Monster Profile: PIGMON (Ultraman)

PIGMON

(ピグモン Pigumon)

Classification: Friendly Rare Monster

On Tatara Island, the monsters come big and mean, but Pigmon is the exception to the rule.

The size of a human child, Pigmon is a bizarre creature with a heart of gold. He first appeared in the classic Ultraman series as a diminutive kaiju with a body sprouting in red frills. His stubby white arms end in long, skeletal fingers that are constantly waggling and are, honestly, unnerving to watch. 

Pigmon was discovered by the Science Patrol on Tatara Island where Pigmon left a trail for the Science Patrol to follow. They found Pigmon helping an injured researcher, the only survivor of a doomed research team that was ravaged by the island's larger, meaner monster. Near the end of the episode, the monster Red King attacks and kills Pigmon by crushing him under an avalanche of rocks.

In a later episode, Pigmon is brought back to life by a creature known as Geronimon who was angry at the Science Patrol for killing monsters. Pigmon helped the Science Patrol learn of Geronimon's plans, but Pigmon is killed once again while protecting Science Patrol member Ide from the resurrected monster Dorako.

Height: 4 feet (1 meter)

Weight: 40 kilograms

First Appearance

Ultraman (1966) - "Monster Lawless Zone"

Other Appearances

Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero / Ultraman Powered (1993)
Revive! Ultraman (1996) 
Ultraman Max (2005)
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009)

Monster Profile: ANTLAR (Ultraman)

ANTLAR

(アントラー Antora)

Classification: Magnet Monster

Residing in the desert sands of the Middle East, Antlar is a giant beetle-like monster with magnetic powers. Antlar's distinguishing features include a impenetrable carapace and ferocious mandibles. In the original Ultraman series, Antlar is an ancient beast that threatens the Middle Eastern city of Baraj, but Antlar is kept at bay by a blue stone handed down to the people of Baraj by one of Ultraman's ancestors. Antlar holds the distinction of being one of the few kaiju that Ultraman was unable to defeat.

In Ultraman Max, Antlar is a prophetic force that destroys polluters; after destroying the ancient city of Barrage he goes after Tokyo. Antlar also appeared in the series Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey and the film Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie

Height: 40 meters (131 feet)

Weight: 20, 000 Tons

Powers: Antlar is a quick burrower capable of traveling through the sand at great speeds. As an offensive attack, Antlar can kick and shoot sand into the faces of its opponents. Antlar can also produce a magnetic beam capable of attracting all metallic objects. This beam works especially well in drawing the weapons out of enemy hands.

Weaknesses: The Blue Stone of Baraj (Ultraman); The Blue Stone of Barrage (Ultraman Max); Ultraman's Ultra Attack Ray (Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie)

First Appearance

Ultraman (1966) - "The Blue Stone of Baraj"

Other Appearances

Ultraman Max (2005)
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2008)
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy  (2009)

Trivia

• Ultraman has failed to defeat Antlar without the help of a magical blue stone in every incarnation except for in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie, making Antlar one of Ultraman's most formidable enemies.

• Antlar's neck and legs are borrowed from Toho's Megalon costume.

Monster Profile: GESURA (Ultraman)

GESURA

(ゲスラ)

Classification: Sea Monster

Gesura is an amphibious monster from the waters of South America that's cuckoo for cocoa. Its diet consists of cocoa, chocolate, cocoa, and cacao beans.

Normally Gesura is a smaller creature, but the Gesura encountered by Ultraman was mutated to gigantic size after exposure to the toxic contents of Tokyo's Harbour.


Max. Height: 60 meters (196 feet)

Max. Weight: 10,000 Tons

Powers: Its primary defense is a series of toxic spines that run down its back.

Weaknesses: Gesura can be fatally wounded by removing the fin from its head.

First Appearance

Ultraman (1966) - "Coast Guard Orders"

Later Appearances

Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers (2008) as King Gesura

Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009) as King Gesura

Monster Profile: BALTAN SEIJIN (Ultraman)

BALTAN SEIJIN

aka. Alien Baltan
(バルタン星人 Barutan Seijin)

Classification: Space Ninja

Whether they exist at microscopic size, human height, or as 164 foot monsters, do not underestimate the Baltan Seijin. Equipped with a formidable range of powers, this uncompromising race debuted in the original Ultraman series and attempted to take over the Earth after their own planet was destroyed by a nuclear device. Recognized by their crustaceon-like faces, V-shaped head crest, giant claws, and distinctive laugh, the Baltan Seijin have appeared in various subsequent Ultraman series as one of Ultraman's classic enemies.

Max. Height: 50 meters (164 feet)
Max. Weight: 15,000 tons
Weakness: Specium (spacium)

Powers: The Baltan Seijin have an array of powers. From their claws, they can fire paralyzing red beams or destructive red/white beams. They are capable of flight, rapid growth, and short-range teleportation. The Baltan-Seijin can also project illusionary dublicates as decoys to confuse enemies. In Ultraman, Baltans have also been shown to possess the ability to take control of a human's body and mind in order to communicate with humans. Presumably, the original Baltans lack the natural ability to communicate with Earthlings. Although Baltans are tough to kill, when a Baltan does suffer severe damage, it sheds its outer carapace. Finally, multiple Baltans of microscopic or human-size can combine into one larger Baltan. Team work!

 Variations

• Mecha-Baltan
• Psycho Baltan
• Neo-Baltan
• Dark Baltan
• Little Baltans (Child & Tiny)

First Appearance

Ultraman (1966) - "Shoot the Invader"

Later Appearances
Ultra Fight (1970)
The Return of Ultraman (1971)
Redman (1972)
The Ultraman (1979)
Ultraman 80 (1980)
Andro Melos (1983)
Ultraman Powered (1993)
Ultraman Cosmos (2002)
Ultraman Max (2005)
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009)

Monster Profile: BEMULAR (Ultraman)

BEMULAR

(ベムラー Bemurā)

Classification: Space Monster

Looking like the cross between Godzilla and a sea urchin, Bemular is an evil space monster who escaped captivity and was pursued to earth in the first episode of Ultraman. He draws strength from a lake, but after wreaking some havoc, he is swiftly pummeled by Ultraman and then destroyed. He suffers a similar fate in the Ultraman film Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy.

Height: 50 meters (164 feet)
Weight: 15,000 tons
Flight Speed: Mach 1.8

Powers: Bemular can travel through space in a blue sphere. He can also fire a destructive blue laser from his mouth.

Trivia

• Bemular's name was originally going to be used for a bird-like humanoid monster with wings that was intended to be the hero of the series Scientific Special Search Party: Bemular. This series would have been the followup to Ultra Q but the idea was scrapped in favour of the Ultraman concept. 

• The Bemular suit was later recycled to make the monster Gyango in Episode 11 of Ultraman, "The Ruffian from Outer Space".

• Bemular`s roar sounds like a pitched-down version of Godzilla`s own iconic roar.

Appearances

Ultraman (1966) - "Ultra Operation #1"

Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009)