Neronga
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Notice from the DPA. S-Class Species No. 7 has been named. Target is hereby known as Invisible Kaiju Neronga.
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— An SSSP member announcing Neronga's designation (Shin Ultraman) |
Neronga (ネロンガ Neronga) is a reptilian Kaiju who is Ultraman's first opponent in the 2022 Toho, Tsuburaya Productions, and khara film Shin Ultraman. The character debuted in the third episode of Tsuburaya's original 1966 Ultraman series, "Science Patrol, Move Out", and has become a recurring monster in the franchise ever since 2007's Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle. The Shin Ultraman version of Neronga also appears in the non-canonical web series Shin Ultra Fight and the video game Godzilla Battle Line.
Name
Neronga's name is a combination of the infamous Roman emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus' first name[3] and the common kaiju suffix -nga. In Shin Ultraman, it is designated by the SSSP as S-Class Species No. 7 (敵性大型生物第7号 Tekisei Ōgata Seibutsu Dainanagō) or simply Kaiju No. 7 (禍威獣第7号 Kaijū Dainanagō). Disaster Prevention Agency Minister Hajime Komuro names the monster Invisible Kaiju Neronga (透明禍威獣 ネロンガ Tōmei Kaijū Neronga) "on impulse," like other Kaiju before him. The "Invisible Kaiju" portion references Neronga's original subtitle from the Showa era, Invisible Monster (透明怪獣 Tōmei Kaijū), but spells Kaijū using the in-universe rendering
Development
Tohl Narita designed the original Neronga for the 1966 Tsuburaya Productions series Ultraman.[1] It was the second of four Ultra Q and Ultraman monsters to be portrayed by a remodeled Baragon suit originating from the 1965 Toho film Frankenstein vs. Baragon, preceded by Pagos and followed by Magular and Gabora. Legendary suit actor Haruo Nakajima, who played Baragon, also portrayed these four monsters.
Hideaki Anno included Neronga in his 2018 proposal memo for Shin Ultraman.[4] At his suggestion that an electricity-eating monster would not need a mouth, Shinji Higuchi and Takeyuki Takeya drew several sketches of Neronga without one, although it was ultimately restored.[4] A more detailed concept by Takeya in February 2019, which he also sculpted, had the exact same body as Gabora.[4] Mahiro Maeda then designed a version of the monster that more closely resembled Narita's original concept art, which became the design used in the film.[4]
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Various pieces of concept art of Neronga from Shin Ultraman Design Works, showcasing initial mouthless designs -
Chosen design made by Mahiro Maeda, closer to Tohl Narita's original artwork for the monster -
Concept art and maquette of Neronga featuring the same body as Gabora
Neronga was portrayed through computer animation, with an unknown actor providing performance capture while strapped to a weight simulating a tail.[5] Prior to this, a motion capture capture test was performed using a Neronga suit.[5] Its CG model was partially reused for Pagos and Gabora, cutting costs and referencing their shared real-world origin.[4] In the film, SSSP biologist Yumi Funaberi notes the similarities between the monsters, foreshadowing their true nature as bioweapons.
In Shin Ultra Fight, one or more motion capture performers from Stunt Team Gocoo portrayed Neronga.[2] Their fight choreography was improvised, with the principle that there were no bad takes, and only refilmed in the case of technical malfunctions with the CG models.[6] The animation was spearheaded by Studio Bros and Modeling Bros in association with Shirogumi and alphaliez,[2] who used the video game engine Unreal Engine.[6]
Design
Neronga shares a lot in common with the previous monster, Pagos. Neronga is a dark beige and grayish quadrupedal monster with dozens of yellowish overlapping plates running down from the back of its head to its tail, which resemble the overlapping plates of Baragon. Alongside these overlapping plates are scutes which almost seem to resemble vertebrae. Neronga has a large smooth head with small eyes and pronounced nasal cavities. It has a large nasal horn that is yellow near its tip. Near the back of Neronga's head are two extremely large antennae that are capable of swiveling 180 degrees to allow the monster to use its Despotic Electric Attack. It has a very pronounced jaw with exposed red gums giving the monster the appearance of having lips. On Neronga's lower jaw are three large tusks that protrude upwards and are visible even when its mouth is closed. The inside of Neronga's mouth is filled with blunt teeth that are present on the roof and floor of its mouth, with the monster not having a tongue of any sort. Neronga has a short thick neck with red exposed muscle fibers on either side. These fibers glow blue when Neronga fires its Despotic Electric Attack.
It has a dull but pronounced chest spike and a short and stocky body. Its skin is mostly covered in thin hexagonal scales with there being smoother areas underneath its neck, behind its arms, and near the tip of its tail. These scales also get smaller on its hands and feet. Neronga has long arms with spikes jutting from its elbows. It has six fingers on each hand that are spindly and tipped with extremely long claws, with the claw on its thumbs being the longest. There is also a large scale covering each of its knuckles. In between the plates on Neronga's back are frill-like spikes that run down its relatively long tail, stopping before they reach the very end. It has short digitigrade legs with four digits.
Personality
Neronga is shown to be easily irritable, as it lashed out and destroyed an electrical substation after its power supply was cut off. It attempted to retreat from Ultraman when its lighting attack had no effect on the silver giant, turning invisible in the process, rather than engaging him in hand-to-hand combat.
Origins
Neronga is the seventh S-Class Species, or Kaiju, encountered by humanity. The SSSP theorizes that Neronga could be a bioweapon, which is later confirmed by the alien Mefilas. During a conversation with Ultraman (disguised as Shinji Kaminaga), Mefilas revealed that he summoned the monster to attack the electrical industry and draw Ultraman out. The creator of Neronga and the other Kaiju, however, is unknown.
Selected history
- Shin Ultraman (2022)
- Shin Ultra Fight (web 2022) [episodes SP1, SP3, TI2, TI4, TI5]
Reiwa era
Shin Ultraman
Neronga attacked a suburban area, maintaining near-complete invisibility while firing lightning into the sky. Arriving on the scene via helicopter, the members of the SSSP assumed command of the operation to destroy the monster from the JSDF as civilians evacuated. Biologist Yumi Funaberi found the creature to be visible in infrared. Its invisibility was the result of preventing its cells from reflecting or absorbing light, which she stated would also make heat- or light-based weapons ineffective. Strategic planner Shinji Kaminaga theorized that the creature did not evolve naturally, but was a bioweapon designed to combat an advanced civilization. Neronga paused before the Yoshiwa electric substation, then began feeding on its power. After its hunger was sated, it became visible. Captain Kimio Tamura ordered the substation shut off, causing Neronga to fly into a rage and demolish it. As the monster approached Mount Uji, M270 MLRSes launched missiles at him, targeting its horns, but the monster shot them all down by using its Despotic Electric Attack.
With a behavior simulation concluding that Neronga would consume all of Japan's electricity unless stopped, the UN secretary-general recommended destroying it with a nuclear weapon. Determined to avoid such a destructive last resort, unparticle physicist Akihisa Taki suggesting causing electrical leakage by firing a highly conductive material into him or shorting him out with water. Kaminaga was hesitant, noting its durable and insulated hide; Funaberi concurred. Starving him by continuing to shut off electricity was also out of the question, as it was presently tearing through the chief cabinet secretary's electoral zone. As the other members bemoaned their lack of options and Neronga entered the town of Minobu,[7] Kaminaga noticed via satellite feed that one child was still in the vicinity of the monster and rushed to rescue him.
Kaminaga reached the child just as an unidentified glowing object struck the ground near Neronga, the resulting shockwave causing an object to strike him in the back. Ultraman, a silver giant, rose to his feet in the crater. Neronga struck first with its Despotic Electric Attack, but to no effect. It broke off the attack as Ultraman calmly strode forward, then attempted to flee while turning invisible. Charging energy and crossing his arms, Ultraman retaliated with a devastating Spacium Ray, destroying the monster.
After Gabora was defeated, Yumi Funaberi noted that Pagos, Neronga, and Gabora were completely identical except their heads and backs, almost as if those parts were interchangeable which was different from every other monster they had encountered so far. Later on during a conversation with Ultraman, as Shinji Kaminaga, Mefilas revealed that he summoned the monster to attack the electrical industry and draw him out.
Shin Ultra Fight
"Neronga Appears and Disappears"
This episode recapped Neronga's emergence and battle with Ultraman in Shin Ultraman, using stock footage from the film.
"Assemble! Duelists of the Canyon"
After Ultraman knocked out Gabora, Neronga charged in and nudged its fellow monster awake. The two monsters attacked Ultraman in unison. He targeted Gabora first, then stared down Neronga before grappling with him. Once Gabora recovered, the monsters pinned Ultraman against a canyon wall, flipped him over their heads, and high-fived. Recovering, Ultraman hopped onto Gabora's back and rode him like a bucking bronco, colliding with Neronga before Gabora threw him off. Neronga withdrew to higher ground and leaped at Ultraman, but missed. The monsters regrouped and charged at Ultraman from opposite sides, but he sprang out of the way at the last moment, causing them to headbutt each other and fall unconscious. Victorious, Ultraman flew away.
"The Flashing Rumble Behind Closed Doors"
As Ultraman and a disguised Zarab battled in a wrestling ring, Neronga fired its lightning at one of the electrical towers bordering the ring, causing electricity to surge through the cables. The combatants collided with the cables several times, setting off explosions, before Ultraman threw Zarab into the cables and out of the ring with a powerbomb, dealing enough damage to reveal his true form.
"The Six-Dimensional Scoundrel"
Mefilas, Zarab, Gabora, and Neronga confront Ultraman on a beach, with the villains all wielding staffs. As Ultraman and Mefilas had a standoff, Zarab teleported behind the silver giant and struck him on the back, setting off a furious battle. The quartet soon overwhelmed Ultraman, only for him to teleport away and confound them with copies of himself. Neronga was the first to attack, but each copy responded in kind, throwing him to the ground. After the others were also bested, the copies encircled them and began to spin, then launched a barrage of kicks in unison. After gathering all the copies back into himself, Ultraman prepared to fly away, but then sensed the approach of Zetton.
"White Sand and Green Pines: Fi-Fi-Fight"
Ultraman tried convincing his defeated adversaries to join forces with him against Zetton without success. When he tried touching Neronga, the monster shocked him. Gabora suddenly stood up and paused before tunneling away, and Neronga followed suit by turning invisible, leaving Ultraman despairing.
"Requiem of the Roaring Waves"
After Ultraman fell in battle to Zetton, Gabora carried him out to sea on its back, accompanied by Mefilas, Zarab, and Neronga. Suddenly, Ultraman burst out of the waves, stunning them all, and rushed back to shore. After a moment's respite, they resumed their fight, with Ultraman defeating Gabora, Neronga, and Zarab with a single blow each. He and Mefilas grappled and struck each other repeatedly, seemingly causing the Earth to shatter, as they had at the end of "White Sand and Green Pines: Fi-Fi-Fight."
Abilities
Invisibility
In Shin Ultraman, Neronga can prevent its cells from reflecting or absorbing light, resulting in the beast becoming practically invisible to the naked eye. However, this is not a perfect camouflage, as its form was visible through infrared and even outlined by the dust it kicked up as it rampaged. After feeding on electricity from a substation, Neronga briefly made himself visible, which SSSP strategic planner Shinji Kaminaga proposed to be an intimidation display. Biologist Yumi Funaberi theorized that this would also make him impervious to heat- or light-based weapons, although prolonged exposure to Ultraman's Spacium Beam proved to be effective in killing the monster. In Shin Ultra Fight, it could achieve total invisibility, at least to the eye, but never used this ability offensively. In Godzilla Battle Line, it can go unnoticed by enemy units by turning invisible, only revealing himself when in attack range. However, both players can still see him.
Electricity detection and consumption
Neronga is capable of consuming electricity, appearing to be literally eating it. It is theorized by Shinji Kaminaga that, if left alone, Neronga could likely consume all of Japan's electricity. SSSP unparticle physicist Akihisa Taki theorizes that the monster detects it through a quantum device.
Electrical discharge
In Shin Ultraman, Neronga can weaponize the electricity it consumes by firing it from its nasal horn as an approximately-500,000-kilowatt[8] blue and yellow beam called the Despotic Electric Attack (暴君電撃 Bōkun Dengeki).[citation needed] While using this attack, Neronga's antennae swivel forwards so that their tips touch its nasal horn. It is extremely accurate, able to shoot down 11 GPS-guided missiles launched from M270 MLRSes in rapid succession. Following this, it fired a bolt parallel to the ground, causing weaker bolts to strike the village below. Despite its power, the beam was completely unable to harm Ultraman. In Battle Line, it briefly stuns opponents.
In the Shin Ultra Fight episode "White Sand and Green Pines: Fi-Fi-Fight," Neronga could project electricity through its claws which shocked Ultraman when he touched it, causing him to fall to the ground.
Physical abilities
In Shin Ultraman, Neronga made short work of the electric substation in Yoshiwa with its foreclaws and tail. In Shin Ultra Fight, it is a capable grappler, though of lesser skill than Ultraman, and wields a staff in the episode "The Six-Dimensional Scoundrel."
Durability
In Shin Ultraman, Neronga was only struck by one attack, Ultraman's Spacium Ray, which instantly destroyed the monster once its invisibility failed. In multiple confrontations throughout Shin Ultra Fight, Ultraman reliably bested him in hand-to-hand combat.
Selected video games
- Puzzle & Dragons (2012; added in 2022) – Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire
- Godzilla Battle Line (2021; added in 2022) – Android, iOS, and PC
- SD Shin Kamen Rider Rumble (2023) – PC and Nintendo Switch
Godzilla Battle Line
- Stars: ★★★
- Energy cost: 4
- Attack speed: 2.7 seconds
- Target: Leader/Ground/Aerial/Facility
- Movement speed: 10
- Search range: 65
- Reach: 65
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Neronga in Skull Island -
Neronga in Hollow Earth -
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Gallery
- Main article: Neronga/Gallery.
Roar
Like the original version of the character, the Neronga in Shin Ultraman utilizes Varan roars.
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Trivia
- Appearing in the mobile game Godzilla Battle Line before Mefilas and Zetton, Neronga is the first Ultra Series kaiju to make a physical appearance in Godzilla-specific media.
See also
External links
References
This is a list of references for Neronga. 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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