Anguirus | Monster Profile

Note: This article was originally written in 2014 on Godzilla Island.

Name: Anguirus

Movie Appearances: Godzilla Raids Again, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla’s Revenge (All Monsters Attack), Godzilla vs. Gigan (Godzilla on Monster Island), Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Godzilla: Final Wars

Anguirus is a burrowing kaiju that resembles an Ankylosaurus but with a longer, crocodile-like snout ending in a sharp horn. His most recognizable feature is the spiked, shell-like carapace covering his back. He also has a long, spiny tail and walks on all fours.

In battle, Anguirus is known for rolling into a ball like an armadillo, turning himself into a living boulder covered in spikes. He’s also capable of digging underground to evade attacks and can leap backward to slam his enemies with the spiked wall of his shell — a signature move that makes him one of the most aggressive melee fighters in the Godzilla series.

Anguirus made his debut in Godzilla Raids Again (1955), becoming the first monster ever to battle Godzilla. Though defeated in that film, Anguirus later returned in Destroy All Monsters (1968) as one of Godzilla’s most loyal allies. From that point on, he became a recurring defender of Earth and a trusted companion on Monster Island.

My Thoughts:

Anguirus has always been one of my favorite ally kaiju alongside Rodan. It’s a shame he never appeared during the Heisei era, but his comeback in Godzilla: Final Wars for Godzilla’s 50th anniversary was a welcome return — even if he was fighting against Godzilla that time.

In Final Wars, Anguirus teamed up with several monsters in battle but was ultimately defeated when Godzilla hurled him into a mountain, sending him retreating underground.

Anguirus deserves another big-screen moment. With Legendary’s MonsterVerse expanding, he’s a perfect candidate for a modern redesign maybe one day we’ll see him return. Until then, I highly recommend checking out his classic appearances to appreciate one of Godzilla’s most loyal allies.