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==Name== | ==Name== | ||
Toto's name might come from the word "tortoise." In-universe, Toto is given his name by Toru after a nickname his late mother used to call him. Once Toto grows to adulthood, he is acknowledged by several characters as '''Gamera''' {{Nihongo|ガメラ}}, although Toru and the other child characters still call him Toto. Toru only refers to Toto as Gamera at the very end of the film as he flies away. The tag for a [[Bandai]] [[Daiei Kaiju Series]] figure of Toto refers to him as '''Rebirth Gamera''' {{Nihongo|新生ガメラ|Shinsei Gamera}}<ref name="Rebirth">[[File:Bandai Rebirth Gamera tag.jpg|100px]]</ref> in order to distinguish him from figures of the [[Gamera (Showa)|Showa Gamera]] and [[Gamera (Heisei Trilogy)|Heisei Gamera]]. | Toto's name might come from the word "tortoise." In-universe, Toto is given his name by Toru after a nickname his late mother used to call him. Once Toto grows to adulthood, he is acknowledged by several characters as '''Gamera''' {{Nihongo|ガメラ}}, although Toru and the other child characters still call him Toto. Toru only refers to Toto as Gamera at the very end of the film as he flies away. The tag for a [[Bandai]] [[Daiei Kaiju Series]] figure of Toto refers to him as '''Rebirth Gamera''' {{Nihongo|新生ガメラ|Shinsei Gamera}}<ref name="Rebirth">[[File:Bandai Rebirth Gamera tag.jpg|100px]]</ref> in order to distinguish him from figures of the [[Gamera (Showa)|Showa Gamera]] and [[Gamera (Heisei Trilogy)|Heisei Gamera]]. | ||
==Development== | |||
{{Expand}} | |||
Due to the financial success of [[Toho]]'s child-friendly ''Rebirth of Mothra'' trilogy over Daiei's darker ''Gamera'' trilogy, [[Kadokawa]] became interested in a Gamera revival which would return the character to his roots.<ref name="HGPerfection" />{{rp|196-199}}{{rp|201-205}}{{rp|213}} Toto was influenced by earlier drafts of ''[[Gamera the Guardian of the Universe]]'', in which children raised Gamera from a small turtle.<ref>Eiga Hiho, 2021, "April", p.6, Futabasha</ref> Another influence was the 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', and Toto's "codename" during the early stages of the production was "Bambi".<ref name="HGPerfection">{{cite book|title=[[Heisei Gamera Perfection]]|date=8 February 2014|publisher=[[Kadokawa|ASCII MEDIA WORKS]]|isbn=9784048918817}}</ref>{{rp|197}} | |||
Toto was initially designed based on the [[wikipedia:Pond slider|pond slider]] in reference to the ''[[Gamera the Giant Monster]]'', which used live pond sliders for filming; his final design was based on the [[wikipedia:African spurred tortoise|African spurred tortoise]] <ref name="HGPerfection" />{{rp|141}} To help make him appealing to children, he lacked any visible protrusions or roughness on his skin and shell.<ref name="HGPerfection" />{{rp|147}} Toto was originally planned to have glowing green eyes as an homage to the Showa Gamera. This is reflected in early promotional material, and actual models of the green eyes were prepared, but they ultimately went unused.<ref name="HGPerfection" />{{rp|143}}{{rp|150}} | |||
As a baby, Toto was played by an African spurred tortoise, but when he needed to display varying emotions, computer-generated imagery was also used. | |||
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
Toto bears a resemblance to his predecessor [[Avant Gamera]] but with smoother and more rounded features that make him look like a juvenile tortoise. Though he initially was identical to a juvenile [[wikipedia:African spurred tortoise|African spurred tortoise]] as a newborn, Toho has a fairly consistent design while his height rapidly increases throughout the film: standing upright on two legs in his giant state (though as a newborn he walked on all fours), and has five small claws on each hand (unlike Avant Gamera who has long claws on his hands, four toes on his feet), a tail, and red markings in the center of his chest. On his rounded face, he has two large green eyes, a row of small teeth, a pink tongue inside his mouth, and two tusks on his lower jaw that ascend above its underlip. Toho's shell is slightly lighter brown than its skin, with a texture resembling polished wood, and is made of ridged plates that extend somewhat exceed the width of his body. | Toto bears a resemblance to his predecessor [[Avant Gamera]] but with smoother and more rounded features that make him look like a juvenile tortoise. Though he initially was identical to a juvenile [[wikipedia:African spurred tortoise|African spurred tortoise]] as a newborn, Toho has a fairly consistent design while his height rapidly increases throughout the film: standing upright on two legs in his giant state (though as a newborn he walked on all fours), and has five small claws on each hand (unlike Avant Gamera who has long claws on his hands, four toes on his feet), a tail, and red markings in the center of his chest. On his rounded face, he has two large green eyes, a row of small teeth, a pink tongue inside his mouth, and two tusks on his lower jaw that ascend above its underlip. Toho's shell is slightly lighter brown than its skin, with a texture resembling polished wood, and is made of ridged plates that extend somewhat exceed the width of his body. | ||
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{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">KAFyt7N7GqY</youtube>|Toto's roars}} | {{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">KAFyt7N7GqY</youtube>|Toto's roars}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*Toto's concept is very similar to the Godzilla characters [[Minilla]] and [[Godzilla Junior]], both being younger members of the main monster's species. Like Godzilla Junior, Toto eventually grew up and took the place of his predecessor following his death. | *Toto's concept is very similar to the Godzilla characters [[Minilla]] and [[Godzilla Junior]], both being younger members of the main monster's species. Like Godzilla Junior, Toto eventually grew up and took the place of his predecessor following his death. | ||
*The marks on torsos of Toto and [[Avant Gamera]] may represent the Chinese letter '''Fire''' {{Nihongo|炎|Honō}}.<ref name=Anatomy /> | *The marks on torsos of Toto and [[Avant Gamera]] may represent the Chinese letter '''Fire''' {{Nihongo|炎|Honō}}.<ref name=Anatomy /> | ||
*Toto's biological features including being capable of telepathy and eyesight of 30.0 also correspond with that of the [[Gamera (Heisei Trilogy)|Gamera]] from the Heisei Trilogy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080619134123/http://gamera.jp/archive/zukan02.html Official Website]</ref> Toto's Heat Muscle also etymologically resembles High Fever Muscles of [[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]] in the Showa series. | *Toto's biological features including being capable of telepathy and eyesight of 30.0 also correspond with that of the [[Gamera (Heisei Trilogy)|Gamera]] from the Heisei Trilogy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080619134123/http://gamera.jp/archive/zukan02.html Official Website]</ref> Toto's Heat Muscle also etymologically resembles High Fever Muscles of [[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]] in the Showa series. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 16:54, 19 August 2023
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| This article is a work in progress. Please help in the creation of this article by expanding or improving it. |
Toto (トト Toto), acknowledged as Gamera (ガメラ) upon reaching adulthood, is a giant turtle kaiju who appeared in the 2006 Kadokawa Gamera film Gamera the Brave. He is the successor to Avant Gamera, who sacrificed himself to destroy a flock of Gyaos in 1973.
Name
Toto's name might come from the word "tortoise." In-universe, Toto is given his name by Toru after a nickname his late mother used to call him. Once Toto grows to adulthood, he is acknowledged by several characters as Gamera (ガメラ), although Toru and the other child characters still call him Toto. Toru only refers to Toto as Gamera at the very end of the film as he flies away. The tag for a Bandai Daiei Kaiju Series figure of Toto refers to him as Rebirth Gamera (新生ガメラ Shinsei Gamera)[1] in order to distinguish him from figures of the Showa Gamera and Heisei Gamera.
Development
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Due to the financial success of Toho's child-friendly Rebirth of Mothra trilogy over Daiei's darker Gamera trilogy, Kadokawa became interested in a Gamera revival which would return the character to his roots.[4]:196-199:201-205:213 Toto was influenced by earlier drafts of Gamera the Guardian of the Universe, in which children raised Gamera from a small turtle.[5] Another influence was the 1923 novel Bambi, a Life in the Woods, and Toto's "codename" during the early stages of the production was "Bambi".[4]:197
Toto was initially designed based on the pond slider in reference to the Gamera the Giant Monster, which used live pond sliders for filming; his final design was based on the African spurred tortoise [4]:141 To help make him appealing to children, he lacked any visible protrusions or roughness on his skin and shell.[4]:147 Toto was originally planned to have glowing green eyes as an homage to the Showa Gamera. This is reflected in early promotional material, and actual models of the green eyes were prepared, but they ultimately went unused.[4]:143:150
As a baby, Toto was played by an African spurred tortoise, but when he needed to display varying emotions, computer-generated imagery was also used.
Design
Toto bears a resemblance to his predecessor Avant Gamera but with smoother and more rounded features that make him look like a juvenile tortoise. Though he initially was identical to a juvenile African spurred tortoise as a newborn, Toho has a fairly consistent design while his height rapidly increases throughout the film: standing upright on two legs in his giant state (though as a newborn he walked on all fours), and has five small claws on each hand (unlike Avant Gamera who has long claws on his hands, four toes on his feet), a tail, and red markings in the center of his chest. On his rounded face, he has two large green eyes, a row of small teeth, a pink tongue inside his mouth, and two tusks on his lower jaw that ascend above its underlip. Toho's shell is slightly lighter brown than its skin, with a texture resembling polished wood, and is made of ridged plates that extend somewhat exceed the width of his body.
Origins
Toto is the successor to Avant Gamera, a giant benevolent turtle monster who released his internal energy to self-destruct and destroy a flock of Gyaos in 1973. It is unclear whether he is Avant Gamera's child, reincarnation, or simply another member of the species.
History
Heisei era
Gamera the Brave
In 2006, 33 years after Gamera sacrificed himself to stop a flock of Gyaos, a young boy named Toru discovered a turtle egg sitting atop a red gem on an island. The boy took the egg home along with the red gem it was sitting on. The egg hatched into a baby turtle, which Toru named "Toto", a nickname his later mother used to call him. Toto surprised Toru's neighbor when he started to fly. He soon became too big for Toru to take care of in his home, so he was taken to a shed on the shoreline. He disappeared the next day, but he returned to save Toru and his friends when Zedus attacked his village. He fought Zedus and drove him away, but he was seriously injured and captured by the military. Zedus arrived in Nagoya, and was confronted by Toto after he grew larger and escaped military custody. Zedus threw Toto into a building and was ready to kill him, but Toru arrived and tossed the gem found with Toto's egg into his mouth, which super-charged him and gave him the ability to fly and breathe fire. Toto battled Zedus again, and was able to rip out the beast's tongue and then destroy him with a fireball. Toto collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, and was surrounded by the military. Toru and his friends stood in front of Toto, giving him time to regain his strength and fly away. As Toto flew into the distance, Toru stared at him and said, "Sayonara, Gamera."
Abilities
Fireballs
Even as a hatchling, Toto was able to breath fire, scorching a knife that fell in front of him. He fired a blast down Zedus's mouth during their first fight, causing the reptile to plummet from a bridge into the water below and retreat. After Toru threw the red stone which housed his egg into his mouth, he charged up and unleashed a more powerful fireball called Toto Impact (トトインパクト, Toto Inpakuto) which completely obliterated Zedus. When charging Toto Impact, Toto's body emits extreme heat, which instantly incinerated Zedus's tongue.
Flight
As a hatchling, Toto could levitate, emitting a small amount of exhaust as he did so. After he grew to 30 meters tall and Toru threw the red stone into his mouth, he gained the ability to fly by retracting all his limbs into his shell and firing rockets out of his arms and legs holes. He used this ability to tackle Zedus off of one of the JR Central Towers. The form of spinning flight is called spinning jets (回転ジェット kaiten jetto).[6]
Growth
Though born as a regular-sized turtle, Toto grew rapidly, becoming approximately eight meters tall for his first battle against Zedus. After the JSDF captured him and injected him with liquefied red pearls discovered around his birthplace, he grew to 30 meters tall for his rematch with Zedus.
Supernatural abilities
According to anatomical illustrations, Toto has a magatama-shaped organ called Spirits Crystal (スピリッツ・クリスタル Supirittsu Kurisutaru) which enables Toto to perform several supernatural feats such as telepathy with humans, sensing human emotions, understanding human speech, and sensing evil monsters' emergences from a distance.[6] The red pearls may glow in response to Toto's emotion.[6]
Anatomy
Toto possesses notable anatomical features such as the Heat Muscle (ヒートマッスル, Hīto Massuru) to increase his physical strength, a special skeletal structure which consists of unknown materials, keen eyesight which is the equivalent to 30.0 in a human. He is also capable of seeing ultraviolet and infrared rays, as well as seeing in the dark and deep underwater.[6]
Comics
Gamera 2006: Hard Link
Toto is in the facility of Amemiya throughout the manga. The researchers try to find a way to help Toto to fight Zedus.
Gallery
- Main article: Toto/Gallery.
Roar
Rather than Gamera's unique roar, Toto's primary roar is an edited stock roar which dates back to the 1957 Universal Pictures films The Land Unknown and The Deadly Mantis and was also used for King Kong in the 1976 film, Yonggary in Reptilian, and Midon in Big Man Japan. He is also given generic elk bugles and pre-recorded growls originally uttered by Frank Welker.
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Trivia
- Toto's concept is very similar to the Godzilla characters Minilla and Godzilla Junior, both being younger members of the main monster's species. Like Godzilla Junior, Toto eventually grew up and took the place of his predecessor following his death.
- The marks on torsos of Toto and Avant Gamera may represent the Chinese letter Fire (炎 Honō).[6]
- Toto's biological features including being capable of telepathy and eyesight of 30.0 also correspond with that of the Gamera from the Heisei Trilogy.[7] Toto's Heat Muscle also etymologically resembles High Fever Muscles of Gamera in the Showa series.
References
This is a list of references for Toto. 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]
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