Takashi Yamazaki Film Godzilla Minus One Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 17, 2024
0 Comments
Hero image credit: 2023 TOHO CO., LTD.
Blackmagic Design announced today that Director Takashi Yamazaki's latest work, the Oscar winning Godzilla Minus One, was graded using DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, color grading, visual effects (VFX) and audio post production software. The grading was conducted by Colorist Masahiro Ishiyama of ARTONE FILM, using DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel.
Directed, scripted and supervised by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One was produced to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first Godzilla film. After its release in 2023, Godzilla Minus One received acclaim not only in Japan but also overseas, surpassing 17.5 billion yen in global box office revenue and winning in the 96th Academy Awards ceremony for Best Visual Effects.
I first had the opportunity to handle the grading for Director Yamazaki's previous work, Ghost Book,' and during the production of that film, I was also approached with the new Godzilla film, said Masahiro Ishiyama, representative director and colorist at ARTONE FILM.
Regarding the creation of the look for the film, Ishiyama stated: Given the post World War II era setting, the director expressed a desire to evoke the period's atmosphere. However, we didn't want to create a typical desaturated tone for depicting an old era. Instead, we aimed to maintain vivid colors while being mindful of the era. Therefore, I created a LUT for filming using DaVinci Resolve.
Although the film was shot digitally, Ishiyama reproduced the density of film to convey the atmosphere of the period. In digital, everything appears overly clear. Film, on the other hand, has its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, I graded the film by breaking the delicacy of digital into gradients, creating smudges in the highlights and softening them. I also adjusted the luminance of red significantly to bring out the texture of the skin. By reducing the luminance of red, contrast is emphasized on people's faces. Considering the period setting, there was no need to make the actors' skin tones beautiful; instead, we aimed to create an atmospheric look.
image credit: 2023 TOHO CO., LTD.
Additionally, Ishiyama used two different LUTs during grading. One LUT, similar to a Kodak film look, was used for scenes in Ginza and others, with red tones in the shadows. This was created during test grading. The other LUT was used for the final battle scene, Operation Wadatsumi,' which took place at sea, to express the tension of the combat with a hard, cold look with a bleached bypass. In scenes where it was important to show the expressions of the characters, I used the masks on their eyes and tracked them, adjusting details using DaVinci Resolve's Midtone Detail and Texture Pop functions. The eyes are quite important, so I adjusted them for all critical scenes. In movies and dramas, storytelling is paramount. I adjusted the colors while considering how to express the director's direction, ensuring that the colors did not interfere with the story.
The film underwent post production using an ACES workflow. Shirogumi, the production company that handled the VFX, had extensive knowledge of ACES, and I also had experience with grading in ACES using DaVinci Resolve, said Ishiyama. Therefore, we decided to proceed with the ACES workflow this time. I created a LUT to ensure that all departments saw the same colors. Thanks to the ACES workflow, when we suddenly needed to create a Dolby Cinema version, I could adjust the highlights and shadows without clipping.
Ishiyama continued: When handing over the material to the Shirogumi team, I did match grading to adjust the color variations in the material. The variations in weather, especially in sea scenes, were significant. I thought it would be difficult to visualize the final image if they created CG from original material and the composite, so I provided them with the match graded shots as VFX plates. Then, they created CG based on those shots.
image credit: 2023 TOHO CO., LTD.
In addition to the color version, a monochrome version of the film called Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color was also produced, with Ishiyama handling the grading. Regarding the creation of the monochrome version, Director Yamazaki requested the image of light and shadow similar to Leica's monochrome photographs, with only the important parts being overwhelmingly visible.
For example, in the sea scenes, I separated the RGB (red, green, blue) and desaturated them, reducing the luminance of everything except for red to create contrast. As a result, the sea becomes pitch black, with only people's faces popping out. Yamazaki san commented that the sea looked scary. Since I aimed to create a film that would instinctively evoke fear and excitement in the audience, I believe we achieved a visceral experience, Ishiyama concluded.
May 21, 2024Blackmagic Design Announces Special Price for Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K!Save 40% on the next generation digital film camera with 6K full
May 20, 2024The Vampire Next Door Created with Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and DaVinci ResolveBlackmagic Design today announced that New Zealand Son Films used Blackmagic Pocket
Enjoying the news? Sign up for the Creative COW Newsletter! Sign up for the Creative COW newsletter and get weekly updates on industry news, forum highlights, jobs, inspirational tutorials, tips, burning questions, and more! Receive bulletins from the largest, longest-running community dedicated to supporting professionals working in film, video, and audio.
Enter your email address, and your first and last name below!
-- Sign up: * indicates required
Email Address *
Name
--
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
18/08/2026
Riedel Communications has announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, ...
18/08/2026
Company launch with stereo-imaging tool
Panoramic is the debut release from Panorama Labs, a new company formed by mastering engineer Nicholas Di Lorenzo. C...
18/08/2026
Control software now available for older interfaces
Focusrite have just announced the launch of an update that extends Control 2 software support their Scar...
18/08/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
18/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/08/2026
Lightware announces an integration with SpectralBot that helps system integrators and AV operators troubleshoot faster using augmented reality (AR), AI-assisted...
18/08/2026
Command Frame for After Effects
Scott Black August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Free download, demonstrations, hands-on tests, and creator resources
Want to t...
18/08/2026
At Stand 14.A57, the data company will demonstrate GreenDot and IBM Aspera together, giving media and entertainment businesses real-time visibility of what thei...
Takashi Yamazaki Film Godzilla Minus One Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio 
