Maguma: Difference between revisions

From Wikizilla, the kaiju encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
(83 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Ktab}}
{{Ktab}}
{{Kaiju Infobox
{{Kaiju Infobox
|type1            =Ice
|type1            =Normal
|type2            =Rock
|type2            =Ice
|header          ={{Toho Kaiju}}
 
|image            =Maguma.png
|image            =Maguma.png
|caption          =Maguma in Gorath
|caption          =Maguma in Gorath
|name            =Maguma
|name            =Maguma
|subtitle        =Antarctic Monster<br>{{Nihongo|南極怪獣|Nankyoku Kaijū}}<ref name="TSEMCWorks">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September [[2012]]|publisher=Village Books|page=64|isbn=4-864-91013-8}}</ref>
|nicknames        =Magma, Wally the Walrus,<br>The Antarctic Monster<ref name="INTTrailer">[https://youtu.be/viaGaxvZoUs?t=1m24s International ''Gorath'' trailer]</ref>
|species          =Giant Walrus
|subtitle        =Antarctic Monster<br>{{Nihongo|南極怪獣|Nankyoku Kaijū}}<ref name="TSEMCWorks">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September [[2012]]|publisher=Village Books|page=62-65, 97, 124|isbn=4-864-91013-8}}</ref><br>Walrus Monster<br>{{Nihongo|セイウチ怪獣|Seiuchi Kaijū}}<ref name="DEoTMM!!GSECWorks">{{cite book|title=Definitive Edition of Toho Monster Movies!! Godzilla Special Effects Complete Works|date=21 December [[1994]]|publisher=Natsumesha|page=51|isbn=978-4816317750}}</ref>
|nicknames        =Magma, Wally the Walrus
|species          =Giant prehistoric reptile<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/><ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia]]|date=23 July [[2014]]|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=28|isbn=4-096-82090-3}}</ref><ref name="GGMSEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia]]|date=15 March [[1994]]|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|page=51|isbn=4-06-304270-7}}</ref>
|height          =50 meters<ref name="TV Magazine Deluxe 20">[[Godzilla Monsters Super Encyclopedia|ゴジラ大怪獣超百科 (テレビマガジン デラックス20)]]. Monsters of Terror Attacking Humanity; Page 51.</ref>
|length          =50 meters<ref name="GMAOE"/>


|weight          =25,000 metric tons<ref name="TV Magazine Deluxe 20"/>
|weight          =25,000 metric tons<ref name="GGMSEncyclopedia"/><ref name="GMAOE"/>


 
|enemies          =[[United Nations]]
|enemies          =[[JSDF]]
|written         =[[Takeshi Kimura]]
|created         =[[Ishiro Honda]], <br>[[Takeshi Kimura]], <br>[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|modeled          =[[Teizo Toshimitsu]], [[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Kanju Yagi,<br>Yasuei Yagi]], [[Keizo Murase]]
|portrayed        =[[Katsumi Tezuka]]
|portrayed        =[[Katsumi Tezuka]], [[Haruo Nakajima]],<br>[[Eizo Kaimai]] (hand puppet)
|firstappearance  =''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''
|firstappearance  =''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''
|roar            =[[File:Maguma Roar Showa.ogg|180px|center|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
|roar            =[[File:Maguma Roar New.ogg|180px|center|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
}}
}}
'''Maguma''' {{Nihongo|マグマ|Maguma|lit. ''Magma''}} is a giant walrus [[kaiju]] created by [[Toho]] that first appeared in the [[1962]] [[Toho]] [[:Category:Films|film]], ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''.
'''Maguma''' {{Nihongo|マグマ|Maguma}} is a giant walrus-like [[kaiju]] that appeared in the [[1962]] [[Toho]] [[:Category:Films|film]], ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''.
 
A huge prehistoric reptile resembling a modern walrus, Maguma lived in [[Antarctica]] tens of thousands of years ago before he was disturbed and awakened in the modern day by the jet pipes used by the [[United Nations]] to change the [[Earth]]'s orbit and avoid a collision with [[Gorath]]. Maguma lashed out and nearly sabotaged the operation, but the UN was able to exterminate him using the laser mounted on a VTOL aircraft. Despite only appearing in a single film in a very minor role, Maguma has made sporadic appearances in non-film media along with Toho's other [[kaiju]], primarily in video games. Most recently, Maguma was featured in ''[[Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse|GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse]]'', the first official prequel novel for the ''GODZILLA'' anime trilogy.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Name==
==Name==
Maguma's name is the [[Japan]]ese approximation of the word "[[wikipedia:Magma|magma]]." This name is somewhat ironic, given that Maguma emerged from an iceberg in the North Pole.
Maguma's name is the [[Japan]]ese approximation of the word "[[wikipedia:Magma|magma]]." The name is somewhat ironic given that Maguma emerged from an iceberg in [[Antarctica]], though this may be in reference to the dormant volcanism of the continent. The name "Maguma" was chosen by a public poll.<ref name="TPBOG2">{{cite book|title=[[The Pictorial Book of Godzilla 2]]|date=1 December 1995|publisher=Hobby Japan Co., Ltd.|page=45|isbn=978-4894251175}}</ref>
 
==Development==
[[File:Concept_Art_-_Gorath_-_Maguma_1.png|thumb|right|200px|Maguma concept art]]
Maguma's appearance in ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' was requested by [[Toho]] executives, who felt that the inclusion of a [[kaiju]] was necessary in an [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] [[tokusatsu]] film. Director [[Ishiro Honda]] was opposed to the idea, but eventually gave in and contributed to design proposals for the creature. Honda said in a later interview that ''Gorath'' would have been his favorite film he directed were it not for the inclusion of Maguma.<ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December [[1993]]|publisher=Gakken|page=38|isbn=405600174X}}</ref> In [[Takeshi Kimura]]'s script for ''Gorath'', Maguma was simply described as a dinosaur, while the finished product still referred to Maguma as a reptile despite his strong resemblance to a walrus.<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/>
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
Gorath - Maguma storyboard 1.jpg|''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' storyboard featuring Maguma
Gorath - Maguma storyboard 2.png|''Gorath'' storyboard featuring Maguma
</gallery>
 
[[File:Gorath_bts7.png|thumb|left|200px|The completed Maguma suit]]
Maguma's head was modeled by [[Teizo Toshimitsu]], while his body was modeled by the [[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Yagi brothers, Kanju and Yasuei]]. They made the suit's structure from scratch, using wire netting, cloth, and sponge.<ref name="AllTMPB"/> The body and limbs were adhered using a mix of latex and sawdust, with its flippers molded separately.<ref name="TPBOG2"/> The suit was a brown color, with an apparatus installed in its eyes to allow them to glow blue. Fire-retardant material was applied to the suit in order to prevent it from catching fire from the flames given off by the jet pipes during filming.<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/> [[Keizo Murase]] sculpted Maguma's tusks from polyester resin, his first-ever time using this material, as he found it was the best way to make them appear sharp. Eiji Tsuburaya was impressed, initially believing the tusks were made from ivory before Murase explained that he had used a new material, much to Tsuburaya's delight. A 2-''shaku'' (Japanese foot) Guignol or hand-operated puppet of Maguma was employed for close-ups and fine movement. This Guignol was operated by modeling staff member [[Eizo Kaimai]].
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
Maguma Guignol.png|The Maguma Guignol. [[Eizo Kaimai]] can be seen operating it in the above picture.
</gallery>
 
[[File:Gorath_bts1.png|thumb|right|200px|The Maguma suit on set for filming of the scene of the monster among the jet pipes. According to [[Teruyoshi Nakano]], [[Haruo Nakajima]] would have been wearing the suit during this scene.]]
According to special effects assistant [[Koichi Kawakita]] and actor [[Takashi Shimura]], Tsuburaya directed all of the scenes in which Maguma was involved rather than Honda. Assistant director of special effects [[Teruyoshi Nakano]] stated that Maguma was primarily portrayed by [[Katsumi Tezuka]], while [[Haruo Nakajima]] wore the suit during the scene where Maguma is surrounded by the jet pipes.<ref name="Nakano">{{cite book|author=[[Teruyoshi Nakano|Nakano, Teruyoshi]], and Katsuki Someya|title=Director of Special Effects: Teruyoshi Nakano|publisher=Wides Publishing|date=2014|pages=89-90|isbn=978-4898302804}}</ref> However, Nakajima stated that he had no memory of playing Maguma.<ref name="Nakajima">{{cite book|author=[[Haruo Nakajima|Nakajima, Haruo]]|title=Monster Life: Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima|publisher=Yosensha|date=2010|page=346|isbn=978-4-86248-589-2}}</ref> Whoever was in the suit was exposed to the intense heat given off by the jet pipes The staff tried painting his back with melted plaster, but it had no effect, and they resorted to using a different flame-retardant material.<ref name="AllTMPB">{{cite book|title=[[All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book]] (4th Edition)|date=4 September [[2016]]|publisher=Yosensha|page=70|isbn=978-4-8003-0362-2}}</ref>
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
PDVD4_084.jpg|The Maguma suit is readied for filming.
Tumblr_o65qltB5Fn1qm3rsfo5_540.png
</gallery>
 
Maguma was removed from Brenco Pictures' American version of ''Gorath''. The distributors found the character's appearance comical, mockingly dubbing him "[[wikipedia:Wally Walrus|Wally the Walrus]]." Test audiences agreed, even with the monster given [[Rodan]]'s fiercer roar and shrouded in optically printed fog.<ref name="JFFJ">[https://archive.org/stream/JapaneseFantasyFilmJournal141982Jodyanimator/Japanese%20Fantasy%20Film%20Journal%2015%20%281983%29%20jodyanimator#page/n0/mode/2up The Japanese Fantasy Film Journal #15 - "Gorath Retrospective" by Hideyo Tsuburaya]</ref> Only a shot of Maguma's corpse buried in rubble remains in the American release.
 
[[File:Todora.png|thumb|left|200px|Maguma's suit in use as Todora for ''Ultra Q'']]
[[Tsuburaya Productions]] later used the Maguma suit to depict the monster [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Todora|Todora]] in episode 27 of ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]''. Whiskers were added to the suit's face and the blue glow effect was removed from its eyes. The suit may have been planned to be re-purposed once again for Todogon, a walrus monster planned for the ultimately unproduced ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' script "The Negative 40 Degrees Battle."<ref name="JPWikipedia">[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ウルトラマン#未制作シナリオ ウルトラマン - Japanese Wikipedia]</ref>
 
According to an interview with Ishiro Honda, an [[All Monsters Attack Directive|early draft]] for the [[1968]] film ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' called for "all monsters" to appear. Maguma was featured along with [[Ebirah]] in the film's "review script," which did not feature [[Anguirus]], [[Minilla]], or [[Gorosaurus]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Godzilla Toho Special Effects Movie Complete History|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|date=2014|page=114|isbn=9784062190046}}</ref> Maguma and Baragon defended the Kilaak base in Izu from the JSDF instead of Godzilla and Anguirus. In addition, the final draft of the film's screenplay featured Maguma as the monster which attacks [[Paris]] and destroys the [[Arc de Triomphe]], but he was replaced in the role prior to filming by [[Baragon]], who himself ended up being replaced by Gorosaurus for the scene.<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/>
{{Clear}}
 
==Design==
==Design==
Maguma looks like a giant brown walrus with yellow eyes, pale tusks, smooth skin, and no visible hair. Maguma also lacks a tail.
Despite canonically being a giant prehistoric reptile, Maguma resembles a giant walrus<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/> with elongated fore and hind limbs, green eyes, pale tusks, and smooth brown skin with no visible hair. Unlike real-life walruses, which possess vestigial tails, Maguma has no tail at all.
==Origins==
[[File:Maguma blood.png|thumb|left|200px|A view of Maguma's blood cells from under a microscope, used in determining its species as a reptile]]
Maguma is a walrus-like creature which inhabited Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/> and was reawakened due to changes in the climate caused by the ignition of the jet pipes. Despite its appearance, Maguma is actually a member of a species of reptiles,<ref name="GGMSEncyclopedia"/> determined by examining samples of its blood under a microscope.<ref name="TSEMCWorks"/>
{{Clear}}
==History==
==History==
===[[Showa era|Showa Series]]===
===[[Showa era|Showa Series]]===
====''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''====
====''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''====
Maguma first appeared when it was awakened by missile fire at the North Pole. Maguma attacked the base and it went home to its valley. A VTOL aircraft was sent to kill Maguma, and it buried it under a pile of rocks. Maguma broke out of the rocks and attacked again. The aircraft attacked Maguma with energy beams, killing it.
[[File:Maguma_01.png|thumb|right|200px|Maguma in ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'']]
Maguma was disturbed from its hibernation by changes in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] climate caused by the ignition of the hydrogen jet fields on the continent used to propel the [[Earth]] out of the path of the rogue star [[Gorath]]. Irritated by the increased temperatures, Maguma attacked the power station of a jet field before returning to its home in a neighboring canyon. As the dysfunction of the fields and continued attacks would spell doom for the Earth, a VTOL aircraft was sent to dispose of Maguma. The VTOL strafed the walls of the canyon with its laser, causing Maguma to be buried in an avalanche. The creature broke free shortly afterward, only to be killed by direct hits from the aircraft's laser.
{{Clear}}
==Abilities==
===Physical Abilities===
[[File:Maguma - Push.gif|thumb|right|200px|Maguma destroys part of a jet pipe power station with its forelimb]]
Due to possessing no extraordinary abilities, Maguma relies exclusively on its forelimbs to cause destruction. This is demonstrated when it uses one of its flippers to breach and destroy part of a jet pipe power station. Although not taken advantage of in its sole film appearance, Maguma also possesses sizable tusks which could be used to wreak further havoc.
===Swimming===
Maguma can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour underwater.<ref name="GMAOE">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Monsters All Overall Encyclopedia]] (7th Edition)|date=10 November 1993|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=166|isbn=4092811047}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
===Durability===
[[File:Maguma - Buried.gif|thumb|right|200px|Maguma emerges from under a pile of rubble after having a valley collapsed on it]]
Maguma displays at least a moderate measure of durability, surviving a forcible avalanche and being buried under a number of boulders and other chunks of rock.
===Weaknesses===
Although surviving the first attempt on its life by way of burying, Maguma was less fortunate against the lasers of the VTOL and was quickly dispatched.
<gallery widths='120' position='center' captionalign='center' spacing='small'>
Maguma - Death.gif|Maguma is killed by a number of blasts from the VTOL's laser cannon
</gallery>
==Filmography==
==Filmography==
*''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' (1962)
*''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' (1962)
*''[[Adventure! Godzilland|Adventure! Godzilland 2]]'' (TV 1993) [drawing]
*''[[Adventure! Godzilland|Adventure! Godzilland 2]]'' (TV 1993) [drawing]
==Video Games==
==Video Games==
*''[[Godzilla: Trading Battle]]''
*''[[Godzilla: Trading Battle]]'' (1998) - Sony PlayStation
*''[[Godzilla Generations]]''
*''[[Godzilla Generations]]'' (1998) - Sega Dreamcast
*''Collect Godzilla: Giant Monster Assembly'' (1998) - Sega Dreamcast VMU
*''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'' (2019) - Android and iOS
<gallery widths='120' position='center' captionalign='center' spacing='small'>
<gallery widths='120' position='center' captionalign='center' spacing='small'>
Maguma_tradingbattle.png|Maguma's card in ''[[Godzilla: Trading Battle]]''
Maguma_tradingbattle.png|Maguma's card in ''[[Godzilla: Trading Battle]]''
Godzilla Generations Coliseum 06 Maguma.png|Maguma in ''[[Godzilla Generations]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> "Collected Coliseum" mode
06b_maguma.png|Maguma's sprite in ''Collect Godzilla: Giant Monster Assembly''
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Comics==
===''[[The Godzilla Comic]]''===
Maguma appeared in the ''Monster Warrior Godzilla'' segment, where he was one of many kaiju who lived on their own planet.
==Books==
==Books==
===[[Toho Monsters Picture Book series|''Toho Monsters Picture Book'' series]]===
[[File:Toho Kaiju Picture Book 10 p 03 LQ.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Maguma and Varan in ''Monster Olympics'']]
Maguma is prominently featured in ''Toho Monsters Picture Book'' #10, ''Monster Olympics''.
===''[[Giant Monster Battle: 30 Monsters Rampage!!]]''===
Maguma makes an appearance in the "Space Monsters vs. Earth Monsters" portion of the 1966 [[Asahi Sonorama]] Sonosheet ''[[Giant Monster Battle: 30 Monsters Rampage!!]]'', as part of the Earth monster army fighting against [[King Ghidorah]], [[Dogora]], and [[Moguera]].<ref name="NewGodzillaDictionary">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Dictionary (New Edition)|Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]]]|date=7 August 2014|publisher=Kasakura Publishing|page=294|isbn=9784773087253}}</ref> The monster Todora is featured on the flip side of the Sonosheet in "Decisive Battle! Ultraman."
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
Giant Monster Battle 30 Monsters Rampage 大怪獣戦 30怪獣大あばれ Asahi Sonorama inner art 01.jpg|Artwork of "Space Monsters vs. Earth Monsters" featuring Maguma
</gallery>
===''[[Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse|GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse]]''===
===''[[Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse|GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse]]''===
Maguma attacked and destroyed North Korea in 2024, then began moving south and approaching Seoul, South Korea. The [[United States]] launched a tactical nuclear missile at Maguma and destroyed it, marking the first use of a nuclear weapon against a [[kaiju]].<ref name="Apocalypse">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse|GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse]]|author=Renji Ōki|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=October 25, 2017|pages=112-150}}</ref>
Maguma attacked and destroyed North Korea in 2024, then began moving south and approaching Seoul, South Korea. The [[United States]] launched a tactical nuclear missile at Maguma and destroyed it, marking the first use of a nuclear weapon against a [[kaiju]].<ref name="Apocalypse">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse|GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse]]|author=Renji Ōki|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=October 25, 2017|pages=112-150}}</ref>
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|Maguma/Gallery}}
{{Main|Maguma/Gallery}}
==Roar==
==Roar==
Maguma's roar was an elephant trumpeting sound, but was deepened and slowed down. Maguma's roar was later used for the ''Ultraman 80'' [[kaiju]], [[w:c:ultra:Salamandora|Salamandora]].
Maguma's roar was a slowed down elephant trumpeting sound combined with instrumental materials used to create [[Rodan]]'s cries. Maguma's roar was later used for the ''Ultraman 80'' [[kaiju]], [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Saramandora|Salamandora]].
{{videos|
{{videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://youtu.be/5H78EicSxIo</youtube>|Maguma Roars|Maguma's roars}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://youtu.be/jAfCszmxouo</youtube>|Maguma Roars|Maguma's roars}}
}}
 
==In Other Languages==
{{Other languages
|zh_yue=馬古馬 ''Mǎgǔmǎ''|zh_yuemeaning=Transcription of Japanese name
|zh_cmn=玛格玛 ''Mǎgémǎ''|zh_cmnmeaning=Transcription of Japanese name
|ko=마그마 ''Mageuma''|komeaning=Transcription of Japanese name
}}
}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*According to an interview with [[Ishiro Honda]], an [[All Monsters Attack Directive|early draft]] for the [[1968]] film ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' called for "all monsters" to appear. Early art for the film shows that Maguma was going to guard the [[Kilaaks]]' base along with [[Ebirah]]. However, they were replaced by [[Baragon]] and [[Varan]], whose roles were reduced due to the poor conditions of their suits.
*Maguma is included in the official timeline of monster attacks which took place in the continuity of the films ''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'' and ''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]'' While ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]'' was set in [[1980]], the timeline places Maguma's attack in [[1962]], the year of the film's release. It also does not incorporate the rest of the film's events, only the appearance of Maguma.
**Maguma and [[Ebirah]] were also supposed to among Godzilla's main allies against [[King Ghidorah]], but they were replaced by [[Anguirus]], [[Gorosaurus]] and [[Minilla]].{{sup|[citation needed]}}
==Video==
*Maguma was removed from the Brenco Pictures' American version of ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''. The producers of the U.S. version reportedly thought Maguma was too funny-looking, even mockingly calling him "Wally the Walrus," and believed he would ruin the serious tone of the film. Only a shot of Maguma's corpse buried in rubble remains in the American release.
{{Videos|{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://youtu.be/xlz2ZhQUnaU</youtube>|{{WZYT|Kaiju Profile: Maguma|Kaiju Profile: Maguma}}}}}}
*[[Tsuburaya Productions]] used the Maguma suit to depict the monster [[w:c:ultra:Todora|Todora]] in episode 27 of ''[[w:c:ultra:Ultra Q|Ultra Q]]''. The suit was to be re-purposed a third time for Todogon, a walrus monster planned for the ultimately unproduced ''[[w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' script ''Final Battle of Freezing Point 40 Degrees''.<ref>https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3#.E6.9C.AA.E5.88.B6.E4.BD.9C.E3.82.B7.E3.83.8A.E3.83.AA.E3.82.AA</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{TohoMonsters}}
{{Toho Monsters}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|MAG}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|MAG}}
<seo metakeywords="{{PAGENAME}}, {{PAGENAME}} wikizilla, {{PAGENAME}} godzilla, {{PAGENAME}} wiki"/>
<seo metakeywords="Maguma, Wikizilla, Wiki, Godzilla, Toho, Kaiju, Gorath, 1962, Walrus"/>
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
[[Category:Mammal Kaiju]]
[[Category:Reptiles]]
[[Category:Aquatic Creatures]]

Revision as of 01:46, 3 November 2019

Template:Ktab

Maguma
Maguma in Gorath
Alternate names Magma, Wally the Walrus,
The Antarctic Monster[1]
Subtitle(s) Antarctic Monster
(南極怪獣,   Nankyoku Kaijū)[2]
Walrus Monster
(セイウチ怪獣,   Seiuchi Kaijū)[3]
Species Giant prehistoric reptile[2][4][5]
Length 50 meters[6]
Weight 25,000 metric tons[5][6]
Enemies United Nations
Written by Takeshi Kimura
Modeled by Teizo Toshimitsu, Kanju Yagi,
Yasuei Yagi
, Keizo Murase
Played by Katsumi Tezuka, Haruo Nakajima,
Eizo Kaimai (hand puppet)
First appearance Gorath
Roar(s)
More roars

Maguma (マグマ,   Maguma) is a giant walrus-like kaiju that appeared in the 1962 Toho film, Gorath.

A huge prehistoric reptile resembling a modern walrus, Maguma lived in Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago before he was disturbed and awakened in the modern day by the jet pipes used by the United Nations to change the Earth's orbit and avoid a collision with Gorath. Maguma lashed out and nearly sabotaged the operation, but the UN was able to exterminate him using the laser mounted on a VTOL aircraft. Despite only appearing in a single film in a very minor role, Maguma has made sporadic appearances in non-film media along with Toho's other kaiju, primarily in video games. Most recently, Maguma was featured in GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse, the first official prequel novel for the GODZILLA anime trilogy.

Name

Maguma's name is the Japanese approximation of the word "magma." The name is somewhat ironic given that Maguma emerged from an iceberg in Antarctica, though this may be in reference to the dormant volcanism of the continent. The name "Maguma" was chosen by a public poll.[7]

Development

Maguma concept art

Maguma's appearance in Gorath was requested by Toho executives, who felt that the inclusion of a kaiju was necessary in an Eiji Tsuburaya tokusatsu film. Director Ishiro Honda was opposed to the idea, but eventually gave in and contributed to design proposals for the creature. Honda said in a later interview that Gorath would have been his favorite film he directed were it not for the inclusion of Maguma.[8] In Takeshi Kimura's script for Gorath, Maguma was simply described as a dinosaur, while the finished product still referred to Maguma as a reptile despite his strong resemblance to a walrus.[2]

The completed Maguma suit

Maguma's head was modeled by Teizo Toshimitsu, while his body was modeled by the Yagi brothers, Kanju and Yasuei. They made the suit's structure from scratch, using wire netting, cloth, and sponge.[9] The body and limbs were adhered using a mix of latex and sawdust, with its flippers molded separately.[7] The suit was a brown color, with an apparatus installed in its eyes to allow them to glow blue. Fire-retardant material was applied to the suit in order to prevent it from catching fire from the flames given off by the jet pipes during filming.[2] Keizo Murase sculpted Maguma's tusks from polyester resin, his first-ever time using this material, as he found it was the best way to make them appear sharp. Eiji Tsuburaya was impressed, initially believing the tusks were made from ivory before Murase explained that he had used a new material, much to Tsuburaya's delight. A 2-shaku (Japanese foot) Guignol or hand-operated puppet of Maguma was employed for close-ups and fine movement. This Guignol was operated by modeling staff member Eizo Kaimai.

The Maguma suit on set for filming of the scene of the monster among the jet pipes. According to Teruyoshi Nakano, Haruo Nakajima would have been wearing the suit during this scene.

According to special effects assistant Koichi Kawakita and actor Takashi Shimura, Tsuburaya directed all of the scenes in which Maguma was involved rather than Honda. Assistant director of special effects Teruyoshi Nakano stated that Maguma was primarily portrayed by Katsumi Tezuka, while Haruo Nakajima wore the suit during the scene where Maguma is surrounded by the jet pipes.[10] However, Nakajima stated that he had no memory of playing Maguma.[11] Whoever was in the suit was exposed to the intense heat given off by the jet pipes The staff tried painting his back with melted plaster, but it had no effect, and they resorted to using a different flame-retardant material.[9]

Maguma was removed from Brenco Pictures' American version of Gorath. The distributors found the character's appearance comical, mockingly dubbing him "Wally the Walrus." Test audiences agreed, even with the monster given Rodan's fiercer roar and shrouded in optically printed fog.[12] Only a shot of Maguma's corpse buried in rubble remains in the American release.

Maguma's suit in use as Todora for Ultra Q

Tsuburaya Productions later used the Maguma suit to depict the monster Todora in episode 27 of Ultra Q. Whiskers were added to the suit's face and the blue glow effect was removed from its eyes. The suit may have been planned to be re-purposed once again for Todogon, a walrus monster planned for the ultimately unproduced Ultraman script "The Negative 40 Degrees Battle."[13]

According to an interview with Ishiro Honda, an early draft for the 1968 film Destroy All Monsters called for "all monsters" to appear. Maguma was featured along with Ebirah in the film's "review script," which did not feature Anguirus, Minilla, or Gorosaurus.[14] Maguma and Baragon defended the Kilaak base in Izu from the JSDF instead of Godzilla and Anguirus. In addition, the final draft of the film's screenplay featured Maguma as the monster which attacks Paris and destroys the Arc de Triomphe, but he was replaced in the role prior to filming by Baragon, who himself ended up being replaced by Gorosaurus for the scene.[2]

Design

Despite canonically being a giant prehistoric reptile, Maguma resembles a giant walrus[2] with elongated fore and hind limbs, green eyes, pale tusks, and smooth brown skin with no visible hair. Unlike real-life walruses, which possess vestigial tails, Maguma has no tail at all.

Origins

A view of Maguma's blood cells from under a microscope, used in determining its species as a reptile

Maguma is a walrus-like creature which inhabited Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago[2] and was reawakened due to changes in the climate caused by the ignition of the jet pipes. Despite its appearance, Maguma is actually a member of a species of reptiles,[5] determined by examining samples of its blood under a microscope.[2]

History

Showa Series

Gorath

Maguma in Gorath

Maguma was disturbed from its hibernation by changes in the Antarctic climate caused by the ignition of the hydrogen jet fields on the continent used to propel the Earth out of the path of the rogue star Gorath. Irritated by the increased temperatures, Maguma attacked the power station of a jet field before returning to its home in a neighboring canyon. As the dysfunction of the fields and continued attacks would spell doom for the Earth, a VTOL aircraft was sent to dispose of Maguma. The VTOL strafed the walls of the canyon with its laser, causing Maguma to be buried in an avalanche. The creature broke free shortly afterward, only to be killed by direct hits from the aircraft's laser.

Abilities

Physical Abilities

Maguma destroys part of a jet pipe power station with its forelimb

Due to possessing no extraordinary abilities, Maguma relies exclusively on its forelimbs to cause destruction. This is demonstrated when it uses one of its flippers to breach and destroy part of a jet pipe power station. Although not taken advantage of in its sole film appearance, Maguma also possesses sizable tusks which could be used to wreak further havoc.

Swimming

Maguma can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour underwater.[6]

Durability

Maguma emerges from under a pile of rubble after having a valley collapsed on it

Maguma displays at least a moderate measure of durability, surviving a forcible avalanche and being buried under a number of boulders and other chunks of rock.

Weaknesses

Although surviving the first attempt on its life by way of burying, Maguma was less fortunate against the lasers of the VTOL and was quickly dispatched.

Filmography

Video Games

Comics

The Godzilla Comic

Maguma appeared in the Monster Warrior Godzilla segment, where he was one of many kaiju who lived on their own planet.

Books

Toho Monsters Picture Book series

Maguma and Varan in Monster Olympics

Maguma is prominently featured in Toho Monsters Picture Book #10, Monster Olympics.

Giant Monster Battle: 30 Monsters Rampage!!

Maguma makes an appearance in the "Space Monsters vs. Earth Monsters" portion of the 1966 Asahi Sonorama Sonosheet Giant Monster Battle: 30 Monsters Rampage!!, as part of the Earth monster army fighting against King Ghidorah, Dogora, and Moguera.[15] The monster Todora is featured on the flip side of the Sonosheet in "Decisive Battle! Ultraman."

GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse

Maguma attacked and destroyed North Korea in 2024, then began moving south and approaching Seoul, South Korea. The United States launched a tactical nuclear missile at Maguma and destroyed it, marking the first use of a nuclear weapon against a kaiju.[16]

Gallery

Main article: Maguma/Gallery.

Roar

Maguma's roar was a slowed down elephant trumpeting sound combined with instrumental materials used to create Rodan's cries. Maguma's roar was later used for the Ultraman 80 kaiju, Salamandora.

Maguma Roars

In Other Languages

Language Name Meaning
Chinese Flagicon Hong Kong.png Cantonese 馬古馬 Mǎgǔmǎ Transcription of Japanese name
China and Taiwan Flags.png Mandarin 玛格玛 Mǎgémǎ Transcription of Japanese name
Flagicon South Korea.png Korean 마그마 Mageuma Transcription of Japanese name

Trivia

  • Maguma is included in the official timeline of monster attacks which took place in the continuity of the films Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. While Gorath was set in 1980, the timeline places Maguma's attack in 1962, the year of the film's release. It also does not incorporate the rest of the film's events, only the appearance of Maguma.

Video

Wikizilla: YouTube Kaiju Profile: Maguma

References

This is a list of references for Maguma. 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. International Gorath trailer
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works. Village Books. 28 September 2012. p. 62-65, 97, 124. ISBN 4-864-91013-8. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. Definitive Edition of Toho Monster Movies!! Godzilla Special Effects Complete Works. Natsumesha. 21 December 1994. p. 51. ISBN 978-4816317750. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia. Shogakukan. 23 July 2014. p. 28. ISBN 4-096-82090-3. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia. Kodansha. 15 March 1994. p. 51. ISBN 4-06-304270-7. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Godzilla Monsters All Overall Encyclopedia (7th Edition). Shogakukan. 10 November 1993. p. 166. ISBN 4092811047.
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Pictorial Book of Godzilla 2. Hobby Japan Co., Ltd. 1 December 1995. p. 45. ISBN 978-4894251175.
  8. Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition). Gakken. 10 December 1993. p. 38. ISBN 405600174X. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. 9.0 9.1 All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book (4th Edition). Yosensha. 4 September 2016. p. 70. ISBN 978-4-8003-0362-2. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. Nakano, Teruyoshi, and Katsuki Someya (2014). Director of Special Effects: Teruyoshi Nakano. Wides Publishing. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-4898302804.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Nakajima, Haruo (2010). Monster Life: Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima. Yosensha. p. 346. ISBN 978-4-86248-589-2.
  12. The Japanese Fantasy Film Journal #15 - "Gorath Retrospective" by Hideyo Tsuburaya
  13. ウルトラマン - Japanese Wikipedia
  14. Godzilla Toho Special Effects Movie Complete History. Kodansha. 2014. p. 114. ISBN 9784062190046.
  15. Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]. Kasakura Publishing. 7 August 2014. p. 294. ISBN 9784773087253.
  16. Renji Ōki (October 25, 2017). GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse. Kadokawa. pp. 112–150.

Comments

Showing 77 comments. When commenting, please remain respectful of other users, stay on topic, and avoid role-playing and excessive punctuation. Comments which violate these guidelines may be removed by administrators.

Loading comments...
Era Icon - Toho.png
Era Icon - Showa.png
Kaiju
Era Icon - Maguma.png