Mechagodzilla (GODZILLA Anime Trilogy)
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SPOILER WARNING: This section may contain major plot and/or ending details. Proceed at your own discretion. |
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Even if Bilusaludo's Mechagodzilla had defeated Godzilla, no one knows who it would have bared its fangs at next.
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— Metphies to Mulu-Elu Galu-Gu (GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters) |
The Mechagodzilla (メカゴジラ Mekagojira) from the GODZILLA anime trilogy is a mecha created by Toho that first appeared in the 2017 anime Godzilla film, GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters.
The fourth distinct onscreen incarnation of Mechagodzilla, the anime Mechagodzilla was constructed in secret by the Bilusaludo and humans in Japan in the year 2046, only to be lost in the final battle between the United Earth and Godzilla in March of that year.[4]
Name
Mechagodzilla's name comes from the word "mecha," which is derived from "mechanical," and from another monster, Godzilla (ゴジラ Gojira). This incarnation's English name is consistently spelled as either Mecha-Godzilla or Mecha Godzilla, even though the character's trademarked English name is "Mechagodzilla." Mechagodzilla's official designation by the Bilusaludo is Anti-Godzilla Super Heavy Mass Nanometal Decisive Battle Weapon: Mechagodzilla (対ゴジラ超重質量ナノメタル製決戦兵器：メカゴジラ Tai Gojira Chō Omo Shitsuryō Nanometaru-sei Kessen Heiki: Mekagojira), while it is typically abbreviated to just "Mechagodzilla" or MG.[1]
Development
The anime Mechagodzilla's design was based on an initial rough sketch by director Hiroyuki Seshita. Production designer Naoya Tanaka produced a design based on the sketch using computer-aided design, with Eiji Kawada creating concept art of the design. Production designer Fernando Patulli created the final model for Mechagodzilla incorporated into the films.
Seshita took inspiration from echinoderms and sea urchins when coming up with the new Mechagodzilla design, as he felt such creatures had no affinity for humans or possibility for human interaction and wanted Mechagodzilla's appearance to reflect that. Mechagodzilla was given a forward-leaning posture, a tail stinger inspired by a warrior's axe, and legs modeled after those of birds and dinosaurs in order to give it an offensive appearance. Its body was designed to give the impression of being composed of continuous, living Nanometal. The appearance of randomness was inserted into every aspect of Mechagodzilla's design in order to express the occurrence of programming errors in its construction.[1]
Design
The anime Mechagodzilla's design is radically different from that of previous incarnations of the character. While it retains the basic body shape of Godzilla, being bulky and bipedal with large metal structures resembling dorsal plates running down its back, this Mechagodzilla possesses a forward-leaning posture and is covered in very large spikes that are unevenly distributed across its body. Its silver armor bears a very segmented and uneven appearance, with its head consisting of five pieces and its entire body composed of 15 pieces.[1] The most radical departure in this Mechagodzilla's design is its head, which does not resemble Godzilla's very much at all. Its head is relatively flat and elongated, with two large spikes protruding from its upper jaw. It has one smaller spike jutting from the center of its lower jaw, and a very small mouth which is not immediately visible. Mechagodzilla's head is segmented like the rest of its body, and has smaller pointed spikes protruding from its cheeks and in front of its eyes. Mechagodzilla's eyes are relatively small glowing red slits located on the sides of its head. Mechagodzilla is a silver color over the entirety of its body. Its tail is very long relative to its body, and like the rest of its body is covered in spikes. Its tail ends with a long needle-like stinger, seemingly corresponding to the spike on the end of Godzilla's tail. Mechagodzilla's legs bend inward at the knees, similar to a bird or theropod dinosaur, and end in large rectangular feet, with a single triangular toe at the front of each foot and a smaller dewclaw-like spike protruding from its heels. Mechagodzilla also has a large spike protruding from the back of each of its knees.
Origins
Mechagodzilla was constructed in secret from 2042 to 2046 by the Bilusaludo and humanity in Hamamatsu, Japan using "Nanometal," a special metal with "autonomous thinking abilities," with the intention of it being the ultimate anti-Godzilla weapon. Unfortunately, as Godzilla began to approach Hamamatsu in March of that year, the completed Mechagodzilla wouldn't activate. Before the Bilusaludo scientists in the facility could determine the cause of the issue, Godzilla breached the city and engaged in a final decisive battle with the United Earth. When the fourth armored wall of the plant was destroyed, the Bilusaludo began to evacuate. One of them, Mulu-Elu Galu-Gu, insisted that Mechagodzilla could defeat Godzilla if activated, but he was forced to evacuate along with everyone else. Godzilla was triumphant in the ensuing battle with the United Earth's forces, and Mechagodzilla was abandoned. The United Earth then organized an Earth evacuation plan after their latest defeat.[4]
History
Post-Millennium Series
GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters
Mechagodzilla was constructed by the Bilusaludo with the cooperation of humanity in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 2046. However, Godzilla breached the city that March and forced the United Earth to retreat before Mechagodzilla could be activated.
GODZILLA: City on the Edge of Battle
Mechagodzilla will battle Godzilla Earth.[5]
Abilities
Nanometal
Mechagodzilla is composed of a material called Nanometal, which is said to be "autonomous." It requires 100 gigawatts worth of power from thermonuclear reactors in order to function.[2] Because Nanometal is fluid, Mechagodzilla can reshape and deform any part of its body, as well as instantaneously regenerate any part of its body that is damaged and perform self repair and multiplication. However, it should be noted that the amount of time and energy required to repair damage increases nonlinearly as the damaged area does. Even after its facility was destroyed by Godzilla in 2046, Mechagodzilla's Nanometal continued functioning and growing, and over 20,000 years gradually Nanometalized the surrounding area, creating a mechanized fortress called "Mechagodzilla City" over a 14 kilometer diameter around the former site of the factory in Hamamatsu.
Computer and A.I.
Mechagodzilla is equipped with a sophisticated Bilusaludo quantum computer and artificial intelligence (A.I.) called Zalu-Zi Type 1 Modified (ザル・ジ１型改 Zaru Ji Ichi-Gata Aratame). It is supplied with a Gematron calculation algorithm and simulation data regarding combat against Godzilla from the A.I. "Deinde," both of which are used to determine tactics against Godzilla.[2][6][3]
Convergent Neutron Cannon
Mechagodzilla is armed with a Convergent Neutron Cannon (収束中性子砲 Shūsoku Chūseishi-hō), a charged particle gun composed of a special gun barrel and a generator located inside its head, which causes its head to deform when used. It uses the penetrating ability of neutrons to pierce the outer shell of a target and melt its body tissue. It allows Mechagodzilla to engage Godzilla from a distance of more than 5 kilometers, preventing Godzilla from having the opportunity to attack or counterattack and allowing Mechagodzilla to approach Godzilla safely.[6]
Blade Launcher
Mechagodzilla has a Blade Launcher (ブレードランチャー Burēdo Ranchā) installed on its back. An electromagnetic catapult in Mechagodzilla's back launches the blades, which are then guided through the air toward their target, over a distance of up to 3 kilometers. A prototype of this weapon was previously installed in Gigan's abdomen during "Operation: Long March."[6]
Hyper Lance
Mechagodzilla is equipped with a supersonic Hyper Lance (ハイパーランス Haipā Ransu), a piercing weapon generated by high-speed elongation of its forearms followed by hardening of the metal through rapid particle compression. The maximum elongation of the lance is 500 meters. After penetrating a target, the lance injects it with Nanometal particles which proceed to eat away at its insides. According to both the Mohs scale of mineral hardness and the Vickers test for hardness of minerals, the maximum hardening of the Nanometal reaches about ten times that of diamond. In theory, Mechagodzilla would utilize the Hyper Lance after jumping one kilometer into the air above Godzilla, piercing his skin and injecting him with Nanometal which would instantaneously erode his body tissue from the surface to the deepest interior part of his body until his bodily functions all ceased.[6]
Plasma Booster
Mechagodzilla is equipped with a Plasma Booster (プラズマブースター Purazuma Būsutā) which grants it the ability to fly.[6]
Tail Blow
Mechagodzilla possesses a cutting attack called the Tail Blow (テイルブロー Teiru Burō), performed by swinging its tail in a whip-like motion. This attack would cut through and pulverize the target with an electrical shock through movement of Mechagodzilla's tail stinger at supersonic speeds, accomplished by twisting motion of the body along with additional acceleration in the direction of motion from the Plasma Booster, as well as deformation of the tail into a blade shape and repeated high-speed motion of this blade.
Nanometal Particle Diffusing-Type Thermal Energy Buffer Layer
Mechagodzilla can spread Nanometal particles over a radius of 300 meters in order to defend itself from energy-based attacks, a feature designated the Nanometal Particle Diffusing-Type Thermal Energy Buffer Layer (ナノメタル粒子散布型熱エネルギー緩衝層 Nanometaru Ryūshi Sanpu-gata-netsu Enerugī Kanshō-sō). According to simulations, 90% of energy targeted at Mechagodzilla is diffused by this buffer layer. It can also protect Mechagodzilla against large projectile attacks.[6] This ability is retained by Mechagodzilla City, and used to defend the city from Godzilla Earth's Atomic Breath.
Laminated Heat-Resistant Armored Plate
Another means of defense used by Mechagodzilla is the Laminated Heat-Resistant Armored Plate (積層耐熱装甲板 Sekisō Tainetsu Sōkōban), accomplished through momentary deformation of every part of Mechagodzilla's outer shell. Mechagodzilla was conceptualized as deforming its chest armor to form the Armored Plate immediately after approaching a 5 kilometer proximity to Godzilla, with the armored plate in combination with the Thermal Energy Buffer Layer protecting Mechagodzilla from Godzilla's atomic breath.[6]
Filmography
Books
GODZILLA: Project Mechagodzilla
In 2042, with the threat posed by Godzilla increasing, all of humanity's resources not already dedicated to the construction of the Oratio and Aratrum were injected into the construction of Mechagodzilla at the foot of Mount Fuji in what was formerly Japan. The project, undertaken by both human and Bilusaludo scientists and headed by Bilusaludo technical officer Mulu-Elu Galu-Gu, was successful in completing Mechagodzilla by 2046 while United Earth forces stalled Godzilla during "Operation: Long March" and "Operation: Great Wall." However, during the "Battle at the Foot of Mt. Fuji" in Hamamatsu in March 2046, Mechagodzilla would not activate for unknown reasons, and was lost when Godzilla seemingly destroyed the facility with his atomic breath.[6]
Comics
GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters Manga
Gallery
- Main article: Mechagodzilla/Anime/Gallery.
Trivia
- This is the first incarnation of Mechagodzilla to be constructed by aliens since the Showa Mechagodzilla. However, like the Heisei Mechagodzilla and Kiryu, the anime Mechagodzilla was constructed with the assistance of humans as well and with the intention of defending the Earth from Godzilla.
- This incarnation makes Mechagodzilla the first kaiju besides Godzilla himself to make an appearance in all four existing eras of Japanese Godzilla films.
Notes
- ↑ While an informational pamphlet for GODZILLA: City on the Edge of Battle states that Mechagodzilla weighs 30,000 metric tons, Mulu-Elu Galu-Gu's "Proposal to develop heavy mass nano-metal decisive battle weapons" instead gives Mechagodzilla's weight as 10,000 metric tons, the same weight as the 50 meter Godzilla Earth and Godzilla Filius.
References
This is a list of references for Mechagodzilla (anime trilogy). 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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