Monster Profile: JIRASS (Ultraman)

JIRASS

(ジラース - Jirāsu)

Classification: Frilled Monster

Bearing an unmistakable likeness to the King of the Monsters, Jirass is a giant frilled aquatic reptile created (or is it found?) by the mad scientist Professor Nakamura (aka. Professor Nikaido) and raised in Lake Kitayama.

After Jirass's life in Lake Kitayama was disturbed and he was brought forth by his caretaker to attack the Science Patrol, Ultraman defeated Jirass in an uncharacteristically showy and brutal battle in which Jirass's frilled collar was ripped from his neck. After Jirass died, Ultraman knelt before the defeated monster to show his respects.

Height: 147 feet (45 meters)

Weight: 25,000 - 30, 000 tons

Powers: Like Godzilla, Jirass is an accomplished swimmer, but where Godzilla fires a blast of atomic breath, Jirass unleashes a blue electric ray from his mouth instead.

First Appearance

Ultraman (1966) - "The Mysterious Dinosaur Base"

Other Appearances

Redman (1972) 

Trivia

• Jirass is assembled from the Godzilla suit head used in Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster and the Godzilla body seen in Mothra vs. Godzilla with the addition of a frilled collar and yellow paint to distinguish Jirass from the iconic King of the Monsters

• The man in the suit is none other than Haruo Nakajima who is famous for playing Godzilla in the first twelve Godzilla films.

Godzilla Remake Gets New Screenwriter

The Godzilla remake that has been in production by Legendary Pictures has landed a new screenwriter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Max Borenstein has been tapped to write the second American remake of Godzilla, which Legendary has long promised would finally do justice to Japan's King of the Monsters after Roland Emmerich butchered the beast in his failed 1998 big-budget blockbuster.

Bornstein joins Gareth Edwards (director of the fabulous indie-film Monsters) who was recently announced as the director for Godzilla's second -- and hopefully more faithful -- second American outing.

Will the new Godzilla breathe atomic life back into the monster for American audiences? I hope so.