Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
From suits to sets to CGI, discover how the Godzilla franchise’s visual and special effects innovations changed film production forever.
From Eiji Tsuburaya's early miniatures and monster suits, to visual effects innovations that have transformed 21st Century cinema, the Godzilla franchise has had an outsized impact on on filmmaking craft.
Tsuburaya's Godzilla suit was an early example of tokusatsu (or ‘suitmation’) – a technique which endured for decades on screen – and his intricately designed miniature sets for the Godzilla franchise made scenes of Tokyo’s destruction all the more resonant.
Recent entries in the Monsterverse franchise have harnessed CGI by visual effects masters from studios like Luma Pictures and Weta Workshop to create stunning new worlds and bring bigger and badder monsters and setpieces to new audiences.
Joining host Silvi Vann-Wall will be Brendan Seals from Luma Pictures, who was the visual effects supervisor for Godzilla vs Kong, and tokusatsu expert Dr. Sophia Staite.
Our thanks to The Japan Foundation & Academic consultant Jessica Balanzategui
This talk was presented at ACMI on Sun 3 Nov 2024
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/godzillafest/building-godzilla/
_____________________
ACMI is Australia's national museum of screen culture. Watch, play, make and discover a universe of films, TV, videogames and screen-based art.
Visit us in Melbourne’s Fed Square or online at www.acmi.net.au.
Follow us
Facebook: facebook.com/acmionline
Instagram: instagram.com/acmionline
Twitter: twitter.com/ACMI
www.acmi.net.au
From suits to sets to CGI, discover how the Godzilla franchise’s visual and special effects innovations changed film production forever.
From Eiji Tsuburaya's early miniatures and monster suits, to visual effects innovations that have transformed 21st Century cinema, the Godzilla franchise has had an outsized impact on on filmmaking craft.
Tsuburaya's Godzilla suit was an early example of tokusatsu (or ‘suitmation’) – a technique which endured for decades on screen – and his intricately designed miniature sets for the Godzilla franchise made scenes of Tokyo’s destruction all the more resonant.
Recent entries in the Monsterverse franchise have harnessed CGI by visual effects masters from studios like Luma Pictures and Weta Workshop to create stunning new worlds and bring bigger and badder monsters and setpieces to new audiences.
Joining host Silvi Vann-Wall will be Brendan Seals from Luma Pictures, who was the visual effects supervisor for Godzilla vs Kong, and tokusatsu expert Dr. Sophia Staite.
Our thanks to The Japan Foundation & Academic consultant Jessica Balanzategui
This talk was presented at ACMI on Sun 3 Nov 2024
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/godzillafest/building-godzilla/
_____________________
ACMI is Australia's national museum of screen culture. Watch, play, make and discover a universe of films, TV, videogames and screen-based art.
Visit us in Melbourne’s Fed Square or online at www.acmi.net.au.
Follow us
Facebook: facebook.com/acmionline
Instagram: instagram.com/acmionline
Twitter: twitter.com/ACMI
www.acmi.net.au










