Anguirus

The armored warrior who first fought Godzilla and later became his ally.

Anguirus is a dinosaurian monster resembling an ankylosaurus, possessing traits of both ceratosaurus and styracosaurus. Created by Motoyoshi Oda, he debuted in the 1955 film Godzilla Raids Again as the first creature shown engaging in combat with Godzilla. Throughout his history, he has served as both enemy and ally to the King of the Monsters across numerous Toho productions, including Destroy All Monsters (1968), Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), and Godzilla: Final Wars (2004).

In his initial appearance, he was identified as an Angilosaurus awakened by hydrogen bombs to fight Godzilla until defeated. Later, in the Showa era, he lived on Monsterland as a loyal companion, famously latching onto King Ghidorah's neck despite taking heavy damage. His modern return in 2004 saw him briefly controlled by the Xiliens before joining forces with other defenders.

Quick Facts

Series: Godzilla
First: Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
Creator: Motoyoshi Oda
Also known as: Angilas
Species: Ankylosaur Kaiju

Lore & Background

Anguirus possesses a unique biological structure featuring five brains: one in his head controlling organs, and one above each limb for rapid reaction. This anatomy allows him to move incredibly fast despite his bulk and react quicker than most kaiju. His carapace is studded with long, sharp spikes, and his tail was covered in spikes (with a club added in Godzilla: Final Wars). In Godzilla Raids Again, he could emit stunning poison from his claws and back spikes, and his final roars caused ultrasonic-like effects that cracked Osaka Castle.

He also demonstrated the ability to burrow substantial distances; a notable journey began in Godzilla vs. Megalon and ended in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, where he resurfaced beneath the robot. His durability is immense, surviving being stomped, kicked with robotic force, dropped from heights, and even Godzilla's atomic ray. Although his jaw was broken by Mechagodzilla in a bloody display, executives noted he recovered almost immediately.

Reader's Guide

Anguirus is a quadrupedal giant resembling an ankylosaurus with a long face, rows of serrated teeth, two upper tusks, and horns on his head and nose. He stands up on his longer hind limbs to reach full height but generally walks on all fours. His coloration shifted from brown with yellowish spines in the Showa continuity to light gray with orange spikes in the Millennium series. For combat, he utilizes a rolling attack by curling into a ball to propel himself forward with tremendous speed, as seen in Godzilla: Final Wars. He can also lunge at opponents with massive leaps and burrow deep underground. His signature moves include jumping backward to impale foes on his spiked carapace and using his vice-like bite to hold enemies like King Ghidorah. In the original 1955 film, he was originally planned to breathe an atomic ray according to the official novelization.

Did You Know?

In the American localized version of his debut film titled Gigantis, the Fire Monster (1959), his name is pronounced 'ANG-will-o-Saw-rus' and he is called the 'Killer of the Living'.
The original Anguirus suit was shipped to Los Angeles for an unused American production called The Volcano Monsters before both it and the second Godzilla suit disappeared forever.
Anguirus roars were created using a combination of saxophone, harmonica, oboe, and tuba sounds.
In the English dub of Godzilla: Final Wars, a crew member erroneously referred to him as 'the Angweenus' during his confrontation with the battleship Karyu.