster or “Kaiju” scene, special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya was the man responsible for a great deal of the classic monsters that dominated the screens from the 50s until his death in 1970. Credited with creating the majority of the most memorable creatures and creations which still linger in the imagination of many today, it is only appropriate that we look at some of the best-looking costumes created under his watch in our following countdown.
First, there must be two caveats for the following list: we're limiting ourselves to one Godzilla costume as we can surely cram the list with a plethora of appearances for the Big G as his ever-changing look from film to film meant a lot of opportunity to perfect his design. This wouldn't be fair to a lot of the other creatures Tsuburaya created so we only get one. Second, as long as he was responsible for the creation of the monster in some kind is allowed, so whether it be on the small screen or the big screen they're all eligible.
With that, let us begin.
10. Mogera (The Mysterians)
We're starting this list with one of the more impressive creations in the canon of Eiji's career with this dynamic and visually impressive design. Admittedly clunky and stiff with the robotic design here, the frills around the legs and the weird angles of the body leave a lasting impression as it wanders through the screen during its brief but effective screentime. Graced with unconventional approaches that befit the alien origins of the creature in the film's universe adds some weird aspects to Mogera's design, but this is one of the first such creations of this style ever seen on-screen.
9. Gorosaurus (King Kong Escapes)
A truly simplistic Dinosaurian design that nearly steals the show from another design we'll talk about later, this spectacular creation is an undisputed gem of a design that fits this era incredibly well. Incredibly snug and fitted to the actor inside, the humanoid stance of an Allosaurus-like dinosaur makes for a highly effective design as the oversized head, massive jaws, kangaroo-like stance, and elegant tail cut an immediate impression much like the on-screen abilities given to the beast.
8. Rodan (Rodan)
One of the most iconic creations in the studio's history, this is yet another dinosaur-like design with the central idea of the Pterosaur given an anthropomorphic style that allows him to walk on land while still being believable of flight. The result is a winner, featuring a cross selection of bird-like character where the small head, pointed beak, and crest leave a striking idea of its bird origins while the massive wings, spiky breastplate, and humanoid stance keeps everything in proportion for one of the greatest and most popular designs of the studio who's legacy since is quite assured.
7. Baragon (Frankenstein Conquers the World)
On the list almost as much for its real-life versatility, as it is for its on-screen presence, this hybrid animal design merges together a crocodile body, elephant ears, and a rhinoceros horn into a winning combination. An extremely versatile design that allows for the creature to walk around on all fours as well as stand upright for short bursts, he cuts an impressive presence in the film and easily dominates his scenes to the point that the costume was reused multiple times as the base for numerous creatures to come in Ultraman, which just speaks to the quality on display here.
6. Anguirus (Godzilla Raids Again)
A rather impressive design that showcased the versatility of his studios' output, this continued the dinosaurian design of Godzilla from the first film with the Ankylosaur model being outfitted with an array of backspikes, a slew of horns on his face with one at the tip of a long snout while a crest adorned the top of his head and a spikey tail complete the design. Much like Baragon above where it's agile enough to allow the suit actor to adapt a quadrupedal or bipedal stance, the creature's look and fierce fighting spirit have made him one of the most iconic monsters in Godzilla fandom.
5. Ultraman (Ultraman TV Series)
An incredibly iconic design that remains one of the most memorable pieces of Japanese pop culture to this day, this humanoid alien is quite worthwhile to be included here. The thick rubber used for the outer skin leads to a more believable alien-like presence much like the elaborate helmet, funky shoes, and generally thin frame that's based on a muscular if not really bulky appearance, works quite well for the type of hero attempted in the series. Outfitted with a fantastic gold and red paint job that creates the perfect sheen to complete the design, it's easy to see why the creation has remained popular to this day.
4. Pestar (Ultraman Episode 13: Oil SOS)
This is where the creativity of Eiji really shines with the stellar creation of Pestar, a two-man costume following on the heels of Dodongo in the previous episode. However, Pestar looks even more whacked out with the performers in an individual side of the body joined in the middle with the rubbery, bouncy bat-head to give it a rather unique look. The massive, multi-colored sails on the side of the body featuring the over-the-top wings is a great look to the design where it's obvious where the actors are inside the suit but manages to still look like a normal creature, which gives this a lot to like in the pantheon of his designs.
3. Mechanikong (King Kong Escapes)
One of the most impressive and visually dynamic costumes ever created, this far surpassed the robotic nature of the original Moguera nearly a decade earlier and remains immensely memorable to this day. The ape-like design, standing upright as a human would, comes with a stellar top-heavy model that's surprisingly agile and has some unique features built into the body to not only make its usage in the film seem obvious but is able to handle combat quite effectively. Still remaining one of the best parts of an already classic film to this day, he captures an easy place on this list.
2. Godzilla (Mothra vs. Godzilla)
A personal favorite being the first G film I ever saw in color, the Mosuogji look is still one of the series' best-ever creations. The muzzle look alongside the reptilian features is quite impressive, the evil face is striking and the body looks like it's capable of far more violent activities than what was initially shown with a slimmed-down yet still massive frame. The scaled-down fins and hands also come into play here and it creates an incredibly imposing and lovable look, and it also doesn't hurt that the films this costume is featured in are among the best in the series.
1. King Ghidora (Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster)
One of the most striking and creative designs in the genre, this is an easy choice to be number one. A massive three-headed, armless space dragon that brings together an oriental flavor to the ornaments on its head, huge bat-like wings, and a pair of tails strutting out from its backside, this strikes a chord with its sheer size and complexity regardless of the shimmery golden paint job that completes the picture in a fantastic design that comes together on-screen in a memorable package. The popularity and enduring support of the creature to this day stem from this appearance and the greatest costume Eiji ever created is more than worthy of being at this spot on the list.
