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7 Awesome Kaiju Who Should Be In Godzilla Sequels

In 1954, Toho Co. unleashed the King of Monsters, Godzilla, upon the world. Sixty years on, after twenty-eight films of stomping across Japan, and a certain 1998 film most people wish to forget, Godzilla returns to western shores in Gareth Edward’s 2014 film Godzilla. The film looks pretty awesome, and will feature some new Kaiju (the term used for Japan’s giant monsters). But if any sequels are developed, we could potentially see the appearance of some popular faces from the Japanese series. This article lists seven of the most iconic, terrifying, and awesome Kaiju to battle with or against Godzilla, and how they could be incorporated into the new film series.

7. Rodan

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Rodan is a giant mutated pteranodon, and a recurring ally and enemy to Godzilla. First appearing in 1956’s Rodan, the first incarnation of the character was one of two pteranodon who hatched after being disturbed by a mining operation along with a swarm of giant bugs. The two attacked Kyushu, but one was killed by a military bombardment and the second throws itself into a volcano to die with its mate. The Godzilla incarnation of Rodan was alone, and a very aggressive Kaiju who battled Godzilla a number of times. Rodan is a fast flyer, able to generate hurricanes and sonic booms as he flies. Being one of Godzilla’s earliest enemies, and their similar origins through radioactive mutation, Rodan could have the potential to appear in the sequel.

6. Anguirus

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Anguirus is a personal favourite, so I’d love to see him in the sequel! Debuting in 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again, Anguirus is a large Ankylosaurus-like Kaiju with a spiked back, but lacks the dinosaur’s signature tail club. He had the honour of being Godzilla’s first Kaiju opponent, and later became a recurring ally, having a “bash brother”-like friendship with his former enemy/rival. Anguirus has had a number of iconic moments, such as dragging King Ghidorah to the ground in Destroy All Monsters by hanging from the three-headed dragon’s neck by his teeth, the hilarious talking scene between him and Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Gigan, and his humiliating defeat at the hands of MechaGodzilla, who ripped his jaw off. Anguirus is a very basic Kaiju, relying only on his body’s weapons like his claws, and an ability to roll into a spiked runaway ball to flatten foes. However, he has a pretty big fanbase in America, and would be welcomed into a sequel with open arms.

 

5. Biollante

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Now here is one of the most unique but strangest Kaiju. Biollante was the antagonist of 1989’s Godzilla vs. Biollante. Created from a combination of Godzilla’s DNA and a rose bush by a grief stricken scientist who thought his daughter’s soul was in the flowers, Biollante is a giant towering behemoth with a crocodile-like face and fanged tentacle vines. She makes Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors look like a benevolent house plant. Biollante was created by a dentist and part-time filmmaker named Shinichirō Kobayashi as a winner of a public competition to create the 1989 film’s story and new monster. Biollante was eventually destroyed, but several spores carrying Godzilla’s cells floated off into space, and mutated with a black hole to create SpaceGodzilla. Yeah, Godzilla films are pretty kooky at times. Biollante somewhat symbolises the dangers of genetic mutation, as Godzilla is to the horror of nuclear weapons. A bit of an odd Kaiju, but a pretty awesome one.

 

4. Gigan

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Gigan may look like a cybernetic chicken, but he is one of Godzilla’s deadliest villains. A cyborg serial killer with a sadistic streak, Gigan has only appeared a few times in the franchise but has left quite the impression. He has a great character design – giant spiked wings, a pair of scythes for hands, a serrated tail, he can fire grappling cables from his armour, shoot lasers from his eyes, and has a buzzsaw in his chest.

Living to destroy and mutilate, Gigan debuted in 1972’s clunky Godzilla vs. Gigan, where he was sent to Earth with King Ghidorah by the Space Hunter Nebula M aliens, who are space cockroaches, in an attempt to take over Earth. The two badass villains battle Godzilla and Anguirus, and while they lose, Gigan massacres Anguirus and is the first antagonist to make Godzilla bleed. He popped up again in Godzilla vs. Megalon, fighting alongside the giant beetle god Megalon, to battle Godzilla and Jet Jaguar, a size-changing battle robot. After his arm is broken by Jet Jaguar, Gigan calls it quits and flees into space to leave poor Megalon to his defeat at the hands of Godzilla’s epic drop kick.

Gigan then returned in 2004’s epic Godzilla: Final Wars, working for the evil aliens called the Xillens. It is revealed that he battled Mothra for the world, lost, and his mummified remains are resurrected by the Xillens. Gigan is sent to prevent Godzilla’s awakening, and while it looks like he has the advantage, Godzilla opens fire with atomic ray and Gigan’s head is blown apart. But he is rebuilt and comes back for the final battle, ditching his scythe hands for a pair of unique chainsaw arms. Gigan battles Mothra, setting her on fire. However, as he goes to battle Godzilla, razor disks he launched before come back and decapitate him. Mothra then commits a fiery kamikaze attack, obliterating Gigan once and for all.

About the author

Mark Russell