The XandalorianJun 25, 2021

So a kaiju (怪獣) is any kind of big, terrifying, and seemingly undefeatable monster in fiction. The kind we're most familiar with, like Godzilla, are daikaiju (大怪獣) which specifically refers to the giant kind. They vary from being fairly intelligent to being animals, and tend to attack cities and things, leaving devastation behind.

This is a pretty loose definition, though. So...

Show threadThe Xandalorian
King Kong. Huge gorilla and protector of Skull Island. Otherwise, not particularly fantastical.
Jun 25, 2021 at 4:56pmWeb
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is King Kong a kaiju?
Yes
67.2%
No
6.3%
Maybe?
14.1%
No but those big monster things he fights are
12.5%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
In the Jurassic Park movies, the T Rex is pretty much undefeatable, apparently fairly intelligent, and good at destroying things.
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is a Tyrannosaurus Rex a kaiju?
Yes
26.3%
No
28.1%
Maybe when it was wrecking San Diego?
45.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
The Ghostbusters did actually defeat the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but it was still a ridiculously big monster which wrecked New York.
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man a kaiju?
Yes
87.9%
No
4.5%
No, too cute
3%
No, too puffy
4.5%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021

In pretty much any version of the story, the Tripods from War of the Worlds are basically unstoppable eldrich horrors which wreck everything in their path until they all get sick and die.

They're mechanical, but so is Mechagodzilla. They're from space, but so is King Ghidora.

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is a War of the Worlds Tripod a kaiju?
Yes
47.1%
No
9.8%
They don't count because they're vehicles
43.1%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
The Reapers from Mass Effect come from space, are huge, practically invincible, and destroy pretty much anything which stands in their way.
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is a Reaper a kaiju?
Yes
51.4%
No
22.9%
They're... difficult to classify?
25.7%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Crystalline Entity is an absurdly big living creature which roams around space indiscriminately devouring all organic matter in its path. Right up until its final appearance on-screen, it's basically unstoppable, leaving a trail of completely annihilated planets behind it.
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is the Crystalline Entity a kaiju?
Yes
52.5%
No
10%
This is a bit of a stretch
37.5%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
The Transformers are big mechanical life forms which tower over city blocks. They're mostly only stoppable by other Transformers. And yes I'm using a screenshot from the movies, but take your pick of whatever version of them you like.
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Is a Transformer a kaiju?
Yes
31.7%
No
31.7%
Maybe if it's a Decepticon?
9.8%
Only if it's a Dinobot
26.8%
Poll ended at .
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
Thank you for participating in this questionnaire about giant monsters 🦖
Show threadThe Umbreon Witch 🌙Jun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan this thread has made me rethink and broaden my personal definition if kaiju and it was a lot of fun. :)
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@vicorva I just find them such an interesting concept!
Show threadWillard GooseyJun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan
the Crystalline Entity is beyond kaiju... almost on the scale of Ego or Unicron.
Show threadeena meena meJun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan i would say those are mechas
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@meena Which, of course, begs the question – is a mecha a kaiju?
Show threadeena meena meJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan hrm… the ones from Neon Genesis Evangelion skirt the line, because of how much of their own willpower they have

but from what i gather, most mechas affect the pilot in a way, the longer they pilot it

it seems to be a core element of what defines the genre, or at least what makes a truly powerful mecha

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@meena Hmmm, so it's kind of a case-by-case maybe
Show threadeena meena meJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan so i know nothing of the Golem myth
but it keeps popping into my mind, so here goes nothing

the Golem is made from clay
but once you breathe life into it, it, well acquires life, but it can also acquire a will separate from the one who awoke it

similarly, the life you insert into a mecha is the pilot, then it comes to life
but often the will of the mecha is not entirely the will of the pilot

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@meena Oh, that's an interesting comparison. I hadn't considered that parallel before
Show threadeena meena meJun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan i only did thanks to your questionnaire!
Show threadTruculent SheepJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan

Although, you do have to wonder where giant robots in the Mazinger Z tradition fit into the ecosystem.

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@truculentsheep Hmmm... not familiar with those either!
Show threadTruculent SheepJun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan Counts as a daikaiju, and Slimer's a yokai.
Show threadRowynJun 25, 2021
@InvaderXan In a film about dinosaurs killing people, a t-rex is a kaiju. In a film about life during the Cretaceous period, it's not a kaiju.
Show threadAnkeJun 25, 2021
@Rowyn @InvaderXan good point there
Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@Anke @Rowyn Suddenly, I want to watch a kaiju nature documentary...
Show threadTruculent SheepJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan

(Also, Kong vs. Godzilla was a draw.)

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@truculentsheep I'm not sure I've ever actually seen that one TBH
Show threadTruculent SheepJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan

In summary, the Failnewt nearly drowns Kong, Kong pwns the Failnewt, the Failnewt goes feral and pwns Kong, then Kong saves the Failnewt's keloid-covered arse from Mecha Failnewt. They then agree to disagree, and the full time score is 2-2.

Also, some boring human subplot shit, which no one cares about, because you don't watch a kaiju film for humans any more than you watch a grumble flick for the dialogue.

Show threadThe XandalorianJun 25, 2021
@truculentsheep To be fair, done well, the human characters can make a monster movie. Unfortunately, they're just really bad at including human characters in American Godzilla movies.
Show threadTruculent SheepJun 25, 2021

@InvaderXan

Don't get me started on the fascist cardboard cutouts in Pacific Rim... I was rooting for the kaiju about 5 minutes in.