Godzilla’s Best Friends

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Summary

  • Godzilla has formed strong bonds with many kaiju allies despite his long list of enemies.
  • Godzilla’s friendships with creatures like Gorosaurus and King Caesar have proved invaluable in epic battles.
  • From Anguirus to Mothra, these iconic friendships have defined Godzilla’s legacy as the King of the Monsters.

As a die-hard fan of Godzilla and all things kaiju, I can confidently say that my personal favorite friendship in this iconic franchise has to be between Godzilla and Anguirus. Having grown up watching these monstrous titans battle it out on the silver screen, I’ve witnessed their dynamic evolve from fierce rivals to unbreakable friends over the years.

Over the course of his 70-year career, spanning across 38 films, Godzilla has inevitably accumulated quite a few adversaries. Although iconic foes such as King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla are often what fans remember most, it’s important to note that the Monster King has also formed numerous friendships and alliances along the way.

From one appearance to another, it’s clear that Godzilla has quite a few legendary monsters who have become his most steadfast allies. However, among all these companions, who can be considered his dearest friend remains a topic of discussion.

Consequently, it has been revised to incorporate Shimo (from Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire), Minilla (from the Showa period), Godzilla Junior (from the Heisei era), and Ishiro Serizawa (from the Monsterverse). These four choices may seem unorthodox, but they have proven to be valuable allies for the King of the Monsters.

10. Shimo

A Powerful Titan Who Godzilla Helped Set Free

In the movie “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire,” Shimo might be categorized as one of the main antagonists, but she doesn’t act maliciously due to being manipulated by Skar King. Throughout the film, Godzilla and Shimo engage in numerous battles, but eventually, the Titan known as Godzilla assists Shimo in escaping Skar King’s control.

In addition to their collaboration in defeating Skar King alongside Kong, these two titans forged a strong alliance by the story’s end. Moreover, the novelization of Godzilla vs. Kong suggests that Shimo was the one who froze King Ghidorah in Antarctica long ago, hinting at previous battles between her and Godzilla.

9. Gorosaurus

A Fellow Dinosaur Who Never Really Fought Godzilla

Destroy All Monsters

  • Released: August 1, 1968
  • Era: Showa
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Ishiro Honda

In a rather uncommon scenario, Gorosaurus is a kaiju that emerged during the Showa Era but primarily didn’t encounter Godzilla because he was primarily designed as an adversary for King Kong, appearing in the 1967 film titled “King Kong Escapes“. Following his first appearance, Gorosaurus is often depicted coexisting harmoniously with other monsters in Monsterland.

In the epic battle of Destroy All Monsters, Gorosaurus proved to be a reliable ally of Godzilla by playing a pivotal role. During the grand finale against King Ghidorah, he demonstrated remarkable strength and utility, particularly when he executed his renowned kangaroo kick, which ultimately defeated the alien monster. It’s safe to say that without Gorosaurus’s crucial help, Godzilla and the other kaiju would have faced a more challenging time vanquishing Ghidorah.

8. Minilla / Godzilla Junior

Godzilla’s Weak But Plucky Adoptive Sons

Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah

  • Released: December 9, 1995
  • Era: Heisei
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Takao Okawara

In this movie series, there have been two main representations of Godzilla’s offspring: Minilla, hailing from the Showa Era, and Godzilla Junior, originating from the Heisei Era. While they serve as Godzilla’s progeny, both have demonstrated on multiple occasions that they are reliable allies who can stand their ground in a battle.

In “Son of Godzilla” and “Destroy All Monsters”, Minilla, despite being rather feeble, played a significant role in the fights against Kumonga and King Ghidorah respectively. Conversely, Godzilla Junior significantly strengthened in “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah”, becoming a crucial figure in the battle against Destoroyah until unfortunately meeting his end at the hands of Godzilla himself. The poignant response from Godzilla upon learning of his son’s demise highlights the deep bond they shared.

7. King Caesar

Helped In The Violent Battle Against Mechagodzilla

Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla

  • Released: March 21, 1974
  • Era: Showa
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Jun Fukuda

For the first time on screen, Mechagodzilla emerged as one of Godzilla’s toughest and most lethal adversaries yet. Realizing this, the Azumi family chose to intervene by summoning King Caesar, an ancient protector from Okinawa, who swiftly joined forces with Godzilla in combat.

In the epic confrontation against Godzilla’s robotic counterpart, King Caesar stood out due to his extraordinary acrobatics and knack for dodging laser assaults. Notably, he proved to be a reliable partner for Godzilla in this fight. This bond was further emphasized in the movie “Godzilla: Final Wars,” where King Caesar was among the kaiju controlled by minds, yet Godzilla spared him – a tribute to their long-standing camaraderie from the Showa period.

6. Ishiro Serizawa

Godzilla’s Only Real Human Friend

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

  • Released: May 31, 2019
  • Era: Monsterverse
  • Studio: Legendary Pictures
  • Director: Michael Dougherty

Absolutely, many of Godzilla’s companions are huge monsters similar to him, but over time, there have been a good number of human characters who’ve aided him. Out of all these humans, Ishiro Serizawa from the Monsterverse stands out as the most helpful and memorable one, with the added detail that Godzilla appears to have taken a liking to him too.

In the 2014 film “Godzilla,” Serizawa consistently urged the U.S. military not to annihilate the mighty Godzilla, instead encouraging him to battle the MUTOs. His attempts proved fruitful as Godzilla ultimately saved the planet by vanquishing these new monstrous foes. However, it was in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” where Serizawa truly solidified his bond with Godzilla – he gave up his life to protect and aid the titular kaiju during its recovery. In a poignant moment before his demise, he addressed Godzilla as an “old friend,” a gesture that seemed deeply meaningful to the colossal creature. The extraordinary camaraderie between these two characters is undeniably one of the most compelling aspects of the Monsterverse narrative.

5. Kong

From Deadly Enemies To Close Allies

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

  • Released: March 25, 2024
  • Era: Monsterverse
  • Studio: Legendary Pictures
  • Director: Adam Wingard

When Legendary Pictures acquired the permissions to utilize both Godzilla and King Kong within their Monsterverse, they recognized that a rematch between these legendary titans was necessary. Yet, it was the thrilling possibility of these cinematic legends bonding and joining forces to combat another kaiju that truly captivated them. And that’s precisely what unfolded in Godzilla vs. Kong.

In spite of being Alpha Titans with their own distinct characteristics, it’s clear that Godzilla wouldn’t have triumphed against Mechagodzilla from Apex Cybernetics without Kong’s power and talents. Years passed, and they teamed up again after a fierce confrontation (followed by reconciliation), this time to vanquish the harmful duo of Skar King and Shimo. Consequently, the unforeseen pairing of Godzilla and Kong emerged as one of the most beloved movie teams in Hollywood.

4. Jet Jaguar

One Of Godzilla’s Most Bizarre Yet Charming Friends

Godzilla Vs. Megalon

  • Released: March 17, 1973
  • Era: Showa
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Jun Fukuda

In the Godzilla series, while Godzilla vs. Megalon might not be the top-tier film, it certainly stands out as one of the most iconic due to the debut of an unusual yet captivating character – Jet Jaguar. This robot, reminiscent of Ultraman, is known for its charm and oddity. In this movie, Jet Jaguar had to summon Godzilla to aid in the battle against not only Megalon but also Gigan.

In spite of having distinct appearances and combat methods, the harmony between Godzilla and Jet Jaguar was undeniably strong. They executed some remarkable and effective moves against the pair of alien monsters. However, the instance that solidified their legendary camaraderie was when Jet Jaguar extended a handshake to Godzilla in appreciation – an act of deep affection that was beautifully portrayed again in the 2023 short film titled Operation Jet Jaguar.

3. Mothra

The Queen Of The Monsters

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

  • Released: May 31, 2019
  • Era: Monsterverse
  • Studio: Legendary Pictures
  • Director: Michael Dougherty

Although Mothra is often recognized as a beloved and benign Toho kaiju, it turns out she was Godzilla’s adversary more frequently than friend. However, there were several instances where they put their disagreements aside, such as when they teamed up to defeat King Ghidorah in “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster” and “Destroy All Monsters.” Additionally, she was instrumental in the climactic battle against Monster X and Gigan in “Final Wars.

As a devoted cinephile, I must say that the profound friendship between these two colossal beings truly shone in the Monsterverse. In “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” we witnessed an extraordinary bond, so strong that Mothra earned the title of the Queen of the Monsters due to her connection with Godzilla. This alliance was put to the test during their battle against King Ghidorah, and Mothra’s selfless act of sacrifice left no doubt about it. To top it off, Godzilla’s visible display of grief after her loss underscored just how deeply they cared for one another.

Fortunately for both Godzilla and his admirers, Mothra made a comeback in the latest “Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire”. In this movie, she was the sole being capable of halting Godzilla’s assault on Kong and convincing him to join forces against Skar King and Shimo. The bond between these creatures is intriguing indeed, and since Mothra survives at the end of the film, many spectators eagerly anticipate seeing more of this relationship in upcoming sequels.

2. Rodan

A Reluctant But Trustworthy Ally

Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster

  • Released: December 20, 1964
  • Era: Showa
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Ishiro Honda

In much the same way as other familiar characters of legend, Godzilla and Rodan initially had their disagreements, yet fortunately found common ground to combat King Ghidorah together with Mothra. They reteamed against this adversary in Invasion of Astro-Monster, and Rodan was among the numerous allies in the epic final battle of Destroy All Monsters. In the Showa Era, Rodan initially served as a foe to Godzilla, but over time became one of his most steadfast allies.

During the Heisei Era’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, I found myself witnessing a familiar dynamic once more. Initially, Rodan and Godzilla were adversaries due to Rodan’s protective role over Baby Godzilla’s egg. However, in the climactic battle against Super Mechagodzilla, Rodan made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing Godzilla to survive and continue his duty of protecting Rodan’s adopted offspring. To add to this emotional tale, Rodan was one of the monsters granted mercy in Godzilla: Final Wars, serving as a testament to their legendary camaraderie yet again.

1. Anguirus

Godzilla’s Best Friend Ever

Godzilla Vs. Gigan

  • Released: March 12, 1972
  • Era: Showa
  • Studio: Toho
  • Director: Jun Fukuda

When Godzilla enthusiasts debate who Godzilla’s best friend is, they all tend to agree on one top pick: Anguirus. This is intriguing because Anguirus was the initial giant monster that Godzilla clashed with, in the 1955 film “Godzilla Raids Again”. However, their relationship has evolved significantly since then. In later films, they coexisted amicably in Monsterland and even fought together in major battles, such as the climactic one in “Destroy All Monsters”. Here, Anguirus’ resilience was notably effective.

In the film “Godzilla vs. Gigan”, Anguirus solidified his role as Godzilla’s most trusted ally, joining forces with him against Gigan and King Ghidorah. The extraordinary bond between these titanic creatures, evident in their communication, protection of each other, and combined attacks during the fight, left spectators awestruck. So strong was this friendship that Anguirus fell for a deception by False Godzilla in “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla”. This heartwarming camaraderie between the kaiju has been a recurring theme throughout the series, as seen in films like “Final Wars” and “King of the Monsters”, where an Anguirus-like creature was kept alive in the former, and a corpse resembling Anguirus was found outside Godzilla’s lair in the latter.

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2024-12-18 12:55