Baragon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Shōwa series:
- Haruo Nakajima
- Millenium series:
- Rie Ōta
| Baragon | |
|---|---|
| Godzilla character | |
 Baragon as portrayed by Rie Ōta via suitmation in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack | |
| First appearance | Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965) |
| Last appearance | Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) |
| Portrayed by |
|
| Modeled by | Keizō Murase[1] |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Subterranean dinosaurian creature |
Baragon (バラゴン, Baragon) is a kaiju which first appeared in Ishirō Honda's 1965 film Frankenstein vs. Baragon, produced and distributed by Toho. Depicted as a burrowing, four-legged, horned dinosaur-like creature with large ears,[2] Baragon appeared alongside Godzilla and other monster characters in films in the Godzilla franchise, also produced by Toho, including Destroy All Monsters (1968) and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).[3]
In film
Baragon is a quadrupedal kaiju,[4] who is significantly smaller compared to other kaiju, being only 82 feet tall[5] and 150 feet long.[4] He has large ears, a bony shell on his back, and a large horn on his forehead.[4] Baragon has advanced agility and versatile movement,[5] in particular having the ability to burrow beneath the ground. He additionally has the ability to fire a heat ray to attack in some of his appearances,[6] as well as electrical bolts.[4]
In the 1965 film Frankenstein vs. Baragon, Baragon is depicted as a kaiju descended from the dinosaurs, having escaped extinction by burrowing underground. During the film, Baragon attacks the surrounding countryside, and as he is not seen, the locals blame the mutant human Frankenstein for the attacks. While searching for Frankenstein, a group of scientists set off explosives, which attracts Baragon. It attacks the scientists, but Frankenstein arrives to protect them. The two engage each other in battle, with the latter defeating Baragon by breaking its neck before a fissure opens and swallows both of them into the Earth.[4]
Baragon re-appears in the 1968 film Destroy All Monsters, where Baragon is one of the many Earth monsters kept in captivity on Monster Island. Baragon is used by the alien Kilaaks to destroy the world via mind control, but is later freed and aids in the battle against the aliens' weapon, King Ghidorah to kill Earth's monsters, after which he returns to live in peace on Monster Island.
In the film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Baragon is depicted as one of Japan's three ancient guardian monsters. When Godzilla is revived by the vengeful souls of the people who died in World War II, Baragon and his fellow guardians Mothra and King Ghidorah are revived to confront him. While the three are ultimately killed in battle, they weaken Godzilla enough for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to kill it.
In spin-off media
Baragon appears in three spin-off television series, including 1992's Godzilland, 1997's Godzilla Island,[7] and 2019's Godziban. In literature, Baragon appears in 1998's Godzilla vs. the Robot Monsters, 2012's Godzilla: Ongoing, 2013's Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, 2017's Godzilla: Monster Apocalypse,[8] and 2018's Godzilla: Project Mechagodzilla.[9]
Baragon appears in a variety of video games in the Godzilla franchise, including 1988's Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!,[10] 1990's Godzilla, 1991's Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters, 1998's Godzilla Trading Battle, 2004's Godzilla: Save the Earth,[5] 2007's Godzilla: Unleashed, and 2019's Godzilla Defense Force.
Conception and development
A co-production between United Productions of America and Toho,[11] 1965's Frankenstein vs. Baragon was originally intended to feature Godzilla in place of Baragon, though production issues resulted in Godzilla being replaced by a new monster in the form of Baragon.[12] Though the film's director, Ishirō Honda, intended for the film to focus more on the personal struggles of Frankenstein, Toho's desire for a larger focus on monsters resulted in Baragon becoming a major focus partway through.[13] Haruo Nakajima portrayed Baragon on-screen in the monster's debut film.[14]
1968's Destroy All Monsters was originally planned to be the last Godzilla-franchise film, and as such a number of kaiju from prior films were brought back, including Baragon.[15] Baragon only plays a minor role in the film, however. Initially, he was planned to be seen destroying the Arc de Triomphe as part of a large assault by the alien Kilaaks. However, the original Baragon costume had been loaned off to Tsuburaya Productions, and was allegedly not returned in time for the filming of the scene, resulting in the kaiju Gorosaurus fulfilling Baragon's larger role in the story.[16] A new head for the Baragon suit was created for his appearance in the film, which looked identical barring minor adjustments to its ears, with its horn now facing a different direction.[17]
Baragon, alongside Varan and Anguirus, were included in the initial draft for 2001 film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, with Baragon being depicted as a "flame monster" alongside the other two kaiju, who collectively serve as Japan's ancient guardian monsters.[18][19][20]
