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{{Kaiju Infobox  
{{Kaiju Infobox  
|type1            =Ground
|type1            =Ground
|type2            =Dragon
|type2            =Rock
|header          ={{Daiei}} {{Kaijup}}
 
|image            =GtB - Zedus.png
|image            =GtB - Zedus.png
|caption          =Zedus in Gamera the Brave
|caption          =Zedus in Gamera the Brave
|name            =Zedus
|name            =Zedus
|subtitle        =Giant Creature<br>{{Nihongo|巨大生物|Kyodai Seibutsu}}<ref name="Perfection">{{cite book|title=Heisei Gamera Perfection|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=February 8, 2014|page=136|isbn=978-4048918817}}</ref>
|subtitle        =Giant Creature<br>{{Nihongo|巨大生物|Kyodai Seibutsu}}<ref name="Perfection">{{cite book|title=[[Heisei Gamera Perfection]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|date=February 8, 2014|page=136|isbn=978-4048918817}}</ref><br>Sea Demon Beast<br>{{Nihongo|海魔獣|Kai Majū}}<ref name=Anatomy>https://wikizilla.org/wiki/File:95e70a63d45516b4881508a462e1bbbb.png</ref>
|species          =Mutant Amphibious Reptile
|species          =Mutated amphibious reptile<!--
|nicknames        =Jidas, Zeus
|nicknames        =Jidas, Zeus-->
|height          =30 meters {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW">{{cite book|title=[[Gamera the Brave Super Complete Works]]|date=20 May 2006|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=30|isbn=4091051081}}</ref><br>50 meters {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|height          =30 meters {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW">{{cite book|title=[[Gamera the Brave Super Complete Works]]|date=20 May 2006|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=30|isbn=4091051081}}</ref><br>50 meters {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|length          =90 meters {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/><br>150 meters {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|length          =90 meters {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/><br>150 meters {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|weight          =1,200 metric tons {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/><br>2,000 metric tons {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|weight          =1,200 metric tons {{Small|(Shima appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/><br>2,000 metric tons {{Small|(Nagoya appearance)}}<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
|enemies          =[[Toto]]
|enemies          =[[Toto]]
|created         =Ryukyo Yukasato
|designed        =[[Tomoo Haraguchi]], [[Kan Takahama]]
|modeled         =[[Shigeaki Ito]]{{sfn|Nakamura et al.|2015|pp=142, 145}}
|portrayed        =[[Mizuho Yoshida]]
|portrayed        =[[Mizuho Yoshida]]
|firstappearance  =''[[Gamera the Brave]]''
|firstappearance  =''[[Gamera the Brave]]''
|roar            =[[File:Zedus_Roar_Heisei.ogg|180px|center|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
|roar            =[[File:Zedus_Roar_Heisei.ogg|180px|center|noicon]]{{More Roars}}
}}
}}
'''Zedus''' {{Nihongo|ジーダス|Jīdasu}} is a giant sea lizard [[kaiju]] created by [[Kadokawa]] that first appeared in the [[2006]] [[:Category:Gamera Films|Gamera]] [[:Category:Films|film]], ''[[Gamera the Brave]]''.
'''Zedus''' {{Nihongo|ジーダス|Jīdasu}} is a giant sea lizard [[kaiju]] who appears in the [[2006]] [[Kadokawa]] ''[[Gamera (franchise)|Gamera]]'' [[:Category:Films|film]] ''[[Gamera the Brave]]''.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Name==
According to screenwriter Yukari Tatsui, Zedus was named in-universe by councilor Yoshimitsu Hitotsugi, who had became enamored with kaiju after seeing [[Avant Gamera]]'s battle with a flock of [[Gyaos]] on television as a child, and long contemplated what the next monster Gamera fights should be called.{{sfn|Nakamura et al.|2015|p=225}}<ref name=Tatsui>Yukari Tatsui, March 1, 2006, 僕とトトの物語―映画『小さき勇者たち ガメラ』, [[Wikipedia:Kadokawa Shoten|Kadokawa Shoten]]</ref>{{rp|111}} The name "Zedus," spelled in Japanese as ''Jīdasu'' (ジーダス), is a possible homage to [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Jirahs|Jirahs]] from the original ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'': another frilled reptile monster whose Japanese name ''Jirāsu'' {{Nihongo|ジラース}} is only one syllable different from Zedus'.
==Development==
{{Expand|s=section}}
Originally, the villain of ''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' was intended to be a squid-like [[kaiju]] with tentacles, with its whole body coated with "special nuclear waste bacteria." It would overcome waves of "ice missiles" and evolve a tolerance against them.<ref name=Guide>Gamera the Brave Official Guide Book. ASCII MEDIA WORKS. 17 April 2006. ISBN 4840234604.</ref>{{rp|61}} However, the filmmakers felt this would be too similar to [[Viras]], so it was decided to create an original reptilian monster as [[Toto]]'s opponent instead. In order to differentiate Zedus from monsters like [[Barugon]] and [[Jiger]], it was decided to make him walk bipedally rather than quadrupedally.
Zedus was intentionally designed to be a "[[Toho]]-esque" kaiju, with his anatomy and movements modeled after [[Varan]], [[Gorosaurus]], and [[Barugon]], as well as the ''[[wikipedia:Dilophosaurus|Dilophosaurus]]'' from ''[[wikipedia:Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]''.{{sfn|Nakamura et al.|2015|p=145}} [[Tomoo Haraguchi]] noted that he was the only one who submitted a concept image adhering to this approach, and those by all of the other designers coincidentally resembled the [[MUTO]]s from [[Godzilla (2014 film)|''Godzilla'' (2014)]].<ref name=Model>{{cite book|title=平成ガメラ造型写真集|publisher=Hobby JAPAN Co., Ltd.|date=September 1, 2023|page=208|isbn=9784798632261}}</ref>
==Design==
==Design==
Zedus is a large aquatic saurian [[kaiju]]. He strongly resembles [[w:c:ultra:Jirass|Jirass]] from ''[[w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|Ultraman]]'' and also shares some similarities with [[Gorosaurus]]. Zedus has several thin fin-like protrusions running all the way from the top of his head down to his tail. Zedus has a large head with a retractable multicolored frill. He also has a very long powerful tail.
Zedus is a dark purple and pink-colored monster who resembles an upright theropod dinosaur with a somewhat hunched posture, pebbly skin, and four claws on both his hands and feet. He is covered in long spikes that go from the top of his head, down his back, on the backs of his legs, and down his long, thin tail. His head is large in comparison to the rest of his body, with a muzzle and bright, red eyes. Zedus has a multicolored frill that can pop out from behind his head, and his purple tongue can extend a great distance from his mouth.
 
According to the book ''Heisei Gamera Perfection'', Zedus' design and abilities were influenced by the monsters [[Barugon]], [[Zilla]], [[Jiger]], and [[Varan]].
==Origins==
==Origins==
Zedus' origins are never explored in his film appearance, however supplementary materials for ''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' reveal that Zedus was a type of semi-aquatic lizard that was mutated by feeding on the corpses of [[Gyaos]].
Zedus' origins are never explored in his film appearance. However, the book ''[[Gamera the Brave Super Complete Works]]'' states that Zedus was a type of semi-aquatic lizard that was mutated by feeding on the corpses of [[Gyaos]].<ref name="GtBSCW"/>
==History==
==History==
===[[Heisei era|Heisei Series]]===
*''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' (2006)
===[[Heisei era]]===
====''[[Gamera the Brave]]''====
====''[[Gamera the Brave]]''====
A man-eating monster from the depths of the ocean, Zedus attacked several ships at sea before finally making landfall, causing all sorts of damage. Fortunately for what remained of the city, [[Toto]], the young [[Gamera]] found and raised by a young boy, appeared. Zedus unleashed its spear-like tongue on Toto while they battled. After several missed, Toto grabbed the tongue and held on as it pulled back into his maw. The creature was blasted in face with a ball of fire, sending the monster into the sea below.
A man-eating monster from the depths of the ocean, Zedus attacked several ships at sea before finally making landfall, causing all sorts of damage. Fortunately for what remained of the city, [[Toto]], the young [[Gamera]] found and raised by a young boy, appeared. Zedus unleashed its spear-like tongue on Toto while they battled. After several missed, Toto grabbed the tongue and held on as it pulled back into Zedus's maw. The creature was blasted in the face with a ball of fire, sending the monster into the sea below.


Zedus returned in full force, attacking the complex that Toto was being held in before unleashing his wrath on the rest of Nagoya. The two clashed once again, and like before, Zedus was quickly getting the upper hand. Overpowering the turtle with brutality, the creature tossed Toto into a building. The hero's body now stuck in the building, Zedus began to climb up.
Zedus returned in full force, attacking the complex that Toto was being held in before unleashing his wrath on the rest of Nagoya. The two clashed once again, and like before, Zedus was quickly getting the upper hand. Overpowering the turtle with brutality, the creature tossed Toto into a building. The hero's body now stuck in the building, Zedus began to climb up.


Zedus had no idea that Toto had just been empowered by the jewel that gave him birth and was knocked off of the building by the flying Toto. Quickly getting to his feet, he lashed out with his tongue yet again, this time impaling it through Toto’s shoulder. As the two struggled on, Toto ripped the tongue in half and unleashed a powerful fire ball. The ball of flames quickly engulfed the creature and blew it into bloody pieces.
Zedus had no idea that Toto had just been empowered by the jewel that gave him birth and was knocked off of the building by the flying Toto. Quickly getting to his feet, he lashed out with his tongue yet again, this time impaling it through Toto’s shoulder. As the two struggled on, Toto ripped the tongue in half and unleashed a powerful fireball. The ball of flames quickly engulfed the creature and blew it into bloody pieces.
==Abilities==
==Abilities==
Zedus fights predominantly using his claws, teeth and tail. His most powerful weapon is his elongated tongue, capable of extending up to 100 meters in length, which he can launch in a spear-like attack, reminiscent of fellow Gamera foe [[Barugon]]. However, Zedus is capable of emitting a strong biological acid from the tip of his tongue and from his claws, allowing them to penetrate [[Toto]]'s shell with ease. Zedus can also jump high and far through the air, more than 200 meters at once. He is also agile enough to climb tall buildings.
===Prehensile Tongue===
==Video Games==
Zedus' most powerful weapon is his elongated '''Harpoon Tongue''' {{Nihongo|ハープーン舌|Hāpūn Jita}}.<ref name=Anatomy /> It can reach up to 100 meters in length, and can be launched in a spear-like attack which is powerful enough to easily penetrate the edge of Toto's shell or 50 centimeter wide steel plates.<ref name=Anatomy /> The tip of his tongue can emit a strong biological acid.<ref name=Anatomy /> In one of the novelizations, Zedus's tongue was noted to have protrusions which the monster uses to impale and devour multiple human victims at once.<ref name=Tatsui />{{rp|106}}
*''[[CR Gamera]]'' (2009) - Pachinko
===Acid===
 
According to an anatomy diagram, Zedus can emit a powerful biological acid from his claws and the tip of his tongue, allowing him to penetrate Toto's shell with ease and empower his melee attacks.<ref name=Anatomy />
===Leg muscles===
Zedus has powerful muscles on its legs, allowing him to leap up to 200 meters. He can also perform a powerful kick called '''Brawl Kick''' {{Nihongo|喧嘩キック|Kenka Kikku}}.<ref name=Anatomy />
===Tail===
His tail functions as both a balancer and a rudder to support his movements. It is also a powerful weapon, able to collapse skyscrapers with a blow.<ref name=Anatomy />
===Agility===
Zedus can leap up to 200 meters by using his powerful legs. He is also agile enough to climb buildings and other structures. He can swim at 70 knots.<ref name=Anatomy />
===Amphibiousness===
Being a mutated aquatic lizard, Zedus is capable of swimming underwater as well as moving on land. Zedus possesses multiple gills on its fins and is able to respirate underwater.<ref name=Anatomy />
===Durability===
Zedus survived a fireball Toto fired down his throat, although it did cause him to retreat. The warts covering his scales and skins possess rubber-like characteristics, enabling Zedus to repel military weapons such as missiles,<ref name=Anatomy /> although this was never demonstrated in the film.
===Growth===
Zedus, when he was still a normal reptile inhabiting a tropical island, became a monster in a few days after he consumed a piece of meat from an Original Gyaos.<ref name=Anatomy /> The animal instantly grew fins just a moment after licking a Gyaos eyeball.<ref name="Perfection" />{{rp|288}} Zedus first appeared at a height of 30 meters when he reached Shima, but after being defeated by Toto he retreated. When he attacked Nagoya the next day,<ref name="Perfection" />{{rp|288}} his height, length, and mass had all nearly doubled. One of the ''Gamera the Brave'' tie-in novelizations implies that Zedus would continue to evolve physically and potentially develop additional abilities if Toto failed to defeat him in Nagoya.<ref name=TotoAndMe />
===Flight===
In one of the ''Gamera the Brave'' tie-in novelizations, Zedus spontaneously grew a pair of enormous wings and was able to fly.<ref name="Perfection" />{{rp|282}}<ref name=TotoAndMe /><ref name=Tatsui />{{rp|160-161}}
===Leadership===
In one of the ''Gamera the Brave'' tie-in novelizations, Zedus demonstrated a capability to lead other Gyaos-mutated kaiju who were initially a disorderly crowd, gathered only for their common goal of slaughtering Gamera.<ref name=Friend /><ref name="Perfection" />{{rp|282}}
===Coercion===
As the Original Gyaos "possesses" and "commands" Zedus, Zedus' mind is filled with a malice and a viciousness to exterminate humanity and hatred for Gamera.<ref name=Anatomy /> An anatomy diagram notes that his neck frills produces bioluminescence to threaten an opponent, and his eyes peculiarly glow to stun targets with fear,<ref name=Anatomy /> although neither was demonstrated in the film.
===Independently-moving flesh===
In one of the ''Gamera the Brave'' tie-in novelizations, Zedus's dropped flesh and scales move independently, akin to the Showa Gyaos. Soichiro Amamiya and Yoshimitsu Hitotsugi, who are neutral antagonists in this adaptation, fall into a coma temporarily and lose their memories at the climax by the preserved claws of Zedus, which presumably burst out of a storage box.<ref name="Perfection" />{{rp|282}}
==Video games==
*''[[CR Gamera: The Battle Pachinko]]'' (2009) - pachinko
==Comics==
==Comics==
*''[[Gamera 2006: Hard Link]]'' (2006)
===''[[Gamera 2006: Hard Link]]''===
===''[[Gamera 2006: Hard Link]]''===
[[File:Zedus_in_Gamera_2006_Hard_Link.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Zedus in ''[[Gamera 2006: Hard Link]]'']]Zedus makes a brief appearance in this manga, being mentioned by the main characters.
[[File:Zedus_in_Gamera_2006_Hard_Link.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Zedus in ''[[Gamera 2006: Hard Link]]'']]Zedus makes a brief appearance in this manga, being mentioned by the main characters.
Line 47: Line 75:
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|Zedus/Gallery}}
{{Main|Zedus/Gallery}}
==Roar==
{{Videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">5G_X2k13jcw</youtube>|Zedus' roars}}
}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Zedus is the only Heisei-era Gamera monster who is unable to fly.
*Zedus is the only ''[[Gamera (franchise)|Gamera]]'' [[kaiju]] to appear in the [[Heisei era]] who cannot fly, although he gained this ability in one of the ''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' novelizations.
*Zedus is featured in multiple tie-in books for ''[[Gamera the Brave]]''. In one, Zedus develops wings and the ability to fly<ref>僕とトトの物語―映画『小さき勇者たち ガメラ』 (角川文庫) Paperback Bunko – March, 2006</ref>, and in another he leads several of [[Gamera]]'s foes from the [[Showa era]].<ref>ともだち 小さき勇者たち ~ガメラ~</ref>.
*The relationship between Toto and Zedus somewhat resembles that of [[Minilla]] and [[Gabara]] or [[Daigoro]] and [[Goliath]].<!--
*Originally, the villain of ''[[Gamera the Brave]]'' was intended to be a squid-type [[kaiju]] with tentacles<ref name="">[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D%E5%8B%87%E8%80%85%E3%81%9F%E3%81%A1%E3%80%9C%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A9%E3%80%9C#.E3.82.B8.E3.83.BC.E3.83.80.E3.82.B9]</ref>, but it was felt this would be too similar to [[Viras]], so it was decided to create an original reptilian monster as [[Toto]]'s opponent instead. In order to differentiate Zedus from monsters like [[Barugon]] and [[Jiger]], it was decided to make him walk bipedally rather than quadrupedally.
> The below should be expounded upon. Toto and Zedus are not in GotU, so who was exhibiting this "principle"?
*Zedus was portrayed by accomplished [[Suitmation|suit]] actor [[Mizuho Yoshida]], who is perhaps most well-known for portraying the [[Legion|Mother Legion]] in ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' and [[Godzilla]] in ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]''.
and this was also a principal for the early draft of ''[[Gamera the Guardian of the Universe]]''.{{sfn|Nakamura et al.|2015|p=237}}-->
<!--the corresponding page says that staff felt the early concept of the GotU resembling Daigoro and Goliath. If you need, I can send you a screenshot.-->
*Zedus is featured in multiple tie-in books for ''[[Gamera the Brave]]''. In one, Zedus develops wings and the ability to fly,<ref name=TotoAndMe>僕とトトの物語―映画『小さき勇者たち ガメラ』 (角川文庫) Paperback Bunko – March, 2006</ref> and in another he leads several of [[Gamera]]'s foes from the [[Showa era|Showa series]] that were also once normal organisms but were mutated by the Original Gyaos' DNA.<ref name=Friend>ともだち 小さき勇者たち ~ガメラ~</ref> The possible presence of other Gyaos-mutated monsters were implied in the film timeline as well.<ref name=Anatomy />
*Zedus was portrayed by accomplished [[Suitmation|suit]] actor [[Mizuho Yoshida]], who is perhaps most well-known for portraying half of the [[Legion|Mother Legion]] in ''[[Gamera 2: Attack of Legion]]'' and [[Godzilla (GMK)|Godzilla]] in ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]''.
*Zedus is tied with the version of [[Zigra]] in ''[[GAMERA -Rebirth-]]'' as the second-heaviest kaiju in the ''Gamera'' franchise, at 2,000 metric tons, surpassed only by the 3,000 metric ton [[Legion|Legion Plant]].
<!--- *Coincidentally, the [[Unnamed tentacled monster]] in the [[GAMERA (short film)|2015 short film]] somewhat resembles above-mentioned scrapped designs of Zedus to be either tentacled or with a [[MUTO]]-like posture.<ref name=Guide /><ref name=Model/>--->
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Monsters}}
===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book|title=[[Heisei Gamera Perfection]]|edition=2nd|date=21 August 2015
|last=Nakamura|first=Satoshi|author-link=Satoshi Nakamura
|last2=Shimazaki|first2=Jun
|last3=Sugita|first3=Atsuhiko
|last4=Shiraishi|first4=Masahiko
|last5=Yamazaki|first5=Yu
|last6=Maruyama|first6=Takeshi
|last7=Hayakawa|first7=Yu
|last8=Tomoi|first8=Taketo
|last9=Akita|first9=Hideo|publisher=[[Kadokawa]]|isbn=978-4-04-891881-7|ref={{harvid|Nakamura et al.|2015}}}}
{{Kadokawa Monsters}}
{{Comments|scroll=yes}}
{{Era|KAD|HEI|KAI|ZED}}
{{Era|KAD|HEI|KAI|ZED}}
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Gamera Kaiju]]
[[Category:Gamera Kaiju]]
[[Category:Villain Monsters]]
[[Category:Villain monsters]]
[[Category:Non-Toho Monsters]]
[[Category:Non-Toho Monsters]]
[[Category:Aquatic Creatures]]
[[Category:Aquatic Creatures]]
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[[Category:Heisei Kaiju]]
[[Category:Heisei Kaiju]]
[[Category:Reptiles]]
[[Category:Reptiles]]
[[Category:Sea reptiles]]

Latest revision as of 05:02, 18 April 2024

Article

Zedus
Zedus in Gamera the Brave
Subtitle(s) Giant Creature
(巨大生物,   Kyodai Seibutsu)[1]
Sea Demon Beast
(海魔獣,   Kai Majū)[2]
Species Mutated amphibious reptile
Height 30 meters (Shima appearance)[3]
50 meters (Nagoya appearance)[3]
Length 90 meters (Shima appearance)[3]
150 meters (Nagoya appearance)[3]
Weight 1,200 metric tons (Shima appearance)[3]
2,000 metric tons (Nagoya appearance)[3]
Enemies Toto
Designed by Tomoo Haraguchi, Kan Takahama
Modeled by Shigeaki Ito[4]
Played by Mizuho Yoshida
First appearance Gamera the Brave
Roar(s)
More roars

Zedus (ジーダス,   Jīdasu) is a giant sea lizard kaiju who appears in the 2006 Kadokawa Gamera film Gamera the Brave.

Name

According to screenwriter Yukari Tatsui, Zedus was named in-universe by councilor Yoshimitsu Hitotsugi, who had became enamored with kaiju after seeing Avant Gamera's battle with a flock of Gyaos on television as a child, and long contemplated what the next monster Gamera fights should be called.[5][6]:111 The name "Zedus," spelled in Japanese as Jīdasu (ジーダス), is a possible homage to Jirahs from the original Ultraman: another frilled reptile monster whose Japanese name Jirāsu (ジラース) is only one syllable different from Zedus'.

Development

Pencil-icon.gif Please help improve this section by contributing useful information or discussing ideas on its talk page.

Originally, the villain of Gamera the Brave was intended to be a squid-like kaiju with tentacles, with its whole body coated with "special nuclear waste bacteria." It would overcome waves of "ice missiles" and evolve a tolerance against them.[7]:61 However, the filmmakers felt this would be too similar to Viras, so it was decided to create an original reptilian monster as Toto's opponent instead. In order to differentiate Zedus from monsters like Barugon and Jiger, it was decided to make him walk bipedally rather than quadrupedally.

Zedus was intentionally designed to be a "Toho-esque" kaiju, with his anatomy and movements modeled after Varan, Gorosaurus, and Barugon, as well as the Dilophosaurus from Jurassic Park.[8] Tomoo Haraguchi noted that he was the only one who submitted a concept image adhering to this approach, and those by all of the other designers coincidentally resembled the MUTOs from Godzilla (2014).[9]

Design

Zedus is a dark purple and pink-colored monster who resembles an upright theropod dinosaur with a somewhat hunched posture, pebbly skin, and four claws on both his hands and feet. He is covered in long spikes that go from the top of his head, down his back, on the backs of his legs, and down his long, thin tail. His head is large in comparison to the rest of his body, with a muzzle and bright, red eyes. Zedus has a multicolored frill that can pop out from behind his head, and his purple tongue can extend a great distance from his mouth.

Origins

Zedus' origins are never explored in his film appearance. However, the book Gamera the Brave Super Complete Works states that Zedus was a type of semi-aquatic lizard that was mutated by feeding on the corpses of Gyaos.[3]

History

Heisei era

Gamera the Brave

A man-eating monster from the depths of the ocean, Zedus attacked several ships at sea before finally making landfall, causing all sorts of damage. Fortunately for what remained of the city, Toto, the young Gamera found and raised by a young boy, appeared. Zedus unleashed its spear-like tongue on Toto while they battled. After several missed, Toto grabbed the tongue and held on as it pulled back into Zedus's maw. The creature was blasted in the face with a ball of fire, sending the monster into the sea below.

Zedus returned in full force, attacking the complex that Toto was being held in before unleashing his wrath on the rest of Nagoya. The two clashed once again, and like before, Zedus was quickly getting the upper hand. Overpowering the turtle with brutality, the creature tossed Toto into a building. The hero's body now stuck in the building, Zedus began to climb up.

Zedus had no idea that Toto had just been empowered by the jewel that gave him birth and was knocked off of the building by the flying Toto. Quickly getting to his feet, he lashed out with his tongue yet again, this time impaling it through Toto’s shoulder. As the two struggled on, Toto ripped the tongue in half and unleashed a powerful fireball. The ball of flames quickly engulfed the creature and blew it into bloody pieces.

Abilities

Prehensile Tongue

Zedus' most powerful weapon is his elongated Harpoon Tongue (ハープーン舌,   Hāpūn Jita).[2] It can reach up to 100 meters in length, and can be launched in a spear-like attack which is powerful enough to easily penetrate the edge of Toto's shell or 50 centimeter wide steel plates.[2] The tip of his tongue can emit a strong biological acid.[2] In one of the novelizations, Zedus's tongue was noted to have protrusions which the monster uses to impale and devour multiple human victims at once.[6]:106

Acid

According to an anatomy diagram, Zedus can emit a powerful biological acid from his claws and the tip of his tongue, allowing him to penetrate Toto's shell with ease and empower his melee attacks.[2]

Leg muscles

Zedus has powerful muscles on its legs, allowing him to leap up to 200 meters. He can also perform a powerful kick called Brawl Kick (喧嘩キック,   Kenka Kikku).[2]

Tail

His tail functions as both a balancer and a rudder to support his movements. It is also a powerful weapon, able to collapse skyscrapers with a blow.[2]

Agility

Zedus can leap up to 200 meters by using his powerful legs. He is also agile enough to climb buildings and other structures. He can swim at 70 knots.[2]

Amphibiousness

Being a mutated aquatic lizard, Zedus is capable of swimming underwater as well as moving on land. Zedus possesses multiple gills on its fins and is able to respirate underwater.[2]

Durability

Zedus survived a fireball Toto fired down his throat, although it did cause him to retreat. The warts covering his scales and skins possess rubber-like characteristics, enabling Zedus to repel military weapons such as missiles,[2] although this was never demonstrated in the film.

Growth

Zedus, when he was still a normal reptile inhabiting a tropical island, became a monster in a few days after he consumed a piece of meat from an Original Gyaos.[2] The animal instantly grew fins just a moment after licking a Gyaos eyeball.[1]:288 Zedus first appeared at a height of 30 meters when he reached Shima, but after being defeated by Toto he retreated. When he attacked Nagoya the next day,[1]:288 his height, length, and mass had all nearly doubled. One of the Gamera the Brave tie-in novelizations implies that Zedus would continue to evolve physically and potentially develop additional abilities if Toto failed to defeat him in Nagoya.[10]

Flight

In one of the Gamera the Brave tie-in novelizations, Zedus spontaneously grew a pair of enormous wings and was able to fly.[1]:282[10][6]:160-161

Leadership

In one of the Gamera the Brave tie-in novelizations, Zedus demonstrated a capability to lead other Gyaos-mutated kaiju who were initially a disorderly crowd, gathered only for their common goal of slaughtering Gamera.[11][1]:282

Coercion

As the Original Gyaos "possesses" and "commands" Zedus, Zedus' mind is filled with a malice and a viciousness to exterminate humanity and hatred for Gamera.[2] An anatomy diagram notes that his neck frills produces bioluminescence to threaten an opponent, and his eyes peculiarly glow to stun targets with fear,[2] although neither was demonstrated in the film.

Independently-moving flesh

In one of the Gamera the Brave tie-in novelizations, Zedus's dropped flesh and scales move independently, akin to the Showa Gyaos. Soichiro Amamiya and Yoshimitsu Hitotsugi, who are neutral antagonists in this adaptation, fall into a coma temporarily and lose their memories at the climax by the preserved claws of Zedus, which presumably burst out of a storage box.[1]:282

Video games

Comics

Gamera 2006: Hard Link

Zedus makes a brief appearance in this manga, being mentioned by the main characters.


Gallery

Main article: Zedus/Gallery.

Roar

Zedus' roars

Trivia

References

This is a list of references for Zedus. 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 Heisei Gamera Perfection. Kadokawa. February 8, 2014. p. 136. ISBN 978-4048918817.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 https://wikizilla.org/wiki/File:95e70a63d45516b4881508a462e1bbbb.png
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gamera the Brave Super Complete Works. Shogakukan. 20 May 2006. p. 30. ISBN 4091051081.
  4. Nakamura et al. 2015, pp. 142, 145.
  5. Nakamura et al. 2015, p. 225.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Yukari Tatsui, March 1, 2006, 僕とトトの物語―映画『小さき勇者たち ガメラ』, Kadokawa Shoten
  7. Gamera the Brave Official Guide Book. ASCII MEDIA WORKS. 17 April 2006. ISBN 4840234604.
  8. Nakamura et al. 2015, p. 145.
  9. 平成ガメラ造型写真集. Hobby JAPAN Co., Ltd. September 1, 2023. p. 208. ISBN 9784798632261.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 僕とトトの物語―映画『小さき勇者たち ガメラ』 (角川文庫) Paperback Bunko – March, 2006
  11. 11.0 11.1 ともだち 小さき勇者たち ~ガメラ~

Bibliography

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Kadokawa
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Kaiju
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