Editing Mechagodzilla (section)

==Overview==
===Development===
Mechagodzilla was conceived in 1974 as a more serious villain than its immediate two predecessors, [[Gigan]] and [[Megalon]], whose films were considered creative disasters.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=195}}{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=196}}{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=197}} According to [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], Mechagodzilla was inspired by both [[Mechani-Kong]] from the previous [[Toho]] film ''[[King Kong Escapes]]'' and the [[Mecha anime and manga|robot anime]] genre, which was popular at the time.<ref name="元山掌">{{cite book |author1=元山掌|author2=松野本和弘|author3=浅井和康|author4=鈴木宣孝 |script-title=ja:『東宝特撮映画大全集』 ヴィレッジブックス |year=2012 |publisher=ヴィレッジブックス |isbn=9784864910132}}</ref> Effects director [[Teruyoshi Nakano]] also felt that a mechanical monster was cheaper to construct than the mutated animals Godzilla had previously faced.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=137}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=138}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=139}} As the resulting ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]]'' proved to be a greater critical success than previous 1970s ''Godzilla'' films, the character was revived in 1975's ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]''. The film's screenplay was based on the winning entry of a story-writing competition won by [[Yukiko Takayama]], who continued the darker tone of the previous film by adding the subplot of Mechagodzilla being cybernetically connected to a young woman. Mechagodzilla's design remained largely unchanged from its previous appearance, though it was made to look thinner and more angular, with a darker sheen and an MG2 insignia emblazoned on its upper arms. The film's original draft was going to have Mechagodzilla destroy Tokyo utterly, though the destruction was cut down for budgetary reasons.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=200-6}}
[[File:Heisei Godzilla Perfection - Berserk.jpg|thumb|right|Early concept art of Mechagodzilla's Heisei incarnation, dubbed "Berserk"]]

Mechagodzilla was brought back in 1993's ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'', as the success of ''[[Godzilla vs. Mothra]]'' and the popularity of its main antagonist [[Mothra]] spurred Toho into reintroducing familiar characters rather than inventing new ones.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=287-93}} Originally, the new Mechagodzilla was to be named "Berserk", and was envisioned as being a much more organic Godzilla-like creature which would later turn on its creators after becoming infected with a [[computer virus]] which makes it self-aware. Berserk would subsequently absorb more and more machinery, to the point of degenerating into a mass of metal and wires, though this concept was rejected early in pre-production.<ref name="kawakita">{{cite book |script-title=ja:平成ゴジラパーフェク [Heisei Godzilla Perfection] |last=Kawakita |first=Koichi |year=2012 |publisher=Dengeki Hobby Books |isbn=978-4048861199 |language=ja}}</ref> As Mechagodzilla was intended to be a military defense weapon rather than an alien construct, the character was redesigned as looking sleeker and smoother.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=287-93}} It was portrayed by suit actor [[Wataru Fukuda]], and consisted of multiple separate elements which were worn like plate armor. Special effects artist [[Koichi Kawakita]] originally envisioned Mechagodzilla being able to split into aerial and terrestrial units, though this idea was scrapped in favor of the character merging with the flying battleship Garuda. The film was promoted through the children's program ''Adventure Godzilla-land'', which portrayed Godzilla and Mechagodzilla as rival news anchors reporting on the events of the upcoming movie.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|pp=196–201}} Composer [[Akira Ifukube]] wrote a theme for Mechagodzilla incorporating a slow battle march with heavy percussion and [[Pentatonic scale|pentatonic phrasing]].{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=287-93}}

The decision to incorporate Mechagodzilla into the Millennium series was taken by producer [[Shōgo Tomiyama]], who gave the general outline of what would become the story of ''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'' to ''[[Godzilla vs. Megaguirus]]'' director Masaaki Tezuka.<ref name="tezuka2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0toUtvfWMPg  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0toUtvfWMPg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|trans-title="Tokyo SOS Director EXTRA |script-title=ja:東京SOSの監督〜EXTRA〜 (SciFi Japan TV #27) |publisher=CHO Japan |date=September 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Tezuka instructed his staff to research both [[cybernetics]] and DNA engineering in order to make the character scientifically plausible. Tezuka had initially wanted Mechagodzilla to be a much speedier robot than the one on film, envisioning it as becoming progressively more agile during its fight against Godzilla as the latter tore off its opponent's armaments. This incarnation of Mechagodzilla was deliberately shown being airlifted by carriers rather than flying directly into battle as the previous two incarnations had done, as Tezuka felt that it made little sense for Mechagodzilla to drain its energy in such a manner. Upon being asked why the Mechagodzilla suit wasn't painted with [[military camouflage]] colors, Tezuka answered that "Mechagodzilla doesn't need to hide."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.henshinonline.com/tezuka-mimura.html |title=Interview: Masaaki Tezuka and Wataru Mimura |access-date=2016-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701043428/http://www.henshinonline.com/tezuka-mimura.html |archive-date=2016-07-01 |work=henshionline}}</ref> Tezuka had originally intended to have both Godzilla and Mechagodzilla die at the end of the film, but was forced to change this on the insistence of Toho managers, who felt that such an ending was too dark for a [[New Year]] movie release.<ref name="tezuka2014"/>

In the 2003 sequel ''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]'', creature designer Shinichi Wakasa used the same mold to create a redesigned Mechagodzilla, which was meant to look more weathered than its predecessor. According to production designer Shinki Nishikawa, several other changes were made to the Mechagodzilla design's head, chest and arms in order to make the character look less heroic and more machine-like. The robot's back unit was reduced in size and flipped upside down, and the head was made smaller. As the previous design's shoulder cannons were considered uneven and unsophisticated-looking because of their rectangular shape, special effects director Eiichi Asada made them more pentagonal. As the character was supposed to rely more on its forearm cannons than in the previous film, Nishikawa made them larger and more powerful looking.<ref>"Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS production report - The men behind the monsters discuss the latest Godzilla film", ''Uchusen'' #108 (Asahi Sonorama) (October 22, 2003)</ref>

For ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'', Mechagodzilla's design was inspired by the [[Transformers: Generation 1|Generation 1 ''Transformers'']] due to their "simplicity." Director [[Adam Wingard]] attempted to avoid the "complex" designs from the [[Transformers (film series)|Michael Bay ''Transformers'']] films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/mechagodzilla-godzilla-vs-kong-design-changes-transformers|title= Godzilla vs. Kong's Mechagodzilla was inspired by a bad Transformers movie|author1=Jake Kleinman|author2=Eric Francisco|work=Inverse|date=March 31, 2021|access-date=April 9, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409191637/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/mechagodzilla-godzilla-vs-kong-design-changes-transformers}}</ref> Writer [[Max Borenstein]] had originally written Mechagodzilla into ''Godzilla: King of the Monsters''. However, director [[Michael Dougherty]] scrapped the character during development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-writer-spending-years-in-monsterverse/|title=Godzilla vs. Kong Writer Talks About Spending 8 Years in the MonsterVerse|first=Don|last=Kaye|work=Den of Geek|date=April 5, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329184707/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-writer-spending-years-in-monsterverse/}}</ref>

===Arsenal===
[[File:Mechagodzilla Absolute Zero.png|thumb|Kiryu's Absolute Zero Cannon in ''Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla'' (2002)]]
The Showa Mechagodzilla stands {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height and weighs 40,000 metric tons.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=196}} It is built from "space [[titanium]]", and is capable of launching missiles from its fingers, toes and knees, as well as firing Space Beams from its eyes and a Cross Attack Beam from its chest unit. It also possesses jets in its feet, allowing it to fly. Its head can spin 360°, and can form a [[force field (fiction)|force field]] capable of repelling and shocking opponents.<ref name="GvMG">''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla]]'' (1974). Directed by [[Jun Fukuda]]. [[Toho]]</ref> The upgraded model featured in ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'' included revolving missiles, and was no longer vulnerable to decapitation, as its main computer was housed in an external power source. Once Mechagodzilla's head was removed, the machine was able to continue to fight, possessing a Head Controller capable of firing a concentrated laser with the same strength as its regular beams.<ref name="ToMG">''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (1975). Directed by [[Ishirō Honda]]. [[Toho]]</ref>

The Heisei Mechagodzilla stands at {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, weighs 150,000 metric tons, and is powered by a [[nuclear reactor]] which derives its energy from [[heavy hydrogen]] and [[helium-3]] in pellet form. Its frame is coated in an armor made of synthetic diamond codenamed T-1, allowing the robot to resist and repel Godzilla's atomic breath, as well as absorb its power to energize its Plasma Grenade, an energy weapon housed in its abdomen. Additional armaments include Mega Buster ray fired from its mouth, Laser Cannons in its eyes, missiles fired from its shoulders and hips, jet propulsors on its back and behind its hips to fly and two harpoons known as the G-Crusher fired from its arms. The G-Crusher is capable of sending large amounts of electric current through the cables. The model is later combined with the flying battleship Garuda, thus allowing it to hover and adding two additional [[Maser]] Cannons to its arsenal.<ref name="GvMGII">''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993). Directed by [[Takao Okawara]]. [[Toho]]</ref>

Kiryu, the Millennium Mechagodzilla, stands at {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, weighs 40,000 metric tons, and is piloted remotely from a control craft. The mecha can be remotely recharged from the ground using microwaves that are relayed through a power system on one of the command aircraft, and then beamed back down to the robot. Its armaments include a Twin Maser Cannon in its mouth, [[railgun]]s on its hands, a maser blade on its right hand, two reactors on its back to fly, a back unite with missiles and boosters and two rocket launchers on its shoulders. Its most powerful and most energetically costly weapon is the Absolute Zero Cannon housed in its chest, which fires a beam capable of [[flash freezing]] enemies.<ref name="GaMG">''[[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla]]'' (2002). Directed by Masaaki Tezuka. [[Toho]]</ref> In ''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]'', the Absolute Zero Cannon is replaced with a Triple Hyper Maser Cannon and instead of the maser blade he can assemble his right hand into a drill.<ref name="GTSOS">''[[Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.]]'' (2003). Directed by Masaaki Tezuka. [[Toho]]</ref>

The Anime Trilogy Mechagodzilla stands 50 meters in height, weighs 30,000 metric tons, and is powered by artificial intelligence and made from nanometal. In the novel: ''Project Mechagodzilla'', its arsenal includes a Blade Launcher, Convergent Neutron Cannon, Flight, Hyper Lance, Thermal Energy Buffer Layer, and Tail Blow. When it forms Mechagodzilla city, the defenses include gun cannons, EMP Harpoons, and a force field to protect itself when fired upon.

In ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'', Mechagodzilla stands at {{convert|122|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, towering over Godzilla, weighs 100,000 metric tons, and is telepathically piloted through a cybernetic neural network developed from [[King Ghidorah]]'s only surviving brain (from a head severed by Godzillia in [[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|''Godzilla: King of the Monsters'']]). Its weaponry includes a Proton Scream fired from its mouth, missiles fired from its shoulders and chest, jet boosters on its back, plasmic hits, buzzsaws in its fingers and spinning spikes at the end of its tail.