Editing Terror of Mechagodzilla (section)

===Development===
[[File:tomg shinto ceremony.jpg|thumb|A Shinto priest performs a purification ceremony prior to the start of filming]]
The original screenplay that [[Yukiko Takayama]] created after winning Toho's story contest for the next installment in the Godzilla series was picked by assistant producer Kenji Tokoro and was submitted for approval on July 1, 1974, less than four months after ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]]'' was released.

The original concept is similar to the finished version of ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', with many of the changes being budgetary in nature. The most obvious alteration is the removal of the two dinosaurs called the Titans, which merged to become Titanosaurus in the first draft. It was an interesting concept, although something that was also under-explained, considering the magnitude of such an occurrence of the creatures merging. Another noticeable change to the script is that of the final battle, which does not move to the countryside but instead would have reduced Tokyo to rubble during the ensuing conflict between the three monsters.

After her initial draft, Takayama submitted a revised version on October 14, 1974. This went through a third revision on December 4, and then yet another on December 28 of that same year before it was met with approval and filming began.

[[Jun Fukuda]] was initially offered the role of director for this installment but refused having finally had enough of the series. Before Ishiro Honda agreed to return rumours persist [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] was also asked to direct due to Tomoyuki Tanaka being pleased with his work on ''[[Prophecies of Nostradamus]].''<ref>The Big Book of Japanese Monster Movies: Showa Completion 1954-1989 | John LeMay p. 347</ref>

Director Ishiro Honda later lamented not having been able to work with the story's writer, Yukiko Takayama, on other films, enjoying that a "woman's perspective was especially fresh" for the genre.

Kensho Yamashita, who would later direct ''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=notcoming.com {{!}} Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla |url=http://www.notcoming.com/reviews/godzillavsspacegodzilla/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=www.notcoming.com}}</ref> was the chief assistant director on the project. He notes, though, that Honda never actually assigned any of the shooting to him, possibly because he was happy to be directing again after a long gap in his career and wanted to do the work himself.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}