Godzilla is still the kaiju that holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running film franchise. Everyone enjoys watching Godzilla take on every new enemy with all the noise and destruction that comes with it. The humans in the films are hardly ever noticed as everyone waits for the next monster fight.
Since the release of Gojira in 1954, the franchise has brought many human characters that made Godzilla's story relatable. However, no one really goes to the theater to watch the humans in Godzilla. Still, the franchise boasts some outstanding humans as well as pathetic ones.
10 BEST: DR. YAMANE
After over 6 decades of Godzilla, the first film retains the respect of all viewers. While Dr. Serizawa saved the day in the first film, Dr. Yamane, the man tasked with studying and finding a way of beating Gojira in the first place displayed the best of humanity. He had the best vision for the future of Godzilla. While everyone else could only see a monster that would breathe Tokyo into oblivion, Yamane saw a wonder that was supposed to be studied.
His ability to ignore commands and even ignore his daughter's wedding plans just to seek an ally that could help him study Godzilla shows just how dedicated he was to the possible future of the kaiju. His idea of studying Godzilla makes him the hero "when Godzilla Strikes Again" because he knows how to lure him away from the city. He was also the first fan of Godzilla.
9 WORST: YOSHIO TAKO
King Kong VS Godzilla was credited as the film that encouraged Toho studios to retain the franchise. It came after seven years of inactivity and brought a new approach to Godzilla as a possible friend of humans. Mr. Tako was, however, the least liked human character in the film despite his contribution to the meeting between Kong and Godzilla.
Mr. Tako, played by Ichiro Arishima, was the marketing director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals who decided to kidnap King Kong and film him to improve his company's TV ratings. While his stupid move turns King Kong into the savior of the day, Tako himself doesn't show any love for humanity or King Kong, let alone Godzilla. He is simply a robotic corporate enthusiast detached from the crumbling world.
8 BEST: DR. NICK TATOPOULOS
Godzilla 1998 was the first film in the franchise to be independently produced in Hollywood and by far, the worst of the three already released by ratings. Dr. Nick Tatopoulos took the place of Dr. Serizawa except he had more love for Godzilla's family.
While the film had poor reviews, Dr. Nick absolved the rest of the human characters by showing a combination of both caution and care for Godzilla. Despite his own woes brought by his wannabe journalist girlfriend and torn between French and American secret service demands, Nick keeps his cool and manages to help the team save the world.
7 WORST: DR. EMMA RUSSELL
Godzilla King of the Monsters was supposed to save the American version of the franchise by bringing the glory of other Kaiju films after the poor ratings of Godzilla in 2014. The film, however, came with one of the worst plots for its human characters including the worst mother ever.
Emma Russell who just lost her son in the fight against Titans is reckless enough to bring her daughter Madison to the very place where Titans are being born and even lets her touch them. The character becomes even worse when Emma is revealed to be fighting for the very villains that killed her son making her one of the worst human characters in the history of the franchise.
6 BEST: EMIKO YAMANE
The normal Japanese woman struggling between her love for Ogata and her engagement to Serizawa has gone down as one of the most inspiring human stories in the Kaiju series history. Emiko was the main protagonist of the initial film and retained her resilience and love for humanity in all Godzilla films she has featured in.
Emiko always seems to know what is right for everyone. While most fans weren't happy with her leaving Serizawa for Ogata in Godzilla 1954, she later convinces Serizawa to save humanity. Her legendary status was sealed in Godzilla vs Destroyah when she is revealed to have broken off with Ogata and still comes in to save the day.
5 WORST: MITSUO KATAGIRI
Human villains in a Godzilla film are not what everyone comes to see which is why they are rarely noticed. In Godzilla Millenium, Yuji Shinoda was the hero of the film and everyone respected his enthusiasm for preserving Godzilla for further studies.
Katagiri, on the other hand, proved to be both reckless and stupid. His deep hatred for Godzilla drives him to the extremes causing him to turn on both his teammates and Godzilla. He eventually dies a confused antagonist with no purpose.
4 BEST: MIKI SAEGUSA
Miki Saegusa's telepathic powers were not welcome at first since most fans loved a Godzilla that could think for himself. Miki as a character, however, proved to be the closest that a human being related to Godzilla making her the most essential human characters in the entire franchise. When she was introduced in Godzilla vs Biollante, she didn't show much care for Godzilla's personality and feelings but she still displayed the best of humanity.
Her love for Godzilla and Baby Godzilla later proved her to be the best human character. She showed much love for the monster while still fighting her heart out for humanity in all subsequent films. When she later freed Godzilla from telepathic control, she crossed the bridge and became a legend of the franchise just like Serizawa.
3 WORST: FORD BRODY
The character of Joe Brody played by Bryan Cranston was credited for the great ratings of Godzilla 2014. The film also had the worst storyline for the main protagonist in any Godzilla film. Lieutenant Ford Brody was totally detached from Godzilla's personality and only played as a tool of taking viewers to where the battle is rather than actually fighting it.
For a person that just lost his father and mother to a MUTO, Ford put up very little fight to avenge his family. All he did was carry nuclear warheads, a mission he also failed at because they ended up as a snack for the MUTOs and the death of his entire unit. Of all the protagonists in Godzilla films, he showed very little love for Godzilla and got defeated in most instances where normal Godzilla protagonists would save the day.
2 BEST: DR. SERIZAWA
Serizawa is the name everyone expects to hear whenever a Godzilla film is released. Whichever narrative they attach to the good doctor, he always symbolizes the need for empathy even in the face of the worst danger. The best display of Serizawa was in the 1954 Gojira and Godzilla: King Of The Monsters released in 2019.
Other appearances of the character in the franchise including Godzilla in 2014 still present the same man who despite his hate for human evil, always sides with humanity even at the cost of his own life. It is impossible to imagine any version of Godzilla that doesn't include Serizawa.
1 WORST: STEVE MARTIN
Steve Martin was introduced in the 1955 American release of Godzilla as a journalist that happened to be passing through Tokyo on his way to Cairo and only to witness Godzilla's destruction of Tokyo. The main reason for introducing Martin in 1955 was to make Gojira more palatable to the American audience.
While the idea was good, the character of Steve Martin never really found a place in the franchise. He has no role in the film, no love for Godzilla, and little contribution to any cause in the entire franchise. His return in Godzilla 1985 only made him the worst human character of the Heisei era.
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