Manda (kaiju)

Toho character
Manda
Species	Sea dragon
Length	150–300 metres
Weight	30,000-50,000 tons
Origins	Mu
Major enemies	King Ghidorah Gotengo
Allies	Godzilla Anguirus Rodan Baragon Gorosaurus Varan Kumonga Mothra Minilla
Controlled by	Kilaaks
First appearance	Atragon
Created by	Eiji Tsuburaya

Manda (マンダ^?) is a fictional Kaiju (Japanese giant monster) created by the Japanese film making company, Toho. Manda is a serpentine creature similar to a Japanese dragon with four small legs and prominent horns. Manda does not have any special weapons, but can wrap its body around an enemy and crush them in the manner of a constrictor snake. Manda can also swim very fast and breathe underwater. Its first appearance is in Atragon (1963).

Origins

Showa Series

In Atragon, Manda is a sea-dwelling dragon that lives in the sea and is the guardian of Mu, an underwater kingdom. Manda is one of the primary antagonists along with the Empress. When the submarine warship Gotengo attacks, Manda fights it and wraps its body around the ship, trying to crush it. But the Gotengo discharges electricity on Manda and shocks it. Manda unwraps itself and tries to swim away, but the Gotengo pursues it, later firing its Absolute Zero Cannon to freeze Manda.

Manda reappears again on Monster Island (along with several other kaiju including Godzilla, Rodan and Anguirus) in Destroy All Monsters. Aliens called Kilaaks come to Earth and take control of Manda and the other monsters, making them attack cities worldwide until the humans manage to free the monsters from alien mind control. After this the monsters are sent to fight King Ghidorah, although Manda does not fight in the battle, merely watching from the sidelines with Varan and Baragon. After Ghidorah is killed, Manda and the other monsters return to Monster Island.

The Manda suit used in Destroy All Monsters had no horns or whiskers on its face and the long fuzz running down its back was gone.

Millennium series

In the Millennium series, Manda is the first monster to be killed in Godzilla: Final Wars, playing a minor role, once again as an adversary of the Gotengo. The Gotengo attacks Manda who is wrapped around its hull. The super-submarine manages to shake it off and sails into an underwater volcano to see if it can lure Manda inside. The plan works, but Manda is merely injured and continues to pursue the Gotengo. The submarine then whips around and fires its Zero Cannon which hits Manda, causing it to freeze instantly, after which Gotengo uses its drill to easily pierce the frozen Manda, causing the monster to shatter and die. In this movie Manda (along with Zilla and Kamacuras while flying) is computer generated.

Movie Appearances

• Atragon (1963)
• Destroy All Monsters (1968)
• All Monsters Attack (1969, stock footage)
• Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975, stock footage)
• Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Other Appearances

Manda is used as the name for a giant snake, and boss of the Snake Summons in the Naruto manga series.

Resources

• Kaijuphile: Monster Site. Monster Obsession.
• Toho Kingdom

References