The HeiseiRado (平成ラド?) is the Rodan puppet design used in the 1993 Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.
Name
The HeiseiRado's name comes from Heisei (平成?), and Rado, which comes from Rodan's Japanese name, Radon (ラドン?).
Also, the ShodaiFaiyaRado's name comes from shodai (初代?), meaning first generation, Faiya which is Fire in Japanese English, and Rado, which comes from Rodan's Japanese name, Radon (ラドン?).
Detail
Unlike most Rodan designs, the HeiseiRado design is the only one to not be a suit, but rather a puppet. This design was given three horns, so that it would appear more pteranodon-like in design. The eyes look very similar to the Godzilla it appeared with, and the stomach is different in design.
Originally, the skin-color of this design was brown, but when it was used for Fire Rodan, it was recolored red. A hand puppet of Rodan's upper body, operated by Koichi Kawakita, was employed for close-up shots of Rodan.
Trivia
- In some early concept art for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Rodan more closely resembled his Showa counterpart.
List of appearances
Films
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (First appearance)
