Zilla
From Wikizilla
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| Zilla | ||
| Species | Irradiated iguana | |
| Alias | American Godzilla, GINO, TriZilla, Deanzilla, Fraudzilla, Tuna-Head, Notzilla | |
| Form(s) | None | |
| Height | 84[1] meters (180-300 feet) | |
| Weight | 500[2]-20,000[3] tons | |
| Designation | Mutant | |
| Abilities | Power breath (1998 film only),asexual reproduction (1998 film only), atomic breath (Godzilla: the Series), extreme durability (series only),Enhanced regeneration (series only) speed, extraordinary jumper, excellent swimmer, burrowing, very intelligent (Godzilla: the Series) | |
| Origins | Nuclear testing in French Polynesia | |
| Enemies | numerous monsters in Godzilla: the Series | |
| Allies | H.E.A.T., Komodithrax, Giant Bat (on occasion), Nessie, Robo-Yeti | |
| Relationships | Numerous offspring | |
| First appearance | Godzilla | |
| Created by | Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin and Patrick Tatapoulis | |
| Portrayed by: | CGI, animation | |
Zilla (ジラ) is Toho Studio's official name for the titular creature of the 1998 American film. Zilla is a giant mutated iguana originating from a nuclear test in French Polynesia. As the test was done in 1968, the creature (or perhaps species) grew over a period of approximately thirty years. Its irradiated genes caused it to achieve a height of over sixty meters (about two-hundred feet). Physically it resembles a tyrannosaur. He has rough, square-shaped jaws, a long neck, large, fin-shaped dorsal spines (which differ greatly from the maple leaf-shaped spines of Godzilla), and long, powerful legs and arms. He also possesses a seemingly vestigial toe on each foot and (oddly enough) a chin.
He swam from the islands across the Pacific, attacking a Japanese freighter, and then stomped across Panama. From there he traveled up the American Eastern Seaboard, where he sank several American fishing boats. He then stomped through New York, necessitating the evacuation of the entire city. The military battled him extensively, and supposedly killed him in the East River. However, he had laid at least a hundred eggs in Madison Square Garden (an arena in Midtown Manhattan), which hatched and filled the Garden with hundreds of baby Zillas. The military bombed the Garden, slaying the infant Zilla's. However, Zilla then revealed himself to have survived, and chased the heroes through New York across the Brooklyn Bridge, where he became entangled in the suspension cables. He was then killed by F-18's (although later on, in the sequel TV series, he was resurrected as a cyborg by the Tachyons), this cyborg variant apeared during the monster wars story arc which was very similar to the general plot of Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla: Final Wars
However, one of his offspring survived, and imprinted upon Dr. Niko Tatopolis. From there, he accompanied Tatopolis and his team, H.E.A.T., on their missions against various monsters mutated by nuclear experiments in Godzilla: the Series.
The attack on New York by Zilla was described in Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.
In Godzilla: Final Wars another version of the creature is one of the monsters controlled by the Xilians, and under their control he attacks Sydney, Australia. He is defeated rather quickly by Godzilla himself, who sends him flying into the Sydney Opera House and finishes him off with his atomic breath. The battle was only 13 seconds long. Critics say that this was meant to show that the original Godzilla was "better". This incarnation of the reptilian doppleganger had some of highly explosive fire breath.
Zilla appears in the video game Godzilla: Generations, released only in Japan on the Sega Dreamcast system, where he is a character unlocked after the game is finished with Godzilla 1954. His primary weapons are his speed and agility, as well as the ability to charge forward and be invulnerable to damage for a period of time, destroying everything in his path. He also appears in the game Godzilla Trading Battles
Zilla also appears in the Toho Kingdom media cartoons.
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Zilla Jr. (Godzilla: the Series)
Zilla jr. (called "Godzilla" in the series) is the son of Zilla from the film "Godzilla" made in 1998 and the main hero of Godzilla: the Series. When nothing bad is happening to Earth or himself, he is calm, but when there is something bad going on or if he gets threatened, Zilla jr. becomes a violent fighting – machine. He can “Swipe” with his claws, “Whack” with his tail, “Head butt” with his head and use a powerful blast of “Atomic Fire” with his breath. Godzilla is the “Earth Protector”; he MUST protect the earth from anything that is a threat to it. He listens to whatever Nick Tatopoulos orders him to, most of the time. Zilla jr. is very different from his late father, instead of running from danger Zilla jr. faces it head on and will battle his foes to the death if neccasary. Unlike his late father, who reproduced asexually, Zilla jr. is sterile. In the episode “End Of The Line” he falls in love with a mutant Komodo dragon, named Komodithrax. Sadly, Komodithrax and the giant egg she laid die at the end of the episode. Zilla jr. is also much more aggressive than his parent; rather than fleeing from an attack, he will usually, like the Japanese Godzilla, fight or destroy his attackers. He is very intelligent (for a mutation), and shows the ability to make moral decisions. For example, in the episode “Deadloch” where he fights against the Loch Ness Monster, he then later aids Nessie in recovering her stolen baby. Zilla jr. also shows some planning and strategy in his fighting style, though this can be abandoned for sheer savagery and straightforward attacking, if he is angered enough. He has even shown a sense of humor, as in the climax of one episode of the series he splashed members of the H.E.A.T. team with water in a playful fashion.
When the Tachyon aliens invaded Earth in the three-parted episode “Monster Wars”, he showed that he was slightly more resistant to “Mind control” than other mutations. He came face-to-face with his resurrected birth parent Cyber-Zilla. But he shortly came under control of the Tachyons, until H.E.A.T. broke their hold on him. When faced with a tough decision, Godzilla "readopted" Nick and faced Cyber-Zilla in combat and maneged to kill him with some assistance from H.E.A.T.
Fan Reaction
The initial reaction to the 1998 release was a mostly negative one, with fans criticizing the American Godzilla for its change of origin, lack of powers and how easily it is destroyed at the end. For instance, "Godzilla" (or Zilla as he is later known) was redesigned for this film, being a more realistic, dinosaur-like creature that walked like a Tyrannosaurus as opposed to the tripod stance that Japanese Godzilla traditionally uses. The origin of the monster is also changed, from being a mutant fictional dinosaur to an iguana mutated by nuclear fallout from a French nuclear test.
The most heavy criticism, though, came from the creature's lack of similarities to the original monster. "Zilla" lacked Godzilla's trademark atomic breath, as well as his strength and durability, testified to by his easy destruction at the end by the F-18's which had slain most of its offspring. For these reasons, fans refused to equal the two monsters and differentiated by naming the creature "Notzilla", "TriStarZilla", "Deanzilla" or "Patzilla" (because of its creators, Dean Devlin and Patrick Tatopulous), and G.I.N.O. (an acronym for "Godzilla In Name Only"). Toho finally responded by naming the creature "Zilla", accusing TriStar of having removed the "God" from "Godzilla".
Despite the negative reaction to the film, the follow-up TV series garnered surprisingly positive reactions from fans. The series followed the adventures of Dr. Nick Tatopulous, a major character from the film, and Zilla's surviving baby. The series returned Godzilla's trademark characteristics to Zilla Jr., including his strength and nigh-indestructibility, his atomic breath and general masculinity. Zilla Jr. follows Dr. Tatopulous and the members of H.E.A.T around, having imprinted upon Nick as his own parent, and fights various other monsters that have been formed by nuclear radiation, in the style of the late Showa era. The fan response to the series was overall very positive, and Zilla Jr. gained much respect from those who hated the film.
Ever since its defeat in Final Wars, and the success of the cartoon series, Zilla has grown more accepted by Godzilla fans, gaining a true spot among the kaiju and some popularity for its fairly unique design.
Godzilla Neo
Zilla's most recent appearance is through Matt Frank's Godzilla Neo Series (a fanart series which combines the Godzilla series and toho universe into an easy to follow series), in which the creature appearance is the same for all the species. As such, Zilla and Zilla Junior look exactley the same. In the neo series, Zilla is created (along with Crustaceous Rex, El Gusano, Kameobas and komodithrax) in several french experiments involving Godzilla Cells. S.C.A.L.E apparently attack and all 5 mutations escape.
(The folowing is the creature bios, written by Matt Frank)
In the bleary summer of 1998, thunderous footsteps shook the streets of New York City, and a shrieking roar shattered windows. Buildings were smashed, landmarks pulverized, fish trucks....eaten? Headlines blared "GODZILLA TAKES A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE!," "KING OF THE MONSTERS IN NYC!," and vendors lined the streets selling shirts declaring "Godzilla Was Here!" and photographs were taken in the massive footprints left in the monster's wake. Of course, within days, it was all too obvious that Godzilla had NOT attacked New York, had NOT dug tunnels throughout the city, laid 100 eggs in Madison Square Garden, or died from 6 Tomahawk missles on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was instead a beast later known as "Zilla," or "Godzilla In Name Only" by the Kaiju Zoological and Enthusiast community, had chosen the metropolis as a place to lay its eggs and find food (WHY is subject to question). Despite the fact that the King of the Monsters had NOT died at the hands of the US Airforce, they sure liked to believe he did, and the announcements to the contrary were severely downplayed in the media. Regardless, Biologist Nick Tatopolous knew that there was a very, VERY good chance that not all of the creature's eggs were destroyed in the blast that obliterated the nest. Leading a small search party, Nick discovered a lone egg. Hatching and imprinting on the scientist, "Zilla Jr," as it came to be nicknamed, began to follow Nick with incredible loyalty and intelligence, proving itself to be not only an efficient and agile fighter, but a benevolent kaiju at that. Zilla's abilities include;
- Can run at 200 MPH - Burrowing ability rivals Baragon's - Can spit radiation-charged fire - Very light healing factor - Razor-whip tail - Agility makes up for lack of resistance to heavy weapon fire
Eventually, the military learned of Zilla Junior's existance and attacked the creature depite Nick's pleas. Zilla Junior disappeared beneath the waves as a severla missiles were fired at him, resulting in a huge explosion. Zilla Junior did not resurface.
When ZILLA Jr. was presumed dead, Nick Tatopoulos lead the HEAT team with a heavy heart to Jamaica, where reports of another mutation were flooding across the internet. It was here that a new species of giant squid from the deep ocean had been driven into relatively safer feeding grounds by…something. As it turned out, Zilla had survived the attack and followed HEAT to the South Seas, where he saved the crew from a massive squid attack. As it turned out, the thing that had chased the squids from their habitat made itself known: a giant crustacean which Randy Hernandez later dubbed CRUSTACEOUS REX, although Victor “Animal” Palotti suggested the name “Giant Walking Crab Cake.” The former stuck. Crustaceous Rex is a relentless foe, although it is not specifically aggressive towards humans. In fact, the only time it actively chased people was when Nick and French operative Monique DuPre lead the monster into the nearby jungle with a truckload of highway tar. The kaiju was feeding on tar-and-tar-like-substances like that produced by the giant squids, and after Zilla burned up its food supply, it was left with little recourse. When it specifically threatened Nick, Zilla leapt into the fray, and used a combination of wits and a set of GODZILLA-like powers not present in his biological father to defeat the monster, crushing it under tons of rock. After analyzing C-Rex’s DNA, Nick and Elsie Chapman discovered that it shared a remarkably similar genetic structure to Zilla, and, by extension, Godzilla.
Monique slapped a new set of photos on Nick's desk, stating (not asking, mind you) that something else was happening in Mexico. The satellite photos depicted strange patterns across the farmlands of the countryside, and the words "EL GUSANO GIGANTE" being tossed around the Mexican military. With HEAT off and away once more, ZILLA was in hot pursuit.
Gusano was a massive and dangerous monster, considerably more aggressive than C-REX, and had a penchant for devouring long stretches of countryside, which included soil, produce, livestock, people, and anything else too slow or too unlucky to get out of the way. What was left behind was a series of ravines lined with some of the freshest soil Nick had ever seen. In the long run, Gusano could re-make the planet's surface, paving the way for new forests across the world...unfortunately, something like that wasn't in the cards for the human race, so Gusano had to be destroyed. When Zilla and Gusano began to fight, the Mexican military arrived and blasted the monsters with a bio-chem-weapon of a new design, and while it sent Zilla staggering for the water, Gusano was actually supercharged and his mutation advanced! Thankfully, Zilla was saved by a reluctant Dr. Craven and a counter-poison he concocted out of the same flowers used to make the BCW. Gusano had taken a liking to the flowers, which was why he made his home in that particular part of the country. Zilla came ashore and quickly dispatched the creature with a flurry of atomic fire. This time, the dehydrated Gusano was captured by HEAT and studied...and once again, traces of G-Cells were detected!
HEAT once again was on the tail of another supposed mutation, but this time Audrey Timmonds (Nick’s on-again-off-again girlfriend) and her cameraman, “Animal” followed the team once more, this time out to Alaska. Their chopper landed on the deck of the Heat Seeker, much to the team’s dismay. Audrey declared that she intended to cover HEAT’s exploits and to tell the story of their small team, not to mention find more time for Nick. Still, a special report would have to wait…because a GIANT TURTLE OF DOOM happened. At least that’s what Randy named it. The turtle attacked the ship and knocked Nick and Audrey overboard. In the ensuing chaos and turbulent ocean, they were swept away while the Heat Seeker desperately tried to outmaneuver the titanic terrapin. Nick and Audrey washed ashore on one of the Aleutians…only to be confronted by the giant turtle once more! Remarkably, they were saved by another giant creature; a mutant monitor lizard later dubbed KOMODITHRAX. The creature chased off the turtle with great ferocity, even spitting radioactive fireballs! When the menace was gone, Komodithrax, or “Komi,” briefly investigated Nick and Audrey, found them to not be a threat, and went about her way. Following the reptile, the two discovered a huge pocket of greenery and forestland hidden within the volcanically-enriched crater of the island. After regaining their strength by eating the rich fruit from the trees in the area, they were discovered by HEAT…who actually found them because they had followed ZILLA inland…who immediately rushed to Komi’s side, and moved himself between the humans and the female monster. He roared and snapped at them, chasing them from the area though not deliberately attacking.
At the Heat Seeker, the team ascertained that Zilla was displaying a strong protective instinct over Komi and the rest of the island. They also discovered that Zilla had been visiting this area several times over the last few months, which explained why he disappeared for days, even weeks on end. Komi was his mate!
Unfortunately the situation quickly shifted for the worse; Monique called in an air strike. Even though the HEAT team felt betrayed, she stated that it was a necessity, since Zilla and Komi were also protecting a single, large egg! It was unacceptable that the creatures be allowed to breed. Nick and Randy immediately jumped aboard Audrey and Animal’s helicopter to try and stall the air force, while the rest of the team sought to lead Zilla away from the nest using a homing beacon they had devised. Unfortunately, Zilla caught on and went back to his family. Meanwhile, Komi fought the USAF as best she could, but an upset appeared in the form of the giant turtle! It attacked Komi and grabbed the egg, making a hasty retreat with its prize. Komi charged after it, along with Zilla, who tried to retrieve the egg as well.
Komi saved Zilla from a nasty mauling by the turtle, but tragedy struck when the ice beneath the monsters gave way, and Komi, the egg and the turtle fell into the icy depths of a bottomless chasm. Zilla howled in pain and anger, and turned his fury on the military. Never before had he fought so viciously against a foe…until G-Force arrived. A squadron of maser-jets and a carrier off the coast radioed both HEAT and the USAF that they were hot on the trail of a giant turtle called “KAMOEBAS,” a G-Cell mutation that had fought GODZILLA, and the Monster King himself had the same idea! Having followed Kamoebas, Godzilla rose from the ocean and bellowed at Zilla.
The younger, faster monster leapt at Godzilla, but the titan slapped him aside with his mighty tail, sending him ass-over-teakettle. Zilla quickly righted himself and attacked again, leaping and clawing at the Monster King. Godzilla was strong, but not as fast as Zilla, and the smaller monster was able to dodge just about everything that was thrown at him, atomic breath and all. Nick made a daredevil move and flew in Godzilla’s face, raising the King’s ire and was clipped by a swiping claw. The helicopter landed hard, and Nick pulled Randy to safety. Godzilla turned back on Zilla, who was still fighting hard, but landed a lucky blast of atomic breath that blew the creature several hundred yards back, nearly killing him. Nick ran to the aid of his surrogate son, and could have been killed along with him…yet Monique, from the Heat Seeker’s hovercraft, fired a bazooka shell at the dinosaur’s head, drawing his attention to her. She continued to fire round-after-round, and Godzilla began to move out to sea, towards her. A casual thrash of his tail, and Monique’s hovercraft was capsized, herself sent flying through the air and into the icy water. Luckily, Nick convinced Zilla to retreat, the young monster burrowing into the ice and away from Godzilla, who fancied himself the victor this day, roaring in triumph.
A few days later, G-FORCE commander Kuroki met with Nick and HEAT, debriefing them on what had been discovered. Monique was indeed working for the French Secret Service, mostly trying to clean up the mess left by their government. A station in French Polynesia had been conducting experiments with Godzilla Cells acquired during an under-the-table business dealing with BIO MAJOR, and several of their experiments escaped, they being C-REX, EL GUSANO, Zilla, Komodithrax and Kamoebas. Monique was in recovery back in France, and sent her regards, though an investigation by the UN was being launched. Additionally, they had found Zilla, hiding in the crater where he and Komi were raising their egg. No trace of the other reptiles were found, but Zilla was drugged and carried via “kaiju transport” to Monster Island, where, Kuroki assured Nick, he would be well cared for and have all the fish he could eat. HEAT was even asked to become a part of G-FORCE’s American branch.
Nick knew one day, however, that he would need to go to Monster Island and visit his surrogate son…but that was a story for another day.
Later in the Neo Series, S.C.A.L.E attack Monster Island and set the monsters free. Megaguirus (shown to be on the island) attacks and kills Ebirah before getting into a battle with Zilla Junior, who destroys Megaguirus.
In the year 2054, Zilla Junior was one of the monsters controlled by the Kilaaks to attack earth's cities, attacking Sydney in Australia. Later, he and the rest of the controlled monsters try to destroy mothra's cocoon at Mount Fuji, but are held off by King Casesar, Battra and eventually Godzilla. Once the mind control is broken, Zilla and the rest of the monsters watch godzilla battle with Monster X before joining him in battle as King Ghidorah arrives, transforming into Keizer Ghidorah. Zilla plays a pivotal role in the battle as he sacrifices himself to save Godzilla from a painful hyper gravity bolt attack, buying godzilla enough time to counter against Keizer Ghidorah and set the wheels of fate in motion...
Differences between the Zillas
The Zilla of the 1998 movie has several distinct differences compared to the Zilla of the cartoon. The one in the movie has a "hurricane breath", can reproduce asexually and was not very intelligent. Zilla Jr. was considerably diffirent from his father (or mother) as he had atomic breath, was sterile, was quite intelligent, had regenative powers and was far more resistant to artillary than his father. It has been suggested by some fans, though never said by official employee's of Sony, TriStar or Toho, that because of Zilla being mutated by radioactive substances it has made the genes of Zilla very unstable, and as such the genetic code of each Zilla varies greatly.
The last Zilla, the one that appeared in Final Wars, is assumed to be the one from the first film (as Zilla Jr. would have put up a better fight and is shown to be immune to mind control under normal conditions), although it is different in coloration and abilities. In Godzilla, Zilla is greenish-gray with a dark blue hue. In the series, Zilla is dark blueish-gray. The Zilla in Final Wars is a lighter gray with a light blue tint. It could also be that this Zilla is a different one altogether, perhaps another one of the same species. The CGI used by Toho to portray this monster is clearly sub-par to that used to portray the 1998 film version.
Appearances
- GODZILLA
- Godzilla: The Series
- Godzilla: Final Wars
- Godzilla Trading Battle (video game)
- Godzilla Generations (video game)
- Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact (video game)
- Godzilla: The Series (videogame)
- Godzilla The Series: Monster Wars (videogame)
Gallery of appearances
How Zilla first appeared in the 1998 movie |
 A side sketch from Godzilla: the Series |
 A colored drawing from Godzilla: the Series |
 Front and back views of Zilla |
 An egg, then two views of a Baby Zilla |
 Zilla's "Godzilla Neo" design |
 Fan art for Zilla |
 Godzilla in New York city |
 Zilla Fan Art |
Trivia
Sources
- ↑ Weinberger, Kimberly, and Dawn Margolis, comps. The Official GODZILLA Movie Fact Book. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998.
- ↑ http://www.tohokingdom.com/kaiju/godzilla54.htm
- ↑ http://www.tohokingdom.com/kaiju/godzilla_heisei.htm#91
Fan Art
