Monster Discussion #2: Anguirus (Showa)

[Dannybeane]

Anguirus has always been my favorite kaiju ever since I was 5 years old. His best films are GRA where he was super fierce and DAM. G vs Gigan also gets a special mention as I really like his shell slam attack.

[Follinollante]

Okay, I just randomly read on Wikipedia that Anguirus apparently had/was supposed to have poisonous spines, an ultrasonic roar, incredible regeneration, and... an atomic beam?
Are any of these backed up by evidence? If so, what would that mean for Anguirus as a kaiju?

[Legion1979]

Who writes this crap?

[UltramanGoji]

Okay, I just randomly read on Wikipedia...

Well, there you go.

For future reference, go to Wikzilla for this stuff instead. They actually source stuff properly:

https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Anguirus#Abilities

But there is some level of truth to it. Wikizilla does list most of those abilities, all sourced from Japanese publications like encyclopedias, manga, and novelizations.

[Follinollante]

Woah, I had no idea he actually could do most of this shit. I've been warming to him lately, and this pushes it up a notch.

And, yeah, I realize it's Wikipedia. I just got sidetracked to that page, saw his abilities, and it just got me thinking.

[Gojira18]

My favorite version of Anguirus. He was one of the very few saving graces of GRA and proved to be a highlight in subsequent movies

[edgaguirus]

G vs Gigan also gets a special mention as I really like his shell slam attack.

I like that moment as well. Gigan and Ghidorah were kicking his ass, but then he gets even with that slam attack.

[Follinollante]

G vs Gigan also gets a special mention as I really like his shell slam attack.

I like that moment as well. Gigan and Ghidorah were kicking his ass, but then he gets even with that slam attack.

Fun fact, that exact move was brought back in Gojira Kaijuu Daikessen, along with Godzilla's overhead body slam and, I think, one or two more moves.

[JAGzilla]

https://youtu.be/UdyOG5W1LbI?si=z5iZ0rpF2gK3OdQi

I was just watching this video about the Four Peril monsters in Chinese mythology. The descriptions of the Qiongqi sound surprisingly close to Anguirus. A cow with a dog's head, fangs, and hedgehog quills? It's not too far off. The description of it as a vicious killer that seeks conflict sounds like GRA Anguirus, too. And it's described as "the friend of the hate-filled ignorant," which... kinda sounds like Godzilla? Yeah, I'm reaching.

Obviously Anguirus was based primarily on Ankylosaurus, but I wonder if Qiongqi wasn't also an influence on his design and personality.

[edgaguirus]

Godzilla is partly inspired by dragons, so Anguirus having legendary inspiration is also possible.

[HeiseiGodzilla117]

https://youtu.be/UdyOG5W1LbI?si=z5iZ0rpF2gK3OdQi

I was just watching this video about the Four Peril monsters in Chinese mythology. The descriptions of the Qiongqi sound surprisingly close to Anguirus. A cow with a dog's head, fangs, and hedgehog quills? It's not too far off. The description of it as a vicious killer that seeks conflict sounds like GRA Anguirus, too. And it's described as "the friend of the hate-filled ignorant," which... kinda sounds like Godzilla? Yeah, I'm reaching.

Obviously Anguirus was based primarily on Ankylosaurus, but I wonder if Qiongqi wasn't also an influence on his design and personality.

That was a really interesting video, Jag. Thanks for sharing. Not sure if there was any inspiration for Anguirus, there. But it's a cool idea. And who's to say they couldn't make a movie that equates Qiong Qi to Anguirus and the other perils to other kaiju? Could be a lot of fun.

[LSD Jellyfish]

https://youtu.be/UdyOG5W1LbI?si=z5iZ0rpF2gK3OdQi

I was just watching this video about the Four Peril monsters in Chinese mythology. The descriptions of the Qiongqi sound surprisingly close to Anguirus. A cow with a dog's head, fangs, and hedgehog quills? It's not too far off. The description of it as a vicious killer that seeks conflict sounds like GRA Anguirus, too. And it's described as "the friend of the hate-filled ignorant," which... kinda sounds like Godzilla? Yeah, I'm reaching.

Obviously Anguirus was based primarily on Ankylosaurus, but I wonder if Qiongqi wasn't also an influence on his design and personality.

That doesn't remind me so much of the Showa incarnation, but I certainly believe that is EXACTLY what inspired the Angurius design for the original version of GMK:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Perils

If you think it's a coincidence, Kaneko used the four benevolent animals as a basis for ideas in Gamera 3:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Symbols

[JAGzilla]

Yeah, this was definitely something Kaneko had in mind. GRA's creators? Who knows.

@HG117: That has Monsterverse written all over it. Whether Anguirus is there or not, I'd love to see Godzilla and Kong taking on kaijuized versions of the Four Perils.