Kamacuras
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| Godzilla film series character | |
|---|---|
| Kamacuras | |
| Alias | Gimantis |
| Forms | Mutated Human-Sized Form Giant Mutated Form |
| First appearance | Son of Godzilla (1967) |
| Latest appearance | Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) |
| Created by | Jun Fukuda |
Kamacuras (カマキラス, Kamakirasu) is a kaiju, a type of fictional monster, who first appeared in the 1967 Toho film Son of Godzilla. The name alludes to "kamakiri", the Japanese word for mantis. In its first appearance, the creature was called Gimantis in the U.S. version.
Character biography
Showa
In Son of Godzilla, a species of man-sized praying mantises lived on Sollgel Island. Later, a radioactive accident that occurred due to a weather experiment mutated the insects into even larger proportions. Now the size of buildings, they became known as Kamacuras. Three Kamacuras found a giant egg and cracked it open to find a baby Godzilla. Before they could eat the infant, Godzilla himself arrived on the scene and attacked. Godzilla killed two of the Kamacuras with the third one killed by the giant spider Kumonga. However, a fourth Kamacuras retreated to Monster Island where it has since lived. He can use its very sharp claws to break open Minya's egg in "Son of Godzilla."
Millennium
In Godzilla: Final Wars, Kamacuras made an appearance as one of the many controlled monsters of a race of superior extraterrestrial beings known as the Xiliens. It attacks Paris, France and causes damage to one of the EDF's battleships until it is teleported away by an enormous UFO to make it seem as if the Xiliens eliminated every kaiju. Eventually, it is discovered that the Xiliens were controlling the monsters, who are returned to finish their rampages. Kamacuras battles Godzilla as he lands in Tokyo. Godzilla's resurfacing from the ocean causes a massive tidal wave that forces Kamacuras to flee and camouflage himself into a large forest. Godzilla is able to flush him out with his atomic ray and Kamacuras flies at Godzilla at Mach speed, but Godzilla grabs him and impales him on an electrical tower, killing him. The novelization shows Godzilla crushing his head with his tail.
Powers
In addition to his slashing forearm blades and ability to fly, Kamacuras was shown in Final Wars as being able to blend in with the background through a form of chameleon coloration.
Appearances
Films
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- All Monsters Attack (1969, stock footage cameo)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972, stock footage cameo)
- Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Television
- Godzilla Island (1997-1998)
Video games
- Kaijū-ō Godzilla / King of the Monsters, Godzilla (Game Boy - 1993)
- Godzilla Trading Battle (PlayStation - 1998)
