Ultra Q Episode 12 "I Saw a Bird!" Review | Godzilla Island Archive

Note: This article was originally published in 2017 on Godzilla Island all views and opinions may have since changed.

This episode opens at a zoo where the early morning zookeeper is doing his rounds. Suddenly, the animals panic in their cages. The zookeeper looks to the sky, lets out a scream, and collapses. When the morning security arrives, they find all the animals missing and the zookeeper barely alive. He manages to utter only the words, “I saw a bird”, before dying.

Shortly afterward, a mysterious pirate-like ship appears in the port of a small town. When locals investigate, the ship is empty except for a few books and a small white bird flying about. The ship shakes and crumbles, sinking to the bottom of the sea. One of the salvaged books has a final entry reading, “I saw a bird”. A reporter recalls seeing the little white bird on the ship and wonders if it’s connected. The professor begins researching ancient birds to identify it.

Meanwhile, a boy from the village steals a boat to reach his secret clubhouse, where he finds the small white bird and begins feeding it. The bird grows fond of him. When island fishermen discover the stolen boat, they track down the boy. Seeing the boy in distress, the bird attacks the fishermen, forcing them to flee.

Back at the professor’s office, it’s discovered that the bird is an ancient species called Larugeus, capable of growing rapidly into a massive creature. Authorities attempt to capture it, and the boy, feeling confident, even uses the bird to scare the fishermen back to town. The Larugeus is eventually caged and temporarily placed in a jail cell.

Enraged by captivity, Larugeus rapidly grows into a giant creature and flies toward the sea, leaving a trail of destruction over villages and cities. The boy witnesses the majestic creature one last time as it disappears over the horizon.

This episode was excellent. Larugeus is a fascinating kaiju, capable of transforming from a tiny bird into a massive creature and back again. The ending suggests the possibility of Larugeus returning in a later episode, though it never actually does. The concept was unique, and Ultra Q continues to impress with its inventive monster designs.