Development and design Gigan was created during the early 1970s, when the Godzilla films had undergone a comic book-like shift both in tone and special effects were now purely science fiction fare, budgets were greatly reduced, so Gigan was designed as both a marketing ploy for children's toys and as a completely alien creature whose design would not have necessitated the same attention to detail needed for Godzilla's previously more earthly opponents. The character was first conceived by
Kaoru Mabuchi in his script
Godzilla vs. the Space Monsters – Earth Defense Directive, which contained elements that would later be incorporated into
Godzilla vs. Gigan, including having a mind-controlled Gigan teaming up with
King Ghidorah, though the script also included
Megalon and the mastermind behind the space monsters' actions was a living brain called Miko. The first Gigan suit was designed by illustrator Takayoshi Mizuki, modeled by suitmaker Noboyuki Yasamaru, and was worn by
Kenpachiro Satsuma, who had starred as
Hedorah's suit actor in
Godzilla vs. Hedorah the year previously. The two initially did not get on well during filming, as Yasamaru focused more on the suit's appearance than on its practicality, at one point making the character's hand-hooks out of pure
fiberglass, which made lifting them almost impossible. In portraying Gigan, Satsuma deliberately emphasized the character's destructive personality. For Gigan's appearance in
Zone Fighter, Satsuma did not reprise the role. Special effects director
Teruyoshi Nakano had initially wanted to give Gigan the ability to fire a laser beam from its forehead in homage to
Buddhist art depicting the
Buddha sporting a halo around his head, but the idea was scrapped, as Nakano felt that the character was already powerful enough. The beam was nevertheless included in some promotional stills, along with various Godzilla video games.
Characteristics Gigan possesses an integrated
jet pack to fly, a
circular saw in his abdomen, and hooked blades in place of hands. In
Zone Fighter, the tips of the hooks were able to release an explosive charge on contact with an enemy. The
Godzilla: Final Wars version has
grappling hooks in his arms, a plier at the end of his tail, and can shoot boomerang circular saw blades from his neck and a laser from his eyes. Later the Xiliens replaced his hooks with double-bladed
chainsaws.
Showa era (1972-1973) Gigan debuts in the 1972 film
Godzilla vs. Gigan, in which he and
King Ghidorah are summoned to Earth by the Nebulans, cockroach-like alien race whose planet had been ravaged by another race and wish to subjugate the Earth in order to create a
utopia of "perfect peace". However, the monsters are challenged and defeated by
Godzilla and
Anguirus. In the 1973 film,
Godzilla vs. Megalon, Gigan is sent by the Nebulans to assist the Seatopians in their assault on humanity by aiding their god,
Megalon, in a battle against Godzilla and Jet Jaguar. After having his arm broken by Jet Jaguar however, Gigan retreats into outer space, leaving Megalon to face Godzilla and Jet Jaguar alone. In the same year, Gigan also makes an appearance in Toho's television series
Zone Fighter: after his battle with Godzilla and Jet Jaguar, Gigan is captured by an alien race called the Garogans and sent back to Earth to prevent Godzilla from rescuing Zone Fighter. He was temporarily defeated by the former, but revived once Godzilla left and faced Zone Fighter, who eventually killed Gigan.
Millennium era (2004) '' After a 31-year absence, Gigan returned in the film
Godzilla: Final Wars. Millennia prior, Gigan is an ancient bioweapon created by the alien race called Xillien and had fought
Mothra for the fate of the Earth and was defeated. In the present time, his mummified body is discovered in
Hokkaido and Xilliens awaken Gigan to assist them in destroying Earth and destroy the
Gotengo to stop its human and mutant occupants from awakening Godzilla at
Antarctica. While Gigan disables the
Gotengo, the crew succeed of freeing Godzilla. Gigan faces Godzilla in battle, but is defeated after Godzilla decapitates his head with atomic breath. The Xiliens recover and modify Gigan with chainsaw to assist Monster X in fighting Godzilla at Tokyo. However, Gigan battles Mothra once more, but inadvertently decapitates himself with his own razor disks after he attempts to kill Mothra before she destroys him once and for all.
Reiwa era (2022-present) Gigan returned in Gemstone's
GvG and
Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, where Godzilla battles an army of soldiers known as Gigan Miles led by the elite red-colored
Gigan Rex. The chibi version of Gigan appears in
Chibi Godzilla Raids Again is depicted as the cyborg who attempts to retrieve Chibi Mechagodzilla to destroy Monster Island. However, Chibi Gigan is always easily refuted and persuaded so he never achieves his goal. ==Appearances==