BLOOD WORK: KAIJUOLOGY: MANDA

Subject: Manda

Documentation: Atragon (1963), Destroy All Monsters (1968), and Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

History: 12,000 years ago the shape of the world was very different from what we know today. Other continents existed in areas that have since sunk beneath the world's oceans. During this time the most prominent civilizations were that of Atlantis, Lemuria, Seatopia, and another located in the Pacific Ocean, the Mu Empire. The Mu Empire was the most powerful civilization at that time. Mu's capitol city of Ninai Kanai existed near what is now modern day Okinawa.

During this time period great beasts roamed the world, what we today would call Kaiju. Many of these monsters threatened the civilizations of man just as they do today. However, many of these great nations and their highly evolved sciences were protected by powerful kaiju or had created kaiju of their own to protect them. The Seatopians were protected by their kaiju deity Megalon. The Atlanteans genetically engineered kaiju such as Gyaos and Gamera. The Mu Empire, in their city of Ninai Kanai, created the kaiju Dagahra, a powerful beast for defense with a secondary ability to remove pollutants from the oceans.

There was another kaiju which served as both god and protector of the Mu Empire, the great kaiju Manda. Manda is a gargantuan serpentine creature, as strong today as it was 12,000 years ago. Manda defended the Mu Empire from all types of threats including other kaiju. It was due to Manda's incredible power and dominance over the other kaiju of the time that the Mu Empire reached the pinnacle of power on Earth. But not even Manda nor the Mu Empire's advanced science could prevent the great cataclysm that befell the Earth. After finally achieving absolute power over the world the oceans rose and Mu, Atlantis, Lemuria, and Seatopia sank beneath the waves.

The Mu and Seatopian empires endured. Surviving the cataclysm, they rebuilt their civilizations deep beneath the oceans in subterranean caverns. They utilized natural thermal vents as heat and power sources. They never regained their former glory or size but through their advanced sciences and technologies they were able to continue their existence through to the modern era.

In 1963 the Mu Empire made a bid at world domination in hopes of returning to their former status as the most powerful nation on the planet. An ultimatum was issued to the nations of the world by Agent 23 of the Mu Empire. If the foreign powers were to stand in the way of Mu's rise to power the consequences would be dire. The world decided to ignore Mu's declaration and Venice, Italy and Hong Kong were annihilated as a result, devastated by earthquakes triggered by Mu's manipulation of the tectonic plates.

The Mu Empire feared only one opponent: Hachiro Jinguji, former Japanese submarine captain during World War II. Captain Jinguji, refusing to surrender to the allies in WWII, continued work on a super submarine. This super submarine, Gotengo a.k.a. Atragon, became Earth's last hope against the Mu threat. Once Gotengo was launched the Mu unleashed Manda against the submarine. Manda nearly succeeded in destroying the Gotengo if not for a liquid nitrogen weapon. Gotengo used this weapon to lower the creature's body temperature inducing a state of hibernation. With Manda subdued the Gotengo laid siege to Mu's central city, utterly destroying it. The Mu Empire was defeated.

ATTACK ON KILAAK

In the year 1999 Earth's scientists captured Manda and relocated the beast to the Ogasawara islands. Technology was developed to contain the creature for observation and scientific study. Manda was given access to food, water, and shelter on the island. The kaiju made its dwelling within a cave which had an opening in the middle of the island and another underwater exit opening to the sea. Manda lived peacefully on the island with the other kaiju.

During the Kilaak invasion of Earth Manda along with the other Diakaiju (Giant Beasts) contained on Monster Island were released from captivity and set loose upon the world. The monsters were once again under control, this time by an alien race known as the Kilaaks. The invasion began with the subjugation of the major nations of the world. Godzilla was sent to destroy New York City. Mothra to Peking. Rodan devastated Moscow. Baragon wreaked havoc in Paris. And Manda razed London. More major cities were targeted by other kaiju. No one knew when or where the Kilaaks would strike next.

While all the great nations of the world were being attacked, Japan was spared the destruction. Then a few days later disaster struck. Manda, Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra descended upon Tokyo. Manda coiled around suspended monorail tracks, slithered through the streets, and coiled up to the top of a building. After the devastating assault on Tokyo Manda and the other kaiju were called back to defend the Kilaak hidden base.

During a stealth mission against the Kilaaks, a small contingent of men succeeded in disabling the device used by the Kilaaks to control the kaiju. Once freed of alien control, Manda and the rest of Earth's daikaiju engaged in one last titanic battle with the space born kaiju designated King Ghidorah. Ultimately the Earth kaiju proved victorious and returned to Ogasawara Island (code named: Monster Island) of their own accord.

MANDA'S BIOLOGY

Manda, is a mega-reptile from prehistoric times, the last surviving member of its species. Mu scientists developed a way of controlling the beast, sending Manda to attack ships and military vessels in the Pacific. Manda is the longest kaiju on record stretching in excess of 150 meters in length. Manda is most at home in the sea but is comfortable and able to survive on land as well. Manda can survive in most temperatures but has proven susceptible, like many kaiju, to extreme cold (a weakness even Godzilla shares).

Manda is an adept swimmer and has been a scourge of Earth's oceans for thousands of years. It is believed that both the depictions of sea serpents and mythological Chinese and Japanese dragons originated from long ago sightings of Manda in the ocean and on land (presumably mainland China or Japan as a possible nesting grounds). The kaiju also bears a striking resemblance to the Imoogi from Korean legend. Manda, similar to some modern day snakes, possesses four limbs. However, where today's snakes' limbs are vestigial, Manda's limbs are fully developed.

Manda also possesses a deadly constricting ability, similar to its modern snake descendants. It is with this constricting ability that Manda proves to be one of the strongest kaiju in existence. By constricting its prey, scientists have theorized that this is how Manda defeated countless kaiju during the Mu Empire reign 12,000 years ago. If caught in its constrictive coils not even the king of the monsters could escape defeat by Manda.

Review: Manda is one of the more obscure kaiju in the Toho canon. Manda has technically appeared in 5 films, two of which were merely stock footage from previous films. The monster resembles traditional Chinese and Japanese dragons in design and therefore a more difficult character to bring to life on film. Be that as it may, Eiji Tsuburaya and his staff brought the kaiju to life wonderfully. Seeing Manda in Destroy All Monsters is one of the highlights of the film for me.

Manda is also featured in a rare and legendary lost scene from Destroy All Monsters. It's the closest thing we'll ever see to a Godzilla Vs Manda battle from the Showa Era. The scene was deleted from the kaiju assault on Tokyo sequence. Manda has slithered its way to the top of a building and is being bombarded with artillery. The building crumbles and Manda falls onto Godzilla. The two kaiju knock against one another for a bit until they go their separate ways. As far as I know this scene hasn't been released on DVD or Blu Ray yet (at least in America). This is my most wanted Godzilla special feature.

I totally dig Manda's design and always enjoy when the monster appears. The design goes through quite a few changes from Atragon to Destroy All Monsters to Final Wars. I personally prefer the design from Atragon the best but I like Manda's sequence in Destroy All Monsters better. I'm never going to complain about Manda being in a movie but it is a shame they kill Manda off so quickly in Final Wars. Manda is one of my favorite kaiju and one I hope to see more of in future films.

Manda's brief appearances in the comic book Godzilla: Rulers of Earth have been fantastic! And for an idea of how cool Manda could be in a future movie just take a look at the movie DRAGON WARS. The movie is fun and worth watching for the kaiju battles alone.