Gappa
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The Gappas (ガッパ Gappa) are a species of ancient monsters. A pair of male and female Gappas, along with their infant son, appear in the 1967 Nikkatsu film Gappa.
Design
All three of the Gappas share the same characteristics, as they are based on various reptiles and birds such as eagles and hawks. Overall, they resemble enormous bipedal griffins. As exhibited in the two adults seen in the film, the species is sexually dimorphic. The female has a smaller head crest and has a flatter face compared to her mate. Their scales are triangle-shaped, and their eyelids are the reverse to that of humans. The Gappas' wings are unlike those of birds; they are actually evolved ribs.[1]
Origins
In ancient times, the Gappas would fight other monsters for survival. They were already present when Earth was still an interstellar cloud, suggesting that the Gappas originated in outer space.[1]
History
- Gappa (1967)
- Amorous Family: Like a Fox and a Racoon (1972) [prop]
- Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo (2022) [toys]
Showa era
Gappa
An expedition to Obelisk Island by Mr. Funazu uncovers a baby monster, who hatches from an egg near a sacred temple. The natives plead with the skeptical scientists not to take the baby away, lest it anger the baby's parents. Sure enough, they take the baby away, and soon, inside the caverns, its two parents rise from the underground waters beneath the volcano, destroying everything in their path. Saki, the only survivor, is rescued by an American Navy fleet and brought back to Japan.
The parents storm across Japan, destroying all in their wake, but their assault ceases once they recover their baby. Mercifully, they relent and depart to return to Obelisk Island.
Abilities
Flight
The Gappas can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 6.[2]
Amphibiousness
The Gappas have a maximum underwater speed of 150 knots.[2]
Physical abilities
The Gappas have a destructive force of 2 million horsepower. The Gappas' wings can emit hurricane-force winds; they can also cause tsunamis or storm surges using this ability.[1][2]
Radiant Heat Beam
The adult Gappas can fire a 4,000-degree Celsius Radiant Heat Beam (放射熱光線 Hōshanetsu Kōsen)[2] from their mouths. Described in the film as "comparable to a death ray", it is capable of burning or melting anything it makes contact with. It is also speculated that this ability may grant the Gappas immunity to poisons.
Bioluminescence
The Gappas emit bioluminescence from their eyes, which appears blue-white underwater and yellow on land.
Pearl-like substance
The female Gappa possesses a pearl-like substance within her body, likely stored in her legs. This substance can cause humans to go blind.[1]
Electricity
The baby Gappa's body is electrified and causes electric arcs/sparks whenever metals are attached to its body. This may suggest that adult Gappas are also able to emit electricity.
Gallery
- Main article: Gappa/Gallery.
Video
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Trivia
- Prior to designing Gappa, Akira Watanabe designed a similar monster named Bemular who was planned to star in the show that ultimately became Ultraman. Both monsters are based on traditional images of Karura (the Buddhist equivalent of Garuda) and Karasu Tengu.[3]
- Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."
- An anatomical illustration noted that Gappa could emit "heat wave beams" from their eyes.[4]
- Gappa is one of numerous kaiju summoned in Natsuhiko Kyōgoku's USO MAKOTO Yōkai Hyaku Monogatari book series.
- Gappa is the first of two kappa-inspired kaiju to star in films by Nikkatsu, the other being Death Kappa.
- A kaiju reminiscent of Gappa appeared in the 2014 television series The Next Generation: Patlabor.[5]
- The male Gappa's head, along with a small flying Gappa prop and the Obelisk Island Bird, appear in the 1972 film The Amorous Family: The Fox and the Tanuki.
References
This is a list of references for Gappa. 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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