Rodan

Rodan
Godzilla film series character
First appearance	Rodan (1956)
Last appearance	Godzilla 2 (2018)
Created by	Ken Kuronuma
Portrayed by	Shōwa series Haruo Nakajima Kōji Uruki Masaki Shinohara Teruo Aragaki Millennium series Naoko Kamio
Aliases	Radon Monster Zero-Two Fire Rodan[1]

Rodan (ラドン Radon) is a daikaiju monster which first appeared as the titular character in Toho's 1956 film Rodan. Though the character started off in its own stand-alone film, Rodan was later featured in the Godzilla franchise.

Overview

Name

The Japanese name "Radon" is a contraction of "pteranodon"), and may also have been chosen to suggest radiation. Radon is usually referred to as "Rodan" for English speaking markets; however, in Toho's English dub for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, the character is completely referenced as Radon the whole time.

Development

Rodan is classified as a pteranodon in the films. It is occasionally portrayed as a rival and enemy of Godzilla, but is usually depicted as one of Godzilla's allies, much like Anguirus. Rodan and Anguirus both started out as enemies of Godzilla, which may explain the occasional enmity shown between the creatures and Godzilla itself on the rare occasion that they are pitted against one another.^[2] In Rodan's debut, two individuals of their kind appeared, who were both siblings.

Appearances

Films

• Rodan (1956)
• Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
• Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
• Destroy All Monsters (1968)
• Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972, stock footage cameo)
• Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973, stock footage cameo)
• Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975, stock footage cameo)
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
• Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
• Godzilla 2 (2018) - Legendary Pictures and Gareth Edwards, director of Godzilla, confirmed that the rights to King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan from the Toho Studios films have been acquired, and that the characters may appear in "future franchise installments".^[3][4]

Television

• Godzilla Island (1997-1998)

Video games

• Godzilla / Godzilla-Kun: Kaijuu Daikessen (Game Boy - 1990)
• Circus Caper (NES - 1990)
• Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters (NES - 1991)
• Battle Soccer: Field no Hasha (SNES - 1992)
• Kaijū-ō Godzilla / King of the Monsters, Godzilla (Game Boy - 1993)
• Godzilla: Battle Legends (Turbo Duo - 1993)
• Godzilla Giant Monster March (Game Gear - 1995)
• Godzilla Trading Battle (PlayStation - 1998)
• Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GCN, Xbox - 2002/2003)
• Godzilla: Domination! (GBA - 2002)
• Godzilla: Save the Earth (Xbox, PS2 - 2004)
• Godzilla: Unleashed (Wii - 2007)
• Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash (NDS - 2007)
• Godzilla: Unleashed (PS2 - 2007)

Literature

• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) ^[5]
• Godzilla King of the Monsters (1994)
• Godzilla vs. Gigan and the Smog Monster (1996) ^[6]
• Godzilla on Monster Island (1996) ^[7]
• Godzilla Saves America: A Monster Showdown in 3-D! (1996) ^[8]
• Godzilla 2000 (1997)
• Godzilla at World's End (1998)
• Godzilla vs. the Robot Monsters (1998)
• Godzilla: Journey to Monster Island (1998)
• Godzilla vs. the Space Monster (1998)
• Godzilla Likes to Roar! (1998) ^[9]
• Who's Afraid of Godzilla? (1998) ^[10]
• Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (2011)
• Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths (2011)
• Godzilla: Legends (2011)
• Godzilla: Half-Century War (2012)
• Godzilla: Rulers of Earth (2013)
• Godzilla: History's Greatest Monster (2014)

References

1. "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II/Spacegodzilla Blu-ray Double Feature". Sony Pictures. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
2. "15. Rodan — The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time". Complex. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
3. Jeffries, Adrianne (July 26, 2014). "Gareth Edwards returns to direct 'Godzilla 2' with Rodan and Mothra". The Verge. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
4. Sullivan, Kevin P. (2014-08-14). "‘Godzilla 2′ Gets Release Date: ‘Let Them Wait’". MTV.
5. "Manga: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
6. "Book: Godzilla vs. Gigan and the Smog Monster". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
7. "Book: Godzilla on Monster Island". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
8. "Book: Godzilla Saves America: A Monster Showdown in 3-D!". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
9. "Book: Godzilla Likes to Roar!". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
10. "Book: Who's Afraid of Godzilla?". Tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.

Notes

• Miniatures by Stephen Dedman, Eidolon Magazine Summer 1996, Volume 5, Issue 3 (also known as whole number issue 20). Eidolon Publications, North Perth, Australia. ISSN 1038-5657.