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Anatomical illustrations of Godzilla and other Japanese monsters
05.23.2014
09:27 am
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Mothra
Mothra
 
These remarkable images of the anatomy of Godzilla, Mothra, and Anguirus are a little bit puzzling. They clearly come from a book (the Anguirus picture has the number 69 prominently displayed in the upper-left-hand corner), but I don’t know what the book is or who the artist is or what any of the Japanese text says. And two of them are cut off on the side—I’d particularly like to see what the artist did with the spiked tail club of Anguirus, but it’s not visible.

Anguirus is kind of the star of the show here, because his anatomy is so very compelling. In Godzilla Raids Again, the scientists mention how tough Anguirus is to defeat because he has “a brain for each limb.” You can see in the pic that there is some text about Anguirus’ left knee, presumably it is an explanation of Anguirus’ unique central nervous system. According to the Worlds of Imagination website, Anguirus “has also shown the ability to curl himself into a ball and propel himself at tremendous speed in Godzilla: Final Wars.”

A couple of years ago Brad McGinty did a few similar illustrations of the Xenomorph from Alien, Mogwai from Gremlins, and a few others, but these don’t look to be from him as far as I can tell.
 
Godzilla
Godzilla
 
Anguirus
Anguirus
 
Here’s a rousing confrontation between Anguirus and Godzilla from Godzilla Raids Again, complete with tumbling Japanese edifices. Awesome as always.
 

 
via FFFFOUND!

Posted by Martin Schneider
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05.23.2014
09:27 am
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The Mothra Fairies sing ‘Why Are You Weeping, Happiness?’ (1964)
02.29.2012
01:40 pm
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This is guaranteed to be the best thing you will see all day or double—no triple—your money back…

In nearly every Toho film that Mothra has appeared in, two tiny little girl fairies, immortal beings called the Shōbijin, appear as well. They are psychically connected to and try to spread the positive environmental message of Mothra, fierce protector of the Earth.

What usually happens is that the Shōbijin get kidnapped. They sing a song called “Mosura No Uta”—not quite as well known as the Doctor Who theme to sci-fi geeks, but CLOSE—that will summon Mothra to rescue them and fuck up a lot of Tokyo in the process. Later “Fairy Mothra” was created from a little piece of the kaiju Mothra, to be the bodyguard and transportation for the Shobijin. Or something like that…
 
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In the early Mothra films, the Shōbijin were portrayed by The Peanuts, identical twin Japanese pop stars Emi and Yumi Ito. Because their voices were so very, very similar, when they sang together there was a natural sort of “reverb” effect to their harmonies. They recorded an English album with covers of “California Dreamin” and “Proud Mary.” They were also featured on The Ed Sulivan Show.

This clip comes from the 1964 Toho film Ghidrah The Three Headed Monster. The Mothra fairies appear on TV show called “What Are They Doing Now?” performing this wistful little number titled “Why Are You Weeping, Happiness?”
 

 
After the jump, The Peanuts singing in English…

READ ON
Posted by Richard Metzger
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02.29.2012
01:40 pm
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Japanese Bug Fights!
12.04.2009
05:05 pm
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image
 
When he’s not attending Ballard memorials, RE/Search Publication’s V. Vale puts out a monthly newsletter.  They’re packed with interesting info and updates, and I now have him to thank for introducing me to the small-scale Mothra V. Meganulon world of Japanese Bug Fighting.  The rules are Chuck Palahniuk-simple:

1. Two Bugs to a fight
2. Bug fights go on as long as they have to
3. No outside weapons in Bug Fights

The Japanese Bug Fighting site currently showcases some 30 bug-on-bug matches.  Round #7—Red Spider V. Black Scorpion—follows below:

Posted by Bradley Novicoff
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12.04.2009
05:05 pm
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