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{{Ktab}}
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{{Kaiju Infobox
{{Kaiju Infobox
|type1            =Normal
|type1            =Normal
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|name            =Giant Condor / Giant Eagle
|name            =Giant Condor / Giant Eagle
|dt              =Giant Condor
|dt              =Giant Condor
|subtitle        =Monster Bird {{Nihongo|怪鳥|Kaichō}}<ref name="GTGMPBook">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Toho Giant Monster Pictorial Book]]|date=1 April [[2005]]|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=121|isbn=4-09-280052-5}}</ref><br>Giant Monster Bird {{Nihongo|大怪鳥|Daikaichō}}<ref name="DefEdGI">{{cite book|title=[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]|date=15 July 1984|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=83|isbn=4-09-220142-7}}</ref>
|subtitle        =Monster Bird {{Nihongo|怪鳥|Kaichō}}<ref name="GTGMPBook">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Toho Giant Monster Pictorial Book]]|date=1 April 2005|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=121|isbn=4-09-280052-5}}</ref><br>Giant Monster Bird {{Nihongo|大怪鳥|Daikaichō}}<ref name="DefEdGI">{{cite book|title=[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]|date=15 July 1984|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=83|isbn=4-09-220142-7}}</ref>
|species          =Giant mutated bird
|species          =Giant mutated bird
|nicknames        =Giant Eagle, Ookondoru, Oowashi, Daikondoru, Daiwashi
|nicknames        =Giant Eagle, Ookondoru, Oowashi, Daikondoru, Daiwashi
|length          =15 meters<ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December [[1993]]|publisher=Gakken|page=104|isbn=405600174X}}</ref><ref name="InconsistentLength" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's lengths as 15 meters, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54), and the 2016 publication ''[[Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters]]'' (p. 59) instead list a length of 20 meters. Additionally, the 1972 publication ''Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla'' (p. 128) and ''[[Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works]]'' (p. 113) place the Giant Condor's length at 35 meters.</ref>
|length          =15 meters<ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December 1993|publisher=Gakken|page=104|isbn=405600174X}}</ref><ref name="InconsistentLength" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's lengths as 15 meters, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54), and the 2016 publication ''[[Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters]]'' (p. 59) instead list a length of 20 meters. Additionally, the 1972 publication ''Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla'' (p. 128) and ''[[Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works]]'' (p. 113) place the Giant Condor's length at 35 meters.</ref>
|wingspan        =25 meters<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="InconsistentWingspan" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's wingspans as 25 meters, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54) instead list a wingspan of 45 meters, while the 1972 publication ''Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla'' (p. 128) gives a wingspan of 75 meters. ''[[Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works]]'' (p. 135) gives Giant Eagle specifically a 35 meter wingspan.</ref>
|wingspan        =25 meters<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="InconsistentWingspan" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's wingspans as 25 meters, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54) instead list a wingspan of 45 meters, while the 1972 publication ''Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla'' (p. 128) gives a wingspan of 75 meters. ''[[Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works]]'' (p. 135) gives Giant Eagle specifically a 35 meter wingspan.</ref>
|weight          =2,000 metric tons<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="InconsistentWeight" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's weights as 2,000 metric tons, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54), and the 2016 publication ''[[Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters]]'' (p. 59) instead list a weight of 600 metric tons. Additionally, ''[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]'' (p. 83) and ''[[Kodansha Hit Books: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Great Complete Works]]'' (p. 73) place the Giant Condor's weight at 20 metric tons and 2,100 metric tons, respectively.</ref>
|weight          =2,000 metric tons<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="InconsistentWeight" group="note">While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's weights as 2,000 metric tons, some including the 2014 publications ''[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]'' (p. 103) and ''[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]'' (p. 54), and the 2016 publication ''[[Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters]]'' (p. 59) instead list a weight of 600 metric tons. Additionally, ''[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]'' (p. 83) and ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Complete Works]]'' (p. 73) place the Giant Condor's weight at 20 metric tons and 2,100 metric tons, respectively.</ref>
|originplace      =[[Letchi Island]]{{sup|[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep|EHotD]]}}, [[Monster Island]]{{sup|[[All Monsters Attack|AMA]]}}
|originplace      =[[Letchi Island]]{{sup|[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep|EHotD]]}}, [[Monster Island]]{{sup|[[All Monsters Attack|AMA]]}}
|enemies          =[[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]]
|enemies          =[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]]
|written          =[[Shinichi Sekizawa]]
|written          =[[Shinichi Sekizawa]]
|modeled          =[[Teizo Toshimitsu]]
|modeled          =[[Teizo Toshimitsu]]
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|roar            =[[File:Giant Condor Roar.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]
|roar            =[[File:Giant Condor Roar.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]
}}
}}
The '''Giant Condor''' {{Nihongo|大コンドル|Ōkondoru}}, also known as the '''Giant Eagle''' {{Nihongo|大ワシ|Ōwashi}}, is a giant bird [[kaiju]] created by [[Toho]] who first appeared in the [[1966]] [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] [[:Category:Godzilla Films|film]], ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''.
The '''Giant Condor''' {{Nihongo|大コンドル|Ōkondoru}} is a giant bird [[kaiju]] who first appeared in the [[1966]] [[Toho]] ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' [[:Category:Godzilla Films|film]] ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''. The creature later appeared through stock footage as the '''Giant Eagle''' {{Nihongo|大ワシ|Ōwashi}} in the [[1969]] ''Godzilla'' film ''[[All Monsters Attack]]''.
 
A giant bird mutated by the nuclear runoff produced by the [[Red Bamboo]] on [[Letchi Island]], the Giant Condor attacked [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] after the latter had fought off a squadron of Red Bamboo [[Shenyang J-6|fighter jets]]. The creature was no match for the King of the Monsters, who quickly set it ablaze with his atomic breath and sent it plummeting into the ocean. A Giant Eagle appeared in the dreams of young [[Ichiro Miki]], in which it fought Godzilla on [[Monster Island]] but met the same fate as the Giant Condor. Though the Condor has not often appeared since then, several were mentioned in passing in the novel ''[[GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla]]''.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Name==
==Name==
This monster has two different names for its two appearances: '''Giant Condor''' {{Nihongo|大コンドル|Ōkondoru}} in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' and '''Giant Eagle''' {{Nihongo|大ワシ|Ōwashi}} in ''[[All Monsters Attack]]''. It is actually called the "Giant Eagle" by [[Ichiro Miki|Ichiro]] in the Japanese dialogue for ''All Monsters Attack'', but goes unnamed in the English dub.
This monster has two different names for its two appearances: '''Giant Condor''' {{Nihongo|大コンドル|Ōkondoru}} in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' and '''Giant Eagle''' {{Nihongo|大ワシ|Ōwashi}} in ''[[All Monsters Attack]]''. It is actually called the "Giant Eagle" by [[Ichiro Miki|Ichiro]] in the Japanese dialogue for ''All Monsters Attack'', but goes unnamed in the English dub.
==Development==
==Development==
The Giant Condor was conceived by [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] as an opponent for [[King Kong/1967|King Kong]] in his [[1966]] draft, ''[[Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah]]'', and was included as an homage to the ''[[Pteranodon]]'' seen in the original [[1933]] ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Japanese SFX & Fantasy Movies|publisher=Keibunsha|date=1997|page=178|isbn=4766927060}}</ref> Kong was, however, replaced with [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] during production due to problems with [[Rankin/Bass Productions]], resulting in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''.
In [[1966]], [[Toho]] partnered with Rankin-Bass to produce a live-action film version of ''[[The King Kong Show]]'', with [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] writing the script for ''[[Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah]]''. According to the book ''Japanese SFX and Fantasy Movies'', he created the Giant Condor as a homage to the [[Pteranodon]] seen in the original ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Japanese SFX & Fantasy Movies|publisher=Keibunsha|date=1997|page=178|isbn=4766927060}}</ref> Though it may be coincidence, Kong also battled an oversized condor in at least one episode of the cartoon. Rankin-Bass rejected the script, but since Toho had already started making the sets and props, they simply swapped Kong for Godzilla and carried on, resulting in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''.  


The Condor was portrayed using a remodeled [[Rodan/Showa|Rodan]] prop from ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' through ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'', following its use as the monster Litra in [[Tsuburaya Productions]]' ''Ultra Q''.<ref name="AllTMPB">{{cite book|title=[[All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book]]|ed=4th edition|date=4 September [[2016]]|publisher=Yosensha|page=126|isbn=978-4-8003-0362-2}}</ref><ref name="TPBOG2">{{cite book|title=[[The Pictorial Book of Godzilla 2]]|date=1 December 1995|publisher=Hobby Japan Co., Ltd.|page=88|isbn=978-4894251175}}</ref> The modifications were performed by [[Toho]]'s then-chief modeler, [[Teizo Toshimitsu]].<ref name="TPBOG2"/> The Giant Condor reappeared in the stock footage-heavy ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' as the Giant Eagle, though no new footage was created for the monster.
The Condor was portrayed using a remodeled [[Rodan (Showa)|Rodan]] prop which appeared in ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' and ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'', following its use as the monster Litra in [[Tsuburaya Productions]]' ''Ultra Q''.<ref name="AllTMPB">{{cite book|title=[[All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book]]|edition=4th|date=4 September 2016|publisher=Yosensha|page=126|isbn=978-4-8003-0362-2}}</ref><ref name="TPBOG2">{{cite book|title=[[The Pictorial Book of Godzilla 2]]|date=1 December 1995|publisher=Hobby Japan Co., Ltd.|page=88|isbn=978-4894251175}}</ref> The modifications were likely performed by [[Toho]]'s then-chief modeler, [[Teizo Toshimitsu]].<ref name="TPBOG2"/> The Giant Condor reappeared in ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' as the Giant Eagle, though no new footage was shot of the monster.
==Origins==
==Origins==
While the Giant Condor's origins are not disclosed during the events of ''Ebirah, Horror of Deep'', [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] states in his 1984 book ''[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]'' that the Condor was a bird native to [[Letchi Island]] which was transformed into a monster, similar to [[Ebirah]].<ref name="DefEdGI"/> It is unknown whether the Giant Condor was employed as a defense by the [[Red Bamboo]], or simply attacked Godzilla of its own free will.
While the Giant Condor's origins are not disclosed during the events of ''Ebirah, Horror of Deep'', [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] states in his 1984 book ''[[Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction]]'' that the Condor was a bird native to [[Letchi Island]] which was mutated into a monster by the [[Red Bamboo]]'s nuclear wastewater, similar to [[Ebirah]].<ref name="DefEdGI"/> It is unknown whether the Giant Condor was employed as a defense by the [[Red Bamboo]], or simply attacked Godzilla of its own free will.
==History==
==History==
===[[Showa era|Showa series]]===
*''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' (1966)
*''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' (1969) [stock footage; as Giant Eagle]
===[[Showa era]]===
====''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''====
====''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''====
[[File:Condor002.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Giant Condor battling [[Godzilla]] in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'']]
[[File:Condor002.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Giant Condor battling [[Godzilla]] in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'']]
The Giant Condor appeared from the skies above [[Letchi Island]] and briefly grappled with [[Godzilla]], but proved to be little more than a nuisance to the King of the Monsters, who roasted it with his atomic breath and caused its burnt corpse to plummet into the ocean below.
As [[Dayo]] made her escape from a sleeping [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]], the Giant Condor suddenly soared overhead. She cried out to alert the King of the Monsters just before the bird descended on him. After a fierce scuffle, Godzilla set it ablaze with his atomic breath, and it plummeted into the ocean below.
====''[[All Monsters Attack]]''====
====''[[All Monsters Attack]]''====
In the dreams of [[Ichiro Miki]], [[Godzilla]] was wandering around his home of [[Monster Island]] only to be attacked by the Giant Eagle. Godzilla fought briefly with the avian monster, but killed it with a blast of its atomic breath and sent its burnt corpse falling into the ocean.
In the dreams of [[Ichiro Miki]], [[Godzilla]] was wandering around his home of [[Monster Island]] only to be attacked by the Giant Eagle. Godzilla fought briefly with the avian monster, but killed it with a blast of its atomic breath and sent its burnt corpse falling into the ocean.
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===Weaknesses===
===Weaknesses===
The Giant Condor was not shown to be particularly resilient, being easily repelled by Godzilla and dispatched with a single blast of his atomic breath.
The Giant Condor was not shown to be particularly resilient, being easily repelled by Godzilla and dispatched with a single blast of his atomic breath.
==Filmography==
==Video games==
*''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' (1966)
*''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'' (2019) - Android and iOS [game files only; never implemented]<ref name="Defense Force Scrapped">{{cite web|url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/vg/godzilla_defense_force/unreleased_content.html|title=Godzilla Defense Force - Unreleased Content [Android/iOS]|work=Toho Kingdom|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref>
*''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' (1969) [stock footage; as Giant Eagle]
==Books==
==Books==
===''[[Godzilla: Project Mechagodzilla|GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla]]''===
===''[[GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla]]''===
The Giant Condor inhabited North Africa and preyed upon [[United Earth]] soldiers that participated in "Operation: Long March."<ref name="Project Mechagodzilla">{{cite book|author=Oki, Renji|title=[[Godzilla: Project Mechagodzilla|GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=25 April 2018|pages=53-85|isbn=9784041063453}}</ref>
The Giant Condor inhabited North Africa and preyed upon [[United Earth]] soldiers that participated in "Operation: Long March."<ref name="Project Mechagodzilla">{{cite book|author=Oki, Renji|title=[[GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=25 April 2018|pages=53-85|isbn=9784041063453}}</ref>
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|Giant Condor/Gallery}}
{{Main|Giant Condor/Gallery}}
==Roar==
The Giant Condor's shrieking screech was reused for some of [[Minilla]]'s vocalizations in ''[[Son of Godzilla]]'', ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'', and ''[[All Monsters Attack]]'', as well as the flying monkeys in the 1982 OVA ''[[wikipedia:The Wizard of Oz (1982 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''.
{{Videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">8hRQdSG6Jmc</youtube>|Giant Condor's Roars}}
}}
==Trivia==
*The Giant Condor is one of five minor [[Showa era]] monsters to have received an official toy. The others are the [[Giant Lizard]], the [[Giant Octopus]], the [[Giant Sea Serpent]], and [[Mysterious Bones|Mysterious Bones of Infant Island]].<ref name="Marmit Toy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.clubtokyo.org/listings/itemListingRpt.php?catID=1&subCatID=18&contentID=799|author=Johnson, Michael|title=Marmit :: Vinyl Paradise :: Giant Condor|work=Club Tokyo|accessdate=7 March 2020}}</ref>
*Godzilla's battle with the Giant Condor is one of the shortest battles in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla series]], along with Godzilla's battle with [[Zilla]] in ''[[Godzilla Final Wars]]''.
*Sprite assets for the Giant Condor can be found in the game files for ''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'', although it cannot currently be encountered in the game itself.<ref name="TK">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/vg/godzilla_defense_force/unreleased_content.html|title=Godzilla Defense Force - Unreleased Content|work=[[Toho Kingdom]]|accessdate=7 March 2020}}</ref>
==Video==
==Video==
{{Videos|{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://youtu.be/sjwYtkIBInQ</youtube>|{{WZYT|Kaiju Profile: Giant Condor}}}}}}
{{Videos|{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://youtu.be/sjwYtkIBInQ</youtube>|{{WZYT|Kaiju Profile: Giant Condor}}}}}}
==Trivia==
*The Giant Condor's shrieking screech was reused for some of [[Minilla]]'s vocalizations in ''[[Son of Godzilla]]'', ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'', and ''[[All Monsters Attack]]''.
*The Giant Condor is one of five minor [[Showa era]] monsters to have received an official toy. The others are the [[Giant Lizard]], the [[Giant Octopus]], the [[Giant Sea Serpent]], and Skeleturtle.<ref name="Marmit Toy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.clubtokyo.org/listings/itemListingRpt.php?catID=1&subCatID=18&contentID=799|author=Johnson, Michael|title=Marmit :: Vinyl Paradise :: Giant Condor|work=Club Tokyo|accessdate=7 March 2020}}</ref>
*Godzilla's battle with the Giant Condor is one of the shortest battles in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla series]], along with Godzilla's battle with [[Zilla]] in ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]''.
*Sprite assets for the Giant Condor can be found in the game files for ''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'', although it cannot currently be encountered in the game itself.<ref name="TK">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/vg/godzilla_defense_force/unreleased_content.html|title=Godzilla Defense Force - Unreleased Content|work=[[Toho Kingdom]]|accessdate=7 March 2020}}</ref>
==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Notelist}}
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Toho Monsters}}
{{Toho Monsters}}
{{Comments}}
{{Comments|scroll=yes}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|GC}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|GC}}
<seo metakeywords="{{PAGENAME}}, {{PAGENAME}} wikizilla, {{PAGENAME}} godzilla, {{PAGENAME}} wiki, ookondoru, owashi, ookondoru wikizilla, ookondoru wiki, ookondoru godzilla, giant eagle godzilla, daikondoru"/>
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
[[Category:Villain Monsters]]
[[Category:Villain monsters]]
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
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[[Category:Godzilla Film Kaiju]]
[[Category:Godzilla Film Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Godzilla Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Godzilla Kaiju]]
[[Category:Minor Kaiju]]
[[Category:Minor monsters]]
[[Category:Bird monsters]]

Latest revision as of 21:48, 20 February 2024

Article

Giant Condor / Giant Eagle
The Giant Condor in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Alternate names Giant Eagle, Ookondoru, Oowashi, Daikondoru, Daiwashi
Subtitle(s) Monster Bird (怪鳥,   Kaichō)[1]
Giant Monster Bird (大怪鳥,   Daikaichō)[2]
Species Giant mutated bird
Length 15 meters[3][note 1]
Wingspan 25 meters[3][note 2]
Weight 2,000 metric tons[3][note 3]
Place(s) of emergence Letchi IslandEHotD, Monster IslandAMA
Enemies Godzilla
Written by Shinichi Sekizawa
Modeled by Teizo Toshimitsu
First appearance Latest appearance
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep All Monsters Attack
Roar(s)

The Giant Condor (大コンドル,   Ōkondoru) is a giant bird kaiju who first appeared in the 1966 Toho Godzilla film Ebirah, Horror of the Deep. The creature later appeared through stock footage as the Giant Eagle (大ワシ,   Ōwashi) in the 1969 Godzilla film All Monsters Attack.

A giant bird mutated by the nuclear runoff produced by the Red Bamboo on Letchi Island, the Giant Condor attacked Godzilla after the latter had fought off a squadron of Red Bamboo fighter jets. The creature was no match for the King of the Monsters, who quickly set it ablaze with his atomic breath and sent it plummeting into the ocean. A Giant Eagle appeared in the dreams of young Ichiro Miki, in which it fought Godzilla on Monster Island but met the same fate as the Giant Condor. Though the Condor has not often appeared since then, several were mentioned in passing in the novel GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla.

Name

This monster has two different names for its two appearances: Giant Condor (大コンドル,   Ōkondoru) in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep and Giant Eagle (大ワシ,   Ōwashi) in All Monsters Attack. It is actually called the "Giant Eagle" by Ichiro in the Japanese dialogue for All Monsters Attack, but goes unnamed in the English dub.

Development

In 1966, Toho partnered with Rankin-Bass to produce a live-action film version of The King Kong Show, with Shinichi Sekizawa writing the script for Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah. According to the book Japanese SFX and Fantasy Movies, he created the Giant Condor as a homage to the Pteranodon seen in the original King Kong.[4] Though it may be coincidence, Kong also battled an oversized condor in at least one episode of the cartoon. Rankin-Bass rejected the script, but since Toho had already started making the sets and props, they simply swapped Kong for Godzilla and carried on, resulting in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep.

The Condor was portrayed using a remodeled Rodan prop which appeared in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro-Monster, following its use as the monster Litra in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Q.[5][6] The modifications were likely performed by Toho's then-chief modeler, Teizo Toshimitsu.[6] The Giant Condor reappeared in All Monsters Attack as the Giant Eagle, though no new footage was shot of the monster.

Origins

While the Giant Condor's origins are not disclosed during the events of Ebirah, Horror of Deep, Tomoyuki Tanaka states in his 1984 book Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction that the Condor was a bird native to Letchi Island which was mutated into a monster by the Red Bamboo's nuclear wastewater, similar to Ebirah.[2] It is unknown whether the Giant Condor was employed as a defense by the Red Bamboo, or simply attacked Godzilla of its own free will.

History

Showa era

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

The Giant Condor battling Godzilla in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

As Dayo made her escape from a sleeping Godzilla, the Giant Condor suddenly soared overhead. She cried out to alert the King of the Monsters just before the bird descended on him. After a fierce scuffle, Godzilla set it ablaze with his atomic breath, and it plummeted into the ocean below.

All Monsters Attack

In the dreams of Ichiro Miki, Godzilla was wandering around his home of Monster Island only to be attacked by the Giant Eagle. Godzilla fought briefly with the avian monster, but killed it with a blast of its atomic breath and sent its burnt corpse falling into the ocean.

Abilities

Flight

The Giant Condor is capable of flight at speeds of up to Mach 1.[7]

Physical capabilities

While not exhibiting any uncanny abilities during his brief encounter with Godzilla, the Giant Condor was shown to fight tooth-and-nail using its sharp beak and talons.

Weaknesses

The Giant Condor was not shown to be particularly resilient, being easily repelled by Godzilla and dispatched with a single blast of his atomic breath.

Video games

Books

GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla

The Giant Condor inhabited North Africa and preyed upon United Earth soldiers that participated in "Operation: Long March."[9]

Gallery

Main article: Giant Condor/Gallery.

Roar

The Giant Condor's shrieking screech was reused for some of Minilla's vocalizations in Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, and All Monsters Attack, as well as the flying monkeys in the 1982 OVA The Wizard of Oz.

Giant Condor's Roars

Trivia

Video

Wikizilla: YouTube Kaiju Profile: Giant Condor

Notes

  1. While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's lengths as 15 meters, some including the 2014 publications Godzilla Completely Deciphered (p. 103) and Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition] (p. 54), and the 2016 publication Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters (p. 59) instead list a length of 20 meters. Additionally, the 1972 publication Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla (p. 128) and Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works (p. 113) place the Giant Condor's length at 35 meters.
  2. While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's wingspans as 25 meters, some including the 2014 publications Godzilla Completely Deciphered (p. 103) and Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition] (p. 54) instead list a wingspan of 45 meters, while the 1972 publication Kaiju Kaijin Complete Works 1: Godzilla (p. 128) gives a wingspan of 75 meters. Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works (p. 135) gives Giant Eagle specifically a 35 meter wingspan.
  3. While the majority of sources list the Giant Condor and Giant Eagle's weights as 2,000 metric tons, some including the 2014 publications Godzilla Completely Deciphered (p. 103) and Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition] (p. 54), and the 2016 publication Shin Godzilla Walker: The New Legend of the King of the Monsters (p. 59) instead list a weight of 600 metric tons. Additionally, Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction (p. 83) and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Complete Works (p. 73) place the Giant Condor's weight at 20 metric tons and 2,100 metric tons, respectively.

References

This is a list of references for Giant Condor. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. Godzilla Toho Giant Monster Pictorial Book. Shogakukan. 1 April 2005. p. 121. ISBN 4-09-280052-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Definitive Edition Godzilla Introduction. Shogakukan. 15 July 1984. p. 83. ISBN 4-09-220142-7.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition). Gakken. 10 December 1993. p. 104. ISBN 405600174X.
  4. Japanese SFX & Fantasy Movies. Keibunsha. 1997. p. 178. ISBN 4766927060.
  5. All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book (4th ed.). Yosensha. 4 September 2016. p. 126. ISBN 978-4-8003-0362-2.
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Pictorial Book of Godzilla 2. Hobby Japan Co., Ltd. 1 December 1995. p. 88. ISBN 978-4894251175.
  7. Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]. Kasakura Publishing. 7 August 2014. p. 54. ISBN 9784773087253.
  8. "Godzilla Defense Force - Unreleased Content [Android/iOS]". Toho Kingdom. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. Oki, Renji (25 April 2018). GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla. Kadokawa. pp. 53–85. ISBN 9784041063453.
  10. Johnson, Michael. "Marmit :: Vinyl Paradise :: Giant Condor". Club Tokyo. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  11. "Godzilla Defense Force - Unreleased Content". Toho Kingdom. Retrieved 7 March 2020.

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