Mechagodzilla was strongly theorized to appear in Godzilla vs. Kong and previous versions of Toho’s most famous robotic kaiju can give you an idea of what the MonsterVerse version would look like. Mechagodzilla has had several different iterations since its debut, which have changed its origin, skills, size and design. If Legendary intends to bring the beast to the big screen in – or even after – Godzilla vs. Kong, they would do well to learn some lessons from what comes before.
Godzilla has fought Mechagodzilla many times over nearly fifty years of films and his first fight came in 1974 Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, which quickly established Gojira’s mechanical counterpart as one of the pillars of the franchise. Mechagodzilla has appeared in four more Toho films since then, in addition to numerous appearances in anime, television shows, comics and video games. For the fan base, he holds a prominent place in the pantheon of beloved enemies kaiju alongside icons like Mothra and King Ghidorah.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
No two versions of Mechagodzilla are alike, however, each continued to adjust the creature and its design. Some of these adjustments were well received, while others were less so. If Mechagodzilla appears in Godzilla x Kong – or any future MonsterVerse movie – there are some pros and cons to be learned from these previous iterations. Here are all five versions of Mechagodzilla’s films and what the new version will look like.
Showa version: Alien Mechagodzilla
In his 1974 debut as the titular antagonist of the Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, the robotic beast was an extraterrestrial weapon sent by alien invaders to conquer Earth. At the beginning, Mechagodzilla disguises himself as Godzilla himself, although a counter attack by the real Gojira reveals the metallic body underneath. This first version of Mechagodzilla is not very visually sophisticated, but it shares many of its characteristics with Godzilla, from its lizardlike head to its spiny back. Mechagodzilla holds a fearsome arsenal of weapons, including lasers fired from its eyes, flight capabilities, force fields and missiles located on many parts of its bodies, including its fingers and knees.
Godzilla eventually defeats Mechagodzilla with the help of kaiju friend Rei Caesar, although the robot was rebuilt for a rematch in 1975 Mechagodzilla Terror. The sequence featured a slightly more robust Mechagodzilla, although the overall design and skills remained the same. Despite a tough fight, Godzilla once again emerged victorious.
Heisei version: Mechagodzilla II and Super Mechagodzilla
Mechagodzilla made its long-awaited return in 1993 Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II. This time it was not an invading alien army that built monstrosity, but humanity itself. Mechagodzilla II was built using King Mecha Ghidorah’s future technology specifically to contain the continuing threat that Godzilla posed to the world. The new model was more bulky, more resistant, boasted even more weapons and was piloted by an internal human crew. Most of the tools from the original versions were still present, as well as new toys such as a powerful beam and an external hard diamond coating.
Mechagodzilla II also wielded the “G-Crusher”, a powerful weapon used to target Godzilla’s secondary brain. In addition, to the climax of the film, the mech combined with the flying battleship Garuda to create the Super MechaGodzilla – an updated model with even stronger skills. Mechagodzilla II managed to defeat Godzilla using the G-Crusher, but he was later revived by Rodan, defeating his robotic impersonator.
Millennium version: Mechagodzilla “Kiryu”
The idea of a Mechagodzilla piloted by humans was promising and would return in 2002 Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. The third theatrical iteration of the mechanical beast was built by mankind from the skeleton of the original Godzilla, creating a huge cyborg that was part kaiju, part robot and controlled by a team of human pilots. “Kiryu”, as the mech is nicknamed, boasted maser cannons, rocket launchers, missiles and even some extensible blades for hand-to-hand combat. Like previous versions, Mechagodzilla III – as some fans have dubbed it – can fly.
The great addition to Kiryu is the Absolute Zero Cannon, a chest-mounted lightning weapon that transforms the target to zero degrees Kelvin, interrupting all atomic movements. The cyborg nature of the mecha also gave him something of a soul and a mind of his own, which was often awakened by Godzilla in both Against Mechagodzilla and the sequel, Godzilla: Tokyo SOS These attacks caused Kiryu to stir wildly and occasionally to defend Godzilla from humanity, as his human pilots were powerless to prevent him from executing his own will.
Netflix Anime Version: Mechagodzilla City
When Mechagodzilla was teased in Netflix’s 2017 anime movie Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, the expectation started to grow for an epic confrontation in the sequence. Unfortunately, this sequence, Godzilla; City on the edge of battle, ended up being a big disappointment. In the film, Mechagodzilla is created in a joint effort between humanity and two advanced alien races to prevent Godzilla from decimating Earth’s civilization. However, it is destroyed before it becomes fully operational, forcing humanity to abandon the planet.
After thousands of years, the nanometal used to create the Mechagodzilla anime evolves, turning into an extensive compound nicknamed “Mechagodzilla City” by the surviving humans. Instead of trying to fix the mech and face Godzilla with his strongest weapon, the characters decide to lure Godzilla into the city and kill him through exposure to the poisonous transformed nanometal that constitutes the “city” itself. It was an interesting idea and certainly a change from what had happened before, but it transformed the promise of a spectacular fight into a dull sci-fi hacking and repair montage, culminating in a lackluster battle between Godzilla and some humans instead of epic duel it could have been. In a strange franchise, Mechagodzilla City stands out as perhaps the strangest version of the creature so far, and certainly one to be avoided in future iterations.
What the MonsterVerse Mechagodzilla could be
If Mechagodzilla enters the fight with Godzilla and Kong, it will be another new version of the iconic monster. However, given the character’s rich history, Legendary will certainly pull much of Toho’s previous films. The introduction of aliens on MonsterVerse is possible, but it would be a big leap from what has been established so far. With that in mind, a MonsterVerse Mechagodzilla would probably be made and operated by humans, like the latest versions. However, with Godzilla still solidly a protagonist (despite his strange fury at the Godzilla vs. Kong trailer), Mechagodzilla would probably still be a vile presence.
A popular fan theory is that the Godzilla in the recent trailer is actually Mechagodzilla in disguise – a trick that also pays homage to the beast’s film debut. Alan Jonah’s ecoterrorist cell may be behind such a move, or there may be a villainous intention behind the mysterious new Apex group. Since MonsterVerse has focused heavily on human characters, it would also be nice to see the new Mechagodzilla being piloted from the inside – a chance for another exciting heads-up between the King of Monsters and a mere mortal. Any version of Mechagodzilla is introduced in or after Godzilla x Kong – assuming it will be – it should at least be more satisfying than the city of Mechagodzilla.
- Godzilla x Kong (2021)Release date: March 31, 2021
About the author