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|type1      =Bug
|type1      =Bug
|type2      =Steel
|type2      =Steel
|type        =[[Mothra]] Incarnations
|type        =[[Mothra]] incarnations
|name        =First Generation Mothra
|name        =Mothra (First Generation)
|next        =Mothra/Second Generation
|next        =Mothra (Second Generation)
|nextname    =Second Generation Mothra
|nextname    =Mothra (Second Generation)
}}
}}
{{Kaiju Infobox
{{Kaiju Infobox
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<tab name="Larva">[[File:Mothra_Larva_1961.png|330px|Mothra larva in Mothra]]</tab></tabs>
<tab name="Larva">[[File:Mothra_Larva_1961.png|330px|Mothra larva in Mothra]]</tab></tabs>


|name            =Mothra{{tt|®|Mothra is a registered Trademark of Toho Company Ltd.}} (First Generation)
|name            =Mothra{{tt|®|Mothra is a registered trademark of Toho Company Ltd.}}
|dt              =Mothra (First Generation)
|dt              =Mothra (First Generation)
|subtitle        =Giant Moth {{Nihongo|巨蛾|Kyoga}}<ref name="CKofG">{{cite book|title=[[Common Knowledge of Godzilla]]|date=6 July [[2014]]|publisher=Futabasha|pages=29, 143|isbn=978-4-575-30696-5}}</ref><br>Supersonic Giant Moth<br>{{Nihongo|超音速巨蛾|Chō Onsoku Kyoga}}{{sup|[[Mothra vs. Godzilla|MvG]]}}<ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia]]|date=23 July [[2014]]|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=34|isbn=4-096-82090-3}}</ref>
|subtitle        =Giant Moth {{Nihongo|巨蛾|Kyoga}}<ref name="CKofG">{{cite book|title=[[Common Knowledge of Godzilla]]|date=6 July 2014|publisher=Futabasha|pages=29, 142-143|isbn=978-4-575-30696-5}}</ref><br>Giant Supersonic Moth<br>{{Nihongo|超音速巨蛾|Chō Onsoku Kyoga}}{{sup|[[Mothra vs. Godzilla|MvG]]}}<ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia]]|date=23 July 2014|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=34|isbn=4-096-82090-3}}</ref>


|species          =Giant divine moth
|species          =Giant divine moth
|nicknames        =Mosura, Mosla,<ref name="TSEMCW">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September 2012|publisher=Village Books|pages=54-57 |isbn=9784864910132}}</ref> The Thing
|nicknames        =Mosura, Mosla,<ref name="TSEMCW">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September 2012|publisher=[[villagebooks]]|pages=54-57 |isbn=9784864910132}}</ref> The Thing,<br>First Generation Mothra


|length          =180 meters {{Small|(Larva)}}<ref name="GodzillaCompendium">{{cite book|title=[[The Official Godzilla Compendium]]|author=J.D. Lees, Marc Cerasini|date=24 March [[1998]]|publisher= [[Random House]]|page=136|isbn=0279888225}}<br>[[File:Compendium26.png|150px]]</ref><ref name="ATMPB"/><br>80 meters {{Small|(Imago)}}{{sup|[[Mothra (film)|MOT]]}}<ref name="EoGMGE"/><br>65 meters {{small|(Imago)}}{{sup|[[Mothra vs. Godzilla|MvG]]}}<ref name="ATMPB"/><ref name="EoGMGE"/>
|length          =180 meters {{small|(larva)}},<ref name="GCompletelyDeciphered">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Completely Deciphered]]|date=26 June 2014|publisher=Takarajimasha|page=88|isbn=4800228964}}</ref><ref name="GodzillaCompendium">{{cite book|title=[[The Official Godzilla Compendium]]|author=J.D. Lees, Marc Cerasini|date=24 March 1998|publisher= [[Random House]]|page=136|isbn=0279888225}}<br>[[File:Compendium26.png|150px]]</ref><br>80 meters {{small|(imago)}}<ref name="GCompletelyDeciphered"/><ref name="ImagoLengthInconsistent" group="note">The first generation imago from ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' is sometimes inconsistently listed as being 65 meters or 135 meters long despite being the same individual as the 80 meter long imago from ''Mothra''.</ref>


|weight          =20,000 metric tons {{small|(Larva)}}<ref name="ATMPB">{{cite book|title=[[All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book]] (4th Edition)|date=4 September [[2016]]|publisher=Yosensha|page=62, 67, 88|isbn=978-4-8003-0362-2}}</ref><ref name="EoGMGE"/><br>15,000 metric tons {{Small|(Imago)}}<ref name="ATMPB"/><ref name="EoGMGE"/>
|weight          =15,000 metric tons {{small|(larva)}},<ref name="CKofG"/><ref name="LarvaWeightInconsistent" group="note">The first generation larva's weight is variably listed as 8,000, 12,000, 15,000, or 20,000 metric tons.</ref><br>20,000 metric tons {{Small|(imago)}}<ref name="GodzillaCompendium"/><ref name="ImagoWeightInconsistent" group="note">The first generation imago's weight is variably listed as 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 metric tons.</ref>


|wingspan        =250 meters{{sup|[[Mothra (film)|MOT]]}}<ref name="ATMPB"/><ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="ChroniclesEd1">{{cite book|title=The Godzilla Chronicles|ed=First|date=21 January [[1994]]|publisher=Takeshobo|page=18|isbn=4-88475-267-8}}</ref><br>135 meters{{sup|[[Mothra vs. Godzilla|MvG]]}}<ref name="ATMPB"/><ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December [[1993]]|publisher=Gakken|page=100|isbn=405600174X}}</ref><ref name="ChroniclesEd1"/>
|wingspan        =250 meters<ref name="MvGprogram">''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' [[theater programs|theater program]]. 1964.</ref><ref name="InconsistentWingspan" group="note">Numerous sources give the imago from ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' a wingspan of 135 meters despite being the same individual as the 250 meter imago from ''Mothra'', likely due to her apparent size difference when compared to Godzilla. However, media contemporary to both ''Mothra'' and ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'', such as the films' theater programs, agree on a 250 meter measurement.</ref>


|stat1            =100 meters {{small|(Long Diameter)}}{{sup|[[Mothra (film)|MOT]]}}<ref name="GMAOE-Larva">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Monsters All Overall Encyclopedia]] (7th Edition)|date=10 November 1993|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=93-95|isbn=4-09-281104-7}}</ref><br>65 meters {{small|(Short Diameter)}}{{sup|[[Mothra (film)|MOT]]}}<ref name="GMAOE-Larva"/>|1=Egg Size
|stat1            =100 meters {{small|(long)}}<ref name="GMAOE-Larva">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Monsters All Encyclopedia]] (7th Edition)|date=10 November 1993|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=93-95|isbn=4-09-281104-7}}</ref><br>65 meters {{small|(short)}}<ref name="GMAOE-Larva"/>|1=Egg diameter


|stat2            =50 metric tons{{sup|[[Mothra (film)|MOT]]}}<ref name="ATMPB"/>|2=Egg Weight
|stat2            =50 metric tons<ref name="ATMPB">{{cite book|title=[[All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book]] (4th Edition)|date=4 September 2016|publisher=Yosensha|page=62, 67, 88|isbn=978-4-8003-0362-2}}</ref>|2=Egg weight


|stat3            =100 meters<ref name="KHBGVKG">{{cite book|title=[[Kodansha Hit Books: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Great Complete Works]]|date=5 December [[1991]]|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|page=69|isbn=4-06-177720-3}}</ref>|3=Cocoon Length
|stat3            =100 meters<ref name="KHBGVKG">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Complete Works]]|date=5 December 1991|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|page=69|isbn=4-06-177720-3}}</ref>|3=Cocoon length


|forms            =Larval Stage, Imago Stage
|forms            =Larval stage, imago stage
|allies          =
|allies          =
|enemies          =[[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]]
|enemies          =[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]]
|relationships    =[[Mothra/Second Generation|Second Generation Mothra]] {{small|(daughters)}}
|relationships    ={{bl|[[Mothra (Second Generation)|Second Generation Mothras]] (daughters)|[[Mothra (Godzilla: Tokyo SOS)|Mothra 2003]] (descendant)}}


|created         =[[Shinichiro Nakamura]], [[Yoshie Hotta]],<br>[[Takehiko Fukanaga]]
|modeled         =[[Teizo Toshimitsu]], [[Keizo Murase]],<br>[[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Kanju Yagi, Yasuei Yagi]]
|portrayed        =Puppets, [[Haruo Nakajima]] {{Small|(larva)}}
|portrayed        =[[Haruo Nakajima]], [[Katsumi Tezuka]] {{Small|(larva)}}


|debut            =''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''
|debut            =''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''
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|roar            ='''Larva'''[[File:Mothra (1961) Roar 01.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]'''Imago'''[[File:Showa Mothra SFX.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
|roar            ='''Larva'''[[File:Mothra (1961) Roar 01.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]'''Imago'''[[File:Showa Mothra SFX.ogg|center|180px|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
}}
}}
The '''First Generation [[Mothra]]''' {{Nihongo|初代モスラ|Shodai Mosura}} is a giant divine moth [[kaiju]] that first appeared in the [[1961]] [[:Category:Films|film]], ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''.
{{Dialogue|[[Shobijin]]|'''Mothra''' will soon be [[Tokyo|here]].|[[Shinichi Chujo]]|Mothra?|more1=Shobijin|more2=Mothra, she'll rescue us, and return us to our [[Infant Island|island]]!|Dialogue between the [[Shobijin]] and [[Shinichi Chujo]] (''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'', [[1961]])}}
'''[[Mothra]]''' {{Nihongo|モスラ|Mosura}} is a giant divine moth [[kaiju]] who first appeared in the [[1961]] [[:Category:Films|film]] ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''.


The first onscreen incarnation of the character, the original Mothra first appeared inside her egg on [[Infant Island]] when a joint [[Rolisica]]n-[[Japan]]ese expedition arrived on the island. When [[Clark Nelson]] kidnapped the [[Shobijin]] and brought them to [[Tokyo]], Mothra hatched from her egg and followed them, laying waste to the city and cocooning herself on the [[Tokyo Tower]]. Mothra emerged in her imago form and pursued Nelson to [[Rolisica|New Kirk City]], where she successfully recovered the Shobijin and returned to her island. By the events of ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'', Mothra had laid an egg, which was washed ashore in Japan by a severe typhoon. When [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] appeared in Japan and began approaching the egg, Mothra left the island and battled Godzilla, but the battle cost her her life. However, two [[Mothra/Second Generation|twin larvae]] hatched from the egg, and set out to continue their mother's fight.
The first onscreen incarnation of the character, the original Mothra first appeared inside her egg on [[Infant Island]] when a joint [[Rolisica]]n-[[Japan]]ese expedition arrived on the island. When [[Clark Nelson]] kidnapped the [[Shobijin]] and brought them to [[Tokyo]], Mothra hatched from her egg and followed them, laying waste to the city and cocooning herself on the [[Tokyo Tower]]. Mothra emerged in her imago form and pursued Nelson to [[Rolisica|New Kirk City]], where she successfully recovered the Shobijin and returned to her island. By the events of ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', Mothra had laid an egg, which was washed ashore in Japan by a severe typhoon. When [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] appeared in Japan and began approaching the egg, Mothra left the island and fought Godzilla, but the battle cost her her life. However, two [[Mothra (Second Generation)|twin larvae]] hatched from the egg, and set out to continue their mother's fight.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Name==
==Name==
The name "Mothra" is the suffixation of "[[-ra]]" (a common last syllable in [[kaiju]] names) to "moth." Since the Japanese language does not have dental fricatives, it is approximated "Mosura" in Japanese. Originally, Mothra's name was approximated in English as "Mosla," but it was later corrected to "Mothra" by the time of the release of her [[Mothra (film)|debut film]].<ref name="TSEMCW"/> In the American dubbing and various posters for ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', Mothra is also referred to as "The Thing."
The name "Mothra" is the suffixation of "-ra" (a common last syllable in [[kaiju]] names) to "moth." Since the Japanese language does not have dental fricatives, it is approximated "Mosura" in Japanese. Originally, Mothra's name was approximated in English as "Mosla," but it was later corrected to "Mothra" by the time of the release of her [[Mothra (film)|debut film]].<ref name="TSEMCW"/> In the American dubbing and various posters for ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', Mothra is also referred to as "The Thing." This Mothra is designated as the '''First Generation Mothra''' {{Nihongo|初代モスラ|Shodai Mosura}}, reflecting her status as the first incarnation of the character to appear onscreen.
==Development==
==Development==
[[File:Mothra_1961_-_Behind_the_Scenes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The 3-''shaku'' Mothra larva model is readied for the [[Tokyo Tower]] scene in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''.]]
[[File:Mothra_1961_-_Behind_the_Scenes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The 3-''shaku'' Mothra larva model is readied for the [[Tokyo Tower]] scene in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''.]]
Both the larval and imago forms of Mothra in her [[Mothra (film)|debut film]] were modeled by [[Teizo Toshimitsu]], [[Keizo Murase]], and the Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei. A 3-''shaku'' (Japanese foot) self-propelled miniature model was created for Mothra's larval form in water scenes and the scene where she cocoons at the [[Tokyo Tower]]. This miniature featured a motorcycle engine built inside of it which propelled it forward.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> For the scene of the larval Mothra approaching the Tokyo Tower from Shibuya, a 6-''shaku''-tall, 33-''shaku''-long costume weighing about 120 kilograms was constructed. It was estimated to cost 2 million yen.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Eight actors, including [[Haruo Nakajima]] and [[Katsumi Tezuka]], wore and operated the costume. This was boasted as the most actors required to portray a [[kaiju]] until 1994, when ten actors were needed to play [[Yamata no Orochi]] in ''[[Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon]]''. Tezuka was assigned as the lead actor for the costume, due to his experience wearing a similar suit to portray the [[Meganulon]] in ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]''.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Keizo Murase covered the larval Mothra's face with barnacles and added a beard made of [[wikipedia:Rattan|rattan]] in order to make it seem like a living, organic creature. The larva's skin was made of latex and coated by Murase with soft vinyl so as to add a sheen to the skin. Out of a desire to please special effects director [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], Murase peeled off the vinyl coating and reapplied it whenever he had time during shooting. When Murase worked on the [[Mothra/Heisei|Mothra larva]] puppet for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mothra]]'' over 30 years later, he once again applied soft vinyl to it. The silk spit by the larva was created by dissolving rubber paste with thinner and spraying it through an airbrush installed in the larva miniature's mouth. While the larval Mothra is a light brown color in the film itself, several publicity stills for the film opted to colorize it as green instead.
Both the larval and imago forms of Mothra in her [[Mothra (film)|debut film]] were modeled by [[Teizo Toshimitsu]], [[Keizo Murase]], and the [[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei]]. A 3-''shaku'' (Japanese foot) self-propelled miniature model was created for Mothra's larval form in water scenes and the scene where she cocoons at the [[Tokyo Tower]]. This miniature featured a motorcycle engine built inside of it which propelled it forward.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> For the scene of the larval Mothra approaching the Tokyo Tower from Shibuya, a 6-''shaku''-tall, 33-''shaku''-long costume weighing about 120 kilograms was constructed. It was estimated to cost 2 million yen.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Eight actors, including [[Haruo Nakajima]] and [[Katsumi Tezuka]], wore and operated the costume. This was boasted as the most actors required to portray a [[kaiju]] until 1994, when ten actors were needed to play [[Yamata no Orochi]] in ''[[Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon]]''. Tezuka was assigned as the lead actor for the costume, due to his experience wearing a similar suit to portray the [[Meganulon]] in ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]''.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Keizo Murase covered the larval Mothra's face with barnacles and added a beard made of [[wikipedia:Rattan|rattan]] in order to make it seem like a living, organic creature. The larva's skin was made of latex and coated by Murase with soft vinyl so as to add a sheen to the skin. Out of a desire to please special effects director [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], Murase peeled off the vinyl coating and reapplied it whenever he had time during shooting. When Murase worked on the [[Mothra (Godzilla vs. Mothra)|Mothra larva]] puppet for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mothra]]'' over 30 years later, he once again applied soft vinyl to it. The silk spit by the larva was created by dissolving rubber paste with thinner and spraying it through an airbrush installed in the larva miniature's mouth. While the larval Mothra is a light brown color in the film itself, several publicity stills for the film opted to colorize it as green instead.
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
2974f.jpg
2974f.jpg
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[[File:MVG_-_Mothra_Prop_On_Top_of_Godzilla_Suit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The new Mothra imago prop is suspended above the [[MosuGoji]] suit during filming for ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
[[File:MVG_-_Mothra_Prop_On_Top_of_Godzilla_Suit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The new Mothra imago prop is suspended above the [[MosuGoji]] suit during filming for ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
For ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' three years later, Toshimitsu, Murase, and the Yagi brothers were brought back to model Mothra. They constructed a new, much larger Mothra imago prop, with a total body length of over 2 meters. Toshimitsu modeled the prop's head, while Murase and the Yagi brothers handled its body. The eyes of this prop were made circular rather than elliptical. While the effect of compound eyes on the original Mothra models had been achieved by making concave dents into the eyes, the new model's eyes were sculpted with the compound structure directly on the surface. Like in the previous film, electrical lights were installed inside the eyes to make them glow.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Mothra's wings were once again covered in Indian fabric. The imago's mouth was made of wood and painted over by rubber. Mothra's mouth, body, and legs all moved through a remotely-controlled electric motor.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> This new Mothra imago puppet was used in conjunction with one used in ''Mothra''.  In addition, a much smaller Mothra imago puppet was used in close-up shots alongside a hand puppet of [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]].
For ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' three years later, Toshimitsu, Murase, and the Yagi brothers were brought back to model Mothra. They constructed a new, much larger Mothra imago prop, with a total body length of over 2 meters. Toshimitsu modeled the prop's head, while Murase and the Yagi brothers handled its body. The eyes of this prop were made circular rather than elliptical. While the effect of compound eyes on the original Mothra models had been achieved by making concave dents into the eyes, the new model's eyes were sculpted with the compound structure directly on the surface. Like in the previous film, electrical lights were installed inside the eyes to make them glow.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> Mothra's wings were once again covered in Indian fabric. The imago's mouth was made of wood and painted over by rubber. Mothra's mouth, body, and legs all moved through a remotely-controlled electric motor.<ref name="TSEMCW"/> This new Mothra imago puppet was used in conjunction with one used in ''Mothra''.  In addition, a much smaller Mothra imago puppet was used in close-up shots alongside a hand puppet of [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]].
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
MVG_-_Deleted_scene.jpg|The small Mothra imago puppet fighting a [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] hand puppet in a deleted shot from the film
MVG_-_Deleted_scene.jpg|The small Mothra imago puppet fighting a [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] hand puppet in a deleted shot from the film
88a.gif|A shot of one of the original Mothra imago miniatures from ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' being used in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''
88a.gif|A shot of one of the original Mothra imago miniatures from ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' being used in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>


Both the large Mothra imago model from ''Mothra'' and the primary Mothra imago model used in ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' would go on to be used to portray the adult [[Mothra/Second Generation|Second Generation Mothra]] in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''.
Both the large Mothra imago model from ''Mothra'' and the primary Mothra imago model used in ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' would go on to be used to portray the adult [[Mothra (Second Generation)|Second Generation Mothra]] in ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]''.
==Design==
==Design==
Mothra is depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored in blue and yellow waves. The egg hatches into her larva, a massive brown, segmented caterpillar (resembling a silkworm) with glowing eyes. The caterpillar eventually spins a silken cocoon around itself (the pupa stage), and from this cocoon the imago (adult) Mothra emerges, a gigantic moth-like creature with brightly-colored wings. Mothra's life cycle—particularly the tendency of an imago's death to coincide with its larvae hatching— echoes that of the Phoenix, resembling resurrection and suggesting divinity.
Mothra is depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored in blue and yellow waves. The egg hatches into her larva, a massive brown, segmented caterpillar (resembling a silkworm) with glowing eyes. The caterpillar eventually spins a silken cocoon around itself (the pupa stage), and from this cocoon the imago (adult) Mothra emerges, a gigantic moth-like creature with brightly-colored wings. Mothra's life cycle—particularly the tendency of an imago's death to coincide with its larvae hatching— echoes that of the Phoenix, resembling resurrection and suggesting divinity.
Line 85: Line 86:
Mothra is the guardian goddess of the remote [[Infant Island]] in the south [[Pacific Ocean]]. There, she is perpetually reborn through an egg and is worshiped by the island's natives. She is spoken for by two miniature telepathic fairies called the [[Shobijin]]. Mothra's origin is never commented upon in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' or ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', and she is simply assumed to be supernatural in origin. However, [[Kodansha]]'s novelization for ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' proposes that Mothra is a type of [[wikipedia:Antheraea yamamai|Japanese silk moth]] which evolved as a byproduct of climate change on Infant Island due to increasingly abnormal weather patterns on Earth.
Mothra is the guardian goddess of the remote [[Infant Island]] in the south [[Pacific Ocean]]. There, she is perpetually reborn through an egg and is worshiped by the island's natives. She is spoken for by two miniature telepathic fairies called the [[Shobijin]]. Mothra's origin is never commented upon in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' or ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', and she is simply assumed to be supernatural in origin. However, [[Kodansha]]'s novelization for ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' proposes that Mothra is a type of [[wikipedia:Antheraea yamamai|Japanese silk moth]] which evolved as a byproduct of climate change on Infant Island due to increasingly abnormal weather patterns on Earth.
==History==
==History==
===[[Showa era|Showa Series]]===
*''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' (1961)
*''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' (1964)
*''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'' (2002) [stock footage]
*''[[Godzilla: Tokyo SOS]]'' (2003) [mentioned]
===[[Showa era]]===
{{Expand}}
====''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''====
====''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]''====
[[File:Mothra_Larva.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra Larva in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'']]Mothra was first discovered on [[Infant Island]], where natives to the island worshiped her as a goddess. Invaders from [[Rolisica]] took over the island and stole the [[Shobijin]]. The natives went to a temple, where a giant egg was held. The egg hatched into a larva, called Mothra, which swam across the [[Pacific Ocean]] and destroyed the [[Orion Maru]] as she journeyed north towards [[Japan]] to save the Shobijin from the humans. She destroyed [[Tokyo]] while trying to find them, then tore down [[Tokyo Tower]] and formed her cocoon. She emerged from the cocoon in her imago form, having been inadvertently helped by the army's [[Atomic Heat Ray Gun]]s. She went to [[Rolisica|New Kirk City]], and was reunited with the Shobijin at an airport runway after destroying a large portion of the city. Mothra then flew back to Infant Island with the Shobijin to live in peace.
[[File:Mothra_Larva.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra Larva in ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'']]Mothra was first discovered on [[Infant Island]], where natives to the island worshiped her as a goddess. Invaders from [[Rolisica]] took over the island and stole the [[Shobijin]]. The natives went to a temple, where a giant egg was held. The egg hatched into a larva, called Mothra, which swam across the [[Pacific Ocean]] and destroyed the [[Orion Maru]] as she journeyed north towards [[Japan]] to save the Shobijin from the humans. She destroyed [[Tokyo]] while trying to find them, then tore down [[Tokyo Tower]] and formed her cocoon. She emerged from the cocoon in her imago form, having been inadvertently helped by the army's [[Atomic Heat Ray Gun]]s. She went to [[Rolisica|New Kirk City]], and was reunited with the Shobijin at an airport runway after destroying a large portion of the city. Mothra then flew back to Infant Island with the Shobijin to live peacefully.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
====''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''====
====''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''====
[[File:Godzilla.jp - 4 - ShodaiMosuImago Mothra 1964.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra Imago in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'']]Mothra's egg washed up on the shores of [[Japan]] when a typhoon carried it away from the shores of [[Infant Island]]. Kumayama, the owner of the company Happy Enterprises, bought the egg from the citizens of the area where the egg was found and planned to turn it into the main attraction of his upcoming amusement park The [[Shobijin]] came to Japan to request the egg's return, only for Kumayama and his financier Jiro Torahata to try and capture them as well. The Shobijin escaped and met with a group of sympathetic humans, warning that when the egg hatched the larva would cause much destruction and death while searching for food and attempting to return to Infant Island on its own. When the Shobijin's allies met with Kumayama and Torahata, they refused to return the egg and wanted to buy the Shobijin instead. The Shobijin then returned to Infant Island with Mothra. When [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] emerged in Japan and began heading for the incubator holding Mothra's egg, the three humans who helped the Shobijin traveled to Infant Island, which had been devastated by nuclear bomb tests. They asked the Shobijin for Mothra's help in defeating Godzilla, but they refused. However, Mothra herself, who was living out the last of her days on a sacred rock, agreed to help and flew to Japan, knowing she would never return.
[[File:Godzilla.jp - 4 - ShodaiMosuImago Mothra 1964.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra Imago in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'']]Mothra's egg washed up on the shores of [[Japan]] when a typhoon carried it away from the shores of [[Infant Island]]. Kumayama, the owner of the company Happy Enterprises, bought the egg from the citizens of the area where the egg was found and planned to turn it into the main attraction of his upcoming amusement park. The [[Shobijin]] came to Japan to request the egg's return, only for Kumayama and his financier Jiro Torahata to try and capture them as well. The Shobijin escaped and met with a group of sympathetic humans, warning that when the egg hatched the larva would cause much destruction and death while searching for food and attempting to return to Infant Island on its own. When the Shobijin's allies met with Kumayama and Torahata, they refused to return the egg and wanted to buy the Shobijin instead. The Shobijin then returned to Infant Island with Mothra. When [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] emerged in Japan and began heading for the incubator holding Mothra's egg, the three humans who helped the Shobijin traveled to Infant Island, which had been devastated by nuclear bomb tests. They asked the Shobijin for Mothra's help in defeating Godzilla, but they refused. However, Mothra herself, who was living out the last of her days on a sacred rock, agreed to help and flew to Japan, knowing she would never return.
 
Mothra arrived in Japan just as Godzilla reached Mothra's egg and attacked him. Mothra used the gusts of wind from her wings to knock Godzilla of his feet and tried to slash him with her claws, but she was too feeble to injure him. Mothra released poison powder from her wings against Godzilla, but Godzilla simply blasted her with his atomic breath, causing her to fall on top of her egg and die. Though this Mothra was dead, two [[Mothra (Second Generation)|Mothra larvae]] would hatch from the egg and continue the battle, as well as their mother's legacy.


Mothra arrived in Japan just as Godzilla reached Mothra's egg and attacked him. Mothra used the gusts of wind from her wings to knock Godzilla of his feet and tried to slash him with her claws, but she was too feeble to injure him. Mothra released poison powder from her wings against Godzilla, but Godzilla simply blasted her with his atomic breath, causing her to fall on top of her egg and die. Though this Mothra was dead, two [[Mothra/Second Generation|Mothra larvae]] would hatch from the egg and continue the battle, as well as their mother's legacy.
===[[Millennium era]]===
===[[Millennium era|Millennium Series]]===
====''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]''====
====''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]''====
After [[Godzilla/Kiryu Saga|a second Godzilla]] appeared in Tateyama in [[1999]], Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge and Minister of Science and Technology [[Hayato Igarashi]] met to discuss how best to deal with the threat. They discussed how after the [[Godzilla/1954|original Godzilla]] raided [[Tokyo]] in [[1954]], monsters frequently menaced [[Japan]]. One such monster was Mothra, a huge moth that attacked Tokyo in 1961. To combat the monster, the [[JSDF]] used advanced [[Atomic Heat Ray Gun]]s, which would later form the technological basis for the [[Maser Cannon]]s.
After [[Godzilla (Kiryu series)|a second Godzilla]] appeared in Tateyama in [[1999]], Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge and Minister of Science and Technology [[Hayato Igarashi]] met to discuss how best to deal with the threat. They discussed how after the [[Godzilla/1954|original Godzilla]] raided [[Tokyo]] in [[1954]], monsters frequently menaced [[Japan]]. One such monster was Mothra, a huge moth that attacked Tokyo in 1961. To combat the monster, the [[JSDF]] used advanced [[Atomic Heat Ray Gun]]s, which would later form the technological basis for the [[Maser Cannon]]s.
====''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]''====
 
In [[2004]], the [[Shobijin]] and the current [[Mothra/Tokyo S.O.S. (Imago)|Mothra]] traveled to [[Japan]] to convince [[Shinichi Chujo]], who had helped the original Mothra recover the Shobijin back in [[1961]], that the [[Godzilla/1954|original Godzilla's]] bones must be returned to the sea. Chujo later told his grandson Shun the story of how he and his friends had rescued the Shobijin from [[Clark Nelson]] and reunited them with the original Mothra in 1961 by drawing her sacred symbol on an airport runway. Shun later used this method to attract the current Mothra to [[Tokyo]] to combat [[Godzilla/Kiryu Saga|Godzilla]].
====''[[Godzilla: Tokyo SOS]]''====
In [[2004]], the [[Shobijin]] and the current [[Mothra (Godzilla: Tokyo SOS)|Mothra]] traveled to [[Japan]] to convince [[Shinichi Chujo]], who had helped the original Mothra recover the Shobijin back in [[1961]], that the [[Godzilla/1954|original Godzilla's]] bones must be returned to the sea. Chujo later told his grandson Shun the story of how he and his friends had rescued the Shobijin from [[Clark Nelson]] and reunited them with the original Mothra in 1961 by drawing her sacred symbol on an airport runway. Shun later used this method to attract the current Mothra to [[Tokyo]] to combat [[Godzilla (Kiryu series)|Godzilla]].
 
==Abilities==
==Abilities==
===Flight===
===Flight===
[[File:Mothra flapping wings.gif|thumb|right|200px|Mothra in flight in [[Mothra (film)|her debut film]]]]
Mothra can fly at Mach 3 in her imago stage. Her speed becomes handy in combat when she is able to dodge multiple blows from Godzilla's tail and claws.<ref name="GMAOE"/>
Mothra can fly at Mach 3 in her imago stage. Her speed becomes handy in combat when she is able to dodge multiple blows from Godzilla's tail and claws.<ref name="GMAOE"/>
===Silk===
===Silk===
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{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
===Hurricane winds===
===Hurricane winds===
In her imago form, Mothra can produce powerful gusts of wind that can reach up to 500 meters per second, by flapping her wings.<ref name="GMAOE">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Monsters All Overall Encyclopedia]] (7th Edition)|date=10 November 1993|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=93-95|isbn=4-09-281104-7}}</ref> These winds caused shockwaves and were capable of causing major damage to cities, as well as knocking [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] off his feet. Vehicles, signs, roofs, and other small structures are destroyed if caught in the blast radius. Entire buildings and large bridges can be destroyed if directly below her.
In her imago form, Mothra can produce powerful gusts of wind that can reach up to 500 meters per second, by flapping her wings.<ref name="GMAOE">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Monsters All Encyclopedia]] (7th Edition)|date=10 November 1993|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=93-95|isbn=4-09-281104-7}}</ref> These winds caused shockwaves and were capable of causing major damage to cities, as well as knocking [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] off his feet. Vehicles, signs, roofs, and other small structures are destroyed if caught in the blast radius. Entire buildings and large bridges can be destroyed if directly below her.
===Claws===
===Claws===
In her battle with [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]], Mothra uses her small claws to scratch him on the face and head. They are also able to hold things in a tight grip, seen when Mothra grabs Godzilla's tail and is able to hold on to it.
In her battle with [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]], Mothra uses her small claws to scratch him on the face and head. They are also able to hold things in a tight grip, seen when Mothra grabs Godzilla's tail and is able to hold on to it.
===Strength===
===Strength===
[[File:Mothra drags Godzilla.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra drags [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] by the tail in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]] In her larval stage, Mothra is able to destroy structures simply by plowing through them, even a large and dense dam.


Mothra's imago stage demonstrates impressive physical strength in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' when she drags the heavier [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] across the ground by his tail. In addition, she manages to knock Godzilla over by taking flight and slamming into him when he approaches her from behind while she is on the ground.
[[File:Mothra drags Godzilla gif.gif|thumb|right|200px|Mothra drags [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] by the tail in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]] In her larval stage, Mothra is able to destroy structures simply by plowing through them, even a large and dense dam.
 
Mothra's imago stage demonstrates impressive physical strength in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' when she drags the heavier [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] across the ground by his tail. In addition, she manages to knock Godzilla over by taking flight and slamming into him when he approaches her from behind while she is on the ground.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
===Poison Powder===
===Poison Powder===
[[File:Mothra Poison Powder 1964.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra uses her poison powder against [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
[[File:Mothra Poison Powder 1964.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra uses her poison powder against [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
Mothra's weapon of last resort is a poisonous yellow powder that she releases from her wings. Mothra only uses this attack when she is near death, as it apparently causes her to lose her ability to fly. The attack does not appear to have much of an effect against [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]], as it only seems to disorient him.
Mothra's weapon of last resort is a poisonous yellow powder that she releases from her wings. Mothra only uses this attack when she is near death, as it apparently causes her to lose her ability to fly. The attack does not appear to have much of an effect against [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]], as it only seems to disorient him.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
===Amphibiousness===
===Amphibiousness===
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{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
===Reproduction===
===Reproduction===
[[File:BabyMosuHatching.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra's [[Mothra/Second Generation|twin larvae]] hatch from an egg after their mother's death in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
[[File:BabyMosuHatching.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra's [[Mothra (Second Generation)|twin larvae]] hatch from an egg after their mother's death in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
Mothra is said by the [[Shobijin]] to be immortal, and she lives on through her offspring. Since no mate is ever seen, Mothra can presumably reproduce asexually. In ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', she lays an egg which hatches into two [[Mothra/Second Generation|larvae]], who continue the battle against [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] after their mother dies.
Mothra is said by the [[Shobijin]] to be immortal, and she lives on through her offspring. Since no mate is ever seen, Mothra can presumably reproduce asexually. In ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', she lays an egg which hatches into two [[Mothra (Second Generation)|larvae]], who continue the battle against [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] after their mother dies.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
=== Fire breath ===
[[File:MothraFireBreath.jpeg|thumb|Mothra breathing fire on the cover of a ''Mothra'' poster.|200px]]
One poster for ''Mothra'' shows her imago form breathing fire.{{Clear}}
===Weaknesses===
===Weaknesses===
[[File:0303B91B13.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra dies on top of her egg following her battle with [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
[[File:0303B91B13.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mothra dies on top of her egg following her battle with [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] in ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]''.]]
The only time Mothra appears visibly hurt in her debut film is when she falls over while trying to climb the [[Tokyo Tower]]. Mothra appears to grow weaker with age. In ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', she has shrunk in size from old age and is living out the remainder of her life on a sacred rock. The [[Shobijin]] state that Mothra does not have much longer to live, and correctly predict that she will never return if she leaves to fight [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]]. Mothra eventually succumbs to a combination of old age and the wounds sustained in her battle with Godzilla and dies.
The only time Mothra appears visibly hurt in her debut film is when she falls over while trying to climb the [[Tokyo Tower]]. Mothra appears to grow weaker with age. In ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'', she has shrunk in size from old age and is living out the remainder of her life on a sacred rock. The [[Shobijin]] state that Mothra does not have much longer to live, and correctly predict that she will never return if she leaves to fight [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]]. Mothra eventually succumbs to a combination of old age and the wounds sustained in her battle with Godzilla and dies.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
==Filmography==
==Video games==
*''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' (1961)
*''[[Monster Strike]]'' (2013) - Android and iOS
*''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' (1964)
*''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'' (2002) [stock footage]
*''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]'' (2003) [mentioned]
==Video Games==
*''[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Godzilla]]'' (2014) - PlayStation 3 and 4 [Kaiju Guide]
*''[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Godzilla]]'' (2014) - PlayStation 3 and 4 [Kaiju Guide]
*''[[Godzilla: Kaiju Collection]]'' (2015) - Android and iOS
*''[[Godzilla Kaiju Collection]]'' (2015) - Android and iOS
*''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'' (2019) - Android and iOS
*''[[Godzilla Defense Force]]'' (2019) - Android and iOS
*''[[Godzilla (2021 pinball game)|Godzilla]]'' (2021) - Pinball
*''[[Minecraft: Bedrock Edition]]'' (2011; added in 2024) - Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Fire OS/TV, Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, Samsung Gear VR
===[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|''Godzilla'' (PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4)]]===
===[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|''Godzilla'' (PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4)]]===
====Kaiju Guide====
====Kaiju Guide====
{{Main|Godzilla (2014 video game)/Kaiju Guide#Mothra}}
{{Main|Godzilla (2014 video game)/Kaiju Guide#Mothra}}
<gallery widths="120" captionalign="center" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center">
<gallery widths="120" captionalign="center" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center">
GKC Mothra Larva 1961.jpg|Mothra Larva 1961 in ''[[Godzilla: Kaiju Collection]]''
GKC Mothra Larva 1961.jpg|Mothra Larva 1961 in ''[[Godzilla Kaiju Collection]]''
GKC Mothra Imago 1961.jpg|Mothra Imago 1961 in ''[[Godzilla: Kaiju Collection]]''
GKC Mothra Imago 1961.jpg|Mothra Imago 1961 in ''[[Godzilla Kaiju Collection]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|Mothra/Gallery}}
{{Main|Mothra/Gallery}}
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{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">VF5KS1h_boo</youtube>|Mothra's chirps in the [[Showa era|Showa series]]}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">VF5KS1h_boo</youtube>|Mothra's chirps in the [[Showa era|Showa series]]}}
}}
}}
==Trivia==
*In the [[Omni Productions]] English dub of ''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'', Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge erroneously states, "Luckily, we destroyed [Mothra] with a massive heat-ray gun" as footage from ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' plays. This error is reproduced by the subtitles in the Sony Blu-ray of the film, but not the earlier DVD.
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Mothra}}
{{Toho Monsters}}
{{Toho Monsters}}
{{Comments}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|MOT}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|KAI|MOT}}
<seo metakeywords="mothra, mosura, wikizilla, godzilla, wiki, 1961, 1964, first generation, original, showa"/>
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
[[Category:Toho Kaiju]]
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[[Category:Psychics]]
[[Category:Psychics]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Kaiju]]
[[Category:Female Kaiju]]
[[Category:Female monsters]]
[[Category:Bug Kaiju]]
[[Category:Bug Kaiju]]
[[Category:Flying Creatures]]
[[Category:Flying Creatures]]
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[[Category:Showa Godzilla Kaiju]]
[[Category:Showa Godzilla Kaiju]]
[[Category:Telepaths]]
[[Category:Telepaths]]
[[Category:Baby monsters]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 30 March 2024

Mothra incarnations
← None
Mothra (First Generation)
Mothra (Second Generation) →
Mothra® trademark icon
Mothra®
Mothra imago in Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra larva in Mothra
Alternate names Mosura, Mosla,[1] The Thing,
First Generation Mothra
Subtitle(s) Giant Moth (巨蛾,   Kyoga)[2]
Giant Supersonic Moth
(超音速巨蛾,   Chō Onsoku Kyoga)MvG[3]
Species Giant divine moth
Length 180 meters (larva),[4][5]
80 meters (imago)[4][note 1]
Wingspan 250 meters[6][note 2]
Weight 15,000 metric tons (larva),[2][note 3]
20,000 metric tons (imago)[5][note 4]
Egg diameter 100 meters (long)[7]
65 meters (short)[7]
Egg weight 50 metric tons[8]
Cocoon length 100 meters[9]
Forms Larval stage, imago stage
Relations
Enemies Godzilla
Modeled by Teizo Toshimitsu, Keizo Murase,
Kanju Yagi, Yasuei Yagi
Played by Haruo Nakajima, Katsumi Tezuka (larva)
First appearance Latest appearance
Mothra Mothra vs. Godzilla
Roar(s)
Larva
Imago
More roars
Shobijin: “Mothra will soon be here.”
Shinichi Chujo: “Mothra?”
Shobijin: “Mothra, she'll rescue us, and return us to our island!”
― Dialogue between the Shobijin and Shinichi Chujo (Mothra, 1961)

Mothra (モスラ,   Mosura) is a giant divine moth kaiju who first appeared in the 1961 film Mothra.

The first onscreen incarnation of the character, the original Mothra first appeared inside her egg on Infant Island when a joint Rolisican-Japanese expedition arrived on the island. When Clark Nelson kidnapped the Shobijin and brought them to Tokyo, Mothra hatched from her egg and followed them, laying waste to the city and cocooning herself on the Tokyo Tower. Mothra emerged in her imago form and pursued Nelson to New Kirk City, where she successfully recovered the Shobijin and returned to her island. By the events of Mothra vs. Godzilla, Mothra had laid an egg, which was washed ashore in Japan by a severe typhoon. When Godzilla appeared in Japan and began approaching the egg, Mothra left the island and fought Godzilla, but the battle cost her her life. However, two twin larvae hatched from the egg, and set out to continue their mother's fight.

Name

The name "Mothra" is the suffixation of "-ra" (a common last syllable in kaiju names) to "moth." Since the Japanese language does not have dental fricatives, it is approximated "Mosura" in Japanese. Originally, Mothra's name was approximated in English as "Mosla," but it was later corrected to "Mothra" by the time of the release of her debut film.[1] In the American dubbing and various posters for Mothra vs. Godzilla, Mothra is also referred to as "The Thing." This Mothra is designated as the First Generation Mothra (初代モスラ,   Shodai Mosura), reflecting her status as the first incarnation of the character to appear onscreen.

Development

The 3-shaku Mothra larva model is readied for the Tokyo Tower scene in Mothra.

Both the larval and imago forms of Mothra in her debut film were modeled by Teizo Toshimitsu, Keizo Murase, and the Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei. A 3-shaku (Japanese foot) self-propelled miniature model was created for Mothra's larval form in water scenes and the scene where she cocoons at the Tokyo Tower. This miniature featured a motorcycle engine built inside of it which propelled it forward.[1] For the scene of the larval Mothra approaching the Tokyo Tower from Shibuya, a 6-shaku-tall, 33-shaku-long costume weighing about 120 kilograms was constructed. It was estimated to cost 2 million yen.[1] Eight actors, including Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka, wore and operated the costume. This was boasted as the most actors required to portray a kaiju until 1994, when ten actors were needed to play Yamata no Orochi in Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon. Tezuka was assigned as the lead actor for the costume, due to his experience wearing a similar suit to portray the Meganulon in Rodan.[1] Keizo Murase covered the larval Mothra's face with barnacles and added a beard made of rattan in order to make it seem like a living, organic creature. The larva's skin was made of latex and coated by Murase with soft vinyl so as to add a sheen to the skin. Out of a desire to please special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, Murase peeled off the vinyl coating and reapplied it whenever he had time during shooting. When Murase worked on the Mothra larva puppet for Godzilla vs. Mothra over 30 years later, he once again applied soft vinyl to it. The silk spit by the larva was created by dissolving rubber paste with thinner and spraying it through an airbrush installed in the larva miniature's mouth. While the larval Mothra is a light brown color in the film itself, several publicity stills for the film opted to colorize it as green instead.

  • 2974f.jpg
  • The 3-shaku Mothra larva model behind the scenes

    The 3-shaku Mothra larva model behind the scenes

  • Eiji Tsuburaya poses next to the 33-shaku-long Mothra larva costume.

    Eiji Tsuburaya poses next to the 33-shaku-long Mothra larva costume.

  • A publicity still for Mothra with the larva colorized green

    A publicity still for Mothra with the larva colorized green

Eiji Tsuburaya readies the Mothra imago model for shooting.

A large miniature model with a wingspan of over 2 meters and a smaller model were created to portray Mothra's imago stage. Mothra's white fur was not directly implanted into these models, but rather pasted onto them. The imago's elliptical compound eyes were constructed from plastic with electrical lights built inside of them. To create the effect of compound eyes, Keizo Murase used a rod to poke countless round dents into the eyes while the plastic was still soft. Murase later used this same method to create the compound eyes of the titular character in the original Kamen Rider series. Murase painted Mothra's wing patterns while making reference to the wings of real moths. In order to make the wings able to flap realistically, they were created by placing Indian fabric over a wicker frame.[1] The wings were attached by wires to overhead cranes, which moved them in order to create the effect of them flapping as seen in the finished film.[1] For shots of the imago Mothra flying in the distance, animation was used instead to depict the flapping of her wings.

  • MOTHRA - Eiji Tsuburaya thing 1.jpg
  • The Mothra imago model suspended over the New Kirk City set

    The Mothra imago model suspended over the New Kirk City set

The new Mothra imago prop is suspended above the MosuGoji suit during filming for Mothra vs. Godzilla.

For Mothra vs. Godzilla three years later, Toshimitsu, Murase, and the Yagi brothers were brought back to model Mothra. They constructed a new, much larger Mothra imago prop, with a total body length of over 2 meters. Toshimitsu modeled the prop's head, while Murase and the Yagi brothers handled its body. The eyes of this prop were made circular rather than elliptical. While the effect of compound eyes on the original Mothra models had been achieved by making concave dents into the eyes, the new model's eyes were sculpted with the compound structure directly on the surface. Like in the previous film, electrical lights were installed inside the eyes to make them glow.[1] Mothra's wings were once again covered in Indian fabric. The imago's mouth was made of wood and painted over by rubber. Mothra's mouth, body, and legs all moved through a remotely-controlled electric motor.[1] This new Mothra imago puppet was used in conjunction with one used in Mothra. In addition, a much smaller Mothra imago puppet was used in close-up shots alongside a hand puppet of Godzilla.

  • The small Mothra imago puppet fighting a Godzilla hand puppet in a deleted shot from the film

    The small Mothra imago puppet fighting a Godzilla hand puppet in a deleted shot from the film

  • A shot of one of the original Mothra imago miniatures from Mothra being used in Mothra vs. Godzilla

    A shot of one of the original Mothra imago miniatures from Mothra being used in Mothra vs. Godzilla

Both the large Mothra imago model from Mothra and the primary Mothra imago model used in Mothra vs. Godzilla would go on to be used to portray the adult Second Generation Mothra in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep.

Design

Mothra is depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored in blue and yellow waves. The egg hatches into her larva, a massive brown, segmented caterpillar (resembling a silkworm) with glowing eyes. The caterpillar eventually spins a silken cocoon around itself (the pupa stage), and from this cocoon the imago (adult) Mothra emerges, a gigantic moth-like creature with brightly-colored wings. Mothra's life cycle—particularly the tendency of an imago's death to coincide with its larvae hatching— echoes that of the Phoenix, resembling resurrection and suggesting divinity.

Personality

Despite having wrought destruction worthy of any Toho kaiju, Mothra is a kind and benevolent creature, causing destruction only when acting as protector to her worshipers on Infant Island or to her egg. Mothra is accompanied by two tiny priestesses or fairies called the Shobijin (Japanese for "small beauties") who also speak for her.

Origins

Mothra is the guardian goddess of the remote Infant Island in the south Pacific Ocean. There, she is perpetually reborn through an egg and is worshiped by the island's natives. She is spoken for by two miniature telepathic fairies called the Shobijin. Mothra's origin is never commented upon in Mothra or Mothra vs. Godzilla, and she is simply assumed to be supernatural in origin. However, Kodansha's novelization for Mothra vs. Godzilla proposes that Mothra is a type of Japanese silk moth which evolved as a byproduct of climate change on Infant Island due to increasingly abnormal weather patterns on Earth.

History

Showa era

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Mothra

Mothra Larva in Mothra

Mothra was first discovered on Infant Island, where natives to the island worshiped her as a goddess. Invaders from Rolisica took over the island and stole the Shobijin. The natives went to a temple, where a giant egg was held. The egg hatched into a larva, called Mothra, which swam across the Pacific Ocean and destroyed the Orion Maru as she journeyed north towards Japan to save the Shobijin from the humans. She destroyed Tokyo while trying to find them, then tore down Tokyo Tower and formed her cocoon. She emerged from the cocoon in her imago form, having been inadvertently helped by the army's Atomic Heat Ray Guns. She went to New Kirk City, and was reunited with the Shobijin at an airport runway after destroying a large portion of the city. Mothra then flew back to Infant Island with the Shobijin to live peacefully.


Mothra vs. Godzilla

Mothra Imago in Mothra vs. Godzilla

Mothra's egg washed up on the shores of Japan when a typhoon carried it away from the shores of Infant Island. Kumayama, the owner of the company Happy Enterprises, bought the egg from the citizens of the area where the egg was found and planned to turn it into the main attraction of his upcoming amusement park. The Shobijin came to Japan to request the egg's return, only for Kumayama and his financier Jiro Torahata to try and capture them as well. The Shobijin escaped and met with a group of sympathetic humans, warning that when the egg hatched the larva would cause much destruction and death while searching for food and attempting to return to Infant Island on its own. When the Shobijin's allies met with Kumayama and Torahata, they refused to return the egg and wanted to buy the Shobijin instead. The Shobijin then returned to Infant Island with Mothra. When Godzilla emerged in Japan and began heading for the incubator holding Mothra's egg, the three humans who helped the Shobijin traveled to Infant Island, which had been devastated by nuclear bomb tests. They asked the Shobijin for Mothra's help in defeating Godzilla, but they refused. However, Mothra herself, who was living out the last of her days on a sacred rock, agreed to help and flew to Japan, knowing she would never return.

Mothra arrived in Japan just as Godzilla reached Mothra's egg and attacked him. Mothra used the gusts of wind from her wings to knock Godzilla of his feet and tried to slash him with her claws, but she was too feeble to injure him. Mothra released poison powder from her wings against Godzilla, but Godzilla simply blasted her with his atomic breath, causing her to fall on top of her egg and die. Though this Mothra was dead, two Mothra larvae would hatch from the egg and continue the battle, as well as their mother's legacy.

Millennium era

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

After a second Godzilla appeared in Tateyama in 1999, Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge and Minister of Science and Technology Hayato Igarashi met to discuss how best to deal with the threat. They discussed how after the original Godzilla raided Tokyo in 1954, monsters frequently menaced Japan. One such monster was Mothra, a huge moth that attacked Tokyo in 1961. To combat the monster, the JSDF used advanced Atomic Heat Ray Guns, which would later form the technological basis for the Maser Cannons.

Godzilla: Tokyo SOS

In 2004, the Shobijin and the current Mothra traveled to Japan to convince Shinichi Chujo, who had helped the original Mothra recover the Shobijin back in 1961, that the original Godzilla's bones must be returned to the sea. Chujo later told his grandson Shun the story of how he and his friends had rescued the Shobijin from Clark Nelson and reunited them with the original Mothra in 1961 by drawing her sacred symbol on an airport runway. Shun later used this method to attract the current Mothra to Tokyo to combat Godzilla.

Abilities

Flight

Mothra in flight in her debut film

Mothra can fly at Mach 3 in her imago stage. Her speed becomes handy in combat when she is able to dodge multiple blows from Godzilla's tail and claws.[10]

Silk

Mothra's silken cocoon in Mothra

In her larval form, Mothra has the ability to spit a stream of silk from her mouth. Though the First Generation Mothra did not ever use this silk offensively, subsequent incarnations of the character have. In her debut film, Mothra uses this silk to create a cocoon on the Tokyo Tower. The silk was strong enough to stop the propellers on a helicopter from spinning when it got too close. It is also quite durable, requiring multiple hits from the Atomic Heat Ray Guns before catching fire.

Durability

Mothra withstands the JSDF's weaponry in Mothra

In both her larval and imago forms, Mothra is immune to the weaponry of the JSDF and Rolisican military. She was completely unharmed when the JSDF poured oil in the water and set it ablaze and simply swam through it. Even the Atomic Heat Ray Guns were unable to injure Mothra, though they did burn her cocoon.

Hurricane winds

In her imago form, Mothra can produce powerful gusts of wind that can reach up to 500 meters per second, by flapping her wings.[10] These winds caused shockwaves and were capable of causing major damage to cities, as well as knocking Godzilla off his feet. Vehicles, signs, roofs, and other small structures are destroyed if caught in the blast radius. Entire buildings and large bridges can be destroyed if directly below her.

Claws

In her battle with Godzilla, Mothra uses her small claws to scratch him on the face and head. They are also able to hold things in a tight grip, seen when Mothra grabs Godzilla's tail and is able to hold on to it.

Strength

Mothra drags Godzilla by the tail in Mothra vs. Godzilla.

In her larval stage, Mothra is able to destroy structures simply by plowing through them, even a large and dense dam.

Mothra's imago stage demonstrates impressive physical strength in Mothra vs. Godzilla when she drags the heavier Godzilla across the ground by his tail. In addition, she manages to knock Godzilla over by taking flight and slamming into him when he approaches her from behind while she is on the ground.

Poison Powder

Mothra uses her poison powder against Godzilla in Mothra vs. Godzilla.

Mothra's weapon of last resort is a poisonous yellow powder that she releases from her wings. Mothra only uses this attack when she is near death, as it apparently causes her to lose her ability to fly. The attack does not appear to have much of an effect against Godzilla, as it only seems to disorient him.

Amphibiousness

Mothra destroys the Orion Maru in the Pacific Ocean in Mothra.

In her larval form, Mothra is capable of swimming large distances across the ocean, traveling from her home of Infant Island to Tokyo.

Reproduction

Mothra's twin larvae hatch from an egg after their mother's death in Mothra vs. Godzilla.

Mothra is said by the Shobijin to be immortal, and she lives on through her offspring. Since no mate is ever seen, Mothra can presumably reproduce asexually. In Mothra vs. Godzilla, she lays an egg which hatches into two larvae, who continue the battle against Godzilla after their mother dies.

Fire breath

Mothra breathing fire on the cover of a Mothra poster.

One poster for Mothra shows her imago form breathing fire.

Weaknesses

Mothra dies on top of her egg following her battle with Godzilla in Mothra vs. Godzilla.

The only time Mothra appears visibly hurt in her debut film is when she falls over while trying to climb the Tokyo Tower. Mothra appears to grow weaker with age. In Mothra vs. Godzilla, she has shrunk in size from old age and is living out the remainder of her life on a sacred rock. The Shobijin state that Mothra does not have much longer to live, and correctly predict that she will never return if she leaves to fight Godzilla. Mothra eventually succumbs to a combination of old age and the wounds sustained in her battle with Godzilla and dies.

Video games

Godzilla (PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4)

Kaiju Guide

Main article: Godzilla (2014 video game)/Kaiju Guide#Mothra.

Gallery

Main article: Mothra/Gallery.

Roar

Mothra's chirps are actually Anguirus' roars sped up.

Mothra's chirps in the Showa series

Trivia

  • In the Omni Productions English dub of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge erroneously states, "Luckily, we destroyed [Mothra] with a massive heat-ray gun" as footage from Mothra plays. This error is reproduced by the subtitles in the Sony Blu-ray of the film, but not the earlier DVD.

Notes

  1. ↑ The first generation imago from Mothra vs. Godzilla is sometimes inconsistently listed as being 65 meters or 135 meters long despite being the same individual as the 80 meter long imago from Mothra.
  2. ↑ Numerous sources give the imago from Mothra vs. Godzilla a wingspan of 135 meters despite being the same individual as the 250 meter imago from Mothra, likely due to her apparent size difference when compared to Godzilla. However, media contemporary to both Mothra and Mothra vs. Godzilla, such as the films' theater programs, agree on a 250 meter measurement.
  3. ↑ The first generation larva's weight is variably listed as 8,000, 12,000, 15,000, or 20,000 metric tons.
  4. ↑ The first generation imago's weight is variably listed as 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 metric tons.

References

This is a list of references for Mothra (First Generation). 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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works. villagebooks. 28 September 2012. pp. 54–57. ISBN 9784864910132.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Common Knowledge of Godzilla. Futabasha. 6 July 2014. pp. 29, 142–143. ISBN 978-4-575-30696-5.
  3. ↑ Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia. Shogakukan. 23 July 2014. p. 34. ISBN 4-096-82090-3.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Godzilla Completely Deciphered. Takarajimasha. 26 June 2014. p. 88. ISBN 4800228964.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.D. Lees, Marc Cerasini (24 March 1998). The Official Godzilla Compendium. Random House. p. 136. ISBN 0279888225 Check |isbn= value: checksum (help).
    Compendium26.png
  6. ↑ Mothra vs. Godzilla theater program. 1964.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Godzilla Monsters All Encyclopedia (7th Edition). Shogakukan. 10 November 1993. p. 93-95. ISBN 4-09-281104-7.
  8. ↑ All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book (4th Edition). Yosensha. 4 September 2016. p. 62, 67, 88. ISBN 978-4-8003-0362-2.
  9. ↑ Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Monster Complete Works. Kodansha. 5 December 1991. p. 69. ISBN 4-06-177720-3.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Godzilla Monsters All Encyclopedia (7th Edition). Shogakukan. 10 November 1993. p. 93-95. ISBN 4-09-281104-7.

 
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