Godzilla: All 13 Monster Allies (& Which Movies They Appeared In)

Aug. 18, 2020, 1:28 a.m.

Movies

Godzilla: All 13 Monster Allies (& Which Movies They Appeared In)

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Summary Godzilla has a diverse set of allies, including Rodan, Mothra, and King Caesar, who aid him in battles against powerful threats.

While Godzilla is known for one-on-one showdowns, he has needed help from other kaiju and sometimes even faced multiple villains.

From Rodan sacrificing himself to King Caesar's martial arts skills, Godzilla has a history of teaming up with various monsters for epic battles.

Warning: Spoilers for Godzilla x Kong: The New EmpireGodzilla allies come in all shapes and sizes of creatures who aid him in battle against powerful threats like King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla. Many characters debuted outside the Godzilla franchise but were brought in later to join forces with the King of the Monsters. Others are former Godzilla villains or enemies of the monster who eventually find cause to put aside their differences with Godzilla. Godzilla is known for being involved in heated one-on-one showdowns in movies like Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, and Godzilla vs Biollante.

However, there are plenty of instances where Godzilla has needed help from other kaiju to take down his foe. On other occasions, his villains team up against him, and another kaiju joins the fight on Godzilla's side. There have been many monsters that became Godzilla allies since the early 1960s, extending to the most recent installment, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Over the years Godzilla has accumulated a long list of capable allies, with some being one-and-done characters, while others have helped Godzilla more than once.

Related All Godzilla/Kong Monsterverse Movies & Shows Ranked, Worst To Best Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the latest installment in the Monsterverse. Here's every movie and television series in the saga, ranked.

13 Rodan

Rodan Has Teamed Up With Godzilla 4 Times

Rodan is a pteranodon monster living inside a volcano, and is arguably Godzilla’s most important ally. They first meet as foes in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, but their fight ends with the two joining forces against Ghidorah. Another team-up between the two monsters follows in Invasion of Astro-Monster when word of their teamwork reaches the ears of scheming aliens. Once again, it is up to Godzilla and Rodan to defeat Ghidorah.

In the Heisei series, a new Rodan gives up his life essence to Godzilla. This allows Godzilla to save Godzilla Junior and beat Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II. As for the Monsterverse version, Rodan hasn’t teamed up with Godzilla yet, but the door is open for that to change at some point down the road. Bowing down to Godzilla in Godzilla: King of the Monsters' final scene sets up Rodan to serve as one of the Godzilla allies in the future. For now, it's unclear if the Monsterverse will bring Rodan back for a second appearance.

Movie Release Year Relationship With Godzilla Rodan 1956 None Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster 1964 Ally & Enemy Invasion of Astro Monster 1965 Ally Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla vs. Megalon 1973 Cameo Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1974 Cameo Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II 1991 Ally & Enemy Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Enemy Godzilla: King of the Monsters 2019 Enemy (but doesn't fight Godzilla)

12 Mothra

Mothra Has Teamed Up With Godzilla 5 Times

Mothra, easily recognized by her colorful wings, is a peaceful and benevolent creature whose image represents the beauty of nature. Often accompanied by a pair of mystical women called the Twin Fairies, Mothra devotes herself to protecting humanity and the planet. Originally, she was an enemy of Godzilla, but in the situations where he’s utilized as a hero, she has been one of the best Godzilla allies. Their first team-up is in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, where she has to convince Godzilla and Rodan to help stop Ghidorah.

Since the Monsterverse's take on Godzilla is depicted as a creature devoted to protecting the balance of nature, the Mothra seen in Lengendary's films only fights with Godzilla rather than against him. After establishing Mothra as an ancient ally to Godzilla, King of the Monsters sees her sacrifice herself to save Godzilla from Ghidorah. Mothra is reborn in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which makes Mothra the peacemaker bringing Godzilla and Kong together for the final battle.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Mothra 1962 None Mothra vs. Godzilla 1964 Enemy Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster 1964 Ally Ebirah, Horror of the Deep 1966 Cameo Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla vs. Mothra 1992 Enemy Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla 1994 Cameo Rebirth of Mothra 1996 None Rebirth of Mothra II 1997 None Rebirth of Mothra III 1998 None Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack 2001 Enemy Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. 2003 Enemy Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Ally Godzilla: King of the Monsters 2019 Ally Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 2024 Ally

11 King Caesar

King Caesar Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Once

King Caesar is a lion-like kaiju who is the Azumi royal family of Okinawa's official guardian. He is, much like Mothra, a protector of humanity. The basis for King Caesar comes from a traditional Okinawan folk tale where he protects his village from a rampaging dragon. This ties into his first appearance, as Mechagodzilla is a stand-in for the evil dragon-like beast. His powers is interesting, as he is a martial arts expert, which is unusual in the world of kaiju.

The plot of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla revolves around the movie’s human characters trying to summon an ancient Okinawan guardian deity with the power to oppose the main villain. The ritual's completion brings forth King Caesar, who aids Godzilla in destroying Mechagodzilla. He isn’t seen again until 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars, when he, Rodan, and Anguirus are mind-controlled and forced to fight Godzilla. All three are easily defeated, but are the only monsters Godzilla deliberately didn’t kill, perhaps as an acknowledgment of their prior team-ups with him.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1974 Ally Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Enemy

10 Kumonga

Kumonga Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Once

The giant spider known as Kumonga is a giant mutated creature originally found on Solgell Island. It was capable of capturing victims and then killing them with its stinger, which put it at direct odds with Godzilla. Kumonga made his debut as a secondary villain who battled Godzilla on Monster Island in Son of Godzilla. Kumong's powers include spitting silk to capture and hold onto its targets and then using its venomous stinger in its mouth to kill them. It is also durable and can survive being dismembered thanks to shapeshifting powers.

By the time of Destroy All Monsters, Kumonga was no longer an enemy of Godzilla. The kaiju even contributed to Ghidorah’s defeat in the movie by using his webbing to subdue him. But in Godzilla: Final Wars, the creature was back in its original role as an antagonist. Kumonga was among the many monsters Godzilla had to beat to achieve his goal. In 2020, a new species of spider was discovered and named after this legendary kaiju (via World Spider Catalog).

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Son of Godzilla 1967 Enemy Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Enemy

9 Manda

Manda Appeared As A Godzilla Ally Once, But Didn't Actually Join The Big Fight

Manda is a massive sea serpent who first appears as the guardian of an underwater kingdom in Toho’s Atragon, before being integrated into the Godzilla universe in Destroy All Monsters. The 1963 movie Atragon is mostly about a man who wants to restore the Empire of Japan, but he goes to great lengths to do it in an unethical and supernatural manner. This eventually leads him to use Manda to destroy his enemies, but the ocean deity ends up defeated by a high-tech submarine.

In Destroy All Monsters, he is revealed to be a resident of Monster Island, and he ends up treated with a little more reverence. He follows Godzilla into the final showdown with Ghidorah, but since there are already seven Godzilla allies fighting him, Manda is only a spectator during Destroy All Monsters' final battle. While Manda didn't get to do much, he can wrap his body around an enemy and crush it. He is also a water creature, although he can shoot fireballs as shown in the videogame Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Atragon 1963 None Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Enemy (but doesn't fight Godzilla)

Related Godzilla's Role In Godzilla x Kong Is A Major Disappointment Godzilla is the Alpha Titan of the Monsterverse, but his role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire didn't match how important he is to the franchise.

8 Varan

Varan Was On Godzilla's Side, But Didn't Help Fight Ghidorah

A four-legged, spiny creature who can glide like a flying squirrel served as the titular antagonist in the 1958 Toho classic, Varan the Unbelievable. In that movie — Toho's last black-and-white kaiju movie — Varan is a monstrous creature who rises from the water and destroys anything in its path. He is part of a reptile family who lived 185 million years in the past and is almost impossible to beat. The movie also features some classic footage of Godzilla, although he has nothing to do with the battle against the creature.

Like Manda and many others, Varan was moved to Monster Island in Destroy All Monsters where he was present for the showdown with Ghidorah. He is of great aid, as he can fight in the air, water, and on the ground. He also shoots a sonic beam, small balls of energy, and can easily crush buildings under his weight. This marked his last appearance on the big screen, though it wasn't Toho's last effort to use Varan in a Godzilla movie.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Varan the Unbelievable 1958 None Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally

7 Baragon

Like Manda And Varan, Baragon Never Helped Godzilla

Baragon is a prehistoric monster who survived extinction thanks to his ability to burrow underground. He is a reptile kaiju who starts as a villain, who surfaces to eat livestock and people. He battles a giant-size version of Frankenstein in Frankenstein vs. Baragon, where the story has people blaming the Monster for Baragon's rampage, causing the Monster to challenge the Kaiju to a fight to save the people. Baragon returns briefly in Destroy All Monsters as one of the Monster Island Godzilla allies.

His powers include a Magma Heat Ray, which he first showed in Frankenstein vs. Baragon. He also has a horn that can light the way when traveling in subterranean tunnels. He also has super strength, aiding in physical battles with kaiju like Godzilla. However, in the Millennium series, he was reimagined as a guardian monster sent to protect the world from Godzilla himself. Toward the beginning of the movie, Baragon dies after suffering a horrific beating at Godzilla's hands.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Frankenstein vs. Baragon 1965 None Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack 2001 Enemy

6 Anguirus

Anguirus Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Three Times

Anguirus, an ankylosaur-like kaiju, is the first monster to fight Godzilla in Godzilla Raids Again. He is a durable creature, normally, with a spiky and armored hide. This allows him to take vicious attacks from Godzilla and survive to fight back. He also has sharp teeth, and he can hurt most kaiju when he gets part of their body into his mouth. He also has a spiked tail that he can swing around to hit enemies with. Unlike many kaiju, he has heightened intelligence as well and can coordinate attacks with his allies.

Though he dies in his first fight with Godzilla, a second Anguirus returns, this time as one of the Godzilla allies in Destroy All Monsters. The two form a duo in Godzilla vs. Gigan, where they team up to fight Ghidorah and Gigan. Later, Mechagodzilla (disguised as the real King of the Monsters) beats him in a battle in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. Before his defeat, though, he figures out that his opponent is an impostor.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Godzilla Raids Again 1955 Enemy Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally Godzilla vs. Gigan 1972 Ally Godzilla vs. Megalon 1973 Cameo Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1974 Ally Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Enemy

5 Moguera

Moguera Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Once

The robot called Moguera is a weapon of destruction engineered by aliens in the campy 1957 science-fiction film, The Mysterians. The aliens release Moguera into Japan in an attack on Earth, where it destroys a village and causes several earthquakes. It turns out there are several, as the aliens send in another Moguera when the JSDF destroys the first one, but the second one also ends up destroyed. This did not end the Moguera, though, as it returns in the Godzilla franchise.

He is reinvented as a replacement for Mechagodzilla in the Heisei series. Though designed to fight Godzilla, he is sent to battle an alien clone of the monster in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. When SpaceGodzilla proves to be the one villain Godzilla can't beat alone, Godzilla is forced to rely on Moguera for help. After the robot destroys SpaceGodzilla’s power source, Godzilla is able to finish him off. However, Moguera fails to survive the confrontation, and this time the monster remains dead.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla The Mysterians 1957 None Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla 1994 Ally & Enemy

1:57 Related Who Is Godzilla X Kong's Villain? New Ape Foe Skar King Explained Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is on the way, and the first trailer has revealed who the main villain of the upcoming film is: Skar King.

4 Minilla

Minilla Has Teamed Up With Godzilla 3 Times

To increase the appeal of the Godzilla franchise to younger audiences, Toho introduced Minilla, Godzilla’s son. The creature, who doesn't resemble Godzilla at all, is known for blowing loops of smoke out of his mouth, rather than atomic breath. His first appearance comes when Godzilla hears a distress signal from Sollgel Island, finds the baby Minilla there, and raises him as his son. Minilla often attempts to assist Godzilla in his fights, but due to his small stature and lack of strength, he is never able to provide much help.

By the time he ended up leaving the franchise, Minilla had developed the ability to shoot smaller versions of Godzilla's Atomic Breath.

By the time he ended up leaving the franchise, Minilla had developed the ability to shoot smaller versions of Godzilla's Atomic Breath. The Heisei era notably replaces him with Godzilla Junior, but Toho eventually revisits Minilla during the Millennium era for Godzilla: Final Wars. In this movie, Minilla travels with a young boy and his grandfather to Tokyo so he can reunite with Godzilla.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Son of Godzilla 1967 Ally Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally All Monsters Attack 1969 Ally Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Cameo

3 Jet Jaguar

Jet Jaguar Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Once

Toho’s kid-friendly Godzilla vs. Megalon centers on two scientists and a young boy who share a strong emotional attachment to a human-sized robot who answers to the name “Jet Jaguar.” After the Earth is threatened by the arrival of Megalon and Gigan, Jet Jaguar suddenly gains sentience and grows to humongous proportions so that he and Godzilla can engage in a two-on-two fight with the villains. He ends up 50 meters tall and can battle face-to-face with the kaiju threatening the Earth.

After shaking hands, Godzilla and Jet Jaguar use teamwork to dispose of both Megalon and Gigan. Following the battle, Jet Jaguar returned to his normal state and never returned to the big screen. However, he did appear on TV, with his most recent appearance coming in the 2021 Godzilla Singular Point animated series, where he is a robot built by the Otaki Factory, and Godzilla destroys him in battle.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla Godzilla vs. Megalon 1973 Ally

2 Gorosaurus

Gorosaurus Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Once

Before Mechagodzilla's role in Godzilla vs. Kong, the only monster to have met both Godzilla and King Kong was Gorosaurus. In Toho’s King Kong Escapes, Gorosaurus is a dinosaur kaiju who gets caught in a fight with Kong. In the movie, Gorosaurus attacks and tries to eat a United Nations ship crew, and Kong shows up to protect them and fights off the giant kaiju. Kong ends up breaking Gorosaurus's jaw and leaving him for dead.

Though he is killed in the struggle, he is seen again in Destroy All Monsters, where he plays a key role in taking down Ghidorah. One of the movie’s most memorable scenes is when the combined forces of the kaiju hold down Ghidorah so that Gorosaurus can knock him flat out on his back with a devastating kangaroo kick. While he mostly fights by biting his enemies, he can also jump extremely high and has the aforementioned kangaroo kick that can knock down anyone from Kong to Ghidorah.

Movie Year Relationship With Godzilla King Kong Escapes 1967 None Destroy All Monsters 1968 Ally

1 Kong

Kong Has Teamed Up With Godzilla Twice

A monster movie icon in his own right, King Kong has been a part of three crossovers with Godzilla. The first was in 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla, which famously pitted the two against each other. Although Toho got a chance to use Kong again for King Kong Escapes, it never did feature Godzilla and the giant ape in the same movie again. It took decades, but the pair finally did get a rematch in the Monsterverse's Godzilla vs. Kong, which ended in a historic monster team-up against Mechagodzilla.

The reluctant allies find themselves again teaming to defeat their enemies in the Monsterverse's direct follow-up, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Godzilla is ready to kill Kong when they fight in Egypt, but thanks to the intervention of Mothra, Kong becomes one of the best Godzilla allies, even using teamwork a few times during the fight and to let Kong catch a ride on his dorsal fins. It's possible that as a result of their alliance against Skar King and Shimo, Godzilla won't be so quick to attack Kong if and when they meet again.