Gigan

nihongo|Gigan|ガイガン|Gaigan is a daikaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film "Godzilla vs. Gigan". Gigan is a cybernetic monster sporting a buzzsaw weapon in its frontal abdominal region and large metallic hooks for hands. Gigan is sometimes considered Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponent, and has a large fan following (including "" director Ryuhei Kitamura) despite the generally perceived low quality of its first two films. Its new designs for the Millennium series was praised by many and ranked among fans as the best improvements to a daikaiju.

Film and TV appearances

In "Godzilla vs. Gigan", Gigan is summoned to Earth by the Nebula M Space Hunter aliens, he was paired with King Ghidorah to destroy Tokyo. They were challenged by Godzilla and Anguirus, and after a long fight the two space monsters were driven away.

A year later, in "Godzilla vs. Megalon", Gigan was sent by the Nebulans to assist the people of Seatopia in their assault on humanity by aiding Megalon in a battle against Godzilla and Jet Jaguar. Gigan abandoned Megalon when the fight turned against them, and flew back to space.

That same year, Gigan made an appearance on Toho's television series "Zone Fighter". Gigan was pummelled by Godzilla once again. Left for dead by Godzilla, Gigan revived to battle Zone Fighter. The weakened cyborg was no match for the hero, however, and a slavo of missiles from Zone Fighter caused Gigan to explode, killing the Showa era Gigan.

Gigan appeared in the final Millennium Godzilla film, "", as one of the main villains in the film. He was sent to battle Godzilla but was easily defeated, his head blown off by Godzilla's atomic breath. Gigan was upgraded with claws designed like double pronged chainsaws but was finally killed by Mothra when his head is blown off again.

Powers and abilities

Hooked Appendages/BladesGigan's forelimbs sport a pair of large metal hooks in place of hands which the monster uses to both batter and stab his opponents. In his appearance on the television series "Zone Fighter", the tips of the hooks can release an explosive charge on contact with an enemy. In "", Gigan's arms ended in large blades similar to Egyptian Khopeshes which were replaced with chainsaws after being defeated by Godzilla. Also, in a lost project called "The Return of King Ghidorah" (meant for the Showa series), Gigan's right hook was a mace that fired off his hand and returned at will.

Antigravity Flight Gigan has a pair of retractable wings which is capable of allowing Gigan to fly at speeds of up to Mach 3. This normally assists in interstellar travel and is utilized very little, if at all, during battle situations. When it is used in battle, however, Gigan will often use it to engage in aerial slams to continuously topple his opponents without giving them a chance to counter, or even get up. In "", the antigravity flight was replaced by jetpacks, presumably to give Gigan more of a robotic feel.

BuzzsawGigan has a buzzsaw built into his abdominal area. The unknown alien alloy is of considerable durability and effectiveness as it was sharp enough to cause severe epidermal damage to Godzilla and Anguirus (being the first weapon shown to breach Godzilla's skin and actually draw blood) and brought down a weakened Gotengo.

Grappling CablesIn "" Gigan was able to fire two hooked grappling cables from beneath both of his hand blades which he used to snagg onto his opponents and reel them into range of his deadly buzzsaw.

Razor DiscsIn "" the second Gigan was able to fire two razor sharp disks from just above his buzzsaw. Mothra however dodged them and simultaneously released her poisonous powder, which caused them to malfunction and boomerang back towards Gigan who was promptly decapitated.

LaserIn Gigan's numerous Showa appearances in TV shows and films, he had a laser ruby located in his forehead. Official poster art for his film appearances illustrated a laser beam being fired from his forehead, though the ability was never seen on screen. Gigan's laser was also included in several of the Godzilla video games; first appearing in "" for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

In "", Gigan now had two beams, one the same long range laser and a beam in the form of a short range shot-gun burst. The new one still fired from his forehead laser device.

TeleportionAn ability seen in the Godzilla video games is jumping in the air Gigan can teleport short distances.

Flame ThrowerIn two separate 2D Godzilla fighting games Gigan sported a flame thrower which was ignited from his beak.

Trivia

*Gigan was the first monster to cause Godzilla to visibly bleed. In "Godzilla vs. Gigan" it had flown over Godzilla and slashed Godzilla's shoulder with its buzz saw and later stabbed Godzilla in the head with its hammer-claw hands, causing blood to run down his face. Godzilla bled again in "Gigan" stock footage used in "Godzilla vs. Megalon". Through Eiji Tsuburaya's tenure as head of Toho's special effects department (which lasted until his death in 1969), he had purposely avoided visible bloodshed during monster clashes; Godzilla's injuries at the hands of Gigan, directed by Teruyoshi Nakano, were a significant and controversial break from Tsuburaya's techniques. This was likely in response to Daiei's Gamera series, which is well known for the liberal (and often gratuitous) bloodshed utilized in its monster fights.

*In many posters for Godzilla vs. Gigan and Godzilla vs. Megalon, Gigan is seen firing a blue laser-beam out of the diamond on his forehead. He never uses this weapon in any film, except in ; which was changed to an eye-beam, rather than a forehead-beam (although the "Final War" Gigan still has the diamond on his forehead). However, in a battle sequence in "Godzilla vs. Gigan", after Godzilla heaves a rock at Gigan's face, the diamond on Gigan's forehead gives off a quick flash of light, possibly short-circuiting.

*Gigan is sometimes jokingly referred to as a chicken, though his only physical resemblance to a chicken lies in his beak. More often, he is accused of behaving like a chicken because of how cowardly he acts in the Showa series.

*Jun Fukuda himself stated that Gigan was to appear as if he was cut from the same cloth as Megalon. Gigan's real species might be more insect like, in the same guise as Megalon. Many old Japanese scrolls, manga, and anime predating and following Gigan's first appearance featured mantis' with beaks as well as mandibles.

Filmography

* "Godzilla vs. Gigan" (1972)
* "Godzilla vs. Megalon" (1973)
* "Zone Fighter" (1973) (Episode 11: "In the Twinkling of an Eye: The Roar of Godzilla!")
* "Godzilla Island" (1997)
* "" (2004)

Appearances in other media

*Gigan appears as a villain in the 1988 Nintendo game Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!

*Gigan also appears in Godzilla Trading Battle - (1998 - PlayStation)

*Gigan once fought Toho's televised superhero Zone Fighter where he was ultimately destroyed by Zone Fighter and not Godzilla, thus ending the Showa Gigan's backstory.

*He was originally considered to be a playable character in "" but was canceled because of budget.

*Gigan is a playable character in and . In both games he is a fast melee-oriented monster with fast attacks and teleportation abilities (his flying powers were not used in the games). Although his defense is below average, his speed and combos make up for it. His buzzsaw belly is used in a grab, a combo-ending move, and an aerial attack. When using his Rage attack Gigan extends both arms and spins like a top, sending his opponent flying into the air for a possible multi-hitting combo. The Showa Gigan is playable in the two games.

*Gigan (Millennium design incorporating aspects of both designs seen in Final Wars) is in , a console exclusive for the Nintendo Wii. Gigan (Millennium) does not appear in the PS2 version, the showa version replaces him. Showa Gigan is in the Nintendo DS version of the game.

*Gigan appeared in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy TV movie, living on Monster Island. This version of Gigan could breath fire, something he couldn't do in the movies.

*Gigan is also a rapper featured on "Krazy World" the Take Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album)

*The character Ponygon from Zatch Bell has a toy that is similar in appearance to Gigan.

*The enigmatic guitar virtuoso Buckethead wrote a song called Gigan, as well as another named Mecha Gigan. They appear on the albums The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock and Crime Slunk Scene, respectively.

*In Marc Cerasini's "Godzilla At World's End", Gigan is one of six genetically engineered monsters created to destroy mankind. Gigan first appeared emerging out of a huge fissure that had opened up in Wilkes Land, Eastern Antarctica. Gigan immediately traveled into Earth's orbit, destroying most global communication satellites. Soon after, Gigan returned to Earth and attacked Russia. Eventually, Gigan reached the shores of the Caspian Sea and fought Anguirus. Unlike in the films, Anguirus defeated Gigan, drowning him in the ocean after breaking one of Gigan's hooks and ripping out his throat.

*In the video game , there are two tracks called Gigan Rocks and Gigan Device. Each has a statue of a birdlike creature with a sharp beak, which looks similar to Gigan himself. Other Sonic media normally does spoofs on Toho Kaiju, including having monsters that look like Moguera, Mothra or Biollante.

*In the anime Negima!? a robotic chupacabra is featured that looks similar to Gigan.

*"Gigan" is a song from the Buckethead tour-only album The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock.