Godzilla Island – Story Arc 17

1997

Directed by Shun Mizutani

Hi, ho, and welcome to another chapter in the continuing saga of Godzilla Island! This time, we are up to Story Arc 17! Yes, were are rounding third and heading home, soon March of Godzilla Island will be complete! New visitors, get started at Godzilla Island Story Arc 1 to begin the journey here. Those of you following along, thrill as we introduce another new monster, give Anguirus some much needed character development, and wrap everything up incredibly neatly. Almost too neatly. Like the song says, “Every Gororin has its thorn!” Or something like that. Anyway, read on…

G-Guard Commander (Jiro Dan) – G-Guard Commander runs the Godzilla Guard unit on Godzilla Island. He’s all alone except for sassy robot Lucas, so of course he’s bored out of his skull normally. He seems to have been stationed there because it’s a low-priority assignment they could dump someone who can’t work under pressure, because that’s exactly what he is. Luckily Torema shows up to save his pants. I do not know if he has a name but it may be Oji. Lucas (Kenichiro Shimamura) – Annoying robot, Godzilla Island-style! Makes sarcastic remarks, and seems to be even mean at times. An annoying Kenny kid in floating metal sphere form. He must be destroyed! Translates from monster language to Japanese. Misato (Kaori Aso) – The new monster doctor who is dedicated to her craft. Works hard, argues with G-Guard Commander, and flies Medical Jet Jaguar around all the time. Landes (Kaoru Ukawa) – The new Xilien assigned by Giant Dark Emperor to take over Godzilla Island. She has crazy eyes. Always using a pink fluffy fan. Her ship is another Vabaruda. Nao (Sho Sawamura) – The latest cast addition to Godzilla Island, and the most mysterious because she came out of nowhere and seems obsessed with food. Who is she? Why does G-Guard Commander seem to know her and get annoyed at her constant talk of food? Will we ever get answers? I sure hope so, because otherwise you have to put up with this explanation for the remainder of the series. At this point I think she is G-Guard Commander’s daughter. I translated Sho Sawamura’s name myself so hopefully it is right. Camero (???) – Landes’s floating robot, sounds bored when he talks. Just what we needed, another annoying Lucas. Hopefully he can be the entertaining Meowth to the lame Pikachu. Looks suspiciously like MST3K’s Cambot (Last design)! Narrator – (Yutaka Aoyama) – He’s not a character but the guy who recaps the previous episode in the beginning of the episode. That means thirty seconds of each three minute episode is Narrator recounting events, padding running time beyond levels I want to think about. He’s a typical Japanese male announcer, amazingly excited and epic about even the most mundane things. Giant Dark Emperor (???) – Giant flaming head who commands the Xiliens and Planet X. Do not look behind the curtain. The great and powerful Giant Emperor commands you, and can hear your sarcastic backtalk! Still, being a flaming head in space has got to be pretty boring.

Different monster feature in each episode, so we’ll keep track of them in each story arc. The complete Godzilla Island Daikaiju List is located here. We’ll also list any new monster match-ups that weren’t in any film but now exist thanks to this series, such as Dororin fighting Gororin or something. The R2 Japanese DVD release is unsubtitled, so most of what is going on will be educated guesses thanks to our limited Japanese speaking ability. But here at TarsTarkas.NET we don’t need no stinking subtitles!


Featuring the monsters –

Anguirus – Godzilla’s first foe and now a close friend. His only power is a spiky back but he’s brave on the battlefield. One of the usual residents on Godzilla Island who shows up to watch the action as stories progress. Baragon – Big ears, big horn on the nose, likes to dig underground. One of the usual residents on Godzilla Island who shows up to watch the action. Godzilla – The King of Monsters. Godzilla is pure awesome in giant fire-breathing lizard form. Everyone who comes to Godzilla Island wants a piece of Godzilla. And they all get kicked to the curb. Godzilla Junior – Godzilla’s lamest son is here also. Looks likes some sort of lizard squirrel or something. Give me Minya! I’ll even take nephew Godzooky! Gororin – Gororin the plant monster has sharp spines, can fire the spines as projectiles, and can detach from the ground and roll around as a ball of spiky death. Without his spikes, he’s as useless as a PG-13 rating on a Friday the 13th sequel. Gorosaurus – Old foe of King Kong who spends most of his days watching whatever happens on Godzilla Island. His special move was to do kangaroo kicks. King Caesar – King Caesar is King of Zen as well. He’s a Samurai Lion who will kick your behind! He is some sort of Taoist/Shinto priest or something in addition to being a giant monster. Mechagodzilla – This is the second Mechagodzilla, which was created by humans to fight Godzilla. Now stationed on Godzilla Island as one of its defenders. Usually automated, but can be piloted at times (and has been by G-Guard Commander.) Usually paired with Moguera. Medical Jet Jaguar – Jet Jaguar got his medical degree from Daikaiju University. Now he helps the sick and injured monsters on Godzilla Island. That name suits him! Moguera – The Mobile Operation Godzilla Universal Expert Robot Aero-Type, or MOGUERA, was also built to fight Godzilla, and is also stationed on Godzilla Island to defend it now. In one episode we see Torema pilots Moguera, but other episodes it is unclear who is in control. Moguera can separate into Star Falcon and Land Moguera pieces in the movies, but doesn’t here. Mothra Larva 2 – This Mothra Larva is the sister of Mothra Leo, her egg was hidden by Mothra when Battra attacked. Kidnapped before hatching, Mothra Larva 2 was brainwashed to be evil by Battra until brought ack to the side of good by the Mothra song. Mothra Leo – a boy Mothra who has extra powers, from the Rebirth of Mothra series. Can zap things with antenna and wing blasts. No one has a good explanation on how male Mothra Leo is supposed to continue the Mothra line. But don’t worry, as an egg magically appears anyway. Rodan – A prehistoric monster awakened in modern day, Rodan is a former foe of Godzilla who has learned to work with him to fight off the evil monsters. Has some hot springs named after him on Godzilla Island. Will eventually become Fire Rodan, because he did so in the Heisei movie series that was still recent, in addition to giving Bandai another toy.

Episode 179 – Porcupine’s Dilemma
The Godzilla Island kaiju all line up for their annual physicals as Misato in Medical Jet Jaguar tests them. Gorosaurus is klutzing around and falls, soon all the monsters fall over, causing Junior to land on Anguirus’s spikes. Junior’s hurt, but not too bad, but Misato makes a remark that offends Anguirus and he stomps off to sulk. It’s not Anguirus’s fault he’s got spikes, woman! Plus, hurting Junior is something to praise, not downplay. Anguirus stands alone on a cliff to watch the sunset, and a sad Misato is convinced to go talk to him to try to make it right, but Anguirus just sulks off again. Poor Anguirus. Tsuzuku.

Episode 180 – I Must Know the Secret
Landes has a new plot, to send a potted cactus to Godzilla Island. Okay, she’s lost it. Giant Dark Emperor calls to yell, but she outtalks him, and soon he just gives up and lets her be. So she sends the potted cactus down, and Anguirus is stomping around at night. Tsuzuku. What a cliffhanger! Or not.

Episode 181 – Cactus Plaza
Next morning, all the monsters are crowded around the cactus. G-Guard Commander puts up a sign by the site. Also, Nao serves him lunch. I guess she’s an intern or the cook. That night, Anguirus wanders up to the cactus, which grows glowing eyes and fires spikes at Anguirus, who blocks them with his armored back. Because the cactus is the monster Gororin! As explained up top when I listed the monster cast. Tsuzuku.

Episode 182 – Anguirus’ Great Shock
Anguirus starts to attack the plant monster, but the alarms in G-Guard HQ are set off, and Godzilla and Gorosaurus are woken up, along with G-Guard Commander. Gorosaurus is not a morning person (I guess a morning monster) and neither is G-Guard Commander, who yells at Anguirus who gets more sad. Misato is upset at G-Guard Commander’s yelling, and later that morning, Misato is hanging with Anguirus when G-Guard Commander calls. Gororin has gone bonkers and is blasting spikes in every direction! Misato flies back in the Tart-coupe as we Tsuzuku.

Episode 183 – Plant Monster Gororin
Misato runs a DNA test and finds out the cactus is a kaiju, and Anguirus was right. Finally the characters are caught up with what the audience already knows. The cactus Gororin grows huge spikes and rolls around as a spiked ball, impaling anyone in its path. Landes buzzes over Godzilla Island and laughs. Tsuzuku.

Bowling for Kaiju!
[FLOWPLAYER=http://tarstarkas.net/movies/godzillaislandstory17_clip1.flv,480,390]

Episode 184 – Feeling Helpless
Godzilla’s breath blasts prove ineffective, and the kaijus’ defense posture of a getting into a triangle formation only makes the obvious bowling reference when the spiked Gororin ball crashes into the lot of them. Misato takes off in the Tart-coupe to go get Anguirus. Tsuzuku.

Episode 185 – The Back of Anguirus
Anguirus is asleep, and in the path of the raging Gororin ball. Misato tries to blast Gororin with the Tart-coupe, but the weapons are ineffective. Gororin is also ineffective at damaging Anguirus, and simply glances off of his spiked back. Dororin does wake Anguirus up, though. But Anguirus is too upset to fight against Gororin. Then G-Guard Commander arrives in Mechagodzilla, and we Tsuzuku.

Episode 186 – The Commander’s Reflection
G-Guard Commander apologizes to Anguirus (getting out of Mechagodzilla) but Anguirus still walks off. Gororin heads to run over the helpless G-Guard Commander, but Anguirus blocks it just in time, pinning Gororin to a cliff-side as Anguirus is standing on his head (it makes sense if you see the picture) No other kaiju can get close enough to help, as Gororin can still spray them with flying spikes. So it’s a Mexican standoff, but with no Mexicans and only monsters. Tsuzuku.

Episode 187 – Anguirus Endures
G-Guard Commander tries to fix the knocked over and now broken Mechagodzilla before Gororin breaks free from Anguirus, and Godzilla braves a hail of spikes to fire his breath at the plant monster, but to no avail. Nao is sent out in Moguera with some red paint on one of the hands and heads over to the action as we Tsuzuku. I’m guessing this is weedkiller, but maybe she just wants to put lipstick on the plant. You never know with Nao.

Episode 188 – A Victorious V Goal!
The lipstick is pressed onto Gororin after Nao whines and cries a bit (she got over there just fine without complaining…) and all of Gororin’s spikes fall off. Then, as Gororin is now played by an orange with a paint job, it is kicked around like a soccer ball, until Godzilla kicks it at Landes’s ship, causing Dororin to explode on impact. Landes does a patented Landes pout and flies off. Everyone is happy, except Nao, who is once again left alone in an out of control Moguera. Tsuzuku for the next story arc! And Tsuzuku for leaving Nao abandoned and alone once again.

Another new monster, character development, and someone who is not Godzilla saving the day. This Story Arc doesn’t follow any of the conventions set before, but somehow comes together despite the lameness of Gororin and Anguirus’s very thin skin about insults. What will happen next? Will G-Guard Commander ask for the dip, causing Anguirus to think he called him a dip and storm off in a rage? Find out in Story Arc 18: An Anguirus Called “It” as March of Godzilla Island continues! Tsuzuku.

New Monster Matchups – Gororin vs. Godzilla, Mothra Leo, Baragon, Gorosaurus, King Caesar, and Junior; Gororin vs Anguirus.

Rated 7/10 (Wassup?!?, I can do tricks!, This potted plant will help me conquer Earth!, Nappy time, Camero endures, Lipstick saves the day, Exploding plant monster)

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