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Gigan

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For the villages in Iran, see Gigan, Iran.
Gigan
Godzilla character
Gigan as portrayed by Kenpachiro Satsuma via suitmation in Godzilla vs. Gigan
First appearanceGodzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
Last appearanceChibi Godzilla Raids Again (2024)
Created byKaoru Mabuchi
Jun Fukuda
Portrayed byShōwa era:
Kenpachiro Satsuma
Isao Zushi
Millennium era:
Kazuhiro Yoshida
Reiwa era: Hikaru Yoshida
Voiced byMamoru Miyano (Chibi Godzilla Raids Again)
In-universe information
AliasFuture Monster[1]
Cyborg Monster[2]
Borodan[3]
SpeciesExtraterrestrial cyborg

Gigan (Japanese: ガイガン, Hepburn: Gaigan) is a kaiju (giant monster) that appeared in Toho's 1972 film, Godzilla vs. Gigan. In Showa era, Gigan is a giant extraterrestrial monster, resembling a bipedal reptile turned into a cyborg by the alien race known as the Nebulans. In Millennium era, Gigan is a bioweapon created by the Xilliens and fought Mothra millennia ago before he was defeated by her and later awakened by the Xilliens in the present time.

Gigan sports a huge buzzsaw in his frontal abdominal region, large metallic hooks for hands, and a bird-like beak.[4] Gigan is considered one of Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponents, and the first kaiju in the Toho sci-fi series to make him noticeably bleed. Complex listed the character as No. 2 on its "The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time" list.[5]

Overview

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Development and design

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Gigan was created during the early 1970s, when the Godzilla films had undergone a comic book-like shift both in tone and special effects were now purely science fiction fare, budgets were greatly reduced, so Gigan was designed as both a marketing ploy for children's toys and as a completely alien creature whose design would not have necessitated the same attention to detail needed for Godzilla's previously more earthly opponents.[6]

The character was first conceived by Kaoru Mabuchi in his script Godzilla vs. the Space Monsters – Earth Defense Directive, which contained elements that would later be incorporated into Godzilla vs. Gigan, including having a mind-controlled Gigan teaming up with King Ghidorah, though the script also included Megalon and the mastermind behind the space monsters' actions was a living brain called Miko.[7]

The first Gigan suit was designed by illustrator Takayoshi Mizuki, modeled by suitmaker Noboyuki Yasamaru, and was worn by Kenpachiro Satsuma, who had starred as Hedorah's suit actor in Godzilla vs. Hedorah the year previously. The two initially did not get on well during filming, as Yasamaru focused more on the suit's appearance than on its practicality, at one point making the character's hand-hooks out of pure fiberglass, which made lifting them almost impossible.[8] In portraying Gigan, Satsuma deliberately emphasized the character's destructive personality. For Gigan's appearance in Zone Fighter, Satsuma did not reprise the role.[9] Special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano had initially wanted to give Gigan the ability to fire a laser beam from its forehead in homage to Buddhist art depicting the Buddha sporting a halo around his head, but the idea was scrapped, as Nakano felt that the character was already powerful enough. The beam was nevertheless included in some promotional stills, along with various Godzilla video games.[10]

Characteristics

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Gigan possesses an integrated jet pack to fly, a circular saw in his abdomen, and hooked blades in place of hands.

In Zone Fighter, the tips of the hooks were able to release an explosive charge on contact with an enemy.

The Godzilla: Final Wars version has grappling hooks in his arms, a plier at the end of his tail, and can shoot boomerang circular saw blades from his neck and a laser from his eyes. Later the Xiliens replaced his hooks with double-bladed chainsaws.

Showa era (1972-1973)

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Gigan debuts in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. Gigan, in which he and King Ghidorah are summoned to Earth by the Nebulans, cockroach-like alien race whose planet had been ravaged by another race and wish to subjugate the Earth in order to create a utopia of "perfect peace". However, the monsters are challenged and defeated by Godzilla and Anguirus.[11]

In the 1973 film, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Gigan is sent by the Nebulans to assist the Seatopians in their assault on humanity by aiding their god, Megalon, in a battle against Godzilla and Jet Jaguar. After having his arm broken by Jet Jaguar however, Gigan retreats into outer space, leaving Megalon to face Godzilla and Jet Jaguar alone.[12]

In the same year, Gigan also makes an appearance in Toho's television series Zone Fighter: after his battle with Godzilla and Jet Jaguar, Gigan is captured by an alien race called the Garogans and sent back to Earth to prevent Godzilla from rescuing Zone Fighter. He was temporarily defeated by the former, but revived once Godzilla left and faced Zone Fighter, who eventually killed Gigan.[13]

Millennium era (2004)

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Gigan, as portrayed by Kazuhiro Yoshida in Godzilla: Final Wars

After a 31-year absence, Gigan returned in the film Godzilla: Final Wars. Millennia prior, Gigan is an ancient bioweapon created by the alien race called Xillien and had fought Mothra for the fate of the Earth and was defeated. In the present time, his mummified body is discovered in Hokkaido and Xilliens awaken Gigan to assist them in destroying Earth and destroy the Gotengo to stop its human and mutant occupants from awakening Godzilla at Antarctica. While Gigan disables the Gotengo, the crew succeed of freeing Godzilla. Gigan faces Godzilla in battle, but is defeated after Godzilla decapitates his head with atomic breath. The Xiliens recover and modify Gigan with chainsaw to assist Monster X in fighting Godzilla at Tokyo. However, Gigan battles Mothra once more, but inadvertently decapitates himself with his own razor disks after he attempts to kill Mothra before she destroys him once and for all.[14]

Reiwa era (2022-present)

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Gigan returned in Gemstone's GvG and Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, where Godzilla battles an army of soldiers known as Gigan Miles led by the elite red-colored Gigan Rex.

The chibi version of Gigan appears in Chibi Godzilla Raids Again is depicted as the cyborg who attempts to retrieve Chibi Mechagodzilla to destroy Monster Island. However, Chibi Gigan is always easily refuted and persuaded so he never achieves his goal.

Appearances

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Films

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Television

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Web content

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  • Godziban (2019–present)
  • Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex (2022)
  • Fest Godzilla 3: Gigan Attacks (2022)
  • Godzilla vs. Megalon (2023)

Video games

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Literature

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Music

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Cultural references

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References

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  1. ^ 監修 東宝株式会社 2012, pp. 154–158.
  2. ^ 監修 東宝株式会社 2012, p. 286.
  3. ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 183.
  4. ^ Glut, Donald F. (2001). Jurassic Classics: A Collection of Saurian Essays and Mesozoic Musings. McFarland & Company. p. 206. ISBN 978-0786409617.
  5. ^ Josh Robertson, "The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time", Complex (May 18, 2014)
  6. ^ Kalat, David (2010). A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 115, 125. ISBN 978-0-7864-47-49-7.
  7. ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 176.
  8. ^ The Art of Suit Acting (2006) - Classic Media Godzilla Raids Again DVD featurette
  9. ^ David Milner, "Kenpachiro Satsuma Interview I" Archived 2016-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, Kaiju Conversations (December 1993)
  10. ^ David Milner, "Teruyoshi Nakano Interview" Archived 2016-10-03 at the Wayback Machine, Kaiju Conversations (July 1994)
  11. ^ Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972). Directed by Jun Fukuda. Toho
  12. ^ Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973). Directed by Jun Fukuda. Toho
  13. ^ "By a Thread - The Roar of Godzilla!". Zone Fighter. Directed by Jun Fukuda. June 11, 1973
  14. ^ Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Directed by Ryūhei Kitamura. Toho

Bibliography

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