#colossal kaiju combat

[twistedtummies2]

I've seen how positively you reacted to the last post, so I've decided to show you EVEN MORE MONSTERS from Colossal Kaiju Combat! This is probably the last time I'm gonna do this, so savor it while you can. Enjoy!

For anyone who wanted to see more of these, here ya go. XD

[12izzy3]

I've had some interactions with the Godzilla NES Creepypasta author post publishing! There was this crowdfunded kaiju video game that was in the works for a while that, as a bit of an engagement gimmick, said they'd put popular OC's from their community into the game if they get enough support, which would start with professional character art and a card game. The video game ultimately failed and the studio abandoned it, but the monsters, art, stories, and card game created on the forum were really awesome, and it was a great creative community for me back like, 9 years ago. But back on topic, the Godzilla NES Creepypasta author, Cosbydaf, was fairly active on the game's forum, and both Solomon and Red were selected for professional concept art, and included in the promotional card game.

Top art by Matt Frank, bottom art by Frankie B. Washington.

Wait, hold on a second, the Godzilla NES creepypasta was posted on YOUR forums?!

Yeah though I had no input or connection to it otherwise! I also haven't heard from or seen the creator around on social media since those days. Abandoned by Disney also debuted on bogleech.com but the creator of that doesn't associate with me, no big deal but it's funny trivia because that story's fandom is absolutely gargantuan. Unfortunately that means it gets plagiarized a lot because the internet likes to treat creepypastas as if they created themselves from the void kinda

[thecreaturecodex]

Bemstar

Image accessed at the Ultraman Wiki here

[Bemstar is one of the kaiju from Return of Ultraman who appears in the most series, movies and spinoffs. As such, I wanted to make sure that it was on the more powerful end of the Return of Ultraman monsters I'm statting up. Due to that popularity, it keeps getting new powers as the plot demands. This Bemstar can release a heat pulse, which it gained in Ultraman Mebius, but its gullet is not a pocket dimension, as it is as of Ultraman X. I've already done enough monsters with extradimensional stomachs (such as the astral dreadnought and Dalmosh), and besides which, few if any PCs are Colossal in size. ]

Bemstar CR 22 NE Aberration This creature is bipedal and vaguely star shaped, with a broad body and patagia connecting its limbs to its torso. Its arms end with a hooked claw and its feet are toeless. Its head is birdlike, with a short bill and a single yellow horn growing from its head. Its head, shoulders, arms and lower legs are scaly, and leathery flaps grow from its thighs. At the center of its belly is a pentagonal plate with an orifice in the middle.

Even dragons have predators. The outer dragons are far flung in space partially because of their ability to freely explore the cosmos, and partially because they are hiding from their predator, the bemstar. Bemstars are ravenous horrors that fly from system to system hunting outer dragons and swallowing them whole. They have faint and malicious intelligence, and if bored, a bemstar may make planetfall in order to try some new and exotic prey.  

A bemstar’s most notable physiological feature is its gorge, the central mouth leading to a digestive system that encompasses most of the bemstar’s anatomy. Not only can it swallow up to Gargantuan creatures whole, it can also swallow laser beams, breath weapons, magic missiles and many other types of supernatural energy. The more it eats, the more it can expend that energy to either heal itself or release bursts of incinerating heat. This heat pulse combined with the beam it can shoot from its horn give it powerful ranged attacks, but bemstars prefer to close into melee as soon as they can and fight with their natural weapons, the better to swallow as much prey as possible. Bemstars are awkward fliers in atmosphere, and usually land after making a charge with their horn.

With their effective immunity to breath weapons, some of the few sages that know about bemstars to speculate that they are an artificial species designed for the purpose of killing dragons. What intelligence did this is unknown, but bemstars happily ally themselves with a wide variety of space monsters in order to wreak havoc. These alliances last as long as the bemstars are well fed, but an ally might become a meal if the bemstar grows hungry or impatient.

Bemstar             CR 22 XP 615,000 NE Colossal aberration Init +4; Senses darkvision 120 ft., Perception +19, scent Aura frightful presence (180 ft., Will DC 27)

Defense AC 38, touch 2, flat-footed 38 (-8 size, +40 natural) hp 462 (28d8+336) Fort +21, Ref +11, Will +18 DR 10/epic; Immune fear, petrifaction, poison; Resist cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20 Defensive Abilities gluttony points,suction attractor spout

Offense Speed 50 ft., fly 100 ft. (poor) Melee 2 claws +32 (2d8+18/19-20 plus grab), gore +31 (4d6+18), bite +31 (4d6+18) Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft. Special Attacks bemstar beam, heat pulse, powerful charge (gore, 8d6+27), swallow whole (AC 30, 46 hp, 4d6+27 bludgeoning plus 5d6 fire)

Statistics Str 47, Dex 11, Con 34, Int 5, Wis 15, Cha 17 Base Atk +21; CMB +47 (+51 grapple); CMD 64 Feats Cleave, Critical Focus, Dazzling Display, Defensive Combat Training, Flyby Attack,Great Cleave, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Intimidating Prowess, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Staggering Critical, Stunning Critical, Weapon Focus (claw) Skills Fly +11, Intimidate +33, Perception +19; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception SQ gluttonous healing,no breath, starflight

Ecology Environment void or any land Organization solitary Treasure none

Special Abilities Bemstar Beam (Su) As a standard action, a bemstar can fire a destructive beam from its horn in a 140 foot line. All creatures in the area take 22d6 points of damage, half of which is fire and half of which is force (Reflex DC 36 halves). A bemstar can use this ability once every 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution based. Gluttonous Healing (Su) As a move action, a bemstar can spend 1 or more Gluttony Points to heal itself of 1d6 points of damage per point spent. It can also spend points to remove status conditions, at the following rate: 1 point—fatigued, sickened 2 points—diseased, staggered 3 points—cursed, exhausted, nauseated 4 points—blinded, deafened, paralyzed A bemstar can spend as many Gluttony Points on this ability at a time as its Hit Dice. Gluttony Points (Su) Every time a bemstar uses its suction attractor spout ability, it gains a number of Gluttony Points equal to the damage dice absorbed. If it absorbs a spell or effect that doesn’t deal hit point damage, it gains a number of Gluttony Points equal to the spell level, or 1/3 the Hit Dice of the creature creating the effect in the case of supernatural abilities (such as a void dragon’s suffocating breath). Whenever a creature dies in a bemstar’s stomach, the bemstar gains gluttony points equal to that creature’s HD. A bemstar can have as many Gluttony Points as twice its HD at a time, and unused Gluttony Points are lost within 24 hours if not spent.  Heat Pulse (Su) As a standard action, a bemstar can spend Gluttony Points to create a burst of fire centered on itself in a 120 foot radius. All creatures in the area take 1d8 points of damage for each Gluttony Point expended (Reflex DC 36 halves). Half of this damage is fire and half of this damage is force. A bemstar can use a maximum number of Gluttony Points at once on this ability as its Hit Dice. The save DC is Constitution based. Starflight (Su) A bemstar can survive in the void of outer space. It flies through space at an incredible speed. Although exact travel times vary, a trip within a single solar system should take 3d20 hours, while a trip beyond should take 3d20 days (or more, at the GM's discretion)—provided the bemstar knows the way to its destination. Suction Attractor Spout (Su) If a bemstar is targeted by a ray or a force effect, or if it is in the area of a line or cone, that effect is neutralized. In the case of a line or cone spell or effect, it affects everything closer to the origin than to the bemstar normally.

[iamblue15]

Calamity Kids VS Kaiju

*(Pros)

-(Cons)

=(Equal)

*All the Calamity Kids will be at 50% power at the start but will go to 100 if they need to even the playing field.

-They all have a limited amount of time to defeat their opponents, so they must use it wisely.

Dipper & Mabel VS Destoroyah

*Destoroyah can split himself into smaller spider-like creatures.

*His Oxygen Destroyer Ray and Variable Slice can cut through nearly anything.

*Can absorb energy from his jaws or tail, replenishing and empowering himself.

-His stomach is the most vulnerable as a strong enough blow causes him to vomit blood.

-Is weak to extreme temperatures

×

*Mabel can create and command an army of battle plushies.

*She can create giant bubbles to trap and demobilize opponents.

*Dipper can generate different monster body parts like tentacles to aid him in enhancing physical strength.

*He can also create a long flaming sword that can nearly slice anything in two.

*Dipper and Mabel can create long-range attacks (Critical Rolls, Death Muffins, and Super Yarn Bomb) and summon kaiju-sized monsters (Enigmatic Beast and King Waddles).

-They must defeat Destoroyah as a team as just one of them on their own won't be enough.

Raz VS Spacegodzilla

*Can create and summon crystals from the ground and out of thin air.

*Has telekinetic abilities as he can fire his crystals at opponents like missiles and carry large objects with his mind.

*The ability to fly at high speeds.

*Can redirect his Corona Beam to hit his targets with his telekinesis.

*Can create a Photon Shield to defend himself.

*Can absorb different kinds of energy such as the crystals he produces to boost his powers.

-If any of the crystals in his body are damaged, he will weaken significantly.

-Isn't the best physical attacker and therefore relies heavily on his powers.

×

*Raz's psychic powers have drastically increased to the point he can telekinetically lift entire buildings and his psi-blasts can penetrate through nearly anything.

*Can produce about a hundred archetypes to overwhelm opponents and for a little more extra damage.

*Throws bad idea grenades.

*Can slow down time using Time Bubble.

*Raz can collect more psychic energy from psitanium or in this case, Spacegodzilla's crystals.

*With enough psychic energy, Raz can produce a colossal psychic titan like the one in the Meat Circus.

-Spacegodzilla can even absorb Raz's energy if he gets hold of him so he must keep his distance and strike at the right opportunity.

Lili VS Biollante

*Biollante can produce a drastic number of tendrils and vines for offense and defense.

*She can spew a highly corrosive acid that can melt flesh to the bone.

*Has an incredible rapid regeneration ability.

*Despite looking immobile, she is actually able to traverse thanks to the vine "legs" on her lower body.

*She can tunnel into the ground to gain more distance and perform ambush maneuvers.

-If she is damaged internally (especially if it's her glowing "heart"), it could be catastrophic for her.

-She requires water for her body to defend and regenerate itself, otherwise, she will be open to attacks.

×

*Lili's pyrokinesis has been enhanced to the point she can create a flaming storm of destruction.

*She can produce and control plant life to aid her in combat.

*Shoots projectile explosive seeds that detonate upon impact.

*If she builds up enough fury, her fire attacks greatly increase.

-Will have qualms about hurting a plant and since she has telepathy, can hear the thoughts of the human side of Biollante. (She was made from the DNA of the daughter of the scientist who created her.)

-If she releases her blue-flaming fury, she will have to go into cooldown and her firepower will decrease.

-Even though she's resistant to Biollante's acid, she can still feel a painful, burning sensation albeit briefly.

Norman VS Hedorah

*Hedorah can split itself into smaller Hedorahs to avoid certain attacks.

*Its sludge can be used to immobilize or burn victims.

*It's capable of flight.

*It produces toxic gas to suffocate or blind opponents.

*It can fire his Hedirum Ray from his eyes and cause painful burning.

*Its malleable body makes him impervious to physical attacks.

*It consumes pollution to grow and replenish itself.

-It requires moisture to function so anything like the power of electricity would cause it to dry out and be turned into ash.

×

*Norman can generate lightning to attack at a distance.

*He can summon hordes of hungry flying ghouls (big and small) to overwhelm his opponent.

*He can make himself non-corporeal like a ghost to evade attacks, this requires his full concentration.

*He can boost his energy by absorbing electricity from machines or in the sky.

*If he harnesses enough energy, Norman can take on the form of a large wraith, which also increases the power of his lightning.

-Though Hedorah's gas won't kill him as it would an average person, he could still be blinded and have difficulty breathing if he makes contact.

Neil VS Leatherback

*Leatherback has the strength to lift and hurl a whole Jaeger over some yards.

*It has tough plated skin that acts as armor so It can take a good amount of damage and won't falter.

*Fists are primary weapons and can tear through the armor of a Jaeger.

*Will resort to hit-and-run tactics and then perform an ambush attack on the opponent.

-Unfortunately, its EMP-like organ won't be effective against this opponent.

-Its belly is soft compared to the rest of the body and can be considered a weak point.

×

*Neil's durability has increased so much that a falling building would barely leave a scratch.

*With enough harnessed energy, Neil can create an extra pair of large arms that can restrain the kaiju or send it flying with a single punch.

*He can generate a shield made from his energy for extra defense.

*if he punches the ground, spiked rocks would shoot out like the Pokémon move Stone Edge along with causing a small earthquake.

=He is just as agile with his attacks compared to Leatherback.

-Would be at a disadvantage if they take this fight underwater and have to rely on his defenses until he can escape and resurface.

Coraline VS Rodan (Monsterverse)

*Rodan is capable of performing devastating aerial maneuvers such as barrel-rolling or sonic booms by clapping his wings together.

*He is extremely durable and resistant to intense heat thanks to his bio-volcanic nature, he can even shrug off a deep puncture wound caused by Mothra.

*Can ambush his opponents by hiding in the clouds.

*Uses a charging attack by swooping in with his beak or talons which triggers an explosion upon impact.

-Though he is durable, Rodan can still be impaled in the case of Mothra stabbing him with her stinger.

-It is evidently seen that Rodan makes very rash and reckless decisions such as taking on King Ghidorah and not aiming for Mothra's most vulnerable areas to finish her.

×

=Coraline matches Rodan in terms of speed.

*however, she has the edge in agility such as maneuvering from one angle to another in the blink of an eye like a dragonfly.

*She can fire homing shots at her opponent, particularly aiming for vulnerable spots like the eyes or inside the mouth.

*Coraline can generate lightsabers that can slice and pierce through virtually anything if she gathers enough energy.

*By rotating in wagon wheel fashion, her ponytail made of energy can function like a circler saw, carving through whatever's in her path.

*If she can pick up enough speed, Coraline can cause a devastating sonic blow upon impact against her opponent.

-Though durable, Coraline can still get temporarily knocked out if she takes the hit from Rodan's sonic booms and exploding charges.

Wybie VS Mechagodzilla (Monsterverse)

*Mechagodzilla is armed to the teeth with different artillery such as missiles, plasma punches, spinning blades at the tip of its tail and even grinding saws in it's hands and mouth.

*It's also equipped with jet boosters to enhance its agility and the power of its blows.

*Its Proton Scream can cut through buildings and even rival Godzilla's Atomic Breath.

*Its armor is highly durable against most attacks unless that attack is powered with some kind of powerful energy like Kong's axe when it absorbed Godzilla's Atomic Breath.

-If its link with Ghidorah's skull is tampered with, it will glitch out momentarily.

×

*Wybie can create whatever machine, weapon, vehicle, or tool he can think of out of his energy.

*He can arm himself with four or more robotic claws like the ones Dr. Octopus has to restrain or defend against his opponent.

*For a boost of speed, he can generate a powerful rocket-booster pack.

*Wybie has the power to manipulate and control electronics or machinery in the area.

-He can only take minimal control of Mechagodzllla such as holding it in place or using its limbs or tail against it.

-He, unfortunately, has lower defense so a Proton Scream could cost him a great deal of damage if he's not careful.

[labyrinthlurker]

After some fine-tuning, I’ve finally landed on a color scheme for my Kaiju-themed game, #kaijuHexicutioner. While I have access to #HexKit and an array of tiles and tools, my iPad is my go-to these days, so installation is off the table. Instead, I embraced the budget-friendly route with my free Canva account. To piece it all together, the “Hex Kit Tile Snapping Template” from ATellingEllipsis on itch.io has been an absolute game-changer for laying down tiles in that perfect hex style.

I’ll probably keep all the art/layout/design in this scheme. What do you guys think?

Just to clarify, I’m currently working on two Kiaju related projects inspired by son, Monster Brains blog, Shojio Otomo, Lancer, Yokai Hunter, and a million other things.

1 - Kaiju Hexicutioner - for Roll Up Jam on itch.io. A simple flavor rich hex crawl with a bunch of dailed in d66 tables for worldbuilding

2. - Unnamed Kaiju and Yokai Game – This hybrid journaling and tactical combat game draws inspiration from the battle boards seen in RUNE and *Magnagothica: Maleghast.* It features a unique mechanic of yokai collecting through physical cards, where players can collect, kill, buy, sell, trade, or even set yokai free. With a nod to *Shin Megami Tensei*, player characters can also acquire yokai (and potentially Kami) powers.

The story follows a young boy or girl who forms an unexpected bond with a kaiju in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by medieval Japan. Set on a small island once decimated by ancient Kaiju wars, the landscape bears the scars of battles between colossal kaiju and mecha. Over time, the survivors rebuilt, forming small settlements and a single large city, each with its own unique culture, customs, and religion. After years of peace and restoration, the island’s fragile tranquility is shattered when a notorious and powerful kaiju reappears, laying waste to the capital city and plunging the island into collective mourning over the shared tragedy.

Embark on a journey across the land, where you'll explore diverse landscapes and capture monsters and yokai, with opportunities to harness their power for yourself. Salvage materials to craft and trade, and interact with various factions and influential figures, gaining insights into their communities. Most villages and settlements exude a peaceful, cozy atmosphere reminiscent of *Animal Crossing*, *Stardew Valley*, and *Zelda*. However, be prepared to encounter numerous evil, cursed, tainted, and haunted locations along the way.

I’ll probably tie them together with similar themes and design.

[rpgsandbox]

Ryoko’s Guide is a 350+ page book bursting with incredible kaiju, inspirational player options, and game-enhancing mechanics that revolutionise Gargantuan scale combat in D&D 5e. Stories and folktales of yokai paint a vibrant, dangerous world, giving GM’s the power to breathe life into any setting. Inspired by ancient mythology through to contemporary popular culture, enhance your game and expand the 5e system with Ryoko's Guide!

Kaiju Battles

Conjure stratospheric levels of excitement and panic as players scale, leap, and desperately battle rampaging kaiju. Totally transform combat with a rules expansion to 5e, as adventurers exploit unique vulnerabilities, adapt to chaotic, changing behaviours, and utilise ingenious ninja prosthetics to overcome unbelievable odds.

New Class: Element Bender

Harness elemental forces! Wield pillars of flame, redirect torrents of icy water, and surf on a storm of rising winds. 

The bender class allows you to mix and match elements as you progress in levels. You can specialise in one element or dip into them all to become a master of earth, water, fire, and air!

New Spells! Master over 40 new spells! Enhance your abilities with the full versatility and power of raw, primordial magic.

Immersive Subclasses

Become a master of shadows, stealth, and silent warfare as a shinobi wizard, a living weapon as bones burst from your flesh as the skeletal blade fighter, and Wild Shape into mysterious, spellcasting creatures as the circle of yokai druid. Or embrace any of the other 12+ subclass options for established 5e classes…

Vibrant, Playable Races

Invoke your yokai ancestry, combining blade with spell as a hanataka-tengu. Skip across lakes and oceans as a blossoming fuyo-ren,  or channel the colossal strength and frigid resilience of mountains as a hulking, ape enkoh. Become one with the yokai realms as any one of 10+ races (14 subraces total!).

These lore-rich race options allow the creation of NPCs and player characters that seamlessly blend into any setting.

Dynamic Combo Attacks

How does the world’s biggest collaborative TTRPG not have combo attack mechanics?

Act simultaneously with the rest of your party to unleash devastating combo strikes! Hurl allies through the air, enhance their weapons with bursts of magic, bolster an ally with a defensive charge, and shift the tide of battle as your sword falls in a dazzling strike of flame and steel.

A Full Bestiary of Mighty Yokai

Surprise your players with unfamiliar creatures, where every stat block tells a story, and danger lurks behind every corner... 

Populate your landscape with the magic of tricksy and dangerous yokai, with incredible twists and original mechanics in every stat block. With more than 50 creatures, this book is a bestiary unto itself!

A Menagerie of Cute Familiars

What’s better than defeating a kaiju? Biomancing its blood into an adorable yokai companion that follows you around! Even better, each of the 10 new bespoke familiars comes with a unique tech tree compatible with the Tamer class (first introduced in Heliana’s Guide). Choose your upgrades and craft your ultimate companion to become the very best that no-one ever was.

A Hoard of Magic Items & Prostheses

Unlock your imagination with over 80 new pieces of incredible adventuring equipment, magic items, and Sekiro-inspired prostheses.  Swing, grapple, and launch yourself through the air with a plethora of exciting new gear to expand your combat proficiency.

Harvest and craft using a versatile and deep crafting system first introduced in Heliana's Guide. Transform the remains of defeated kaiju into a vibrant arsenal of magic items, or craft their soul into a living companion. 

Free Playtest Materials!

Dive into the yokai realms early! Explore pre-released player materials or take on a kaiju in the epic adventure: The Ascendant Cascade.

Playtest the Tengu and Atatsu races here!

Playtest the Dodomeki and the Onryo here!

Playtest the Ronin Ranger and the Spirit Caller Sorcerer here!

Playtest The Ascendant Cascade Kaiju adventure here!

Kickstarter campaign ends: Thu, October 12 2023 3:59 PM BST

Website: https://linktr.ee/dnd_shorts

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (February 19-25, 2023)

Those of you who've been around here for a while may recall the Kickstarter campaign for a documentary called Kaiju Gaiden, which aimed to interview directors of underseen independent kaiju films. I stress the campaign because despite clearing its $25,000 funding goal, the documentary was never completed. Director David Hall apparently took the money and ran, and while producer Mark Jaramillo vowed to finish the film, his last update was in 2018. Jaramillo also stopped posting on his personal Facebook page the same year. Myself and pretty much everyone else who gave the project a backwards glance figured he had simply given up and withdrawn from fandom to avoid further embarrassment. Or perhaps something had happened in his personal life that was more pressing than chronicling the adventures of a wolfman and some funny lizards. Kaiju Gaiden entered the (alarmingly voluminous) annals of kaiju vaporware, alongside the likes of Godzilla Zero Hour and Colossal Kaiju Combat.

Well, something did happen in his personal life. Fucking hell, did it happen. As Jules L. Carrozza revealed last Saturday, Jaramillo was in prison until recently for distributing child pornography online. I've been in touch with someone who's looked into this horrid story beyond what's available through Google (i.e. PACER), and they've confirmed that this is no case of mistaken identity. They also shared excerpts from the sentencing report. I will spare you the vile details. Suffice to say the man is a monster of the kind I wish only existed in the movies. He had started posted on Facebook again in October like nothing had happened, and I'm extremely grateful Carrozza came forward before he could stage some triumphant return at G-Fest or another con.

I aim to have Wikizilla's Kaiju Gaiden page updated by early next week; I feel bad for taking so long, but I want our citations to be unquestionable and can't search PACER myself until Monday. I also regret not including all this in the last week in review, since it did fall under its scope, if only just. Truth be told, I didn't know how the hell to present it alongside more routine kaiju news, Godziban especially.

I also wanted to give good old @kaijusaurus time to complete his Edward Snowden act. Back at G-Fest XXIII in 2016, Jaramillo transferred to him a bunch of indie tokusatsu obscurities and asked him to keep them to himself. Well, suffice to say that promise is off, and he's deposited the lot on archive.org and (when possible) YouTube. Give them a watch and let their lo-fi simplicity remind you why you fell in love with this stuff.

I'm glad they can be out in the world. Kaiju Gaiden ultimately made many of them less visible than they could have been until now. If you couldn't make it to G-Fest, you were shit out of luck. For those of us who could, those memories are thoroughly tainted. Mark Jaramillo didn't make any of them, and they don't deserve to be associated with him. His most enduring contribution to the kaiju genre will be playing a CIA agent in the excruciating God Raiga vs. King Ohga: War of the Monsters... alongside David Hall. Good fucking riddance.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Godzilla has appeared on the big screen regularly for nearly 70 years. The character has been around long enough for his fans to have grown up and become filmmakers who can actively contribute to the property they fell in love with as youths. That’s a precarious position for your franchise to be in. It means the creators are excited to preserve and add to the existing legacy. It can also derail it. I could easily see someone receiving the reigns to a Godzilla film and saying “Let's have wall-to-wall Godzilla action! Drop everything else and give me monsters, monsters, monsters!” Godzilla Minus One, the 37th film in the franchise, is not merely good, it’s one of the best films to ever feature the character. This movie knows what the audience wants to see and is legitimately interested in the poignant drama at its core.

In 1945, near the end of World War II, kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) flees from duty by feigning engine trouble, then fails to fire when a monster the locals call “Godzilla” emerges from the sea. Nearly everyone on the island is killed during Godzilla's rampage. Returning home, he learns his parents were killed in the bombing of Tokyo. Plagued by this new wave of guilt, he allows Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe), whose parents also died in the bombing, and an orphaned baby, Akiko, into his home. In 1947, a mutated, even more monstrous Godzilla emerges once more from the waters surrounding Japan.

This film will play very differently to Western audiences than it will in Japan. When we meet Kōichi, he’s treated like a coward. In the war, his job was to ensure Japan's victory by fighting to the death. His neighbor blames him for the children she's had to bury - if he had given up his life, Japan might’ve won the war. To us, he seems sensible rather than. That’s even before we see him reading the last letter his parents sent, a letter begging him to stay alive. You think he made the right choice but understand why he has doubts. When he takes Noriko and Akiko into his home, it validates his decision to you, but not to him. It’s heartbreaking seeing him constantly push everyone away and denying himself happiness. He could have a wife, a daughter, a good job in a new world that’s rebuilding but he’s haunted by the trauma of combat. All of this would be more than enough for a whole movie. You want him and Noriko to fall in love, to rebuild Kōichi’s ruined childhood home and raise Akiko together but the weight of what happened during the war means he can��t.

You have all of these emotions to preoccupy you, then Godzilla arrives to raise the stakes to an impossible level. Its presence adds to Kōichi’s guilt because he was there when it first attacked. He “let it get away” and now, Godzilla is back. You worry about his role in the strategy to fight back against the colossal, radioactive dinosaur. The movie introduced him as someone too afraid to give up his life for “the greater good”. Will he heroically sacrifice himself to defeat Godzilla? If he does, it will be a bittersweet victory. It may save millions, but you care so much about him, Noriko and Akiko that it would be the biggest heartbreak of all to see the makeshift family torn apart. His inner turmoil fills you with questions. Is Kōichi choosing to work as a mine sweeper because he’s secretly hoping a workplace accident will kill him? Is it because he sees it as a dangerous job that needs to be done - the least he could do to repay the people he let down? Is he putting himself at risk solely to provide for his family? A combination?

Set in its own continuity, this picture features the most frightening iteration of Godzilla we’ve ever seen. When Kōichi’s boat is in the water and the kaiju’s dorsal fins emerge in the distance, you see the influence Jaws had on writer/director Takashi Yamazaki. When Godzilla sows destruction, it’s awe-inspiring because the special effects are spectacular - supposedly, the film cost less than $15 million, which makes it a stunning technical achievement - and horrifying. Your anxiety grows with each scene because this film is a period piece. Japan is being asked to take down the King of the Monsters when the country was sent back to zero.

Godzilla Minus One contains an engaging human story powerful enough that it could stand on its own. The fact that Godzilla appears as both a metaphor for the protagonist's trauma and as a real, terrifying, physical threat to humanity elevates the picture to be one of the great films of 2023. It looks fantastic, the performances are moving and the writing constantly gives you what we want to see, and what the story needs to succeed. Even for non-Godzilla fans, it’s a great film. (Original Theatrical Japanese version with subtitles, on the big screen, December 6, 2023)

[melishade]

In the timeline of the war.How is the relationship between Eren with optimus and bumblebee.

Previous Episode of the War Timeline

Look, it's not just Optimus and Bumblebee I have to focus on. I have to focus on all the humans and Autobots.

I also discussed this a bit with @justawannabearchaeologist and @echoblaze5

So Eren's already having a weird day. Colossal Titan reappears, he gets eaten by a titan before turning into one, he has to be the one to save humanity,...and then these colorful titans that can change their appearance at will are killing the other titans in Trost. Fast forward to after the courtroom scene where Eren is now being examined by Ratchet, who's scanning him. Erwin, Levi, and Mike are already weirded out by Ratchet's tools, but Hanji's just elated. Ratchet then explains that by all accounts, Eren appears to be a normal human being. Nothing comes up that would suggest otherwise. Hanji thinks that there might be something different if Eren uses his power and asks him to do so, but Mike quickly grabs them and tells them to calm down. Erwin asks if Jack, Miko, and Raf might know anything about it, but judging by Miko's buzzing excitement, he assumes their in the dark too.

Ratchet then explains that this isn't normal by human or Cybertronian standards. Humans can't transform into titans and Cybertronians have never been known to have the ability of regeneration. Transformation is a fundamental part of Cybertronian biology, so to not be able to would be considered the outlier. Both sides are in uncharted territory as a of this moment, and Eren doesn't like that there's this much attention on him.

Now after everything is settled, Eren tries his best to avoid the Autobots, but considering his situation, it's practically impossible. Even though the Autobots are not completely trusted, and have to rely on Jack, Miko, and Raf to be mediators, they are more trusted than Eren since there's the risk of Eren turning into a titan and going berserk trying to kill and eat everyone compared to the titans with actual combat experience. But while the Survey Corps definitely approach him with caution, the Autobots...not so much. The humans, particularly Miko, were excited to get to know Eren and ask him about his powers. Every time Ratchet runs a test, he makes sure to ask Eren to tell him if it's too much so that he can some, and quickly restrains Hanji if they try to go overboard. Eren can't really understand Bumblebee, but he's usually kind enough to help him out wherever he can. Bulkhead helps encourage Eren if something does go wrong. Arcee is usually pretty reserved, but she will go out of her way to ask how his day was. She doesn't really like the fact that Eren's kind of being treated like a prisoner. He's Jack's age. That just doesn't seem right.

However, there is one issue: Eren tries to pull Jack, Miko, and Raf away from the Autobots if he thinks something is wrong or they're about to get hurt. Because he likes them. They're nice, and he doesn't want them to get hurt. First time he does it is with Raf, and he kind of just picks him up and walks away. Second time, he's pushing Jack into the castle. Third time is in titan form with Miko.

Miko: You're lucky you can turn into a Kaiju or else I'd sock you right in the nose.

And the Autobots and kids have to confront Eren about it and explain that he needs to stop. They get the mistrust, but you could very easily just spy on them like Captain Levi does. Cuts to Levi drinking tea through a window looking down at them. Like they don't eat humans and the humans are responsible. Eren apologizes for the way he's been acting. He just doesn't want anyone getting hurt, especially after what happened to his friends in Trost...and losing his home...and losing his mom. And suddenly, the Autobots are dealing with an Eren that's crying. And they all feel really bad, because he's someone with too much responsibility and too much loss for someone his age. Optimus definitely feels it because he's certain that Eren didn't ask for this power. And that it was thrusted upon him. Optimus is the one who kneels down in titan form and tells him that his emotions are valid, and that he was sorry for his loss, and that they would do everything in their power to help Eren regain his home and his freedom. Eren is quite touched, and Jack, Miko, and Raf hug him.

So a few things:

-Eren really gets along with Jack, Miko, and Raf. One of the few things that help break the ice between them is the fact that they had a sleepover essentially. Since Eren is ordered to remain in the basement to prevent a titan transformation from killing everyone, the human trio end up sneaking down there late at night and find that he's still awake. Eren wants them to go up so they don't get into trouble, but they don't want him to be alone like this. Raf still has his backpack, so he ends up sharing his last snacks with the remaining. And it's a specific item from Earth, a few granola bars. Jack and Miko lament the food they're gonna miss while they're here, but Eren just gobbles his granola bar down because it's so good. Eren asks if this food is available all the time on Earth, and the humans tell Eren stories about what Earth is like. Levi listens in because he saw the humans sneak down to the basement and he can't help but think that Earth sounds nice.

-The Autobots end up teaching Eren how to fight, and they offer him, which Eren is nervous about, but the teens encourage him and Erwin thinks it would be beneficial. First day of training he gets his ass handed to him many times. Miko gets that on video.

-Bumblebee offers to teach Eren Cybertronian Sign Language, which is quite tricky since Eren can't understand Bee and it's a different language. But the Autobots manage to help translate a few phrases over so that Eren can learn the sign behind it. Raf also helps with a few phrases in American Sign Language since he thought that learning for Bee at some point would be useful. Definitely helps with Eren communicating in titan form.

-Also, final note, nothing to do with Eren, it has to deal with Hanji. Hanji in the War Timeline will go by they/them because they are introduced to the concept through Jack, Miko, and Raf. In Attack on Prime, when I started the actual anime in 2013, Hanji was referred to as she/her and I just stuck with it for the story. And it will be that way for some time. I will ultimately make Hanji non-binary in AOP, I just have to make it flow.

[visualmemoryunit]

ive lost money on 2 kickstarters . 1. colossal kaiju combat, a game that never came out and 2. omori a game i lost interest in and never got my backer copy of.

[twistedtummies2]

These are only SOME of the monsters from a cancelled Kaiju fighting game called COLOSSAL KAIJU COMBAT. Didn't post any of these because I think they'd be good preds (though Macrosaurus would fit the bill.....I mean, in canon he's a gigantic fat dinosaur who got so hungry he BIT A HOLE INTO REALITY to travel in time.), I just wanted to show some cool designs. If you'd like to see more, go to artists Deviantart page, Kaijusamurai.

Very interesting! The designs are definitely very cool; they run the gamut from cartoonishly fun to awesome to just plain freaky. And yeah, I can see why you specifically pointed out Macrosaurus, under the circumstances. XD Thank you for sharing!

[usagirotten]

Movie Review: Godzilla Minus One reflects the greatness and spectacularity of quality cinema

1954 marked a before and after in science fiction and fantasy cinema, this genre so popular today has seen endless stories parade on the big and small screens, ranging from the most original to the adaptations of novels by great contemporary writers. Toho Co., Ltd. is a Japanese high entertainment company that stands out mainly for the production and distribution of films and the production and exhibition of plays. This studio was responsible for bringing one of the most iconic monsters in film history. Godzilla is a gigantic fictional kaiju monster. Its creation and conception in the mid-1950s ended in a film directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda and since then this colossal creature has become a representative icon of Japan and pop culture. appearing in 32 Japanese films produced by Toho Co., Ltd., five American films, and numerous video games, novels, comics, and television shows. 2023 marked the return to the big screen of this kaiju in Japan, Godzilla Minus One is his thirty-third film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, this film is probably a reboot of the entire franchise as we know it today or, it is opening the door to a multiverse of probabilities in which we can see new things with older overtones.

What is the film about?

After the war, a desolate and devastated Japan witnessed the emergence of a monster called Godzilla, leading the country to even greater destruction. In the moment of greatest desperation, the inhabitants will join forces to try to combat this threat before it ends. with everything and everyone. That Japan returns to this character on the big screen is one of the best things that could happen to this franchise, although on the one hand, we have the Western monsterverse that is becoming more and more popular, it is the original that causes the most expectation among its own and strangers, in 2024 Godzilla will turn 70 years old and to celebrate, its parent company Toho Co., Ltd. is bringing forward its celebration in style. To talk about Godzilla is to refer to a franchise that has been very successful over the years. We can say that Godzilla Minus One is the most conventional film of recent times or the most sobering and least extravagantly pretentious work produced in Japan since the original from 1954, this is not intended to be a reboot or a continuation of what we already know, it is a midpoint between a promising future that opens and transforms its original franchise and a past that still has a lot to tell. Set in 1946 where a group of ex-military members exhausted after the passage of a war come together to try to defeat a creature unknown to all, a being about which they know absolutely nothing and that threatens to end the devastation, among the survivors is the Kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) who after a stop on an island witnesses that they cannot stop Godzilla, he will destroy Ginza and then all of Tokyo. Koichi suffers from survivor's guilt, for not having done what was necessary to defend his people and his comrades who had fallen in battle. This is how the film opens, placing us on Odo Island, where this giant makes his appearance, destroying the surviving military camp. Koichi from his plane aims at Godzilla and in a panic he does not dare to shoot him, as a result, several of his companions die, one of the fundamental axes in the story is the fact that its main character has to relive the patriotic feeling and the consequences that this brings to his life after the war.

This type of nationalistic passion is essential to fighting Godzilla and at the same time having to take care of other survivors most of whom have also lost their loved ones, their homes, and their will to fight, we can see this in a very superficial way the havoc caused by war, hunger, lack of resources, people's fear of the unknown, facing a harsh and cruel reality in which no one has more than their own life, the latter is crucial and is not intended to give us a moral discourse simply poses what survivors would do in the face of an even greater threat. The human factor in the Godzilla films is fundamental and serves as the guiding thread of a story seen through the eyes of someone ordinary, a rule established by Ishirō Honda from the beginning, whether they are men or women or children or an entire population. which witnesses the devastation that this giant causes when facing a vulnerable humanity or an enemy at its height, in this case, there is an intense need to demonstrate the worth that people have when facing an unknown enemy and an even more future uncertain. Koichi teams up with Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), a former weapons engineer, and Sosaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki), a former Navy mechanic. Each one has a development parallel to that of the protagonist. The film establishes that their fears are based on their traumas. of the post-war period, the female co-stars, the affectionate and selfless Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe) and her recently orphaned adopted daughter Akiko (Sae Nagatani), are the motivation to fight in another war where no one knows what it will end in. Although we see very little of Godzilla within the film, it is due to another of the rules established by Honda, unlike his appearances here we can see and appreciate that his appearances are very well calibrated and it is simple, he appears when he should appear, not before. nor after, this is what greatly enriches this project, as connoisseurs and fans of this genre we are more than pleased with the result, and those who are not, will be pleasantly surprised. Writer and director Takashi Yamazaki focuses on representing more of a question of national honor than a giant monster that destroys everything, a plot that complements very well with the subplots that directly involve part of what Japanese military culture is, and immediately jumps out. on display when the locals curse Koichi for failing to do his duty and allowing the devastation to continue even two years later. The traumas lead him to wonder if this is real life or if he is just trapped in a post-war hell as punishment for his cowardice. Themes that are deep and serious enough to be dealt with in the middle of the attack of something giant and unknown, possibly it is in this very specific point where the success of Godzilla Minus One lies, the story in general does not take so many restrictions nor does it worry about falling into excess of explanations, an idea that is taken and paid homage to that of 1954 where at every moment we can make a comparison between the two without detracting from the merit and importance of each one. No matter how convincing the human part is within this same work, Yamazaki does not allow this to be a distraction from the main event, Godzilla himself, another thing that is surprising in the middle of 2023 is that this film is a cleaner and more honest cinema, while other productions make an impressive waste of visual effects that serve to complement a plot, here things change, as visual effects director alongside Kiyoko Shibuya, Yamazaki presents a Godzilla very different from his current American counterpart without losing that wonderful feeling of having a person wearing a bag made of cloth and rubber. The quality of the effects is at the level of what is required for a film of this type, what should impress us is not only the creature but how it interacts with its environment, it is not about destroying for the sake of destroying, although one would think that Making a model and putting someone to wreak havoc on it is simple, the reality is that it is more complicated than it seems, a filming process like this not only takes hours of planning but days and even weeks in its execution for it to be completed. See as realistic as possible within how unbelievable it can be. Its ending is something completely new and worth seeing, something that tells us that there will be more of this Godzilla in the future and that he is not as indestructible as in previous films, this contribution greatly enriches this new franchise and takes it to another level within itself, reinvention is not something that can be handled so easily and here it is so simple to propose that it not only convinces a demanding audience it also flaunts everything we can expect, a monster that dies but can regenerate? The idea sounds crazy but here it is perfectly well executed and justified. Perhaps, and I say perhaps, the biggest flaw that this film has is in the proportions from small to large and vice versa, as well as its perspective when changing from one scene to another, for example, in the almost climactic part we see a very good Godzilla. planted and balanced on a seabed, moments later we see that the depth of the ocean in which they are exceeds it by 100 to 1, this seems to be something already established and not a sequential error, we have seen it in other productions of the genre, series animated, and even in comics. Another detail to consider if we are talking about a colossal creature, something very similar happens with movements on land that are more clumsy or with the displacement of the water when it is swimming, these details can go unnoticed and can be justified because we are dealing with a job. merely fantastic that aims to be as realistic as possible.

Unlike Toho Co., Ltd's latest production, the equally excellent Shin Godzilla (2016), the monster's design continues to have fundamental bases of something similar to a dinosaur, we can see a partial evolution, a young Godzilla that appears at the beginning and that reminds us of a T-Rex attack sequence in the first Jurassic Park film (1993) and it is until the middle and towards the end where we can see it in all its splendor, another contribution that Yamazaki makes to this franchise is to reinvent its atomic breath, here seen as a buildup of atomic energy that activates along with the scales on its back when they turn blue, followed by a mushroom cloud at the point of impact that destroys the surrounding area that first radiates. and then it implodes, when we see this on screen there is a total absence of sound which gives more drama to the sequence. It cannot be overlooked that the central message in the 1954 film was the use of atomic weapons, Minus One's Godzilla once again represents the uncontrollable destruction that these cause and the consequences that exist in its environment and its fauna, It is very well stated that Godzilla here is the result of this, a being that is not a dinosaur but is a mutant humanoid creature that perhaps is only looking for a place in a world that it does not know and that equally terrifies it as it terrifies us as humans. presence, here there is already a link between the monster and wars in general, a synonym for destruction and seemingly unstoppable death without a motivation that is understandable to us. This sudden and surprising change in the character's line not only reveals the commercial ambition of the studio but also competes with its American namesake, which completely distances itself from any nationalism and patriotic message, despite all the violence on screen Godzilla Minus One It is an infinitely hopeful film that reaffirms the survival of humans as a dominant species that sees in Godzilla a representation of the warrior nature we have to face adversity and the determining will to live. The cast is made up of Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki who understand their characters perfectly well and what they must face, their construction is still based on the first film that here it is recreated in a more current, modern, convincing and terrifying way. The music composed by Naoki Satō has precise samples of what was composed by Akira Ifukube for the 1954 Gojira without losing its personality, each piece is perfectly well cared for and synchronized so that as spectators we can become audiovisually involved in a great show. In conclusion, Godzilla Minus One is a clear example and shows us that with a very modest budget of less than 15 million dollars, you can make a great film, that it is not necessary to make a commercial waste to present a mediocre product, that when projects like this, they are in the right hands with a concrete and precise approach to where they want to go. These are the results. A worthy, honest, and awe-inspiring work, it takes all the classic elements such as Godzilla's scream and transforms them not in a modern way but with a vision of the past that marks the beginning of a new future, something very worthy of presenting to the new generations and that is up to the task of competing with any monster verse, what took the West 5 films, a comic book prequel, and a television series, it was enough for the East just to do this to capture the world's attention. A film that has already been positioned as one of the best of the year is already a classic and that plans to have a re-release in Japan in a more classic format in black and white, without a doubt the projects of this studio will give a lot of something talk in the future and we look forward to more work like this at a very high level. Godzilla Minus One is now out in theaters in your country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PShgB-ielBI Read the full article

[thecreaturecodex]

Terochilus

Image accessed from the Ultraman Wiki here

[Terochilus is a monster that makes a big impression in Return of Ultraman (being the star of a two-part episode), but with very little impact on the franchise outside of it. Which is a shame. It feels like Ultraman's Rodan the way that Arstron feels like its Godzilla. It has a weirder power set than Rodan, though, with its toxic webbing and shooting lasers from its nose. It kind of reminds me of The Giant Claw, in the sense of being a superficially simple flying kaiju that is totally bizarre on closer inspection, and I designed its stats intentionally to be a counterpart to my cacagnea.

In the show, its webs emit toxic gas on exposure to automobile exhaust, making Terochilus another pollution-themed kaiju. Since cars don't exist in Pathfinder, I changed the trigger to the webs getting extra dangerous to fire, which is the typical adventurer solution to webbing. That, and it makes the Terochilus' lairing in volcanoes synergistic, and very dangerous.

Also, I can't prove it, but I suspect that Terochilus' pterosaur with feathers look inspired the winged fakeosaur that came in the same set as the ones that inspired the rust monster and bulette]

Terochilus

CR 19 LN Magical Beast

This creature resembles a strange cross between bird and pterosaur. It walks on two elephantine legs, and has membranous wings growing like a cape from its human-like arms. It has a head and neck covered with feathers, and a long straight bill.

A terochilus is a bestial, vaguely avian predator, something like a roc writ even larger. They are found lairing on volcanic islands and are extremely territorial—a terochilus patrols the water near the island for whales, large fish and the occasional sea monster to eat, and drives away anything else entering its hunting grounds. This territoriality extends to their volcanic lairs as well. A terochilus usually lives near the caldera and lines its nest with thick ashy webbing. This webbing is flammable, but burning it produces a highly potent toxic gas that causes immediate unconsciousness followed by systematic organ failure. The terochiluses are immune to these noxious fumes, and encourage periodic fires to burn the webbing and fumigate their lairs.

Terochiluses usually do not see creatures of human size and shape as prey. The danger comes from their territorial instinct—they attack boats that steer too close to their hunting grounds. If forced from their lairs by a stronger monster, they may settle closer to inhabited areas and wreak havoc enforcing their new territorial boundaries. In combat, a terochilus usually opens by spraying opponents with webbing, and then closing to melee with entangled enemies. A terochilus possesses a powerful breath weapon, which manifests as beams of deadly force fired from its nostrils. This breath weapon does not recharge quickly, and most terochiluses use it as a weapon of last resort only.

Terochilus CR 19

XP 204,800

LN Colossal magical beast

Init +9; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, Perception +22, tremorsense 30 ft.

Defense

AC 34, touch 12, flat-footed 24 (-8 size, +9 Dex, +1 dodge, +22 natural)

hp 346 (21d10+231)

Fort +23, Ref +21, Will +12

DR 20/magic; Immune poison; Resist fire 30, force 30; SR 30

Offense

Speed 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (average)

Melee bite +27 (4d6+14/19-20 plus grab), 2 claws +27 (2d8+14), 2 wings +22 (2d8+7)

Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon (150 ft. line, 1 minute, 19d10 force damage),hurricane hover,swallow whole(AC 21, 34 hp, 4d8+21 bludgeoning),toxic webbing, webs (+22 ranged, range increment 30 ft., 150 ft. range, DR 10/-, 21 hp, DC 31)

Statistics

Str 39, Dex 28, Con 32, Int 4, Wis 21, Cha 15

Base Atk +21; CMB +43 (+47 grapple); CMD 63

Feats Acrobatic,Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes,Dodge, Flyby Attack, Greater Vital Strike, Hover (B), Improved Critical (bite), Improved Vital Strike, Mobility, Power Attack, Vital Strike

Skills Acrobatics +21 (+25 when jumping), Climb +26, Fly +13, Perception +22; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception

Languages Ignan (cannot speak)

Ecology

Environment warm land

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure incidental

Special Abilities

Hurricane Hover (Ex) A terochilus gains Hover as a bonus feat. When it uses the Hover feat, it creates hurricane force winds in a 60-foot radius, regardless of its distance from the surface.

Toxic Webbing (Ex) A terochilus’ webs release toxic gas when they take fire damage. This gas fills a 30 foot radius from the webbing, and lingers for 1d4+1 rounds before dissipating. This toxin has the following properties

Web fumes—inhaled; duration 1/round for 4 rounds; save Fort DC 31; initial effect unconsciousness 1 minute; secondary effect 1d6 Con damage and unconsciousness 10 minutes; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution based.

[jdolan]

The Influence of Japanese Kaiju films on other directors: Guillermo del Toro

The influence of Japanese Kaiju films from the 1950s and 1960s is profound, especially on filmmakers who grew up watching these iconic monster movies. A primary example of this is critically acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and his film Pacific Rim.

In "Pacific Rim," del Toro presents a world where giant monsters, known as Kaiju, emerge from an interdimensional portal beneath the Pacific Ocean to wreak havoc on humanity. In response, humanity constructs massive humanoid robots called Jaegers to combat the Kaiju. The film's premise directly mirrors the formula of classic Kaiju films, where giant monsters threaten civilization, and humanity fights back with a nearly equally colossal defense.

Del Toro's love for the spectacle and mythology of Kaiju movies is evident in the design of both the monsters and the Jaegers. The Kaiju are diverse in appearance, ranging from reptilian behemoths to insectoid nightmares, reminiscent of the varied creatures seen in the classic Kaiju films of the 1950's and 60's. Each Jaeger is also distinct, with its own unique design and weaponry, echoing the iconic giant robots of Japanese pop culture.

Beyond the visual homage, del Toro infuses "Pacific Rim" with his own themes and motifs. The film explores themes of teamwork, sacrifice, and humanity's resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, all of which are recurring themes in classic Kaiju storytelling. However additionally, del Toro imbues his monsters and robots with a sense of personality and character, and in an interview, stated that each character's personal story was just as or possibly more important than creating the action scenes in the film.

[booman86]

Gargantica Attack of the Time Dragon

High-Tech City Year 2041

Somewhere in the far future, a battle was beginning to take place. Two combatants stood ready to fight. One resembled a massive golden dragon-like monster with four wings and spikes down it's back. It also had arms and two sturdy legs and green eyes. The Time-Dragon roared at its opponent. The other Giant was human in origin and had a female shape with long dark red hair and blue eyes. Gargantica stood ready to fight. The two colossal combatants charged at one another and slammed into each other. Clenched fists were countered, with clawed hands. "You're not gonna win that easy Time Dragon!" shouted Gargantica as she swung the Time Dragon by its tail. Thankfully the Time Dragon then fires off its eye beams at Gargantica's arms, causing her to let go. The Time Dragon then takes this opportunity to strike Gargantica in the face with its tail and drop kick her to the ground.

As Gargantica was on the ground, the Time Dragon then lands on top of her, with its fangs out. However, just as the Time Dragon was about to end Gargantica's life, a massive blue, white and, pink blur rushes in and tackles the Time Dragon to the ground. Gargantica then looks up to see a fellow Giantess right by her side. She was none other than her good friend and ally Varyanzer. "Looks like you could use some help here," said Varyanzer. "Took ya long enough!" joked Gargantica as she was getting up. The Time Dragon then gets back up only to see that it is outnumbered in this fight. However, it did have one more trick up its sleeve. The Time Dragon then spreads its wings out wide as they began to glow a neon blue color. "Oh no," said  Varyanzer. "It's going to travel through time!" That it was, The Time Dragon's wings then generate bolts of blue lightning, which in turn causes a giant portal to open up behind it. "Oh no, you don't!" shouted Gargantica as she then runs and tackles the Dragon right through the portal. "Gargantica, wait!" shouted  Varyanzer, as she follows behind.

Now all three are stuck through a time warp caused by the Time Dragon. "Where is that Big lizard taking us?" asked Varyanzer. "I think its more like when Vary," said Gargantica.

PRESENT DAY, NEW YORK CITY 2021

Over in New York City, Two Red-Haired Giantess had just finished cleaning up a part of the city after fighting off a Giant Squid like creature. The Titan Twins Titanya and Colossa are otherwise known as Tanya, and Cali Hall were busy clearing away rubble. "Ugh god, I hate fighting sea Monsters!" Snapped Titanya. " they never fight fair when they're in the water. "I think that's the idea with sea Monsters sis," said Colossa.

"I guess," snorted Titanya. "By the way, do you think that you should be working what with your condition and all?" Colossa looks up at her sister.  "I'll be fine, Titanya, plus I want this to be a surprise for Steve," said Colossa. "If you say so," said Titanya.

Over in New Jersey, a massive portal opened up on the outskirts of the city. The Time Dragon had finally made through time first ahead of Gargantica and Varyanzer. The Time Dragon roars, letting his presence be known to the world. It wasn't long until several helicopters had flown in and surrounded the Time Dragon, but the beast had managed to destroy all of them with energy beams.

Back in New York, The Titan Twins had just finished their work, and we're about to head home. "Finally, we can head back home." Said Titanya. However, the alarm on both there communicators had gone off. "What the hell?" Said Titanya. "It must be Gaia," said Colossa.  Colossa the answers. "Colossa, here, what's up?" Said Colossa. "Colossa, there's been a Kaiju sighting over in Jersey we need you and your sister to get there and handle it," said Gaia.

"So much for going home," said Titanya.  The two redheads then make their way to New Jersey to deal with this new threat. Back in New Jersey, the Time Dragon was rampaging through the city. As the attack went on, another portal had opened up, and two Giantess walked through. Gargantica and Varyanzer, who were following the Time Dragon, had found where he was. "I have forgotten how low tech the past looked," said Varyanzer. "There's no time for sightseeing Var we got to get to that Dragon before it causes any damage to the past," added Gargantica. "Nor should we do anything to damage it either." Varyanzer nodded and head toward the city. Over in the city the Time Dragon was already trashing the military. It wasn't long until Titanya and Colossa had arrived to confront the monster.

"Didn't think we'd be fighting a Dragon," said Colossa. "Who cares that overgrown lizard is going down!" said Titanya. The Time Dragon then sees the two Giantess and then stares right at Colossa. The Time Dragon's eyes glow bright red its systems then senes Colossa's DNA and how it was similar to another certain giantess. The Time Dragon then lunges at Colossa and tackles her to the ground. "Hey back off my sister Ugly!!" shouted Titanya. Titanya then grabs the Time Dragon by the tail and pulls him off of her sister only for the Dragon knock her off her feet with its eye beams. The Time Dragon then go back after Colossa with jaws snapping! "Jesus, why is it after me!?" asked Colossa who had just punched in the throat. While the fight was going on Gargantica and Varyanzer had just arrived to see the Time Dragon fighting with Colossa.

"Oh no!" said Gargantica in a worried tone of voice. "Gar, that Dragon after your Mother!" said Varyanzer. Indeed Varyanzer was right Gargantica was the daughter of Colossa and future member of the Giantastics. The Time Dragon analyzed Colossa's DNA and matched it up to Gargantic's and now he was going to try and kill her so Gargantica would never exist! Gargantica then charges at the monster and roundhouse kicks the Time Dragon in the head knocking the monster out. Colossa then looks up to see Gargantica offering her a hand. "Are you ok?" asked Gargantica. "I'm fine thanks for the assist," said Colossa. "Who are you?" Colossa gets to her feet and looks at Gargantica. Gargantica knowing that if she told her everything that it would cause more damage to the timeline than the Time Dragon would. "Uh, you can call me a friend,"  said Gargantica nervously. Colossa then looked at her inquisitively due to her remark. "Ok?" said Colossa.

However, The Time Dragon had regained consciousness and was about to fly at the Mega sized mother and daughter duo. Thankfully the Time Dragon was being pulled by the tail by Varyanzer. "Hey, Gargantica a little help here!?" shouted Varyanzer. "I'm on it!" said Gargantica who had just rushed over to fight the Monster. "Gargantica?" said Colossa. The Time Dragon then pushes both Varyanzer and Gargantica away from it and is about to attack them both. Thankfully, the Time Dragon is hit right in its jaw by none other than Gargantica's aunt and Colossa's twin sister Titanya. Colossa then charges in and uppercuts the Time Dragon. "Nice hit sis!" said Titanya. "Thanks, glad to see you're still alive," added Colossa. Just then Varyanzer and Gargantica then rush in to finish off the monster. A long blade appears from Varyanzer's wrist while an energy cannon appears from Gargantica's. "Ready?" asked Varyanzer. "Let's do it!" said Gargantica.

Gargantica blasts the monster with her cannon, while Varyanzer impales it right through the chest killing it once and for all! "That takes care of that Time Dragon," said Varyanzer. The Titan Twins then walk over to the two future heroes.  "Hey, you guys were great out there!" said Titanya. "Yeah, but what was that thing?" asked Colossa. Gargantica then explains most of what was going on to her mother and aunt, save the part of her being their descendant. "So this Time Dragon thing is dead right?" asked Titanya. "Yes, now we've got to take it back to our time and properly dispose of it," said Varyanzer.  "But how are you two going to get back?" asked Colossa. Gargantica uses her wrist cannon and the Time Dragons head and opens a time portal. "Well, we have to go," said Gargantica. "safe travel you too," said Titanya. "Hopefully we'll see each other again soon," said Colossa. "Yeah, Hopefully," said Gargantica. Before leaving Gargantica then give Colossa a great big hug and then runs through the portal. "Goodbye, Gargantica," said Colossa. Garagantica then waves back at her. "Goodbye......Mom," Whispers Gargantica.

The Portal disappears. "Sweet Girl," said Titanya. "Yeah, but for some reason, I think that I've known her from somewhere," said Colossa.

The Giantastics HQ

Back at the HQ, Steven Hall Colossa's husband was busy working some new tech. The Twins then make it back to the base. "Well, he's here are you going to tell him?" whispered Titanya. Colossa then walks over to her husband. "Oh, Cali your back," said Steve. "Hey, steve do you have a moment?" asked Colossa. Steven then walks over to his towering wife. "What's up?" asked Steven. "I have some big news for the two of us," said Colossa. "Ok, what's the news?" asked Steven. "I'M PREGNANT!!" shouted Colossa excitedly. Steven was amost taken aback by this news. he was going to be a father! Steven had then passed out.

[daikaiju-verse54]

Mechagodzilla lore (Part 1)

Here’s a little look into one of the main antagonists of the Godzilla centric side of my AU. The Metallic doppelgänger and would be usurper for the throne, Mechagodzilla!

The way I have envisioned this iteration of the character is a amalgam of his different depictions over the years. The biggest sources of inspiration being both his Millennium and Monsterverse incarnations, with extra sources both made and unmade.

Mechagodzilla is a product created by APEX Cybernetics, a powerful company which is run by Kuronuma Mutsumi and his co-founder and business partner Walter Simmons.

The two men met at a New Year’s party while Walter was visiting Tokyo in 1978. The two soon realised they both shared the same aspirations and fascination with technological advancement. So the two joined together to form APEX as it is known today.

Together with ruthless leadership and aggression, APEX was able to claw its way through the business hierarchy. Creating a colossal monopoly over the world market. With hundreds of subsidiaries all over the world.

APEX has served as a major supplier of machinery and equipment for the military industry. Having previously worked with the PPAMDF (Pan-Pacific Anti-Megafauna Defence Force) to develop new weapons in the effort to combat the Kaiju threat across the world. With Mechagodzilla being the latest and most advanced weapon to be created.

However, not everything is as it seems…

Kuronuma and some others in his employment are actually aliens in disguise. Who plot to use the Mech to conquer the planet. Then auction it off to other alien species in a colossal bidding war. Kuronuma (Real name: Kulu-Elu Rolu-Be) was once a great general of the race known as the Bilusaludo who was exiled for war crimes in a war against one of their enemies. Alongside other convicts, Kuro was imprisoned abroad the prison station Iron Rock for several years. Until he broke out with his fellow Simians.

Fleeing escape and evading arrest by the Star League of Sol, Kuro and his team arrived on Earth where he created the Black Hole 3 Syndicate to carry out criminal activities on Earth.

Kuro hopes that once the auction ends he will have enough money to use against his people by creating a army of Mechas and overthrow the government of his species. Ruling it as a military dictatorship. Spoiler but his home world ends up being sucked into a black hole. He discovers that fact when his schemes on earth have failed and is forced to flee the planet.

(Now back to Mechagodzilla!)

APEX salvages the remains of the original Godzilla to use as a biological wireframe for the Mech to be constructed around.

Grafting the skeleton into the metallic shell via genetic engineered nerve tissue to allow the Mech to move. With a techno-organic brain implanted into the creature’s skull. This brain has a series of wires that act like nerves that connect throughout the body of the Mecha. This brain is operated by the AI AKIRA, however it is simply a co-pilot program. The purpose of the programme serving as a means of transmitting orders from the real source of control.

From a specialised neural interface chamber constructed by APEX, a human pilot is able to control the Mech’s movements and actions. Amplifying psionic energy to create a drift connection between mech and pilot, connected by a satellite from Earth’s orbit to control the Mech without the pilot required to operate the machine manually inside it. Although this option remains available for use should the receiver on the Mech be damaged. With the cockpit of the Mech being stored inside its neck region.

Mechagodzilla is built with all the latest technology and tools in combating the Kaiju. Armour piercing missiles capable of borrowing into the flesh of enemy monsters. Powerful shredding metal claws and a drill at the end of its tail. His most powerful weapon being the Mega Buster cannon. A cannon housed in its oral cavity which weaponises refractive light, creating a rainbow like appearance when fired. He has numerous other weapons, but I’ll include those in a separate list for the future.

Despite being one of the most advanced machines to be created by humanity. Mechagodzilla does have some flaws.

Turns out using the bones of a dead Kaiju and grafting nerves to it wasn’t the best idea APEX had. Despite its death, the spirit of the dead Gojira was roused from its rest and began to exert its influence over the Mech. Wrestling with AKIRA and its pilot for control of the Mech’s motor and weapons system. In most instances the spirit usurps any and all control of the Mech. Shutting off connections to the neural network temporarily.

Sorry, but I’m going to have to cut this short. Because I got a crap ton more to show, but this post is pretty big enough. So, I’ll be splitting it into parts. Hope you enjoyed this, stay tuned for more details and information about this project in the future!