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{{nihongo|'''''Kaiju'''''|怪獣|kaijū}} is a Japanese word that literally translates to "strange creature." The word has been translated and defined in English as "monster" and is used to refer to a genre of [[tokusatsu]] entertainment. Kaiju films usually showcase monsters of any form, usually attacking a major Japanese city or engaging another (or multiple) monsters in battle.
{{nihongo|'''''Kaiju'''''|怪獣|kaijū}} is a Japanese word that literally translates to "strange creature." The word has been translated and defined in English as "monster" and is used to refer to a genre of [[tokusatsu]] entertainment. Kaiju films usually showcase monsters of any form, usually attacking a major Japanese city or engaging another (or multiple) monsters in battle.

⚫
[[Godzilla]] is an example of a daikaiju; others include [[Gamera]], [[Mothra]], [[King Ghidorah]], [[Mechagodzilla]], [[Anguirus]], and [[Rodan]]. The term '''ultra-''kaiju''''' is longhand for ''kaiju'' in the ''[[Ultra Series]]''.


Related terms include {{nihongo|'''''kaijū eiga'''''|怪獣映画|kaijū eiga|[[monster movie]]}}, a [[film]] featuring giant monsters or a single monster; {{nihongo|'''''kaijin'''''|怪人||referring to roughly [[humanoid]] monsters}}; and {{nihongo|'''''daikaiju'''''|大怪獣|daikaijū|giant ''kaiju''}}, specifically meaning the larger variety of monsters.
Related terms include {{nihongo|'''''kaijū eiga'''''|怪獣映画|kaijū eiga|[[monster movie]]}}, a [[film]] featuring giant monsters or a single monster; {{nihongo|'''''kaijin'''''|怪人||referring to roughly [[humanoid]] monsters}}; and {{nihongo|'''''daikaiju'''''|大怪獣|daikaijū|giant ''kaiju''}}, specifically meaning the larger variety of monsters.

⚫
[[Godzilla]] is an example of a daikaiju; others include [[Gamera]], [[Mothra]], [[King Ghidorah]], [[Mechagodzilla]], [[Anguirus]], and [[Rodan]]. The term '''ultra-''kaiju''''' is longhand for ''kaiju'' in the ''[[Ultra Series]]''.


== Concept ==
== Concept ==

Revision as of 21:22, 24 April 2014

"Kaijin" redirects here. For other uses, see Kaijin (disambiguation).
Daikaiju (giant monster) Godzilla from the 1954 Godzilla film, one of the first Japanese movies to feature a giant monster.
Kaijin (humanoid monster) Half human from 1955 Half Human film

Kaiju (怪獣, kaijū) is a Japanese word that literally translates to "strange creature." The word has been translated and defined in English as "monster" and is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment. Kaiju films usually showcase monsters of any form, usually attacking a major Japanese city or engaging another (or multiple) monsters in battle.

Related terms include kaijū eiga (怪獣映画, kaijū eiga, monster movie), a film featuring giant monsters or a single monster; kaijin (怪人, referring to roughly humanoid monsters); and daikaiju (大怪獣, daikaijū, giant kaiju), specifically meaning the larger variety of monsters.

Godzilla is an example of a daikaiju; others include Gamera, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Anguirus, and Rodan. The term ultra-kaiju is longhand for kaiju in the Ultra Series.

Concept

Kaiju are typically modeled after conventional animals, insects or mythological creatures; however, there are more exotic examples. Chōjin Sentai Jetman features monsters based on traffic lights, faucets and tomatoes;[1] Kamen Rider Super-1 includes a whole army of monsters based on household objects such as umbrellas and utility ladders.[2]

While the term kaiju is used in English to describe monsters from tokusatsu and Japanese folklore,[citation needed] monsters such as vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein's monster, mummies and zombies would fall into this category. In fact, Frankenstein's monster was once a kaiju in the film Frankenstein vs. Baragon, which was created by Toho.

Kaiju are sometimes depicted as cannon fodder serving a greater evil. Some kaiju are elite warriors which serve as the right-hand man to the greater villain and are destroyed by the heroic forces. Others have a neutral alignment, only seeking to destroy buildings and other structures. During the early eras of tokusatsu, "heroic" monsters were rarely seen in daikaiju eiga films, and it was not until later when television tokusatsu productions began using kaiju which aided the hero, saved civilians, or demonstrated some kind of complex personality. These kaiju adopted many classic monster traits, appearing as the "Misunderstood Creature". Some kaiju hung out with the heroes and provided comedy relief, in contrast to the darker approach to these characters from more mature franchises, like Kamen Rider.[citation needed] Godzilla, arguably the most well known of the daikaiju, has played the roles of hero, villain, and force of nature in the course of his existence, one of the few kaiju of any type to be depicted in multiple roles and having those around him react in different ways, depending on how the creature itself was being presented in the films.

Kaiju film creators

Major kaiju films

Godzilla and Anguirus from 1955 Godzilla Raids Again film
Daikaiju (giant monster) Rodan from a 1956 Rodan film
File:Kaiyodo kurokabe02s3200.jpg
Kaijin (humanoid monster) Daimajin from Daimajin trilogy

Major kaiju Comics

Major kaiju video games

TV Series

References in culture

  • In the second season Star Wars: The Clone Wars, there are two episodes entitled "The Zillo Beast" and "The Zillo Beast Strikes Back", mostly influenced by Godzilla films, in which a huge reptilian/insectoid beast is transported to the city-covered planet Coruscant, where it breaks loose and goes on the rampage.[citation needed]
  • The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror VI - Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores, Homer goes to Lard Lad Donuts unable to get a "Colossal Doughnut" as advertised, he steals Lard Lad's Donut awaking other giant advertising statues and coming to life to terrorize Springfield. When Lard Lad awakes he makes a Godzilla roar.[citation needed]
  • In the 2013 film Pacific Rim, "Kaiju" is the moniker bestowed upon giant, interdimensional monsters that invade Earth and attempt to exterminate humanity.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Most of the Monsters of Jetman".
  2. ^ "Kamen Rider Super-1". Igadevil.com.
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-sALU_hveA
  4. ^ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2014/02/18/idw-solicits-godzilla-rulers-of-earth-12-and-vol-3-tpb-for-may-2014/
  5. ^ "Pacific Rim - Official Facebook page". Retrieved March 12, 2014.
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