Template:Tabber2Legendary Template:Infobox Monster Behemoth, also dubbed Titanus Behemoth, is a giant mammalian daikaiju created by Legendary Pictures that first appeared in the 2019 film, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, as a minor Titan that obeys Ghidorah and later Godzilla.
Name
Behemoth's name likely refers to the Biblical use, where the "Behemoth" is a giant land animal often interpreted as a mammoth, created by God as a demonstration of power - the counterpart to the Leviathan. It may also be referring to the primary definition of "behemoth", a huge and monstrous creature. The word itself derives from Behemah, the Hebrew word for "beast".
Behemoth's other name, Mapinguary[1], is an ape-sloth Bigfoot-like cryptid in South American folklore with mammoth fur - Behemoth resembles this, but with tusks, and without the one eye or second mouth on his stomach that the Mapinguary has. It is strongly implied that sightings of the Mapinguary in South America are sightings of Behemoth, which is why the locals call him Mapinguary.
Design
Appearance
Behemoth resembles a prehistoric ground sloth with large, curved tusks resembling those of a mammoth, knuckle-walking in a way reminiscent to that of a gorilla. He is covered in light brown fur, while his head resembles that of a mammoth with small ears and a short tapir-like trunk. Behemoth also has a row of serrated granite spines fortified with metal and ore running down his back that. The ends of his forelimbs are tipped with broad fingers bearing very large claws like an anteater, with the hindlimbs being stouter for weight bearing; due to this, Behemoth is capable of standing on his hindlimbs. Behemoth's tusks also appear to have some sort of green algae or vines growing on them.
Portrayal
It is believed that Behemoth is portrayed through CGI and keyframe animation, although the portrayal is currently undefined. Behemoth moves slowly and heavily like a mammoth, walking like a gorilla, but he is capable of charging with enough force to demolish buildings in his path in the manner of an elephant.
Roar
In the novelization of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Behemoth roars.[1] In the film, he lets out elephant-like bellows and rumbles.
Origins
A name synonymous with immense size and power, Behemoth is a lumbering mammoth with a wooly hide that erupts with serrated back spines of unbreakable granite fortified with metal and ore. His elephantine bellow is a Titan war cry that can be heard for miles when it engages in combat, striking opponents with a seismic crash of thunder from massive tusks cloaked in centuries of overgrowth. A benign protector with an almost symbiotic relationship with the environment, Behemoth's presence breathes life into previously barren environments, as the massive amounts of its droppings become a nutrient-rich fertilizer that can regrow entire rainforests to help restore the balance of nature and strengthen Earth's immune system.
History
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Behemoth is contained and monitored in Monarch Outpost 58, in a cavern in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Designated "Titanus Behemoth", also known to the locals as the Mapinguary, his file is briefly examined by Mark Russell.
Later, Behemoth is woken by the calls of his new Alpha, Ghidorah, and he, along with the other Titans (excluding Godzilla, Mothra, and Kong), is sent to hunt, moving as a pack with his new allies. Behemoth himself rams into buildings in Rio de Janeiro, demolishing them with his tusks. Soon, Madison Russell activates the ORCA in Boston, and Behemoth is one of the Titans to make the journey. Incapable of moving quickly enough to arrive in time to help his Alpha, Behemoth arrives to see Godzilla having killed Ghidorah. Although the first to confront Godzilla, Behemoth follows Rodan in bowing down to his new Alpha with Scylla, Methuselah, and MUTO 3.
News reports later mention that Behemoth is having a positive impact on the environment, including the deforested regions of the Amazon, due to his excrements being an effective fertilizer.
Abilities
Durability
In the novelization of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Behemoth's fur is essentially fireproof, as fire cannot burn on it. Very little of the heat from the fire affects Behemoth's skin, which makes it merely a nuisance.[1]
Reforestation
Behemoth's movement leaves behind trace amounts of radiation which, as a result, grow jungle-like foliage in his path. One noticeable example of this was when clear-cut portions of the Amazon rainforest spawned due to Behemoth's radiation.
Strength and Combat
Behemoth can use his strong and sharp tusks to destroy buildings with ease. He can also attack with the claws on his front limbs while standing on his hind legs.
Trivia
- The outpost Behemoth was contained in, Monarch Outpost 58, is a possible reference to the 1958 Toho film Varan.
- The sound system used on-set for Godzilla: King of the Monsters to create Titan roars was nicknamed "Behemoth".[2]
- Michael Dougherty created Behemoth as a companion mammal for Kong, feeling that too many Toho monsters were reptiles or insects. A mammoth was chosen because Dougherty was fascinated with woolly mammoths, but elements of sloths and primates were added to stop Behemoth from being just a giant mammoth.[3]
- Early in production, Behemoth was a giant six-tusked mammoth with vegetation-like growths on his legs, and he appeared to have a wilder and more crazed disposition.
- Behemoth is Michael Dougherty's favourite new Titan.[4]
- Behemoth has become one of the more popular new kaiju from the film by fans. Even as far as Y-MSF having a figure made for him to be sold commercially.
List of appearances
Films
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (First appearance)
Novels
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBehemoth novelization 2 - ↑ https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/godzilla/64179/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters-on-set-of-the-super-sized-sequel
- ↑ https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/7/18648048/godzilla-king-of-monsters-post-credits-ending-kong-woolly-mammoth-interview
- ↑ https://rue-morgue.com/sinister-seven-godzillas-mike-dougherty-king-of-the-monsterkids/
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