Rodan (ラドン?) is a giant Radonpteranodon kaiju created by Toho that first appeared in the 1956 Toho film, Rodan, and made his first appearance alongside Godzilla in the 1964 Godzilla film, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster.
Fire Rodan (ファイヤーラドン?) is a form of Rodan that first appeared in the Faiyā Radon1993 Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.
Name
The Japanese name of Rodan, "Radon," is a contraction of "pteranodon" and may also have been chosen to suggest radiation. Ladon, a monster or a dragon from Greek Mythology has a very similar name.
In the United States, the monster's name was changed to and trademarked as "Rodan."
Appearance
- Main articles: ShodaiRado, SanDaikaijuRado, SoshingekiRado, HeiseiRado and FinalRado.
Rodan resembles a large pterosaur that walks upright on two legs. Rodan generally has either brown or burgundy skin with a spiky chest and two to three horns on the back of his head.
Roar
Rodan's roar was reused for many of the kaiju, such as the Heisei King Ghidorah and Battra.
Personality
In the original Rodan, the two Rodans are depicted as horrific and dangerous creatures who, despite their destructive nature, care deeply for each other and are unwilling to live without one another. In Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Rodan displays a great deal of personality, openly mocking Godzilla when the latter is covered in Mothra's silk. According to the translation of the monsters' conversation by the Shobijin, Rodan agrees with Godzilla's sentiment that he only hates humans because they hate him. Rodan claims he has no obligation to protect human beings and prefers to continue his pointless fight with Godzilla. However, upon seeing Mothra bravely take on King Ghidorah by herself, Rodan joins with Godzilla to battle the extraterrestrial creature. In subsequent films in the Showa series, Rodan is seen as a loyal ally of Godzilla who assists him and the other Earth monsters in fighting off King Ghidorah.
In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, Rodan sees Baby Godzilla as his brother and will go to great lengths to protect him, nearly being killed by both Godzilla and Mechagodzilla. After seeing that Baby Godzilla is a Godzillasaurus and not a pteranodon like him, Rodan willingly sacrifices himself to save Godzilla from Mechagodzilla so he can raise Baby Godzilla.
Origins
In the Showa series, Rodan is a Pteranodon that lived deep underground and was mutated from exposure to radiation and grew to gigantic size. In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, it is explained that Rodan was a Pteranodon living on Adonoa Island who was mutated due to nuclear dumping on the island by the Russians.
History
Showa Series
Rodan

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monster

Destroy All Monsters

Godzilla vs. Megalon
While Rodan only appears through stock footage, his small role in the film is somewhat significant. Rodan and Anguirus are resting on Monster Island when a Nuclear Bomb is tested nearby, creating a massive fissure and a massive earthquake which crippled both the island and the capital city of Seatopia under the ocean close by. Rodan tries to escape, but Anguirus falls on him and both of the kaiju fall into the growing chasm. This act of destruction by the humans was the last straw for the Seatopian people, who commanded Megalon to attack the humans for their perceived crimes.
Heisei Series
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II

In this film, Rodan is noticeably proportionally much smaller compared to Godzilla than in his appearances in the Showa series, standing only about two-thirds as tall as Godzilla and having a wingspan not too much larger than Godzilla's height. The prominent rows of spines on his belly are replaced with overlapping ridges of bone, and he has three spines on his head instead of two (the outer two curve outwards and the center curves up), as well as a wider beak and more predatory face. Heisei Rodan does have some of his predecessor's durability, withstanding several blasts from both Godzilla and Mechagodzilla, and kept his speed and shockwave abilities as well as a stronger pecking attack that can shatter boulders.
After being defeated and left for dead by Godzilla following a fight on the small island where his and Baby Godzilla's eggs are found, Rodan was revived by the psychic song of an ancient plant that had covered the eggs. Godzilla's radiation mutated Rodan into Fire Rodan, changing his colors from brown and tan to brick red and light yellow/gold. Fire Rodan also gained a uranium heat ray as a weapon, similar to Godzilla's atomic breath. Besides that, Fire Rodan remained basically the same as Rodan.
Fire Rodan

As a children's choir sang to Baby Godzilla, Rodan heard the song miles away on the island where he was killed. He absorbed the nuclear energy from Godzilla and transformed into Fire Rodan, and he took off to save his surrogate brother. He caught the capsule that was carrying the baby, and flew it off towards a city. He was attacked by the Garuda and then by Mechagodzilla, who made him fly into a building. The humans' attention was then turned to the arriving Godzilla, and they battled him. Godzilla was defeated and paralyzed by Super Mechagodzilla, and Fire Rodan acted to save the life of his surrogate brother, and flew on top of Godzilla's body. He gave his life force and melted into Godzilla, healing his damaged second brain and giving him the power of the Spiral Beam. With Fire Rodan's power, Godzilla destroyed Super Mechagodzilla, and took Baby Godzilla out to sea.
Godzilla Island

Rodan in Godzilla Island
Fire Rodan

Fire Rodan in Godzilla Island
Millennium Series
Godzilla: Final Wars

Abilities
Atomic heat ray
It can be noted that in Godzilla: Domination!, Rodan also sports an "atomic heat ray" which in fact, resembles a fireball rather than an actual ray.
Durability
Rodan was one of the few monsters not affected by Godzilla's atomic breath. In Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla uses his breath against Rodan several times but Rodan seemed unaffected by it at all, only shaking his head in an annoyed manner. Rodan also shrugged off King Ghidorah's gravity beams in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro-Monster. He was struck several times on his wings but showed no pain or reaction.
Flight speed
Rodan's most noticeable trait is his flying speed, which has allowed him to effortlessly outmaneuver and outrun supersonic jets. Aside from his impressive speed and agility, Rodan possesses a variety of special abilities. He is capable of creating destructive shockwaves when flying, which he has used to demolish major cities such as Tokyo and Moscow. In addition, Rodan can cause powerful winds while on the ground by simply flapping his wings.
Life absorption
In the manga adaptation of the aforementioned film, Fire Rodan can absorb any nearby small animals such as birds, and fish, among others, into his body in order to restore his health and vitality.
Physical traits
He also uses his beak and talons effectively in battle (as shown in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, where his beak was powerful enough to crush boulders), and his wings, despite their delicate appearance, are quite durable. Rodan can lift creatures several times his weight, for instance, Godzilla. Rodan also usually has spikes on his head and chest, which he may use in battle.
Radioactive mist
In the Gameboy Advance video game Godzilla: Domination!, Rodan can release a radioactive mist from specialized glands located in his torso area for two seconds, which, if it connects, can score up to three hits against the opponent.
Uranium heat beam

Fire Rodan fireing his Uranium Beam in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2
Video games
Gojira-kun
Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters
Rodan is one of the monsters encountered in the game.
Battle Soccer
Rodan is in the SNES game as a goalie for the Godzilla Team.
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
Rodan was playable in both the Nintendo Game Cube and the Xbox versions.
Godzilla: Domination!
Rodan appeared within the game Godzilla: Domination!.
Godzilla: Save the Earth
Rodan re-appears in the sequel again with the same design in both of the games for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Godzilla: Unleashed
“ | Fire Rodan is Earth's largest flier. His element is the air, the clouds, and the wind-swept mountain peaks that scrape against them. Nesting in the tops of active volcanoes, Fire Rodan is virtually immune to heat and lava-based attacks. Rodan is the fastest of all monsters while in the air, and prefers to confront challenges from a lofty height. His great speed also makes him a fierce hand-to-hand combatant, with savage claw, talon, and beak attacks. Fire Rodan defends the Earth's atmosphere - eliminating all airborne threats to the planet's well-being. | „ |
— Rodan's Godzilla: Unleashed bio |
Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash
Rodan appears in Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash as one of the flyers.
Godzilla (2014 video game)
“ | A monster hatched from the spontaneously-mutated egg of a Pteranodon that lay dormant at the foot of Mt. Aso. First debuting in the film "Rodan" (1956), Rodan was branded as one of Toho's major three giant monsters along with Godzilla and Mothra, but it only made its second appearance in "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" 8 years later (1964). It boasts combat abilities rivaling those of Godzilla, flapping its wings to create powerful gusts of wind and lift its enemy high into the sky before dropping it to the ground. In its duel with the space monster King Ghidorah, it demonstrated its proficiency in combat by charging in the air with Mothra on its back spraying silk from the skies. In cooperation with Godzilla, it became a savior of the earth. The version in "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2" (1993) took the form of a descendant of a pteranodon that hatched and mutated from its egg after lying in a dormant state since the Mesozoic era on the Island of Adonoa in the Bering Sea. Stimulated by the wavelengths of ancient lotus japonicus plants that were amplified by a chorus of girls from the ESP Research Institute, it spit heat rays and mutated into "Fire Rodan". The Rodan in "Godzilla: Final Wars" (2004) was controlled by the Xiliens, invading New York and wreaking mass destruction. It also took down the Earth Defense Force (EDF)'s airship "Rumbling", subsequently attacking Godzilla at the foot of Mt. Fuji along with King Caesar and Anguirus, but it found itself in an ambush instead. | „ |
— Rodan Kaiju Guide bio |
Moveset
Square | One tap: Peck Two taps: Peck Three taps: Multi-Peck |
X | Tap: Jump Hold: Hover Roar + Tap: Swooping Shockwave Tap (Mid-Air): Land |
Triangle | Tap: Kick Up Tap (Mid-Air): Double Kick |
Circle | Tap: Wing Shockwave Roar + Tap: Sonic Ram Tap (Mid-Air): Wing Shockwave |
R2 | Tap: Area Shockwave |
Godzilla: Kaiju Collection
Rodan appeared in his many incarnations within the game Godzilla: Kaiju Collection.
Comics
Godzilla, King of the Monsters
In this manga, Rodan appears under the control of Doctor Oniyama, flying across Tokyo and dropping large bombs from his talons. He later attacks Godzilla while he is out at sea and carries him off, only to get slammed into the ground and get his wing torn off by Godzilla. One of his extra bombs was later used by Godzilla as a weapon to kill Anguirus.
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters
Godzilla: Legends
Godzilla: The Half-Century War
Godzilla: Ongoing
In Godzilla: Ongoing #4, Rodan battles Titanosaurus in Tokyo. Though Titanosaurus is captured after the battle, Rodan escapes. In issue #10, Rodan and Anguirus battle Gigan in Hong Kong. In issue #13, Rodan appears in New York and plays an integral role in helping Godzilla defeat Keizer Ghidorah.
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth
Rodan appeared in the Godzilla: Rulers of Earth comic series, suddenly attacking Varan and fighting him in a military base. Rodan kept to the air, but the spikes on Varan's back shredded Rodan's wing, forcing him to retreat. Rodan was later seen in a flashback explaining the natural order of monsters, sleeping in a hillside cave. He is also seen on the mural in Infant Island's cave among other flying kaiju. Rodan was later transferred to the Monster Islands, his wing healed, and lived in peace there until the Trilopods attacked. Rodan fell, had his DNA copied by a Trilopod, and was taken to the Trilopod hive along with the other residents of the islands. Much later, King Caesar rampaged through the Trilopod hive, freeing the imprisoned Earth monsters, and Rodan flew to Los Angeles to assist Godzilla in battle. Rodan managed to kill the Anguirus-Trilopod, and fought against Magita, though he was easily swatted aside by the massive Trilopod. After the battle, Rodan, along with the other kaiju, followed Godzilla out to sea.
Godzilla in Hell
A demonic version of Rodan appeared in the second issue of the IDW mini-series Godzilla in Hell, where he confronted Godzilla in a city in Hell. The demon Rodan charged at Godzilla and dodged his atomic ray. The demon Rodan then soared into the clouds to try a sneak attack on Godzilla, but Godzilla defeated the demon by slamming his tail into him, causing him to crash into the doomed cities of Hell.
Godzilla: Oblivion
Several small Rodans appear in the first issue of Godzilla: Oblivion, where they live in an extra-dimensional version of Earth. One of them rose up from a pile of rubble and killed a soldier with his heat beam. He was then confronted by Kiryu, who easily overwhelmed the Rodan until more of his kind showed up and gained the upper hand. Two Rodans were then seen fighting two Mothra larvae when the human team decided to head back to their own dimension.
A Rodan appeared in issue #4 alongside Anguirus, Biollante, Zilla, King Caesar and Mothra as they crossed through an interdimensional portal while Mecha-King Ghidorah was fighting Godzilla
In other languages
- Russian: Родан
- Chinese: 拉顿(Lā Dùn)
Trivia
- Koichi Kawakita, special effects director for the Heisei Godzilla series, made the decision to reduce Rodan's size to smaller than Godzilla, thereby avoiding the previous series' tendency of having every monster Godzilla fights be his size.
- Rodan, Gyaos, and Chandora all resemble bat-like creatures with large wings, although Rodan is more bird-like.
- Strangely, despite being referred to as 'Fire Rodan' in the game Godzilla: Unleashed, and keeping the use of the form's Uranium Beam, Rodan is still represented in his normal form's appearance. This was most likely made as an excuse to give Rodan a beam weapon since, in Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee and Godzilla: Save the Earth, he is normal Rodan but was given the Uranium Beam, which is an ability that Rodan never uses in his regular form. As a result of this, Fire Rodan's copyright icon is utilized in Godzilla: Unleashed, but Rodan's regular icon is not.
- In Katakana, Rodan's English name is written as ロダン (Rodan).
- "Radon" (Rodan's Japanese name) is also the name of a noble gas discovered in 1898.
- Rodan is one of a select few monsters to appear in all three series of Godzilla films, along with Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Godzilla's son, and Godzilla himself. Rodan is also confirmed to be appearing in the MonsterVerse along with Mothra and King Ghidorah.
- Rodan, like his kaiju cohorts has appeared in external media outside of the movies and series' he's featured in.
- Along with a few other kaiju, Rodan appeared in a occasion in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump series.
- In the anime Fairy Tail, during the Edolas arc, dragon-like creatures known as Legions have Rodan's roar.
List of appearances
Films
- Rodan (First appearance)
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
- Invasion of Astro-Monster
- Destroy All Monsters
- All Monsters Attack (Mentioned)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (Stock Footage)
- Godzilla vs. Megalon (Stock Footage)
- Terror of Mechagodzilla (Stock Footage)
- Bye-Bye Jupiter (Stock Footage)
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
- Godzilla Island
- Godzilla: Final Wars
Video games
- Gojira-kun
- Godzilla (Gameboy)
- Battle Soccer
- Circus Caper (Cameo)
- Rodan (NES) (Unmade)
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Gameboy)
- Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters
- Godzilla (Arcade) (Cameo)
- Godzilla: Giant Monster March
- Godzilla: Battle Legends
- Godzilla: Archipelago Shock
- Godzilla: Heart-Pounding Monster Island!!
- Godzilla: Trading Battle
- Godzilla Generations
- Godzilla: Domination!
- Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
- Godzilla: Save the Earth
- CR Godzilla 3S-T Battle
- Godzilla: Unleashed (Wii and PlayStation 2)
- Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash
- CR Godzilla: Descent of the Destruction God
- Godzilla: Kaiju Collection
- Godzilla (2014 video game)
Comics
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters
- Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters
- Godzilla: Legends
- Godzilla: The Half-Century War
- Godzilla: Ongoing
- Godzilla: Rulers of Earth
- Godzilla in Hell
- Godzilla: Oblivion
References
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Godzilla kaiju
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