Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire‘s lead designer cleared the speculations surrounding the kaiju’s new pink spines, revealing that it was inspired by Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball. While many fans speculated that Godzilla’s pink spine was a rip-off from the Super Saiyan Rosé form in Dragon Ball Super, it actually turned out to be inspired by Goku’s Kaio-ken technique.
Director Adam Wingard earlier revealed that the film was his chance at doing his version of Godzilla. He wanted to try something different with the colors but clarified that it would not be random and would be a part of the story.
Godzilla’s New Pink Spines Were Inspired By Akira Toriyama’s Magnum Opus
When the first look of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire dropped, fans immediately noticed the pink spines of the kaiju monster in a few scenes. Several speculations started circulating the internet about the reason for the neon pink transformation, with each new theory becoming wilder. Now, the lead character designer of the film, Jared Krichevsky, has revealed that the color was inspired by Akira Toriyama‘s Dragon Ball.
Fans already speculated that the pink spines emulated the divine Super Saiyan Rosé form of Goku Black. However, Krichevsky revealed that it was not Goku Rosé who inspired him, but one of Goku’s earliest power-ups in Dragon Ball Z. He shared that he based the transformation on King Kai’s power-up technique, Kaio-ken. The designer was responding to a fan on X during an AMA (via ComicBook.com).
Krichevsky also revealed that the pink color Godzilla is a temporary transition. In the film, the kaiju monster has an epic showdown with another serpentine kaiju creature, Tiamat, in the Arctic. Godzilla takes down the monster but absorbs the radiation from Tiamat’s lair, resulting in the pink spines.
In an interview with IGN, director Adam Wingard shared that the visual change in Godzilla wasn’t made at random. He shared that it was part of the major drive of the story. He shared with IGN:
“I wanted it to be part of the major drive of the story, why Godzilla was getting this new look. And the pink colour itself, it’s not random. It’s not just like, he evolves and for some reason the blue turns to pink.”
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth film in the MonsterVerse, the 38th film in the Godzilla franchise, and the 13th film in the King Kong franchise. The film received mixed response from critics who largely considered it inferior to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One.
How Kaio-ken in Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Inspired Godzilla’s Pink Spines?
Goku learned Kaio-ken from King Kai, who invented the technique. Also known as the World King Fist, it multiplies the user’s ki and turns their aura into a crimson color. The technique amplifies the power and speed of the user to overcome previously stronger foes. Goku used Kaio-ken in iconic Dragon Ball Z battles against Vegeta and Frieza. He also used it against Hit in Dragon Ball Super.
However, Kaio-ken comes with extreme body recoil, putting major physical stress on the user. Krichevsky has only taken a small inspiration from the Dragon Ball move. While the circumstances surrounding the power-up differed, the forms in both Goku and Godzilla last only for a temporary period. Just like how Kaio-ken puts physical stress on Goku, Godzilla’s pin transformation also has adverse effects. Krichevsky explained in his X AMA (via ComicBook.com):
“The massive amount of energy required for his transformation would force him to burn all his extra fat away. This will change as he gains back full control.”
The designer also revealed that Godzilla’s pink form will make him the most powerful creature on Earth, but he added that the superlative may not be applicable to Hollow Earth. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is running successfully in theaters.
