Rodan (MonsterVerse)

From Wikizilla, the kaiju encyclopedia
Revision as of 15:43, 21 February 2021 by KaijuMan (talk | contribs) (Fixed a broken link)
Jump to navigationJump to search
Article.png
Image gallery for Rodan (Monsterverse)


Rodan incarnations
Rodan (Millennium)
Rodan (MonsterVerse)
Rodan (Singular Point)
Rodan™ (MonsterVerse) trademark icon
Rodan (MonsterVerse)
Rodan in Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Alternate names The Fire Demon,[1] Tsé nináhálééh, Big Bird
Subtitle(s) The One Born of Fire[2]
A Titan of Winged Fury[1]
Volcanic Rage[3]
Airborne God of Fire[4]
The Rock Eagle Monster
Species Titanus Rodan[1]
Height 154 feet[1][2] / 46.9 meters[5]
Wingspan 871 feet[1][2] / 265.5 meters[5]
Weight 39,043 tons[2]
Place(s) of emergence Isla de Mara, Mexico[1]
Allies King Ghidorah
Enemies King Ghidorah (initially), Mothra
Played by Jason Liles[6]
First appearance Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Roar(s)
Mark Russell: “You got a catchy name for this one?
Ilene Chen: “Local legends call it Rodan, the Fire Demon.
Mark Russell: “Well that's comforting.
― Dr. Mark Russell and Dr. Ilene Chen discuss Rodan after he is awakened (Godzilla: King of the Monsters)

Rodan (ラドン,   Radon) is a winged Titan who appears in the 2019 Legendary Pictures film Godzilla: King of the Monsters. He is the first incarnation of the character to appear in an American-made film.

With the ability to level entire cities simply by flying, Rodan was dreaded as a destroyer by ancient humans, who dubbed him the "Fire Demon." Rodan was discovered in pyrostasis within the volcano on Isla de Mara in Mexico by Monarch in 1991. Monarch built a containment facility around the Titan, but in 2019 he was unleashed by Monarch defector Dr. Emma Russell and eco-terrorist Alan Jonah as part of their plot to restore the planet's natural order. Rodan immediately engaged in battle with Monarch's G-Team before encountering the three-headed King Ghidorah, who soundly defeated him. After Godzilla was weakened by the Oxygen Destroyer and Ghidorah took his place as the alpha of the Titans, Rodan submitted to Ghidorah and began to do his bidding. Rodan fought against the military in Washington, D.C. before Ghidorah summoned him to Boston to aid him against Godzilla and Mothra. Rodan attacked Mothra and battled her across the city, nearly killing her before she drove her stinger through his chest. By the time Rodan recovered, Godzilla had defeated Ghidorah. Rodan approached Godzilla to challenge him, only to back down and submit to him, followed by all of the other Titans who had once served Ghidorah.

Name

Rodan's Japanese name, Radon, is a truncation of "Pteranodon." It may also have been chosen to suggest radiation. The name was changed to "Rodan" in English-speaking markets, possibly to avoid confusion with the element Radon. Toho eventually trademarked the name "Rodan," making it the monster's official English name.

According to Monarch, Rodan is referred to in some legends as the "Fire Demon" and "The One Born of Fire." [1] Monarch's Titan designation for Rodan is Titanus Rodan, which unlike the designations for Godzilla and Mothra utilizes his English name rather than his Japanese name. In Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization, he is referred to at one point as Tsé Nináhálééh, the name of a winged monster from the Navajo creation myth.

Developement

Godzilla: King of the Monsters director Michael Dougherty holds Rodan in high regard, but even he admitted that the kaiju has "always been more of a sidekick. He's a henchmonster."[7] In one version of the story, Rodan defected to Godzilla's side to oppose King Ghidorah, but to switch up expectations, he stuck with Monster Zero for as long as he could in the film.[8]

In Rodan's debut film, he and his mate seemingly perished in Mt. Aso, and either he or his offspring emerged from that same volcano in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. Dougherty wanted him to live in a volcano again — and look the part, with wings covered in cooled magma. The sparks and lava falling from his wings also helped him evoke the image of a phoenix.[9] One piece of concept art by Christopher Shy even showed him spitting fire, and he seems to have a breath weapon of some kind in the Kong: Skull Island cave painting as well. However, Toho seems reluctant to depict regular Rodan spitting any weapon, only ever giving one to the separately trademarked Fire Rodan; the monster's wind breath seen in the original film has never returned either. Influences from the animal kingdom included pterosaurs, turkey vultures, eagles, hawks, and the feet of ostriches.[7][10] Matt Allsopp, returning from the 2014 film, recalled that the artists quickly realized they had to steer clear of anything that looked too much like the male MUTO.[10] Some concepts even gave Rodan feathers, which would have been a first for the character - and a nice callback to the unused feather-winged Rodan designs all the way from 1956. Tim Martin of ADI included the feathers in his maquette, dubbed the "final maquette" in The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, though they were ultimately removed.

Rodan's awakening and battle with Monarch was one of the first sequences to go through the previz process.[8] Outpost 56 restrained him with giant harpoon guns in this version, only for Monarch's own jets to blow them up so they could lure him towards Ghidorah.[11] The animators based his fighting style on eagles, with The Third Floor supervisor Andrew Honacker describing him as a "drunken brawler" as well.[7] His new roars were derived from recordings of owls, penguins, vultures, and some cranes Dougherty's mother filmed in her backyard.[10]

Dougherty didn't originally plan to use any motion-capture for Rodan, but he decided to let Jason Liles have a try at the end of a day of filming.[12]

Design

The MonsterVerse Rodan is a giant pterosaur-like creature with a large beak, two horns protruding from the back of his head, and huge wings with molten rock trailing off their edges. He can walk like a pterosaur by using these wings as front limbs. Like the Rodan design in Godzilla: Final Wars, each of his forelimbs has two fingers and a thumb. Rows of spikes adorn his chest, and his tail is large, flat and fan-shaped. His body is a burgundy red color, while his serrated beak is black. Unlike past incarnations, he does not have teeth. Furthermore, this version of Rodan has feet that are more like the talons of an eagle or a hawk, having a vestigial claw and a spike on his ankle. The way he stands on his legs greatly resembles the stance of modern birds.

Personality

According to Godzilla: King of the Monsters director Michael Dougherty, "Rodan is a bit of a rogue...you never quite know where his loyalties lie."[13] After losing his fight to King Ghidorah, Rodan submits to him and assists him in Boston by attacking Mothra. Following Ghidorah's death, he challenges Godzilla briefly, before ultimately submitting to him. Monarch describes Rodan's behavior as that of a "destroyer," unleashing "airborne devastation" upon the natural world.[2] Much like Ghidorah, Rodan displays aggression towards humans, chasing after the Argo and picking its escort apart in the process.

Origins

Rodan's origins are unclear, but he is presumably an ancient creature, due to being depicted in what appears to be an ancient cave painting. Similar paintings exist of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah, suggesting Rodan either appeared alongside them in the past or is prophesied to appear alongside them in the future. According to Monarch, Rodan is spoken of in legends, with his name referenced within many ancient temples in volcanically active regions. In 1991, Rodan was discovered by Monarch in pyrostasis in the magma inside the Isla de Mara volcano in Mexico. Monarch notes that Rodan's body structure resembles that of Pteranodon, although he is far larger.[1]

History

MonsterVerse

Kong: Skull Island

After their adventure on Skull Island, Monarch members Houston Brooks and Lin San showed James Conrad and Mason Weaver a cave painting of Rodan, along with paintings depicting Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah, as proof that the inhabitants of Skull Island were not the only monsters in the world.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Rodan emerges from the Isla de Mara volcano.

After awakening King Ghidorah from Antarctica, Emma Russell awakened Rodan from Outpost 56 in Isla de Mara. An explosion burst from the volcano's crater, and Rodan emerged from the erupting volcano. In order to prevent Rodan from attacking the civilians still evacuating the village, Monarch's G-Team opened fire on Rodan with fighter jets, drawing his attention. At the same time, Monarch discovered that Ghidorah was drawn to Rodan's calls, and decided to lure Rodan directly to the three-headed Titan. Rodan took flight and pursued the USS Argo and its complement of fighter jets. As he flew over the Isla de Mara village, Rodan tore the buildings from the ground below and launched huge amounts of debris into the air. Rodan brought his wings together and propelled himself higher into the air, generating a sonic boom that took out several jets. He then descended and caught two jets in his talons, tearing them apart. Rodan then attempted to catch a jet with his beak. When the pilot ejected from his jet, he fell straight into Rodan's mouth. Rodan began to spin through the air, destroying the remaining jets with his wings. Upon entering the storm surrounding Ghidorah, the Argo dove out of the way and the two Titans collided in the air. Ghidorah quickly gained the upper hand, restraining Rodan's wings with his right and left mouths and firing a gravity beam from his central mouth that blasted Rodan into the water below. After Ghidorah landed atop the Isla de Mara volcano and awakened Titans all around the world with his roar, Rodan landed at the foot of the volcano and submitted to Ghidorah.

Rodan accompanied Ghidorah to Washington D.C., assisting him in battling the military. He later followed Ghidorah to Boston and intercepted Mothra on his behalf so she could not help Godzilla against him. Rodan and Mothra fought across the city, slamming each other into buildings and tearing at each other with their claws. Rodan finally pinned Mothra against a skyscraper, but she used her claws to push him off. However, Rodan circled back and landed on top of Mothra, trying to stab her with his beak. Mothra extended a stinger from her abdomen and impaled Rodan through the chest. Immobilized by the sting, Rodan fell backward and plunged into the burning city below, screeching in rage.

Rodan bows down before Godzilla.

Once Godzilla destroyed Ghidorah, Rodan regained his ability to move and confronted Godzilla along with Behemoth, Methuselah, Scylla, and the Queen MUTO. Rodan looked up at Godzilla and roared in challenge, but Godzilla returned a look that caused Rodan to submit to him. The others followed suit, all "bowing" to the new King of the Monsters. After this, Rodan began nesting in a volcano near Fiji, with spectators gathering around to catch a glimpse of him.

Abilities

Supersonic flight

Rodan can fly at supersonic speeds sufficient to outpace F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, and is highly agile while flying. Rodan is shown destroying several fighter jets pursuing him by rolling while in flight and smashing them with his wings. When flying at top speed, Rodan's wings generate cyclonic drift streams that can level entire cities instantly by literally ripping structures out of the ground and into the air.[2]

Shockwaves

Rodan produces destructive shockwaves, described by Monarch as "cyclonic drift streams,"[2] while flying at top speeds which can flatten buildings he passes over and launch debris such as vehicles and people into the air. Monarch scientists speculate the monster's wingspan is vast enough to level cities with this technique.[14]

Durability

Rodan has an extreme tolerance to heat and magma, having hibernated inside a volcano for at least several decades.[15] He is also completely immune to conventional weaponry such as gunfire or missile strikes. A layer of volcanic rock acts as armor plating for Rodan's wings.[2] This volcanic rock also covers many parts of his body, giving him extra protection in combat. When Mothra struck at Rodan's head with one of her claws, her attack failed to pierce his skin, although Rodan did seem visibly hurt by the blow. Rodan survived being completely impaled by Mothra's stinger, the attack only temporarily incapacitating him before he recovered virtually unharmed despite the gaping wound in his chest. However, he was quickly dispatched in battle by King Ghidorah, who used a single Gravity Beam as his finishing blow.

Magma system

Rodan has an internal combustion system of magma that flows throughout his body.[16] The magma throughout his system can reach temperatures up to 1,200°C.[17] The magma leaks through the ends of his wings and was able to burn Mothra's wings.

Physical capabilities

Rodan mainly uses his talons and beak in combat. When in the midst of several fighter jets, he performed a barrel roll maneuver to smash them with his wings. He was even able to briefly overtake King Ghidorah during their fight.

Eruptions

As noted in Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization, Rodan can seemingly cause volcanoes to erupt just by merely flying over them.

Filmography

Books

Gallery

Main article: Rodan/Legendary/Gallery.

Roar

Rodan's cries in the film were primarily derived from recordings of owls, penguins, vultures and sandhill cranes.[18]

Rodan's roars in
Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Trivia

  • The Monarch outpost where Rodan was being studied is Outpost 56, a reference to the release year of his debut film, 1956.
  • The nickname given to the location where Rodan is found, "el nido del demonio," is Spanish for "the demon's nest."
  • Originally, the Mexican volcano in which Monarch discovered Rodan was named Isla de Mona, which is the name of a real island in the Puerto Rican archipelago. The name was eventually changed to Isla de Mara.
    • The scene where civilians of Isla de Mara evacuate from Rodan was filmed at Plaza de Santo Domingo, a plaza located in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • The MonsterVerse Rodan is the shortest incarnation of the character, yet is also the heaviest and has the widest wingspan.
  • Some concept art for Godzilla: King of the Monsters shows Rodan traveling with Godzilla and Mothra[19] and fighting alongside Godzilla against King Ghidorah.[20] At around the 1 hour 46-minute mark during the audio commentary of the film by Mike Dougherty, Zach Shields, and O'Shea Jackson Jr., they confirm that Rodan was originally going to be Godzilla's ally in the fight against Ghidorah.
  • According to a tweet answered by Michael Dougherty, Rodan is represented by the Tarot card The Fool, which symbolizes innocence and spontaneity.[21]

Video

Wikizilla: YouTube Kaiju Profile: King Ghidorah,
Mothra & Rodan (2019)

See also

References

This is a list of references for Rodan (Monsterverse). 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 "SPECIMEN: TITANUS RODAN" - Monarch Sciences
    Rodan profile - MonarchSciences.com
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Specimen: Titanus Rodan". Toho Kingdom on Twitter. 16 May 2019.
  3. "Rodan: Volcanic Rage" used in merchandise
  4. "Rodan: Airborne God of Fire" from the Monsters 101 bonus feature from the first Blu-ray release
  5. 5.0 5.1 Stats for Rodan (2019) given in an unidentified source
  6. Alex Maxson on Twitter: "I'm very excited to be part of this team and working with @coolwatersprods! I'll being seeing all you G-Fans at many conventions and events this year! #Godzilla #Kingghidorah #ghidorah #monsterverse #Coolwatersprodcutions"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Bernstein, Abbie (2019). The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Titan Books. p. 52, 146-147, 154. ISBN 1789090687.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Blu-ray audio commentary
  9. Godzilla: King of the Monsters panel at Monsterpalooza 2019
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Reimagining Rodan" featurette on Godzilla: King of the Monsters home video releases
  11. Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Rodan Emerging Previs
  12. Chaffins, Benjamin (17 June 2020). "Portraying Rodan and Ghidorah's Center Head: An Interview with Jason Liles on Godzilla: King of the Monsters". Godzilla Movies.
  13. [1]
  14. Monarch Sciences - Crimson security clearance file for Rodan
  15. Kong: Skull Island on Twitter: "1991: A covert Monarch team establishes a quarantine zone around a dormant volcano in Isle de Mara. #KongSkullIsland"
  16. Monarch Sciences - Yellow security clearance file for Rodan
  17. GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS - ORCA Communicator
  18. "Reimagining Rodan", Godzilla: King of the Monsters Blu-Ray
  19. Concept art by [artist to be identified] showing Rodan, Mothra and Godzilla traveling together
  20. Concept art by [artist to be identified]
  21. [2]

Comments

Showing 260 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
Legendary
Warner Bros.
Era Icon - MonsterVerse New Version.png
Kaiju
Era Icon - Rodan.png