1968’s Kaiju soshingeki [trans. Parade of Monsters] (dir. Ishirô Honda) — better known in the West as Destroy All Monsters — was Toho’s anniversary celebration of the Godzilla franchise (as well as a last ditch effort to re-invigorate its box-office take). The film is famous for including eleven of Toho’s giant monster characters, namely Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, Minya, Spiega (aka Kumonga), Baragon, Gorosaurus, Manda, and Varan!
Naturally Godzilla gets to rumble with the others, who are under alien control — in a plot that was more-or-less replicated by 2004’s last-ditch effort to revive Godzilla’s box-office fortunes for the new millennium, Gojira: Fainaru uozu [trans. Godzilla: Final Wars] (dir. Ryuhei Kitamura).
In the original, the battles between Godzilla and assorted monsters were sometimes cursory to say the least, and in some cases more-or-less non-existent. One of these was his tussle with Manda, a serpent-like sea dragon that first appeared in Kaitei gunkan [trans. Undersea Battleship] (1963; dir. Ishiro Honda) [aka Atragon (US, 1965)], guarding the undersea realm of Mu.
Here, however, for all those who felt cheated, is some footage of the battle between them that was excised before the film’s release:
For Destroy All Monsters Manda was given a re-design — a shave to lessen the likelihood of his being confused with Ghidorah. As a comparison here is Manda as he appeared in the earlier Atragon.
And here he is in Godzilla Final Wars:
Via Todd Tennant
Can’t believe they cut that fight. Yes, it’s a bit unfaire for Manda, the poor beast cannot do much, but i would have loved to have an extended Destroy All Monsters to bite into. Thanks for the peek.
Yes, it seems odd that they cut it. Sure, it sort of emphasises how impractical Manda is out of water, and how unlikely an opponent — but it’s effective enough and would have fleshed things out.
I wish Toho would let you and I make a graphic novelization of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, Rob. That would be a DREAM-assignment, yes?
It could be DAM GMK’ed, so to speak;0)
Todd
Sounds like a brilliant idea to me, Todd. Got any contacts? 🙂
I always wanted to know –
What ever happened to Manda’s horns?
When he comes on land do they fall off lol?
Baragon got jipped in Destroy all Monsters as well.
Its a different Manda, possibly the female of the species. That fight never was going to happen, just Godzilla’s suit actor, Mr. Nakajima messing around while the cameras where still rolling. Baragon got jipped from working overtime. He’s been in UltraQ as Pagos, Ultraman as Gabora, Neronga and Magura, and that was all in the same year, plus his suit was horribly messed up from rotting.
Thanks for that info, Lamango. Is the bit about Mr Nakajima confirmed? Can I ask how you know this?
wow good i like it
This is a great little bit.
Though it would be an unfair fight (Unless they could get Manda to move like it did in the Millennium movie Final Wars – out of the water).
Just so you know. I am the BIGGEST fan of Manda. The Muan serpent God is my favorite Kaiju. With that in mind and the fact that I have looked up “EVERYTHING I can find on things Manda related…
So far as I know or can find out. The whole Manda female thing is just fanish supposition. I am one who also considers/favors the “IDEA” that the Manda from DAM and her Stock Footage appearances to be that of a female of the species, and the one from Atragon is the male (I could go into this more deeply… but I don’t want to be boring). Again, I have never been able to confirm the whole male/female thing in regards to Manda’s gender. I have never personally come across anything or stance from TOHO either.
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