Keizer Ghidorah カイザーギドラ [Millennium]


Monster X - Keizer Ghidorah
Monster X
Monster X

Height : 120 meters
Mass : 60,000 tons

Powers / Weapons

Destroyed Thunder beams; anti-gravity; can transform into Keizer Ghidorah

Appearances

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Series // Millennium

Sound Effect

Description

Godzilla ventured deep into the heart of Tokyo, seeking out an evil from another world. An alien civilization, known as the Xiliens, were attempting to conquer Earth, and Godzilla was the last hope of a dying people. As the gargantuan guardian continued to approach the Xilien Mothership, an ancient asteroid known as Gorath was approaching the planet at high speed. When Godzilla noticed the meteor, the nuclear behemoth fired his atomic ray. After a few moments, a huge explosion enveloped the celestial body, turning the once shining metropolis into a desolate graveyard. Godzilla stood amidst the wreckage, in the center of an immense crater. As he looked on, he witnessed the arrival of his greatest challenge yet...

Monster X descended from the husk of Gorath, gravitating slowly to the ground below. Standing at a great distance from one another, the two beings sized each other up. In a flash, the two charged at one another in the vast ruins of Tokyo. Leaping to attack, the beasts began to battle savagely. Monster X gained the first advantage, jumping into the air and lacing Godzilla with his two pronged tail. It then grabbed the King of the Monsters by its arms and twisted them, holding the monster up in a contorted state. The advantage was brief, though, as Godzilla forced himself back to the ground and landed a point blank shot with his atomic ray, sending Monster X reeling backward. The alien creature returned fire, searing Godzilla with its Destroyed Thunder beams. The encounter saw gaining a clear advantage. Luckily, assistance would soon arrive for the forces of good.

Monster XMothra, the winged guardian, arrived to thwart Monster X's attempts to destroy Godzilla. However, the living tapestry of colors was forced to deal with the Xiliens' newest weapon: Gigan. The fully modified Gigan quickly neutralized the Infant Island deity, chopping part of its wing and sending it crashing to the ground. With Mothra out of the way, Gigan was free to assist Monster X.

Flying to meet them, Gigan approached as Monster X unleashed a series of Destroyed Thunder beams into its adversary. The cyborg then landed on the other side of Godzilla and fired his own beam at the nuclear menace. Monster X quickly used his new ally toward his advantage, grappling with Godzilla and holding him in place. This allowed Gigan to utilize his chainsaw hands, ripping the front of Godzilla with them. The King of the Monsters was far from beat, though. He twisted his body just enough to cause the Xilien cyborg to accidentally slash Monster X, freeing Godzilla from his grasp.

Suddenly, Mothra returned to the fray. Using her powerful wings, she slammed into both Gigan and Monster X, flooring them both. With Mothra's return, Godzilla was allowed to focus on Monster X while the winged guardian attacked Gigan. Unfortunately, Gigan managed to ignite Mothra with his beams, as she then rammed into the cyborg with her burning body. The confrontation ended up killing them both, leaving only Godzilla and Monster X standing.

The King of the Monsters wasted no time, charging into and knocking over his foe. Although Monster X managed to avoid another point blank shot of an atomic ray, it wasn't able to stop itself from being pinned down. On top of his adversary, Godzilla pummeled the alien being with his fists. Monster X was able to get some reprieve when the Xilien Mothership detonated, causing the city to erupt in a roaring conflagration and freeing the alien monster from Godzilla's grasp.

With its masters dead, Monster X fired its Destroyed Thunder beams just as Godzilla fired his atomic ray. The beams collided, causing a mammoth explosion that further bathed the area in fire. As the flames dissipated, Monster X's body began to quake. From his shoulders, huge wings erupted, signaling a transformation. Godzilla could only watch with curiosity as the side heads of Monster X began to expand. The silver hued beast started to change to gold and mutate, greatly increasing in size. As lighting sparked, the true identity of the Xilien weapon was revealed: Keizer Ghidorah.


Powers / Weapons
Destroyed Thunder Beams

Destroyed Thunder Beams

Monster X could release a series of gravitational Destroyed Thunder beams from its four eyes. Fully unleashed, four beams would lash out with smaller rays weaving around them.

The weapon could be fired quickly and caused notable damage against Godzilla, leaving burning holes in his skin after impact.

   
Anti-gravity

Anti-gravity

The alien creature was able to alter the effects of gravity around its body.

The extent of this ability is unknown. However, it was able to use it to slow its descent to Earth, after being freed from Gorath, and to stay airborne for longer spans of time after jumping.

   
Can Absorb Radiation

Can Transform into Keizer Ghidorah

Monster X could mutate its body into its true form of Keizer Ghidorah. This would greatly increase its size and raise its mass by +66%, but results in the loss of its exoskeleton. In addition, it gains an enhanced beam weapon and the ability to drain energy from opponents.

The transformation process involves the growth of wings, the expansion of the side heads, changing its arms to legs and other modifications.


Background and Trivia
  • The Xilien creature was portrayed by suit actor Motokuni Nakagawa.
  • Monster X was designed by Katsuya Terada.
  • The beast's gravitational based beam weapon was called "Destroyed Thunder" (デストロイド・サンダー - Desutoroido Sanda), as noted in Godzilla: Final Wars: Super Complete Works (ISBN: 4091014984).
  • The fact that Monster X loses its exoskeleton as part of the transformation process into Keizer Ghidorah is brought up in Godzilla Encyclopedia - New Edition (ISBN: 9784773087253).



Keizer Ghidorah
Keizer Ghidorah

Height : 140 meters
Length : 150 meters
Mass : 100,000 tons

Powers / Weapons

Anti-gravity Destroyed Keizer beams; energy draining bite

Appearances

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Series // Millennium

Sound Effect

Description

As the Xiliens' reign of terror was coming to an end, the showdown between Godzilla and Keizer Ghidorah had just begun. It appeared as though Godzilla was going to procure an immediate advantage, having previously overpowered Monster X. The freshly transformed space demon, however, turned out to be much stronger than anticipated. Its three anti-gravity beams tore into Godzilla and knocked the proud creature to the ground. The King of the Monsters was then dragged across the entire city by the saffron streaks of lightning.

Keizer GhidorahLooking to end the fight quickly, the three-headed monster levitated its foe high into the air using its Anti-gravity Destroyed Keizer Beams. Once at a dizzying height, the huge monster dropped Godzilla to the ground far below. Crashing with a sickening thud, the space demon advanced on the fallen Godzilla. Rearing up on its hind legs, Keizer Ghidorah slammed down on its nuclear foe to weaken him further. The three-headed monster then proceeded to sink its teeth into the gargantuan guardian. As its three jaws sunk into Godzilla, the beast started to absorb the very life force out of its prey. Lifting Godzilla into the air while still locked in its jaws, the King of the Monsters was immobile. Blue energy coursed through Keizer Ghidorah as Godzilla's strength was drained. It appeared as though Keizer Ghidorah would soon become the new monster king; it appeared as though Earth would soon suffer the full wrath of this terrible tyrant!

Humankind had something to say about it, however. The Gotengo charged and fired a beam at Godzilla. This was no ordinary beam, though. Godzilla was given the power of Keizer, an ancient energy procured from the Xiliens that would give extraordinary abilities to whomever possessed it. With this power, Godzilla was able to send a pulse of energy throughout its body, releasing Keizer Ghidorah's tight grip. The revived reptile fired his atomic ray at Keizer Ghidorah's middle head, causing it to explode. The cunning creature forced the hateful hydra's right head to send a gravity beam scorching into its left. As a result, the grotesque dragon was left mangled and maimed with only a single head remaining. The limp body of the once tyrannical titan was then hurled into the sky, and a hyper spiral ray followed. The motionless body flew far into the atmosphere and erupted into a million pieces. Godzilla roared in victory, for this awful oppressor was finally defeated.


Powers / Weapons
Anti-Gravity Destroyed Keizer Beams

Anti-Gravity Destroyed Keizer Beams

Keizer Ghidorah could fire three rays, called Anti-gravity Destroyed Keizer Beams, from its mouths.

The beams packed considerable power, able to push back Godzilla's atomic ray, and also had the ability to manipulate gravity on their targets. This was used to strike and levitate Godzilla into the air, dropping him from considerable heights.

   
Energy Draining Bite

Energy Draining Bite

The three-headed monster could drain energy from its foes by biting them with its heads. Each head possed this power.

When used against Godzilla, the attack quickly immobilized the King of the Monsters. The beast then started to siphon energy from Godzilla, as Keizer Ghidorah's necks pulsed blue from draining Godzilla's power.


Background and Trivia
  • For the movie, two different suit actors were used for the large creature. These were suit actors Motokuni Nakagawa and Toshihiro Ogura.
  • Keizer Ghidorah was designed by Katsuya Terada.
  • The three-headed beast's rays were called the "Anti-gravity Destroyed Keizer Beams" (反重力光線デストロイド・カイザー - Han Juryoku Kosen Desutoroido Kaizs) in Godzilla: Final Wars: Super Complete Works (ISBN: 4091014984).
  • During the initial promotion of Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Keizer Ghidorah's role was kept a secret. To help with this, Toho created a copyright icon for the character that uses the name "Monster X II" rather than note it as a Ghidorah. This icon continues to be used today and can be seen on later day merchandise, including Sony Pictures' Godzilla: Final Wars DVD.
  • The spelling of Keizer Ghidorah's name in English is often inconsistent. It shifts between Keizer Ghidorah and "Kaizer Ghidorah". To confuse matters, there are a lot of sources that align for each spelling. For "Kaizer Ghidorah", the 2005 publication Godzilla: Toho Giant Monster Picture Encyclopedia (ISBN: 4092800525) and the chapter menu for Sony's Godzilla: Final Wars DVD are examples where this appears. For Keizer Ghidorah, the original theatrical pamphlet, the Playstation game Godzilla and the mobile game Godzilla Defense Force are examples where this spelling appears. As an interesting example of how confusing this can be, the game Godzilla Battle Line uses both spellings, calling it "Kaizer Ghidorah" but naming his event as "The Keizer Descends".

    In 2005, Toho Kingdom was given the opportunity to check on the preferred English names for several of Toho's properties. During these discussions with Toho, it was mentioned that the preferred spelling is Keizer Ghidorah for the three-headed monster.