Just what IS the size limet on Kaiju, anyhoo?

Flangepart · November 21, 2006, 04:55:20 PM

I was watching RODAN last week, and i thought once agine about this...just how big does a critter have to be to leave "Large bad tempered animal" status, and become a true Kaiju.
Kaiju being Japanese for "skyscraper size can of self propelled, liveing woopass"?
Is there a tonage limet, or is it volume?

Doc Daneeka · November 21, 2006, 06:03:38 PM

I'd say at least twice the size of a normal one-story house is what is considered to be rubber-monster status.

Anything a bit smaller is about American monster-movie status (although that may be pushing it)

Andrew · November 21, 2006, 06:57:21 PM

American giant monsters tend to be smaller due to the efforts of the Skyscraper Lobbying Group. The idea of a giant monster capable of destroying a modern skyscraper should not be presented to the modern movie-goer. That is their motto.

I would say that adult Kaiju are at least fifty feet in height. Considering that most greatures will be longer than they are tall, that would make many a bit longer. We could probably go on arguing this point for a while, just like the discussion on Pluto's status as a planet.

Ed, Ego and Superego · November 21, 2006, 06:58:14 PM

I think it has to be building sized or better. Minya is only a Kaiju because of his family connections. Otherwise its just a monster.
Non-Kaiju examples: The Green Slime, Octaman.
But where would the Them! or The Blob fit in?
-Ed

Doc Daneeka · November 21, 2006, 09:03:30 PM

QuoteBut where would the Them! or The Blob fit in?

I don't quite understand what is confusing about "The ants" (what, comon, Them?) It's purty obvious that it's the standing height that matters.

"The Blob" Is it classified as a kaiju in the modern sense? I would be more likely to group it as a "predatory bacteria creature", that just happened to be huge (anything goes in film) along with the thing and the alien predator.

Dr. Whom · November 22, 2006, 03:41:21 AM

Quote from: Andrew on November 21, 2006, 06:57:21 PM

I would say that adult Kaiju are at least fifty feet in height. Considering that most greatures will be longer than they are tall, that would make many a bit longer. We could probably go on arguing this point for a while, just like the discussion on Pluto's status as a planet.

The most reliable estimates for the 1933 King Kong put him at about 60 ft. Would that make him a Kaiju? How big was the Beast from 20,000 fathoms? And what about the 50ft Centerfold. Is she disqualified for lack of a rubber suit? Or do we need a category of dwarf Kaiju?

Yaddo 42 · November 22, 2006, 06:27:24 AM

Would the Blob really count since it's size is based entirely on what it can eat? Remember the fragment the preacher had in the remake, it was small but had to the potential to grow all over if released. Plus would we consider it the same organism or a new one? I like the bacteria conparison.

Would maybe a certain size or ratio larger than the largest naturally occuring (unaltered/unaugmented by radiation, lab experiments, cosimic rays, what have you) example of such a creature be the standard to go by? Just a set height or length would allow things like dinosaurs or maybe whale sharks to qualify. Are revived or cloed Dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park films kaiju?

Would the various giant snakes, spiders, sharks, frankenfish, etc. that clog the schedule on SCIFi count as kaiju as long as they reached a certain length or height?

Then again by my suggestion The Killer Shrews and the Giant Leeches might count. They aren't 50+ feet but they are several times larger than the natural examples.

Fearless Freep · November 22, 2006, 03:24:37 PM

How's this for a definition:

"A Kaiju is a creature that will kill you accidently just cause you were in the way, and not even notice you were there"

Doc Daneeka · November 22, 2006, 03:34:40 PM

Quote"A Kaiju is a creature that will kill you accidently just cause you were in the way, and not even notice you were there"

I'm pretty sure there are at least a few that would kill you just for the sake of killing, no accident about it.

Also on the subject, what about Gamera, he's definitely a kaiju but he won't kill children

Flangepart · November 22, 2006, 04:24:47 PM

Quote from: Mr. Briggs Inc. on November 22, 2006, 03:34:40 PM
Quote"A Kaiju is a creature that will kill you accidently just cause you were in the way, and not even notice you were there"
I'm pretty sure there are at least a few that would kill you just for the sake of killing, no accident about it.

Also on the subject, what about Gamera, he's definitely a kaiju but he won't kill children

Yeah, but thats behavior oriented, not material related.
I'd go with an opinion from Jabootu. Anything that can activly crush a car. A T-Rex could squish a man, but ...hummm..wait...forgot the truck.
Wel, now if it can toss or flatten a car, then yeah, that puts it in the mass/strength catagory needed. I mean, a Grabboid can fit in Burt Gummer's duce and a half, but not realy flatten it.
Rehndosaurs, now that can smash a car....and small buildings...and some ships...

King Kong....Japanese, Kaiju, American, large animal. Thats my thought.

Andrew · November 22, 2006, 04:27:53 PM

Quote
Also on the subject, what about Gamera, he's definitely a kaiju but he won't kill children

In the more recent films he was created as a protector of mankind, so that might be a bad definition. He would not kill intentionally, but casualties caused by his actions become a big deal in the second and third films.

daveblackeye15 · November 23, 2006, 12:00:38 AM

I always thought that...

#1) Has to be a Japanese movie.

#2) At LEAST 25 meters tall.

#3) Has to destroy AND/OR fight another monster.

I think that covers it pretty well.

Dr. Whom · November 23, 2006, 03:49:13 AM

Quote from: daveblackeye15 on November 23, 2006, 12:00:38 AM
I always thought that...
#3) Has to destroy AND/OR fight another monster.

I think that covers it pretty well.

Requirement 3 would exclude the original Gojira!

On the other hand, with the car flattening criterium we are on to something. Perhaps they should be capable of destroying a large city, say Tokyo.

What with creatures that can change size, as in Inframan?

Rombles · November 24, 2006, 06:08:52 AM

Quote from: AlexB on November 22, 2006, 03:41:21 AM
Quote from: Andrew on November 21, 2006, 06:57:21 PM

I would say that adult Kaiju are at least fifty feet in height. Considering that most greatures will be longer than they are tall, that would make many a bit longer. We could probably go on arguing this point for a while, just like the discussion on Pluto's status as a planet.

The most reliable estimates for the 1933 King Kong put him at about 60 ft. Would that make him a Kaiju? How big was the Beast from 20,000 fathoms? And what about the 50ft Centerfold. Is she disqualified for lack of a rubber suit? Or do we need a category of dwarf Kaiju?

Excuse me, I need to be alone for a while with that image of a 50 foot centrefold in a rubber suit.

Flangepart · November 24, 2006, 12:26:12 PM

Excuse me, I need to be alone for a while with that image of a 50 foot centrefold in a rubber suit.

[/quote]

TIGHT fitting rubber? I'll go with that.
Size changing?....hummmm....don't know. I'm tempted to think perminant size.

But city smashing, yeah thats a given. Oh, and fleeing populace. Gotta cause THAT!