Gigan

Lore & Background

In the 1972 film *Godzilla vs. Gigan*, Gigan serves as a key enforcer for the Nebulans, a race of cockroach-like aliens from M Space Hunter Nebula whose home planet was destroyed by pollution. The aliens disguise themselves in human skin suits and operate from World Children's Land, centered inside a Godzilla Tower statue. They use Action Signal Tapes to broadcast frequencies that instruct Gigan and King Ghidorah on their actions. While the monsters initially dominate, the tide turns when Gengo Odaka and his friends destroy the tower with TNT supplied by the JSDF. This kills the controlling Nebulans, leaving Gigan and Ghidorah without instruction. Although they briefly resume fighting, Godzilla and Anguirus eventually drive them into a full retreat.

In Their Own Story

The conflict began when freelance manga artist Gengo Odaka inadvertently discovered an Action Signal Tape while working for the Nebulans. Upon playing the tape, the signal reached Godzilla and Anguirus on Monster Island, alerting them to the threat. After a failed initial investigation by Anguirus in Tokyo, both monsters returned to confront the aliens at World Children's Land. Gigan and King Ghidorah arrived to defend the base, proving superior in combat. The battle turned dire for Earth's defenders when the Godzilla Tower fired an extremely powerful laser weapon that badly injured Godzilla. Gigan then overwhelmed the wounded titan with his bladed weapons, swiping his shoulder and repeatedly striking his forehead until he bled. Anguirus also suffered a cut to his snout by Gigan. The turning point came when humans detonated TNT on the Godzilla Tower, destroying the base and killing the Nebulans. Deprived of commands, Gigan and Ghidorah were eventually driven back to retreat.

Reader's Guide

Gigan's design in *Godzilla vs. Gigan* was created by Takayoshi Mizuki under Teruyoshi Nakano's direction, aiming for a unique shape inspired by the multilayered jūnihitoe kimonos of Japanese court ladies and the sharpness of an eagle. The suit featured new sculpts for King Ghidorah's three heads created by Nobuyuki Yasumaru, which would later be used in *Zone Fighter* before being retired. Filming relied heavily on stock footage from previous films to cut costs. Notably, this was the first film where Godzilla actually shed blood; Gigan caused these injuries during the battle at World Children's Land. The suit for Gigan was not explicitly detailed as a specific actor in the source, but Kenpachiro Satsuma is credited with portraying him. This 1972 film marked the final time Haruo Nakajima portrayed Godzilla before his retirement from suit acting.

Did You Know?

• Gigan was designed by Takayoshi Mizuki based on ideas from Teruyoshi Nakano, who wanted a monster akin to a 'richly colored dinosaur'.
• The design took inspiration from migratory birds like geese and the sharpness of an eagle.
• This film marks the first time Godzilla actually shed blood in the franchise.
• Gigan's injuries to Godzilla included swiping his shoulder and repeatedly striking his forehead until it bled.
• Anguirus was also cut in the snout by Gigan during the battle.