Anguirus (Millennium)

Anguirus incarnations
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Anguirus® Alternate names Armadillo, Angweenus Subtitle(s) Fierce Dragon (暴竜,   Bōryū) Species Giant Ankylosaurus Height 40 meters (quadrupedal), 90 meters (standing upright) Length 160 meters Weight 60,000 metric tons Place(s) of emergence Shanghai, China; foot of Mount Fuji Controlled by Xiliens Allies Rodan, King Caesar Enemies Godzilla, Karyu Designed by Shinji Nishikawa Played by Toshihiro Ogura First appearance Godzilla Final Wars Roar(s) More roars

“	Captain, it's the Anguirus, sir!	„
	— A Karyu crewman warns of Anguirus' impending attack (Godzilla Final Wars)

Anguirus (アンギラス,   Angirasu) is a giant Ankylosaurus kaiju who appeared in the 2004 Godzilla film Godzilla Final Wars.

One of many monsters placed under the control of the Xiliens in 20XX, Anguirus attacked Shanghai before being recalled as part of the Xiliens' ruse. When the invaders' true intentions were exposed, Anguirus was unleashed once again to ravage Shanghai. The Controller of Planet X then deployed Anguirus along with Rodan and King Caesar to battle Godzilla at Mount Fuji, but the King of Monsters succeeded in defeating all three.

Name

Anguirus's Japanese name, Angirasu (アンギラス), comes from the Japanese spelling of the name of the dinosaur genus Ankylosaurus (アンキロサウルス,   Ankirosaurusu), upon which the monster's design is based. The name was chosen from several names proposed by employees of Toho during production of Godzilla Raids Again.

The original English name given to Anguirus by Toho was "Angilas," as seen in the company's 1955 international sales booklet. In the mid-1970's, Toho copyrighted the new revised English name Anguirus, making it the official Anglicization of the monster's name for all subsequent media. However, only the English dub of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla uses anything resembling this spelling, with Godzilla Final Wars pronouncing it like "Angweenus."

Development

Anguirus concept art for Godzilla Final Wars

Anguirus was finally brought back for Godzilla's 50th anniversary film, Godzilla Final Wars, in 2004, 30 years after his most recent film appearance. The creature was designed by Shinji Nishikawa, and a brand new suit was created, one which looked quite different from previous designs. Veteran Kamen Rider and Super Sentai suit actor Toshihiro Ogura portrayed Anguirus in the film.

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  The new Anguirus suit is constructed for Godzilla Final Wars.

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  The Anguirus suit at various stages of construction.

Design

The Final Wars Anguirus has some differences in his design compared to previous incarnations. His skin is a a much lighter shade of gray, with yellowish-colored spikes. This Anguirus has a shorter, more mammal-like snout, and his underbelly has an armored, brick-like texture. He now has spikes on his arms and legs, and his tail ends with a spiked club, a trait shared by the real-life Ankylosaurus.

Personality

This incarnation of Anguirus is mind-controlled throughout his appearance, and attacks Shanghai, China under the command of the Xiliens. He is later sent by the Xiliens to attack Godzilla alongside Rodan and King Caesar. Anguirus coordinates his attacks with Rodan and King Caesar to try and defeat Godzilla. After Anguirus and his allies are defeated, they are spared by Godzilla for unknown reasons, while Godzilla killed all of the Xiliens' other monsters.

Origins

While Anguirus' origins go unexplained in Godzilla Final Wars, the film's theater program and Super Complete Works book explain that he was an Ankylosaurus irradiated by nuclear testing. This explanation is supported in his bio in the mobile game Godzilla Defense Force. In the film, he suddenly appears in Shanghai under the control of the Xiliens in the year 20XX, but the Earth Defense Force recognizes him and refers to him by name, suggesting that he had appeared in the past. In an interview with Henshin!Online published a month prior to the film's release, Shinichi Wakasa explained:

“	[The monsters in the film are] not brand-new. The only new monster is Monster X. The others all have the same elements, the same character as before.	„
	— Shinichi Wakasa

History

• Godzilla Final Wars (2004)

Millennium era

Anguirus in Godzilla Final Wars

Godzilla Final Wars

In the year 20XX, Anguirus was under the control of the Xiliens and was sent to China and attacked Shanghai. He was attacked by the Karyu, but he proved too fast for it. He continued to fight against the humans, but he was recalled by the Xiliens on their commander's orders. Once the Controller of Planet X killed the Commander and led the Xiliens himself, Anguirus was brought back to Shanghai, and destroyed the Karyu by slamming into it after curling up. After Godzilla was freed by the Gotengo in Antarctica, Anguirus was deployed to the Japanese countryside with Rodan and King Caesar by the Xilien UFOs α, ß and γ, and waited to encounter Godzilla. When Godzilla arrived, Anguirus almost immediately curled up into a ball and tried to ram Godzilla, but Godzilla used this to his advantage, kicking Anguirus into King Caesar and Rodan. After successfully knocking all three monsters unconscious, Godzilla stacked them into a pile and continued to follow the Gotengo to Tokyo.

Abilities

Anguirus Ball

Anguirus curls into his carapace and launches himself at Godzilla in Godzilla Final Wars.

Anguirus is able to retreat inside of his carapace and curl into a ball, an ability dubbed the Fierce Dragon Monster Ball Violent Bullet (暴龍怪球烈弾,   Bō Ryū Kai Kyū Retsu-dan) or simply Anguirus Ball (アンギラスボール,   Angirasu Bōru). This allows Anguirus to travel quickly by rolling while also damaging any structures or enemies in his path.

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  Anguirus curls into his carapace and rams the Karyu, destroying it

Intelligence

Anguirus coordinates with Rodan and King Caesar during his battle with Godzilla.

Tail

Anguirus' tail ends in a fan-shaped spiked club, though he never uses it onscreen.

Video games

• CR Godzilla: Descent of the Destruction God (2010) - Pachinko
• Godzilla (2014) - PlayStation 3 and 4 [mentioned, Kaiju Guide]
• Godzilla Kaiju Collection (2015) - Android and iOS
• CR True King of the Monsters Godzilla (2018) - Pachinko
• Godzilla Defense Force (2019) - Android and iOS
• Pachinko True King of the Monsters Godzilla 2 (2022) - pachinko

Gallery

Main article: Anguirus/Gallery.

Roar

Like Godzilla, Anguirus's roars were created by a musical instrument: the saxophone. In Godzilla Final Wars, his roars were mixed with animal growls.

Anguirus' roars

Trivia

• Anguirus is one of only three monsters Godzilla spares in Godzilla Final Wars, the others being Rodan and King Caesar.
• This incarnation of Anguirus is to date the largest and heaviest version of the character.
• This is the first Anguirus incarnation to use the Anguirus Ball attack onscreen, though it had been featured in multiple video games beforehand.

Video

Kaiju Profile: Anguirus

References

This is a list of references for Anguirus (Millennium). 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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