Kamacuras
Kamacuras | |
---|---|
Godzilla film series character | |
First appearance | Son of Godzilla (1967) |
Last appearance | Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) |
Created by | Jun Fukuda |
Aliases | Gimantis |
Forms |
Mutated Human-Sized Form Giant Mutated Form |
Kamacuras (カマキラス Kamakirasu) is a kaiju film monster which first appeared in Toho's 1967 film Son of Godzilla. The name alludes to "kamakiri", the Japanese word for mantis. In its first appearance, the creature was called Gimantis in the U.S. version.
Overview
Showa
In Son of Godzilla, a species of man-sized praying mantises lived on Sollgel Island. Later, a radioactive accident that occurred due to a weather experiment mutated the insects into even larger proportions. Now the size of buildings, they became known as Kamacuras. Three Kamacuras found a giant egg and cracked it open to find a baby Godzilla. Before they could eat the infant, Godzilla arrived on the scene and attacked. Godzilla killed two of the Kamacuras with the third one killed by the giant spider Kumonga. However, a fourth Kamacuras retreated to Monster Island where it has since lived. It can use its very sharp claws to break open Minya's egg in "Son of Godzilla."
The Showa Kamacuras were 2 meters (6.5 feet) long prior to their mutation and were 50 meters (164 feet) tall and weighed 2,800 metric tons (3,086 short tons) after their mutation.
Millennium
In Godzilla: Final Wars, Kamacuras made an appearance as one of the many controlled monsters of a race of superior extraterrestrial beings known as the Xiliens. It attacks Paris, France and causes damage to one of the EDF's battleships until it is teleported away by an enormous UFO to make it seem as if the Xiliens eliminated every monster. Eventually, it is discovered that the Xiliens were controlling the monsters, who are returned to finish their rampages. Kamacuras battles Godzilla when it makes landfall in Tokyo. Godzilla's resurfacing from the ocean causes a massive tidal wave that forces Kamacuras to flee and camouflage itself in a large forest. Godzilla is able to flush Kamacuras out with its atomic ray and Kamacuras flies at Godzilla at Mach speed, but Godzilla grabs it and impales it on an electrical tower, killing it. The novelization shows Godzilla crushing Kamacura's head with its tail.
Final Wars Kamacuras is 40 meters (131 feet) tall, 90 meters (295 feet) long, and weighs 20,000 metric tons (22,046 short tons).
Powers
In addition to its slashing forearm blades and ability to fly, Kamacuras was shown in Final Wars as being able to blend in with the background through a form of chameleon coloration.
Appearances
Films
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- All Monsters Attack (1969, stock footage cameo)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972, stock footage cameo)
- Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Television
- Godzilla Island (1997-1998)
Video games
- Kaijū-ō Godzilla / King of the Monsters, Godzilla (Game Boy - 1993)
- Godzilla Trading Battle (PlayStation - 1998)