Oodaku

Toho character
Oodaku (Giant Octopus)
Alias	Giant Octopus
Species	Giant Mutant Octopus
Length	25–30 meters
Weight	600-22,000 tons
Faction	Mutants
First appearance	King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

Oodaku is a fictional character created by Toho co. Ltd. Oodaku first appeared in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla and has since appeared in The War of the Gargantuas. When Oodaku fist appeared a real octopus was used to bring the monster to life, there are rumors that the film crew cooked and ate the octopus after filming was completed.

Appearance

Oodaku is an enormous octopus, which grew to its size because of the berries it fed upon on it island home of Farou. When it first appeared in 1962 Oodaku was very small and slimy, but overtime grew larger and stronger. The creature has a massive bulbous head and flaps of skin that extend down from the head and in between each of its eight constricting tentacles. In his first appearance Oodaku was extremely small compared to most kaiju, in later years it grew massive, its tentacles had grown much more durable, once an opponent was caught it had almost no chance of survival.

Powers and Abilities

When in battle Oodaku can constrict an opponent using its tentacles, and suffocate them by dragging them to a watery grave. Oodaku has shown to have great strength as it has taken on three of Toho's strongest monsters, King Kong, Frankenstein and lastly Gaira. Oodaku has shown the ability to walk on land, and survive out of water for sometimes up to a day.

Origins

Showa

On a remote island of Farou, the natives brewed liquid out of native berries. This liquid attracted many unwanted guests. A group of people from a pharmaceutical company came to the island looking for a monster as there spokes model and to acquire some of the islanders renowned berries. While there, they encountered Oodaku, the beast came ashore to drink the natives juices. Little did it know that another monster was lurking on the island. King Kong attacked the octopus, smashing it with boulders and any other debris he could find. The octopus made an attempt to secure its meal, leaping at Kong and wrapping its tentacles around his head trying to suffocate the beast. It was no use, Kong tossed the octopus to the ground. Defeated, Oodaku left the battle, knowing it could not beat the mighty gorilla in combat, it returned to the icy ocean depths.

Years later Oodaku would return. After a battle with Baragon, a physically drained Frankenstein looked upon a gruesome sight. Oodaku had left the sea and moved inland in an attempt to capture prey. Frankenstein battled valiantly against the octopus but after being depleted in his fight with Baragon, Frankenstein was in no condition to fight again. Oodaku gained the upper hand and Frankenstein was dragged to a watery grave by the great devil fish. Its meal in hand, Oodaku began consuming Frankenstein.

After a short time Oodaku returned to the surface where it attacked a fishing boat, it constricted the passengers and tried to drag them into the sea. Not long after the attack, a crackling scream broke the noise of rain, the monster Gaira had come to oppose Oodaku, and steal his meal. Oodaku attacked Gaira, constricting him. Oodaku tried to suffocate Gaira in the sea, but Gaira being able to breath underwater was unaffected. Gaira sent Oodaku soaring threw the sky, he landed in the water clumsily, bruised and bloody. Oodaku sunk into the sea, and returned to the depths, where it has stayed to this day.

Film Appearances

• King Kong vs. Godzilla
• Frankenstein vs. Baragon (Cut Scene)
• The War of the Gargantuas

Trivia

• Henry G. Saperstein, an executive producer on the film, was so impressed by Toho's Giant Octopus in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla that he wanted the creature to return in his 1965 film. The scene was written and filmed so that the Giant Octopus would appear on land and finish Frankenstein off after his battle with Baragon. However, the scene was rejected, in both the Japanese and US cuts, in favor of a less anti-climatic approach where the film closes with the defeat of Baragon. The scene however has been made available on the DVD release of Frankenstein vs. Baragon.

• Oodaku was considered for Godzilla: Final Wars. Concept art was released of Oodaku but the creature never made it into the film, possibly because that Oodaku moves so slowly, which would contrast with the films fast pace.

• In all movies Oodaku has appeared in, it has never been killed, strange as it is not a very recognizable character, even its name is unknown to many people, most simply refer to it as the "Giant Octopus".

References

• http://www.tohokingdom.com/kaiju/giant_octopus.htm#62
• http://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_room/cut_scenes/frankenstein_vs_baragon.htm