Shinomura

Shinomura Species Supercolonial parasite Forms Single cell, colony Enemies Godzilla First appearance Godzilla: Awakening

Shinomura (シノムラ) is a radioactive parasitic colony monster that first appeared in the 2014 Monsterverse graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening.

A natural enemy of Godzilla which lived during the Permian period at least 250 million years ago, Shinomura entered a long period of dormancy deep underground following the Permian-Triassic extinction and the depletion of the planet's surface radiation levels. It was awakened in 1945 by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, though its presence caused its ancient nemesis Godzilla to awaken as well. Shinomura began a reign of terror across the Pacific Ocean over the next decade, with Godzilla hot on its heels. Monarch, a scientific organization formed to study both Godzilla and Shinomura, collaborated with the American military to lure both creatures to Bikini Atoll in 1954, where a hydrogen bomb was detonated in an attempt to kill them both. Though Godzilla survived, Shinomura was vaporized by the blast.

Name

Shinomura was originally assigned the placeholder designation "MUTO" by Monarch, but Eiji Serizawa later named it after the Japanese phrase shi no mure (死の群れ), meaning "swarm of death."

Design

Shinomura is a massive, winged, dragon-like monster with blue scales and black wings. It possesses multiple eyes and a scorpion-like tail. Shinomura's gigantic super-colony cells are black and blue and resemble starfish.

Personality

Shinomura was an extremely hostile and aggressive creature who indiscriminately attacked any ships or living creatures within its vicinity.

Origins

While its exact origins are unknown, Shinomura is hypothesized to have first appeared at least 250 million years ago, when it was a natural enemy of Godzilla. Like Godzilla and many other creatures, which lived when the planet's surface was considerably more radioactive, Shinomura fed on radiation. Following the Permian-Triassic extinction event, Shinomura became trapped beneath the Earth and laid dormant for millions of years until the atomic bombing of Hiroshima awoke it in 1945.

Tabletop games

• Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure (2023) [mentioned, indirect]

Comics

• Godzilla: Awakening (2014)

Godzilla: Awakening

In a scenario proposed by Eiji Serizawa, a Shinomura was present at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago and landed upon a small island to feast upon the remains of a large, aquatic creature. It failed to notice Godzilla and was subsequently blasted by his atomic breath just as a large meteorite struck the Earth, creating a massive earthquake that trapped Shinomura underground. It laid dormant for millions of years until the atomic bombing of Hiroshima brought it out of its slumber. The creature proceeded to attack ships across the ocean and began to grow in size. But wherever Shinomura went, Godzilla followed and chased it away.

In 1946, a part of Shinomura was discovered in the Philippines. Originally thought to be a severed limb or a scale, it was later revealed to be a cell from the creature. Monarch then exposed the cell to radiation, which allowed it to grow and regenerate. The new Shinomura escaped and began to look for its other half.

Later, when Godzilla came ashore on Moansta Island, both Shinomura appeared, and merged together into a larger one. The two beasts then began to fight. After a long struggle, Godzilla incinerated one Shinomura with his atomic breath, but the other escaped. A trap was then set for both of the creatures at Bikini Atoll, leaving a radiation trail for Shinomura, which would in turn lure Godzilla. A nuclear "test" called Castle Bravo was staged in an attempt to kill both Godzilla and Shinomura using a hydrogen bomb. Shinomura was destroyed in the explosion, but Godzilla survived.

Books

• Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization (2019) [mentioned]

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization

Shinomura's history is recapped, with the creature having been locked in battle with Godzilla at Bikini Atoll when Castle Bravo was detonated. Both monsters were presumed dead, but Godzilla merely escaped.

Abilities

Division and recombination

Shinomura is a superorganism composed of countless smaller organisms which join together into a single body. Due to this structure, Shinomura can split apart into multiple bodies and recombine later. It can also change its shape to form spiked tentacles which it uses to capture prey or attack Godzilla.

Regeneration

As another consequence of its aforementioned composition, Shinomura possesses an incredible capacity for regeneration. A single cell from Shinomura can regrow an entire new body as long as there is radiation on which to feed.

Growth

Like Godzilla and other creatures from the time period in which it lived, Shinomura feeds on radiation. So long as it continues to feed on radiation, Shinomura will continue to grow until it "blocks out the sky."

Physical strength

When large enough, Shinomura is strong enough to hold its own in combat against Godzilla and even drag him around.

Flight

Shinomura is capable of flight.

Weaknesses

Shinomura is vulnerable to Godzilla's atomic breath, and is ultimately destroyed after being directly exposed to the explosion of the Castle Bravo dry-fuel hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll.

Gallery

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Roar

Shinomura's roars are written as generic "Roar"s and "Screech"es in Godzilla: Awakening.

Trivia

• Shinomura shares similarities to the monsters Hedorah and Destoroyah. All three are superorganisms composed of countless smaller organisms that can split apart and recombine at will, and are also all extremely deadly to organic life on Earth.
• Although Godzilla: Awakening shows that Shinomura was killed by the same hydrogen bomb detonation that targeted Godzilla in the opening credits of Godzilla (2014), it is not present or even mentioned in the film.
  • Shinomura is similarly absent from the depiction of Castle Bravo in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Instead of chasing the monster to Bikini Atoll, Godzilla is simply attracted by the bomb's radiation.

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