Mothra vs. Bagan

Mothra vs. Bagan Alternate titles Bagan vs. Mothra Planned 1990 Concept history Mothra vs. Bagan → Mothra vs. Godzilla (1990) → Godzilla vs. Mothra (Early draft) → Godzilla vs. Mothra

Mothra vs. Bagan (モスラVSバガン) is an unmade 1990 Mothra film.

History

Mothra vs. Bagan would have been Mothra's first appearance since Destroy All Monsters and would have introduced the monster Bagan, who had previously been conceptualized in Resurrection of Godzilla. The film would have shared universe with the Heisei Godzilla series, and as such was to include the character of Miki Saegusa. The movie was to have a direct sequel in the form of the tentatively-titled Godzilla 3, which would have had Godzilla encounter Bagan. Due to the poor box office performance of Godzilla vs. Biollante and also due to the unlikely success of the film overseas, it was cancelled.

The first version of the movie reused Resurrection of Godzilla's idea of having Bagan be a shape-shifting monster with three forms. However, Koichi Kawakita axed the element, ultimately leaving Bagan with only a single form.

Plot

Thousands of years ago, a giant monster terrorized ancient China. The demon monster known as Bagan rose to destroy the world's forests and everything living in them. Although an ancient clan of Mothra were able to defeat the creature, legend passed down through the ages claimed that the "primordial dragon" would rise again. In the present day of 1990, the glacier containing Bagan melts from rising global temperatures, and the monster sets its sights on humanity. However, standing in Bagan's way is Mothra, a giant insect monster that acts as Earth's guardian. Mothra confronts Bagan at the Thailand-Malaysia border and momentarily manages to drive him away. The two monsters then meet again, this time in Bangkok, where Bagan surprise attacks Mothra from the skies as she's retrieving the Shobijin. Mothra is mortally wounded by Bagan's assault, and in a last-ditch effort, uses a poison powder attack to severely weaken Bagan, enough to where she can carry him away from the city. Some distance away in Borneo, a gigantic egg is formed by the song of the Shobijin, and it soon hatches an infant Mothra, which crawls to help its mother. The three monsters then engage in one last battle for the sake of the world. Fortunately, with their combined strength, Mothra and her larva are able to best Bagan, and the adult carries Bagan's unconscious body out to sea where she seals him away again. As she dies, her body dances from the skies onto the surface of the water, where she drifts on spread, vivid wings.

Gallery

First Version

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Spirit God Beast by Takashi Sonoyama

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Spirit God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Dragon God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Dragon God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Dragon God Beast by Takashi Sonoyama

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  Dragon God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Dragon God Beast concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Dragon God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Demon God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Demon God Beast concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Demon God Beast concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Demon God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Demon God Beast by Takashi Sonoyama

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  Demon God Beast concept by Hiroto Aragaki

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  Concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Concept by Shinji Nishikawa

Second Version

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  Concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Concept by Shinji Nishikawa

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  Concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Concept by Minoru Yoshida

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  Concept by Yasushi Nirasawa

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  Concept by Yasushi Nirasawa

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  Concept by Yasushi Nirasawa

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  Storyboard design by Minoru Yoshida
  ("Design B")

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  Storyboard design
  ("Design B")

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  Storyboard design
  ("Design B")

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  "Design B" notes in Mothra Movie Encyclopedia (p. 156)

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  Plan design by Minoru Yoshida
  ("Design A")

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  Plan design
  ("Design A")

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  Plan design
  ("Design A")

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  Decided design by Yasushi Nirasawa

Storyboards

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Books

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  Artwork by Hurricane Ryu Hariken from Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)

Trivia

• Some of the plot for this movie was re-incorporated into Rebirth of Mothra.
• Desghidorah's design choices were very similar to Bagan's, as they both grew wings just before the final battle.