King Kong (Toho)
Encyclopedia
King Kong is a fictional kaiju
, directly based on the titular character
from the 1933 film King Kong
. He appeared in Toho Studio's successful film King Kong vs. Godzilla
and would later reappear in the film King Kong Escapes
. This King Kong differs greatly from the original in size and abilities. Toho's Kong was named for the original as they are both massive gorillas, but there is no "real world" connection between the two, genetic or otherwise.
that Kong has a very large brain and is extremely intelligent, using his surroundings to hide and wait for a chance to strike in battle, as well as retreating from a fight he could not win.
, Kaiju Kong was made considerably larger than the original version and was granted the ability to draw power from electric energy. When fully charged, Kong can even direct this power against his opponents by means of an electric touch attack, which increases his strength considerably. Kong was shown to be able to throw Godzilla by his tail, an act no other kaiju has ever been able to accomplish. This power however was not used in King Kong Escapes
. As one of the few mammal based kaiju, Kong's most distinctive feature is his intelligence. He demonstrates the ability to learn and adapt to an opponent's fighting style, identify and exploit weaknesses in an enemy, and is even capable of utilizing his environment to stage ambushes and traps.
and drink all the natives berry juice, which acted as a tranquilizer and put Kong to sleep.
On there way back to Japan, Kong awakens on his raft and the men are forced to blow it up. Kong then makes his way to Japan on his own. In a valley, King Kong meets Godzilla and they go into battle. After Kong throws some rocks at Godzilla, the king shoots his atomic ray at Kong and the giant ape retreats. After his battle with Godzilla, Kong attacks Tokyo, and holds a woman hostage with him, whom he carries while climbing a tall building. The JSDF drop some capsules with Farou's berry juice, and is put to sleep. The next morning, the JSDF drop Kong from a balloon air-lift in the Mt. Fuji area where Godzilla is located to force the two giants to fight to the death.
Godzilla had an advantage in the beginning, but Kong begins to get the advantage when an electric storm hits him and he uses his electrical power to do damage on Godzilla. In the end, Kong and Godzilla fall off a cliff and hurl into the ocean and a few minutes later, Kong resurfaces and has won the battle. He then attempts to swim back to his island home but never makes it back, instead he makes a new home on a different island.
Some years later, Kong is found living on an island near Mondo island, presumably because he couldn't find Farou. A research team encounters Gorosaurus, a giant mutant Tyrannosaurus Rex, the female scientist is rescued by none other than King Kong, who breaks Gorosaurus' jaw in a bloody display. Then as the research team leaves the island, a Giant Sea Serpent attacks them, again Kong rushes to there rescue. The team leaves and Kong is left on the island. Back on the main land, Mechani-Kong
, invented by the evil genius Dr. Who to dig for a radioactive element called "Element X" kidnaps Kong from his home and hypnotizes him to dig for Element X. Kong eventually snaps out of it and swims to Tokyo to do battle with his mechanical counterpart. Kong is victorious and while heading back to his island destroys a submarine with Doctor Who inside. His enemies defeated, his friends safe, Kong returned to his home to live out the rest of his days in peace.
episode 38, "Greenman vs Gorilla". For copyright reasons however, he was called Gorilla.
There are two reasons why Kong won: At the time King Kong vs. Godzilla was made, King Kong was a more popular character; and that King Kong was one of the inspirations for Toho to make the original Godzilla film back in 1954. Godzilla's defeat was Toho's way of honoring and thanking RKO (the creators of Kong).
Another complaint with this film was the Kong suit used. Not only was it very unlifelike, even for a rubber monster suit, but the facial structure and bizarre tongue and eye actions made it even more visually unappealing. This was in stark contrast with the Godzilla suit used in this movie, which is a fan favorite. The suit from King Kong Escaspes was considered better, but still not up to par with the stop-motion effects from the original film.
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
, directly based on the titular character
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
from the 1933 film King Kong
King Kong (1933 film)
King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
. He appeared in Toho Studio's successful film King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
and would later reappear in the film King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes, released in Japan as , is a 1967 Kaiju film. A Japanese/American co-production from Toho and Rankin/Bass . Directed by Ishiro Honda and featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred both American actors alongside Japanese actors...
. This King Kong differs greatly from the original in size and abilities. Toho's Kong was named for the original as they are both massive gorillas, but there is no "real world" connection between the two, genetic or otherwise.
Appearance
Kong is an oversized gorilla, possibly mutated by some unknown means or perhaps he simply grew to his enormous size. The creature's arms are extremely long and most likely used for swinging on cliff sides as there were many on his island home of Farou. The creature has brown shaggy fur and a more human face; he has muscular arms and legs like most gorillas. This Kong is significantly bigger than the original Kong, so that he would have a fair chance against Toho's towering behemoth Godzilla. He also has electrical abilities; again this was done by Toho to match Godzilla's nuclear pulse. It was explained in King Kong vs. GodzillaKing Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
that Kong has a very large brain and is extremely intelligent, using his surroundings to hide and wait for a chance to strike in battle, as well as retreating from a fight he could not win.
Powers and Abilities
Among kaiju, King Kong is suggested to be among the most powerful in terms of raw physical force, possessing strength and durability that rival that of Godzilla himself. To make Kong more of a match for Godzilla in his debut in King Kong vs. GodzillaKing Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
, Kaiju Kong was made considerably larger than the original version and was granted the ability to draw power from electric energy. When fully charged, Kong can even direct this power against his opponents by means of an electric touch attack, which increases his strength considerably. Kong was shown to be able to throw Godzilla by his tail, an act no other kaiju has ever been able to accomplish. This power however was not used in King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes, released in Japan as , is a 1967 Kaiju film. A Japanese/American co-production from Toho and Rankin/Bass . Directed by Ishiro Honda and featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred both American actors alongside Japanese actors...
. As one of the few mammal based kaiju, Kong's most distinctive feature is his intelligence. He demonstrates the ability to learn and adapt to an opponent's fighting style, identify and exploit weaknesses in an enemy, and is even capable of utilizing his environment to stage ambushes and traps.
Showa
King Kong lived on an island called Farou and was worshiped as a god by the natives on the island until a pharmaceutical company decided to take Kong to Japan as a sponsor. Kong first made his presence known when he showed up to defeat the Giant Octopus known as OodakuOodaku
Oodaku is a fictional character created by Toho co. Ltd. Oodaku first appeared in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla and has since appeared in The War of the Gargantuas...
and drink all the natives berry juice, which acted as a tranquilizer and put Kong to sleep.
On there way back to Japan, Kong awakens on his raft and the men are forced to blow it up. Kong then makes his way to Japan on his own. In a valley, King Kong meets Godzilla and they go into battle. After Kong throws some rocks at Godzilla, the king shoots his atomic ray at Kong and the giant ape retreats. After his battle with Godzilla, Kong attacks Tokyo, and holds a woman hostage with him, whom he carries while climbing a tall building. The JSDF drop some capsules with Farou's berry juice, and is put to sleep. The next morning, the JSDF drop Kong from a balloon air-lift in the Mt. Fuji area where Godzilla is located to force the two giants to fight to the death.
Godzilla had an advantage in the beginning, but Kong begins to get the advantage when an electric storm hits him and he uses his electrical power to do damage on Godzilla. In the end, Kong and Godzilla fall off a cliff and hurl into the ocean and a few minutes later, Kong resurfaces and has won the battle. He then attempts to swim back to his island home but never makes it back, instead he makes a new home on a different island.
Some years later, Kong is found living on an island near Mondo island, presumably because he couldn't find Farou. A research team encounters Gorosaurus, a giant mutant Tyrannosaurus Rex, the female scientist is rescued by none other than King Kong, who breaks Gorosaurus' jaw in a bloody display. Then as the research team leaves the island, a Giant Sea Serpent attacks them, again Kong rushes to there rescue. The team leaves and Kong is left on the island. Back on the main land, Mechani-Kong
Mechani-Kong
is a remote-controlled robot double of King Kong introduced in the 1966 animated television series The King Kong Show and featured again in the 1967 film King Kong Escapes. The robot was created by Dr...
, invented by the evil genius Dr. Who to dig for a radioactive element called "Element X" kidnaps Kong from his home and hypnotizes him to dig for Element X. Kong eventually snaps out of it and swims to Tokyo to do battle with his mechanical counterpart. Kong is victorious and while heading back to his island destroys a submarine with Doctor Who inside. His enemies defeated, his friends safe, Kong returned to his home to live out the rest of his days in peace.
Other
The King Kong suit from King Kong Escapes also appeared in Ike! GreenmanIke! Greenman
Ike! Greenman is a tokusatsu tv series by Toho in 1973. It ran from November 12, 1973, to September 27, 1974. It replaced Ike! Godman.-Toho monster cameos:*04.Gaira from War of the Gargantuas....
episode 38, "Greenman vs Gorilla". For copyright reasons however, he was called Gorilla.
Fan Reaction
Many fans who had eagerly anticipated Godzilla vs. King Kong were bitterly disappointed that the King of Monsters appeared to have been defeated. This movie, however, was the largest grossing film of the Godzilla series.There are two reasons why Kong won: At the time King Kong vs. Godzilla was made, King Kong was a more popular character; and that King Kong was one of the inspirations for Toho to make the original Godzilla film back in 1954. Godzilla's defeat was Toho's way of honoring and thanking RKO (the creators of Kong).
Another complaint with this film was the Kong suit used. Not only was it very unlifelike, even for a rubber monster suit, but the facial structure and bizarre tongue and eye actions made it even more visually unappealing. This was in stark contrast with the Godzilla suit used in this movie, which is a fan favorite. The suit from King Kong Escaspes was considered better, but still not up to par with the stop-motion effects from the original film.
Film Appearances
- King Kong vs. GodzillaKing Kong vs. Godzillais a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
(1962) - King Kong EscapesKing Kong EscapesKing Kong Escapes, released in Japan as , is a 1967 Kaiju film. A Japanese/American co-production from Toho and Rankin/Bass . Directed by Ishiro Honda and featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred both American actors alongside Japanese actors...
(1967) - Ike! GreenmanIke! GreenmanIke! Greenman is a tokusatsu tv series by Toho in 1973. It ran from November 12, 1973, to September 27, 1974. It replaced Ike! Godman.-Toho monster cameos:*04.Gaira from War of the Gargantuas....
episode 38, "Greenman vs. Gorilla"
Trivia
- According to a recent interview with producer Keehwan Her of Godzilla: UnleashedGodzilla: UnleashedGodzilla: Unleashed, abbreviated as G3 or GU, is a 3D fighting video game based on the Godzilla film franchise for the Wii and PlayStation 2, developed by Pipeworks and published by Atari. The PS2 version was released on November 20 and the Wii version on December 5, 2007 in North America and both...
, the Toho King Kong was intended to be in the game, but there were legal complications and he was never included.