About Godzilla
Godzilla - King Of Monsters
Godzilla is a fictional Japanses monster (or kaij?) also referred to as Gojira, King of the Monsters, Gigantis, the Fire Monster or Monster Zero-One. The name Godzilla is formed from two Japanese words – gorira (Gorilla) and kujira (Whale). Since first appearing in the 1954 movie ‘Godzilla’ he has gone on to star in 27 more films.
Godzilla has not only appeared in films but has been used in comics, games, books and cartoons. The widespread use and age of the Godzilla image has meant that his apperance has changed over the years. It is thought that the design for the monster draws its main influences from three species of dinosaurs – the Tyrannosaurus rex, the Stegosaurus, and the Iguanodon.
In Godzilla’s early apperances he was portrayed as a ferocious nuclear monster. The creation was heavily influenced by the American attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japanese concerns over future use of nuclear weapons. This origin has led to Godzilla being considered as a filmographic metaphor for the USA.
Over time Godzilla’a character has changed from a human hating destructive monster into a generally more heroic figure.
