2023.11.26.

Monsters (Paleo-creatures) Appearing in Godzilla

I watched the movie "Godzilla -1.0," released on November 3rd.
This film, commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzilla, depicted Godzilla suddenly appearing in Japan, which had been reduced to ashes right after the war.

The origin of Godzilla varies with each work, but in the first film (released in 1954), it was explained as "a descendant evolving from marine reptiles to land animals that lived from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous period, driven from its peaceful habitat by nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll." In many subsequent works, it was described as "a survivor of ancient creatures transformed by radiation from the hydrogen bomb tests at Bikini Atoll." I believe the origin of its radioactive flame comes from its nuclear test origins.

The "Godzilla" movie series, spanning 70 years, features many creatures-monsters based on paleontology.
I will summarize them here.

Monsters of Dinosaur Origin

Introducing the monsters of "dinosaur" origin that have appeared in the "Godzilla" movie series.

Anguirus

Anguirus first appeared in "Godzilla Raids Again" (1955). It is said to be a survivor of the Cretaceous armored dinosaur Ankylosaurus, mutated by hydrogen bomb tests. Compared to Ankylosaurus, which was about 5.5-11m long, Anguirus is 100m long.
It also appeared in "Destroy All Monsters," "Godzilla vs. Gigan," "Godzilla vs. Megalon," and "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla."

Godzilla Dengeki Daisakusen (Book/Merch)

Monsters of Paleo-creature (excluding Dinosaurs) Origin

Introducing the monsters of "paleo-creature (excluding dinosaurs)" origin that have appeared in the "Godzilla" movie series.

Rodan

Rodan, known as one of the "Toho Big 3 Monsters" along with Godzilla and Mothra. Its first co-appearance with Godzilla was in "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" (1964), but its debut was in "Rodan" (1956).

In its debut film, it is described as "a species of Pteranodon revived in the modern era due to abnormal weather and crustal changes caused by hydrogen bomb test radiation and volcanic gases." In "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" (1993), it was depicted as "a Pteranodon hatched from an egg excavated on Adnoa Island, which mutated due to radioactive material from nuclear waste dumped on the island."

The model Pteranodon's wingspan is estimated to be about 7-9m. Rodan's is 120-150m; its giant size is incredible.

Meganula / Megaguirus

Their debut was in "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus" (2000). The adult Meganula and the further evolved Megaguirus are modeled after Meganisoptera, an insect from the Carboniferous period (about 300 million years ago).
The name Meganula comes from the English pronunciation of the Latin scientific name for Meganisoptera (Meganeura).

Meganula's body length is 2m, with a wingspan of 5m. The evolved Megaguirus has a total length of 50m and a wingspan of 80m. The wingspan of the Meganisoptera was about 40-60cm (the largest dragonfly that ever existed).