Gojulas Giga

The Gojulas Giga (often affectionately referred to as Giggles by western fans, or often erroneously as Giga Gojulas) is a type of Zoid, one of over 200 species of biomechanical life forms around which the Zoids model, anime, and game franchise is based. The Gojulas Giga is a major Zoid in the "" anime.Zoids
Zoid_name = Gojulas Giga
ImageName =
Caption = Gummie's Gojulas Giga
Model_number = RZ-064
Faction = Helic Republic
Zoid_type = Giganotosaurus
Crew = 1
Weight = 200
Length = 17
Height = 29.5
Speed = 95km/h (Battle Mode), 180km/h (Pursue Mode)
Weapons = Giga Crusher Fangs, Hyper Press Manipulators, Crusher Tail, 32 Shot Zoid Core Cannon
Equipment = Hyper Energy Shield, Leg Support Anchors, Rocket Boosters, "Ancient Titanium" Armour, Electronics Counter-Measure (ECM)

Overview

The successor to the Gojulas, Gojulas Giga is one of the mightiest Zoids the Helic Republic has ever produced. The Giga, like Zoids such as the Liger Zero, and the Berserk Fury, is based directly off a Wild Zoid. This grants it enhanced power, flexibility, and intelligence over other Zoids, giving it a huge advantage in battle. Though it is in fact a "Giganotosaurus" type, Gojulas Giga more closely resembles Godzilla.

The Gojulas Giga is capable of switching between two modes; battle mode, and pursuit mode. In battle mode, the Zoid rears back on its tail and hind legs, in an upright, Godzilla-like stance. In this position, the Zoid is most effectively able to use its claws, teeth, and tail in close combat. In pursuit mode, the Gojulas Giga’s body is positioned so that the head, body, and tail are inline, allowing it to move at almost twice the speed of battle mode.

The Gojulas Giga's forte is close quarters combat, and as such is armed with incredibly powerful jaws that can crush and dismember most enemy Zoids, and a long, heavy tail tipped with a pair of laser blades capable of cutting through even a Death Saurer's armour. In addition, the Gojulas Giga has one of the most powerful E-shields in existence, second only to the special particle absorption shield on the Madthunder. This shield is omni-directional, and surrounds the entire Zoid in a dome of shimmering blue energy. The Gojulas Giga’s armour is amongst the strongest of all Zoids, constructed of an alloy called "Ancient Titanium". In addition, and prior to construction the Zoid is equipped with a powerful ECM that protects it from even the Dark Spiner's advanced jamming capabilities.

The Gojulas Giga lacks ranged capability, with only a single ranged weapon, the 32 Shot Zoid Core Cannon. It locks itself to the ground with the support anchors on its legs and energy is drained directly from the Zoid Core and channeled out through the spines on the Zoid’s back, shooting upwards before arcing down and out to rain down on anything in the immediate area. Firing this weapon puts immense strain on the Giga’s Zoid Core, and as such this weapon can only be used as a weapon of last resort, with the Gojulas Giga itself the only one that can decide to fire. The anime version does not seem to have this weakness, however, and the cannons are treated as normal, albeit powerful, weaponry. The Zoid can be equipped with an adapter that replaces the first two pairs of fins on its shoulders, allowing for the mounting of either the Buster Cannons from the Buster Eagle, or the Republic Supercannons.

Battle Story appearances

The Gojulas Giga first appeared in ZAC 2104, in the aftermath of the near total destruction of the Helic army and the invasion of the Central Continent by the Neo-Zenebas Empire. As the two forces were fighting in the mountains at the centre of the continent, the Zoid was able to often attack its opponents at point-blank range, where it was strongest. Because of its strength in close combat, the Gojulas Giga was initially able to hold back the Neo-Zenebas advance, not even the re -introduced Death Stinger was a match for it.

Matters changed, however, with the advent of the Seismosaurus. The powerful Hyper Focused Charged Particle Cannon of the Neo-Zenebas Zoid was able to easily eliminate the Gojulas Giga at long range before the Zoid could close in to use its melee weapons. A single blast was enough to penetrate the Giga's shield and then destroy the Zoid, while the Seismosaurus' thick armour proved to be resistant to the Buster Cannons.

By ZAC 2106, the entire Gojulas Giga force had been destroyed, forcing the Helic forces to retreat to the Eastern Continent.

Media appearances

Anime

Fuzors

The first actual anime series the Gojulas Giga has appeared in thus far is "", where it is piloted by Gummie, the chief of the Peace Keeping Bureau. The Gojulas Giga is the strongest Zoid in the PKB arsenal, and is often escorted by Ciao's Arosaurer and Deed's Gorhecks. The Zoid is used as the PKB's "Big Stick", with its mere presence usually enough to deter criminals.

The Gojulas Giga makes its first appearance in the first episode, "Knockover on Planet Zi!", when Gummie tries to use it to block the path of RD's Liger Zero. However, the Liger Zero is able to jump over it and escape. It would show up at the end of the episode to break up a fight between RD and Savage Hammer's Berserk Fury, piloted by Blake.

The Gojulas Giga would make a few more minor appearances, but it would not be seen in a combat situation until episode 9, "Good Work, Peace Keeping Bureau", where it would fight and defeat an Iron Kong piloted by a gang of Zoid thieves.

The true extent of the Gojulas Giga's power would not be seen until episode 22, "The Rampage of the God of Destruction". In this episode, Gummie's Gojulas Giga is sabotaged and goes on a destructive rampage through Blue City, with the combined strength of the Liger Zero Falcon and the Gairyuki Speed failing to stop it. It was only through last minute action by Gummie that Gojulas Giga's attack was put to an end. In episode 23, it is revealed that Gummie takes responsibility for all of the damage caused and is demoted from PKB chief to a traffic officer.

The Gojulas Giga was also present at the final battle. Gummie would join the other Zi Fighters in trying to defeat Alpha's strongest Zoid, the Seismosaurus.

As with many large Zoids in the anime, the Gojulas Giga is often expanded in size for dramatic purposes, appearing at a much larger scale than the Battle Story version and model kit indicate. It is so large that Ciao's Arosaurer only stands knee-high next to it, and its head alone depicted as long as RD's Liger Zero.

Models

New Japanese Release

* Assembly required. (Snap-together, no glue needed. Scissors or X-acto knife recommended for trimming off excess plastic bits.)
* The model's colours are moulded into the plastic, and it does not need any paint.

The Gojulas Giga kit comes on twelve frames, along with a battery-operated motor, thirty-two rubber caps, a clear canopy, two adaptor pieces and a single grey pilot figure. The Gojulas Giga is moulded in grey plastic flecked with dark grey, as well as blue and black, with a clear canopy. The degree of plastic flecking within the grey varies from model to model.

The Gojulas Giga is one of the more complicated model kits in the Zoids line and is rather difficult to build. The model uses a pair of "AA" sized batteries for motion, and a pair of "AAA" sized batteries for lights and sound. The Zoid can be switched between Battle and Pursue Mode, each mode having its own motions. In Battle mode, the Zoid stands upright and walks forward while sweeping its head and tail side to side. The eyes flash green, while the Zoid produces a stomping sound as it walks. In Pursuit mode, the Zoid has its body parallel to the ground, and walks forward while opening and closing its mouth. The eyes light up red, while the Zoid makes roaring noises. The motor used for the Gojulas Giga is underpowered, giving the Zoid a very stiff and slow walk in both modes.

No specific extra weapons were produced for the Gojulas Giga. However it comes with two adapter pieces that replace two of the spine pieces on its back. One of the pieces can be used to either mount the CP-10 Gojulas Cannons or the Buster Cannons form the Buster Eagle. Both of the adapter pieces have BLOX compatible Pegs on the end and can be used to create many BLOX fusions with the Gojulas.

The Zoid was released in September 2002 and remained in sporadic production until 2004. The Zoid was originally intended to be the last Zoid in the "New Japanese Release", however, the success of the "New American Release" prompted TOMY to continue the line.

New American Release

Hasbro would release the Gojulas Giga in 2003 as part of the "New American Release" line. Other than the packaging it is identical to the "NJR" version. The Hasbro Gojulas Giga is infamous for how poorly it sold, cluttering up shelf space in toy departments well into 2005.

In Australia, the Gojulas Giga was released as part of the "New Pacific Release". Unlike other "NPR" Zoids, the Gojulas Giga was a Target exclusive. No changes were made to the model.

Following the failure of the Giga in the American market, a large portion of the leftover stock was distributed to many retailers in Australia, and was sold for significantly less than the Target exclusive release.

Proto Gojulas Giga

In September 2003, Toy's Dream Project released the limited edition Proto Gojulas Giga. The Zoid was recoloured in silver, grey and black, with orange caps. No changes were made to the model itself.

A limited edition silver version of the Buster Cannons was also released, recoloured to match this version of the Zoid.

Fuzors

The Gojulas Giga would be reissued once again as part of TOMY's "Fuzors" line. This version is based on the Zoid used by Gummie in the "Fuzors" anime, and is remoulded in silver, light blue and black. Additionally, it comes with a pair of police lights mountable on the shoulders.