Viras: Difference between revisions
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|name =Viras | |name =Viras | ||
|subtitle =Space Monster<br>{{Nihongo|宇宙怪獣|Uchū Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera vs. Viras|GvV]]}}<br>Divided Monster<br>{{Nihongo|分裂怪獣|Bunretsu Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera vs. Viras|GvV]]}}<ref name="JPTrailer">[[Japan]]ese ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbmhK6b_RkU&t=120 trailer]</ref><br>Underwater Monster<br>{{Nihongo|水中怪獣|Suichū Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera Super Monster|GSM]]}} | |subtitle =Space Monster<br>{{Nihongo|宇宙怪獣|Uchū Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera vs. Viras|GvV]]}}<br>Divided Monster<br>{{Nihongo|分裂怪獣|Bunretsu Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera vs. Viras|GvV]]}}<ref name="JPTrailer">[[Japan]]ese ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbmhK6b_RkU&t=120 trailer]</ref><br>Underwater Monster<br>{{Nihongo|水中怪獣|Suichū Kaijū}}{{sup|[[Gamera Super Monster|GSM]]}} | ||
|species =Giant [[ | |species =Giant [[Virian]],<br>genetically engineered [[Gyaos]] mutant{{Sup|[[Gamera (comic)|DH]]}} | ||
|nicknames =Bairus, Bairas, Boss | |nicknames =Bairus, Bairas, Boss | ||
|height =2 meters (Boss)<ref name="G1 Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=Gamera the Guardian of the Universe Encyclopedia|publisher=Rippu Shobo|date=1995|pages=68-69|isbn=978-4651016160}}</ref><br>96 meters (Viras)<ref name="Gamera.jp">[http://web.archive.org/web/20070712222725fw_/http://gamera.jp/archive/index_history.html Showa Gamera monsters data - Gamera.jp]</ref><ref name="G1 Encyclopedia"/> | |height =2 meters (Boss)<ref name="G1 Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=Gamera the Guardian of the Universe Encyclopedia|publisher=Rippu Shobo|date=1995|pages=68-69|isbn=978-4651016160}}</ref><br>96 meters (Viras)<ref name="Gamera.jp">[http://web.archive.org/web/20070712222725fw_/http://gamera.jp/archive/index_history.html Showa Gamera monsters data - Gamera.jp]</ref><ref name="G1 Encyclopedia"/> | ||
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|originplace =Planet Viras<ref name="Gamera.jp"/> | |originplace =Planet Viras<ref name="Gamera.jp"/> | ||
|controlled =[[Spaceship Zanon]]{{sup|[[Gamera Super Monster|GSM]]}} | |controlled =[[Spaceship Zanon]]{{sup|[[Gamera Super Monster|GSM]]}} | ||
|relationships =[[ | |relationships =[[Virian]]s {{small|(components)}},<br>[[Greta Karbone]] {{small|(creator)}}{{Sup|[[Gamera (comic)|DH]]}} | ||
|allies =[[ | |allies =[[Virian]]s | ||
|enemies =[[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]] | |enemies =[[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]] | ||
|designed =Shigeo Mano | |designed =Shigeo Mano | ||
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'''Viras''' {{Nihongo|バイラス|Bairasu}} is an alien [[kaiju]] who first appeared in the [[1968]] ''[[Gamera (franchise)|Gamera]]'' [[:Category:Gamera Films|film]], ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]''. | '''Viras''' {{Nihongo|バイラス|Bairasu}} is an alien [[kaiju]] who first appeared in the [[1968]] ''[[Gamera (franchise)|Gamera]]'' [[:Category:Gamera Films|film]], ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]''. | ||
Viras began as an expedition force of [[ | Viras began as an expedition force of [[Virian|aliens from Planet Viras]] who came to [[Earth]] in order to conquer it. After an earlier force was defeated by [[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]], the Virians exploited the monster's affinity for children by kidnapping two Boy Scouts and holding them hostage. They lured Gamera into a position where they implanted a [[Brainwave Control Device|mind control device]] onto him and sent him on a rampage across [[Japan]]. When Gamera broke free of the mind control, the Virians fused together into the gigantic Viras and battled him. The alien monster was finally defeated when Gamera flew him into the atmosphere and froze him, then dropped him into the ocean below where he exploded. | ||
Viras will return in the 2023 [[Netflix]] anime series ''[[GAMERA -Rebirth-]]'' as one of the five kaiju to battle Gamera. | Viras will return in the 2023 [[Netflix]] anime series ''[[GAMERA -Rebirth-]]'' as one of the five kaiju to battle Gamera. | ||
{{TOC}} | {{TOC}} | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
Viras's name comes from the planet from which he hails, Planet Viras. In an issue of ''Weekly Shonen Magazine'' published on March 17, 1968, Viras's home planet was instead called Planet Dongle {{Nihongo|ドンガル星|Dongaru Sei}}, which was likely a pun to the Japanese word for "to become pointed", ''togaru/tongaru'' {{Nihongo|尖る}}. Originally, the monster's name was going to be '''Gesso''' {{Nihongo|ゲッソー|Gessō}}, which likely came from the Japanese word for squid legs, ''gesō'' {{Nihongo|下足}}. The name "Viras" was publicized as being chosen from a public contest published in ''Weekly Shonen Magazine'' and ''Weekly Bokura Magazine''.<ref name="SF Gamera Facts">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/882-shout-factory-tv-presents-gamera-marathon-26-gamera-facts|title=Shout! Factory TV Presents Gamera Marathon + 26 Gamera Facts|date=16 October 2015|work=SciFi Japan}}</ref> However, director [[Noriaki Yuasa]] later stated that the contest was staged and the name actually came from the word ''bai'' {{Nihongo|倍}}, meaning "times" or "fold."{{Citation needed}} From this point until ''[[Gamera vs. Zigra]]'', all of Gamera's enemies were publicized as having their names chosen in similar contests. While "Viras" is the official English spelling of ''Bairasu'' {{Nihongo|バイラス}}, it is spelled '''Bairus''' in a [[Honolulu]] newspaper ad for ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' and '''Bairas''' on a Japanese DVD cover for the film. The leader of the | Viras's name comes from the planet from which he hails, Planet Viras. In an issue of ''Weekly Shonen Magazine'' published on March 17, 1968, Viras's home planet was instead called Planet Dongle {{Nihongo|ドンガル星|Dongaru Sei}}, which was likely a pun to the Japanese word for "to become pointed", ''togaru/tongaru'' {{Nihongo|尖る}}. Originally, the monster's name was going to be '''Gesso''' {{Nihongo|ゲッソー|Gessō}}, which likely came from the Japanese word for squid legs, ''gesō'' {{Nihongo|下足}}. The name "Viras" was publicized as being chosen from a public contest published in ''Weekly Shonen Magazine'' and ''Weekly Bokura Magazine''.<ref name="SF Gamera Facts">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/882-shout-factory-tv-presents-gamera-marathon-26-gamera-facts|title=Shout! Factory TV Presents Gamera Marathon + 26 Gamera Facts|date=16 October 2015|work=SciFi Japan}}</ref> However, director [[Noriaki Yuasa]] later stated that the contest was staged and the name actually came from the word ''bai'' {{Nihongo|倍}}, meaning "times" or "fold."{{Citation needed}} From this point until ''[[Gamera vs. Zigra]]'', all of Gamera's enemies were publicized as having their names chosen in similar contests. While "Viras" is the official English spelling of ''Bairasu'' {{Nihongo|バイラス}}, it is spelled '''Bairus''' in a [[Honolulu]] newspaper ad for ''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]'' and '''Bairas''' on a Japanese DVD cover for the film. The leader of the Virian invasion force who later becomes Viras is called the '''Boss''' {{Nihongo|ボス|Bosu}}. | ||
Viras's original subtitle was '''Space Monster''' {{Nihongo|宇宙怪獣|Uchū Kaijū}}, but this was changed to '''Underwater Monster''' {{Nihongo|水中怪獣|Suichū Kaijū}} for ''Gamera Super Monster'' due to the use of "Space Monster" in the film's Japanese title. | Viras's original subtitle was '''Space Monster''' {{Nihongo|宇宙怪獣|Uchū Kaijū}}, but this was changed to '''Underwater Monster''' {{Nihongo|水中怪獣|Suichū Kaijū}} for ''Gamera Super Monster'' due to the use of "Space Monster" in the film's Japanese title. | ||
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Viras is a squid-like monster with six prehensile tentacles lined with suction cups. His body is a light bluish-silver color. Viras's eyes are human-like and close from bottom to top. The monster has a pointed beak for a mouth, while the top of his head is divided into three petal-shaped pieces which can fit together into a hardened spear-shaped tip. | Viras is a squid-like monster with six prehensile tentacles lined with suction cups. His body is a light bluish-silver color. Viras's eyes are human-like and close from bottom to top. The monster has a pointed beak for a mouth, while the top of his head is divided into three petal-shaped pieces which can fit together into a hardened spear-shaped tip. | ||
==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
Viras originated as a group of five [[ | Viras originated as a group of five [[Virian]]s and their Boss who arrived on [[Earth]] in their [[Virian UFO|UFO]], and is visually identical to his components with the exception of his substantially greater height. Because the Virians required nitrogen to survive, Earth was an ideal planet for conquest. When [[Gamera (Showa)|Gamera]] escaped their mind control, the Virians fused with the Boss to become the gigantic monster Viras. | ||
In the [[Dark Horse]] comic series ''[[Gamera (comic)|Gamera]]'', Viras is a creature cloned from [[Gyaos]]' DNA by Dr. [[Greta Karbone]]. | In the [[Dark Horse]] comic series ''[[Gamera (comic)|Gamera]]'', Viras is a creature cloned from [[Gyaos]]' DNA by Dr. [[Greta Karbone]]. | ||
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===[[Showa era]]=== | ===[[Showa era]]=== | ||
====''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]''==== | ====''[[Gamera vs. Viras]]''==== | ||
Viras originated as the Boss, the leader of an expedition force of [[ | Viras originated as the Boss, the leader of an expedition force of [[Virian]]s who intended to take control of [[Earth]] for its valuable reserves of atmospheric nitrogen, an element vital for his species' survival. An earlier attempt by his comrades was easily thwarted by Gamera, so the Boss employed a mind probe to discover Gamera's weaknesses. The Virians discovered Gamera's kindness to children, and exploited it by kidnapping two Boy Scouts and using them as hostages, coercing Gamera to get into perfect position for the launching of the [[Brainwave Control Device]]. Gamera was then made to rampage through Japan, with the targets being the Okumusashi Dam and eventually [[Tokyo]]. While aboard the ship, the captives came upon the Boss, who resided within a cage-like structure within one of the rooms. To avoid arousing suspicion, he feigned being captured by the aliens as well, using this as a distraction for his comrades to corner, then escort the captives back to their confinement. | ||
After the children managed to reverse the polarity of the Brainwave Control Device, Gamera disobeyed his controllers, and began attacking. The | After the children managed to reverse the polarity of the Brainwave Control Device, Gamera disobeyed his controllers, and began attacking. The Virians attempted to escape, but Gamera completely incapacitated the UFO, preventing this from taking place. Realising that his kind could not invade Earth unless Gamera was killed, the Boss fused with the other Virians to become the giant Viras and faced Gamera in combat. After a fierce battle, Viras was defeated when Gamera flew with him up into the atmosphere, where he froze solid. Gamera then dropped Viras, and he exploded violently after colliding with the ocean. | ||
====''[[Gamera Super Monster]]''==== | ====''[[Gamera Super Monster]]''==== | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 26 July 2023
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“
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We are down to our last resort. I shall kill Gamera, no matter what happens now. To do this, I must have all of your lives!
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„
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— Virasian Boss, Gamera vs. Viras |
Viras (バイラス Bairasu) is an alien kaiju who first appeared in the 1968 Gamera film, Gamera vs. Viras.
Viras began as an expedition force of aliens from Planet Viras who came to Earth in order to conquer it. After an earlier force was defeated by Gamera, the Virians exploited the monster's affinity for children by kidnapping two Boy Scouts and holding them hostage. They lured Gamera into a position where they implanted a mind control device onto him and sent him on a rampage across Japan. When Gamera broke free of the mind control, the Virians fused together into the gigantic Viras and battled him. The alien monster was finally defeated when Gamera flew him into the atmosphere and froze him, then dropped him into the ocean below where he exploded. Viras will return in the 2023 Netflix anime series GAMERA -Rebirth- as one of the five kaiju to battle Gamera.
Name
Viras's name comes from the planet from which he hails, Planet Viras. In an issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine published on March 17, 1968, Viras's home planet was instead called Planet Dongle (ドンガル星 Dongaru Sei), which was likely a pun to the Japanese word for "to become pointed", togaru/tongaru (尖る). Originally, the monster's name was going to be Gesso (ゲッソー Gessō), which likely came from the Japanese word for squid legs, gesō (下足). The name "Viras" was publicized as being chosen from a public contest published in Weekly Shonen Magazine and Weekly Bokura Magazine.[4] However, director Noriaki Yuasa later stated that the contest was staged and the name actually came from the word bai (倍), meaning "times" or "fold."[citation needed] From this point until Gamera vs. Zigra, all of Gamera's enemies were publicized as having their names chosen in similar contests. While "Viras" is the official English spelling of Bairasu (バイラス), it is spelled Bairus in a Honolulu newspaper ad for Gamera vs. Viras and Bairas on a Japanese DVD cover for the film. The leader of the Virian invasion force who later becomes Viras is called the Boss (ボス Bosu).
Viras's original subtitle was Space Monster (宇宙怪獣 Uchū Kaijū), but this was changed to Underwater Monster (水中怪獣 Suichū Kaijū) for Gamera Super Monster due to the use of "Space Monster" in the film's Japanese title.
Development
Viras was designed by Shigeo Mano and modeled by Masao Yagi and the modeling company Ex Productions. A miniature with a spear-tipped head and another stuffed miniature with movable tentacles were created in addition to the suit. According to Yagi, director Noriaki Yuasa stated he wanted "flexibility" in the monster's suit, and as such it was difficult to pick a primary material to create the suit from. Urethane was ultimately chosen and Viras was given a squid-like design. Yagi later stated he felt Viras was the "most impressive monster" in the Gamera series and said modeling Viras taught him that it was possible to get something right on the first try even when experiencing difficulty. Two of the suit's six legs contained the suit actor's legs, while the rest were stuffed and operated by wires.[5]
Design
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Viras is a squid-like monster with six prehensile tentacles lined with suction cups. His body is a light bluish-silver color. Viras's eyes are human-like and close from bottom to top. The monster has a pointed beak for a mouth, while the top of his head is divided into three petal-shaped pieces which can fit together into a hardened spear-shaped tip.
Origins
Viras originated as a group of five Virians and their Boss who arrived on Earth in their UFO, and is visually identical to his components with the exception of his substantially greater height. Because the Virians required nitrogen to survive, Earth was an ideal planet for conquest. When Gamera escaped their mind control, the Virians fused with the Boss to become the gigantic monster Viras.
In the Dark Horse comic series Gamera, Viras is a creature cloned from Gyaos' DNA by Dr. Greta Karbone.
History
- Gamera vs. Viras (1968)
- Gamera Super Monster (1980) [stock footage]
- GAMERA -Rebirth- (TV 2023)
Showa era
Gamera vs. Viras
Viras originated as the Boss, the leader of an expedition force of Virians who intended to take control of Earth for its valuable reserves of atmospheric nitrogen, an element vital for his species' survival. An earlier attempt by his comrades was easily thwarted by Gamera, so the Boss employed a mind probe to discover Gamera's weaknesses. The Virians discovered Gamera's kindness to children, and exploited it by kidnapping two Boy Scouts and using them as hostages, coercing Gamera to get into perfect position for the launching of the Brainwave Control Device. Gamera was then made to rampage through Japan, with the targets being the Okumusashi Dam and eventually Tokyo. While aboard the ship, the captives came upon the Boss, who resided within a cage-like structure within one of the rooms. To avoid arousing suspicion, he feigned being captured by the aliens as well, using this as a distraction for his comrades to corner, then escort the captives back to their confinement.
After the children managed to reverse the polarity of the Brainwave Control Device, Gamera disobeyed his controllers, and began attacking. The Virians attempted to escape, but Gamera completely incapacitated the UFO, preventing this from taking place. Realising that his kind could not invade Earth unless Gamera was killed, the Boss fused with the other Virians to become the giant Viras and faced Gamera in combat. After a fierce battle, Viras was defeated when Gamera flew with him up into the atmosphere, where he froze solid. Gamera then dropped Viras, and he exploded violently after colliding with the ocean.
Gamera Super Monster
Viras was utilized by the evil captain of the Zanon to fight Gamera. However, Gamera triumphed.
Reiwa era
GAMERA -Rebirth-
Viras will be one of five kaiju fought by Gamera, who appears in the summer of 1989.
Abilities
Tentacles
Viras primarily attacks with his six prehensile tentacles which are lined with suction cups and can wrap around and restrain an opponent with ease.
Spear head
The petal-like protrusions on Viras's head can form together into a spear-like tip capable of penetrating Gamera's shell.
Swimming and flying
Viras can both swim and fly, and does so by positioning his body horizontally.
Viras swims underwater.
Electrical discharge
In the Dark Horse comic Gamera, Viras can fire a blast of electricity. In GAMERA -Rebirth-, it can emit electricity from its tentacles.
Charged heavy particle beam
In GAMERA -Rebirth-, Viras can fire a "charged heavy particle beam" from its head.[6]
Electromagnetic Barrier
In GAMERA -Rebirth-, Viras can create an energy shield which is capable of completely blocking Gamera's fireballs.[7]
Mind control
In the Dark Horse comic, Viras overtakes the mind of his creator, Greta Karbone, and bends her to his will. He is even able to temporarily control Gamera when Karbone comes into possession of an Atlantean magatama.
Weaknesses
Viras is susceptible to being frozen. Gamera kills him by flying him up in to the atmosphere and freezing him solid, then dropping him into the ocean below which causes him to explode. In the Dark Horse comic, he is killed upon being impaled on the steeple of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
Viras freezes upon being lifted into the upper atmosphere.
Video games
- Gamera the Guardian of the Universe (1995) - Nintendo Game Boy
- Gamera: The Time Adventure (1995) - Bandai Playdia
- CR Gamera: The Battle Pachinko (2009) - pachinko
- Gamera Battle (2012) - GREE, Mobage
Comics
- Gamera (1995) #1-4
Gamera
Issue #1
After the battle between Gamera and Super Gyaos, Dr. Greta Karbone illegally purchased Gyaos DNA and several fissionable materials to begin experimentation to create her own army of supermonsters, which included the monster Viras.
Issue #2
As her work on the monsters continued, Karbone began to inject her own brain and spinal fluids into Viras, and very slowly all other things in her life, such as the other monsters and her boyfriend Gusano, became inconsequential to Viras's will. The monster's telepathic abilities and the shared bodily fluids allowed Viras to directly overtake Karbone's mind, and made her into its faithful servant in its plan to enslave humanity. After Karbone's laboratory caught on fire due to the trickery of Dr. Mayumi Nagamine, whom Karbone had tried to recruit to help create the monster army, Karbone, under Viras's supreme influence, ordered Gusano to leave the other monsters to die and to save Viras. Gusano carried Viras's incubator jar on his back all the way to Karbone's mini-sub, where they attached it to the back and piloted it away into open water. Gusano was truly regretful that he had allowed Nagamine to destroy their work, but Karbone claimed this was nonsense, as they had saved the only thing that truly mattered: Viras.
Issue #3
After about a month at sea, Viras was fully grown and out of its tank. Because of its mind being connected to Karbone's, she became aware of energies that were only tangible to Supermonsters. Karbone used this knowledge to create a device to track them. Karbone planned to use these energies to take control of Gamera. Viras, in wait behind the sub bearing his faithful mind-servant used its beam attack to catch an Orca to eat. However, a conductor for the energies was needed to control Gamera, but Karbone located it in Paris, France, where Viras was finally unleashed. It began to destroy the city, with Karbone atop the Eiffel Tower, when Gamera arrived. However, Karbone's, and by extension Viras's, control over Gamera caused him to fly into the path of incoming planes, missiles, and other attacks in an attempt to protect Viras and to buy time for humanity to surrender itself to Viras's control.
Issue #4
As Viras continued its rampage, Gamera continued to defend Viras. However, a Broomark Bio-Weapon hunter, who planned to sell Viras on her home planet, fired a super antithetic, but she missed, putting a battalion to sleep instead. Viras, in retaliation, shocked the ship, which caused it to speed away and go down as a result of a malfunction. However, during this time Karbone lost contact with the magatama, and Gamera attacked. Because Gamera had already sustained heavy fire, Viras easily defeated him with an electric blast before Gamera could launch a fireball. Gamera went down, and Viras continued its rampage. Gusano, after having a change of heart, used the alien's engine to reinvigorate Gamera at the cost of his own life. The ensuing explosion brought Gamera back to full strength, and he flew at Viras with a building in hand. Viras tried to shock it away, but Gamera slammed Viras's head with it, unfazed by the blast. Gamera then took one of Viras's tentacles in his mouth and flung the beast away. Viras quickly began to fall, and was impaled on the steeple of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, killing it.
Books
- Friends: Gamera the Brave (2006)[8]
Friends: Gamera the Brave
G Viras appeared along with other "G monsters" who were created by taking in Gyaos' DNA. The G monsters fought with Gamera as well as with each other. In their final battle, they were led by Zedus.
Gallery
- Main article: Viras/Gallery.
Roars
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Trivia
- Viras is the first space monster to fight Gamera, followed by Guiron.
- Viras is the only monster in the Gamera franchise to be a superorganism, a creature comprised of numerous independent units that have joined together and operate as a single individual.
- Viras is among the first examples of an alien who grows into a monster by combining with more of his kind. Other examples of this include Hedorah and the large Millennian.
- Concept art of Viras for Gamera vs. Viras shows Viras emitting electricity from his head. Several publications state that he can emit gamma rays from his eyes; electricity, insanity beams, and a super-catch beam from his head; and flying space-rays and jets from his tentacles.[9]
References
This is a list of references for Viras. 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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