Movies - Mothra

	Movies - Mothra

Mothra (モスラ - Mosura) is a daikaiju that has appeared in several Toho tokusatsu films since her introduction in Mothra
(1961). Generally regarded as female by English-speaking audiences, she is a giant lepidopteran with characteristics both of butterflies and of moths. The name "Mothra" is the suffixion of "-ra" (a common last syllable in kaiju names) to "moth"; whereas the Japanese language does not contain a "th" phoneme, it is approximated "Mosura" in Japanese. In Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra is also referred to as The Thing.

About Mothra

Since her first film, Mothra has been depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored in blue and yellow waves; her larva, a giant caterpillar, is brown and segmented with glowing blue—sometimes red—eyes; this caterpillar eventually spins a silken cocoon around itself—the pupa stage; from this cocoon hatches the imago (adult) form, a gigantic moth-like creature with brightly-colored wings that produce winds of hurricane speed during flight. Mothra's life cycle—particularly the tendency of an imago's death to coincide with its larva's hatching—echoes that of the Phoenix, resembling resurrection and suggesting divinity. Though having wrought more destruction than most Toho daikaiju, she is almost always portrayed as a kind and benevolent creature, causing destruction only when acting as protector to her worshippers on Infant Island or to her egg.

Mothra has proven a formidable adversary in combat: In larval form she may use her silken spray to wrap and immobilize an opponent, and has a knack for biting and clinging to foes' tails. In imago form her powers vary widely from film to film, including very animalistic scratching and dragging, incorporating several bolt and beam weapons in the Heisei era, and often concluding with a poisonous yellow powder (or "scales")—her last defense.

Mothra has become one of Godzilla's most challenging opponents, having achieved the greatest success rate in battle: She has once overcome Godzilla in imago form, and twice Godzilla has fought her to her death only to later be bested by her newborn larvae.

Popularity

Toho had intended to follow 1989's Godzilla vs. Biollante with a revival of Mothra in her own spinoff film, Mothra vs. Bagan, for 1990 release. However, following the unimpressive box office performance of Biollante, Toho discarded the project in favor of another Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
(1991). A 1992 survey revealed that Mothra was Toho's most popular daikaiju among women, an observation which inspired Toho to again revise its plans, abandoning a proposed sequel to King Ghidorah in favor of a Godzilla–Mothra feature. Following the end of the Heisei Godzilla series, Toho produced a trilogy of Mothra films, known in the U.S. as Rebirth of Mothra
(1996–1998). Mothra thus became the first Toho daikaiju to lead its own film(s) after its incorporation into the Godzilla franchise. From her egg hatched Mothra Leo, whose adventures led him to adopt several forms with such monikers as "Rainbow Mothra" and "Aqua Mothra".

Shobijin

Mothra is usually accompanied by two tiny priestesses or fairies (often called shobijin—Japanese for "small beauties") who also speak for her. For Mothra's first three film appearances these twin fairies were played by the Peanuts. In Mothra they demonstrate telepathic ability, within speaking range with people and over great distances with Mothra. As in all future appearances, they call to Mothra in prayer and song, but they and Mothra are also connected on some deeper level beyond their control. In Mothra vs. Godzilla
they seem also to demonstrate short-range teleportation, and in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
they translate not only Mothra's chirps but an entire conversation among three daikaiju. Decades later, in Godzilla: Tokyo SOS
, two other shobijin (portrayed by Masami Nagasawa and Chihiro Ôtsuka) demonstrate telekenesis as well.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Mothra ]

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Movies - Mothra

About Mothra

Popularity

Shobijin

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