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Golza
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RATINGS
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The first kaiju that Tiga encounters (along with Melba), Golza is a fairly standard kaiju. Upright, dinosaur-type with a beam weapon. Of course, in the first episode, Golza's real function is to allow Tiga to show off his Power-Type form. He is a simple yet pleasing design. His return in episode 18 (strengthened form) proves that he was intended as a "star" monster.
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originality: 3 |
| personality: 6 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: Bemular |
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Melba
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RATINGS
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To contrast Golza's generally slow yet strong build, Melba is a fast-flyer, which allows Tiga to showcase his Sky-Type form. Melba is a very cool design and reminds me somehwat of Kilazee from Ultraman Great, but only a little.
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originality: 4 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
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Gakuma (alpha and beta)
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RATINGS
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A very standard burrowing quadraped kaiju. Not the most revolutionary of monsters; that's the real reason there were two of them, in my opinion.
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originality: 1 |
| personality: 2 |
| coolness: 2 |
| reminiscient of: Neronga |
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Kirieloid
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RATINGS |
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The first alien (seijin) design in Tiga. Interesting light-up parts (like all good alien monsters) and excellent fighting skills. The Kirieloid obviously were intended as the star "seijin" of the series, since they return in a later episiode (just like the Bautan-Seijin!) I don't think that they are a great design, but good enough for the purpose.
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originality: 5 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 7 |
| reminiscient of: Barutan-Seijin |
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Rigatron
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RATINGS
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A very cool kaiju that was merged with a spacecraft, Rigatron had great hook-claws and an awesome beam weapon.
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originality: 6
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personality: 5
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coolness: 8
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reminiscient of: ?
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Sealizar
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RATINGS
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A very gross walking pile of decaying sludge? Sealizar was a decomposing dinosaur/sea monster that obviously smelled bad. Still, somehow cool looking. He was the first Tiga monster to fit into my Depressingly Pathetic Monster category. Sealizar has a suprising extending neck power.
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originality: 5
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personality: 6
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coolness: 6
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reminiscient of: Seabozu
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Gazort
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RATINGS
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Another star monster; this one has a lot of personality. Gazort specifically makes the most irritating, frightening and downright shrill noises ever. He is also somewhat scary to look at. Very effective energy weapon and kind of neat how he just hovers in the air when he returns in episode 15.
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originality: 7
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personality: 8
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: ?
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Critta (Critters)
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RATINGS
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Just a swarm of CGI jellyfish, right? There seems to be a lot of them around lately. In any case, despite the fact I think those kinds of creatures are usually lame, the Critta do represent an interesting idea; a race of beings that lives in our upper atmosphere. The Critta do return in a number of episodes as recurring characters.
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originality: 3
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personality: 5
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coolness: 4
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reminiscient of: ?
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Regulan-Seijin
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RATINGS
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More of a true seijin than the Kirieloid, Regulan joins the ranks of many ultra-aliens with roughly bullet-shaped heads and interesting uses of blinking lights. Regulan was a perfect, though somewhat simplistic design.
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originality: 6
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personality: 7
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: Zarab-Seijin
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Giranbo
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RATINGS
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The witch-monster from the Halloween epsiode of Ultraman Tiga, Giranbo is one of my least favorite designs in the series. His powers are very cool during the climactic battle, but his actual appearancve is not very interesting to me. Can't put my finger on it.
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originality: 4
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personality: 4
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coolness: 3
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reminiscient of: ?
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Makiina
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RATINGS
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Makiina is one of the best examples of Ultraman Tiga's monster designs. Beautifully conceived and executed, Makiina was a real work of art. His ball-form was very good, and his overall texture was perfect.
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originality: 7
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personality: 7
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coolness: 8
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reminiscient of: ?
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Gagi
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RATINGS
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Perhaps another star monster, Gagi had really neat tentacle appendages and a great personality. His amusement park episode makes him somewhat frightening. Great energy dome power! Returns to fighter Silverhorn (Shibagon) in episode 26 (well, Gagi 2 returns since the original was blown to pieces, but Japanese monsters never really die, do they?)
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originality: 7
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personality: 9
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coolness: 9
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reminiscient of: ?
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Eboryuh (Evolu)
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RATINGS
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A hyper-evolved human being turned into a monster, Lots of cool powers. Evolu was beautifully designed. Reminds me of Makiina and Galra (from episode 39) a little bit, because I think all 3 monsters come from the same school of monster design...heavily detailed rock-like skin texture, hunched-over postures, etc. Anyway, Evolu / Eboryuh was a slightly tragic figure, so he reminds me of another classic kaiju....
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originality: 5
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personality: 6
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coolness: 6
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reminiscient of: Jamila
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Reylons
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RATINGS
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One of my favorite kaiju from the series. Reylons is a fun-filled, personality-driven monster, with suprising powers, good battle tactics and a fairly innovative design. He is simultaneously cool and amusing. I think Reylons is as interesting as any of the more famous classic kaiju from the original Ultraman.
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originality: 9
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personality: 10
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coolness: 9
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reminiscient of: Gesura
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Raybeak-Seijin
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RATINGS
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So obviously a nod to Ultraseven it's not even funny! Tiga fights in human-size for most of the episode! Plus it is primarily an alien invasion plot with no real giant monsters, so it IS as Ultraseven story! The Raybeak are very very very cool, especially their bird-like mannerisms, which really make them believable (and scary!). Actually, the Raybeak are more appropriately a throwback to another classic kaiju from Ultraman....(what with the shrink powers and all)
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originality: 8
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personality: 10
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coolness: 9
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reminiscient of: Dada
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Muzan-Seijin
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RATINGS
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In his humanoid form, Muzan is a very suave alien (seijin), in keeping with that age-old tradition of aliens wearing regular human clothes. PS - doesn't he return in an epsiode of Ultraman Dyna? Anyway, he turns into a giant-sized kaiju form that is very different. Muzan the kaiju is very interesting because of his design-gimmick, the extending neck/quadrapedal form transformation (hard to explain). I wish they made a transforming toy of this guy!
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originality: 7
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personality: 8
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: Kemur Being?
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Sukunaoni
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RATINGS
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An exceptional ONI kaiju with great fighting skill and a frightening appearance. I like it when kaiju are based on Japanese mythological characters. Sukunaoni even gets a sword which makes him extra-special!
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originality: 5
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personality: 7
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coolness: 8
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reminiscient of: Various past Oni kaiju!
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Standel-Seijin (Aborbas and Redol, blue and red)
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RATINGS
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A pair of interesting aliens, one blue and one red, both with the all-important blinking lights! I'm not crazy of the actual costumes, but the designs are decent enough. They make great noises when they walk.
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originality: 4
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personality: 5
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coolness: 4
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reminiscient of: ?
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Gobunya - Giga
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RATINGS
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Okay design. A swarm of hollow robot-like creatures (animated by an alien life-force) Their blinking lights provide an intersting function anyway. Human-sized, then merge to form giant-size. Very simplistic, statue-like designs, but I guess that was the idea.
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originality: 4
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personality: 2
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coolness: 4
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reminiscient of: ?
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Gobunya-Ogma
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RATINGS
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The ultimate form of the alien life-force, a more elaborate version of the animated statues with more blinking lights that make a very disturbing sound. A very assymetrical monster.
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originality: 7
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personality: 2
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coolness: 6
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reminiscient of: ?
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Deban
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RATINGS
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Cutesy human-sized kaiju with powerful energy emanataing from its horns. Deban is a funny, yet charming design. Remarkably awkward and obviously prone to falling over (which he does). Does NOT ger squashed by a boulder like another, similar little kaiju...
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originality: 6
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personality: 9
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coolness: 4
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reminiscient of: Pigmon!
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Evil God Enomena
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RATINGS
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Truly evil majin-like kaiju, complete with evil smile. Actually radiates evil with its energy spray power. A perfect nemeis for the little Deban! Enomena's design is elegant and quite magnificent!
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originality: 7
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personality: 10
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coolness: 10
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reminiscient of: Pigmon!
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Magnia
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RATINGS
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A monster made up of balls. (There have been a few in Ultra-history). Magnia gets my vote as Kaiju With The Fattest Thighs. Makes Heisei Gojira look slim and fit by comparison. Still, Magnia's flying, blood-sucking creatures are terrifying!
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originality: 7
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personality: 6
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: ?
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Weaponizer (1 & 2)
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RATINGS
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What's cooler than a giant tyrannosaur-like dinosaur with cybernetic parts? How about TWO giant tyrannosaur-like dinosaurs with cybernetic parts? The Weaponizers move and act like robots, so they're not great fighters per se. Pretty good designs, though.
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originality: 5
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personality: 3
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coolness: 6
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reminiscient of: ?
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Litomarus
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RATINGS
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Interesting design-idea incorprating the head at the bottom of the monster approach. (been done many time s before, but it never gets olf!) Litomarus also has extremely long tentacles that allow him to do a funny acrobatic trick during the climactic battle.
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originality: 5
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personality: 3
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coolness: 5
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reminiscient of: Twintail? Tattkong?
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Shilbagon (Silverhorn)
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RATINGS
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There is NO question in my mind that Shilbagon is the Red King of Ultraman Tiga. He acts a lot like him, has a vaguely similar look, and even returns in Ultraman Dyna to throw a rock just like Red King did to poor, helpless Pigmon in Ultraman. (Sadly, Shilbagon's rock didn't squash anyone). Shilbagon is also very amusing, like Red King. He acts with a wide range of emotions! He also has a vision-problem (can't see anything unless it's in motion!). Lastly, Shilbagon is very strong!! (I am still amazed that Neosaurus blew him up in that same epsiode of Ultraman Dyna! Who were they kidding?)
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originality: 7
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personality: 10
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: Red King!
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Obico
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RATINGS
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Another Japanese mythology-based kaiju, this spirit is sad, depressing and not much of a fighter. Okay design, but all of the concentration went into the pathos in this episode.
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originality: 3
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personality: 5
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coolness: 2
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reminiscient of: ?
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Jovalie
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RATINGS
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In this great war-story, Jovalie is the perfect monster for the battlefield. His armored carapace, deadly powers and awesome looks make for a formidable kaiju-enemy for Tiga. Great appendages! Sort of bug-like when you think about it (with the carapace, etc.) Jovalie just feels like a walking death-machine!
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originality: 6
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personality: 5
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: Zagaras
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Nataan-Seijin
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RATINGS
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The kaiju/seijin Nataan is not really a major part of the story, and his appearance at the end is brief. A shame, because he could have had more screen-time. Anyway, he is so obviously a Mefilas-Seijin wannabee to me that it's not even funny! Same beefy thighs!
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originality: 4
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personality: 4
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coolness: 6
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reminiscient of: Mefilas-Seijin!
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King Molerat
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RATINGS
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Is he is a giant Mole? A giant Rat? I'm not sure. He's really more like a giant Cow! Anyway, I figure they knew they had to include more quadraped kaiju in this show (there are hardly any!) so King Molerat may have been designed for that purpose. He is actually pretty cool (he grew on me over time). His mutation from calm to violent form is minor (some fangs pop out).
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originality: 5
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personality: 6
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coolness: 5
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reminiscient of: Gamekujira
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Bizaarmo
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RATINGS
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A twisted alien computer virus monster? Bizaarmo is kind of gross as he forms himself all over GUT HQ. His final form is cool, complete with stomach-firing energy power. He blows up good! (Notice how the earlier episodes of Tiga had the monsters blow up with lame CGI FX, then they learned their lesson and started blowing them up good with real pyro!) Note: My favorite exploding kaiju may be Gan-Q from Ultraman Gaia.
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originality: 6
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personality: 5
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coolness: 7
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reminiscient of: Keronia
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Sheila
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RATINGS
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Finally, we have another Depressingly Pathetic Monster of the series, this one is also remeniscient of Hydra from Ultraman, also a bird-monster! Both kaiju involved a dead child, and both were supernaturally manifestations in the form of monster-birds, here to enact some form of vengenance. Can you say 'homage'? Sheila splurts and stumbles in the most depressing way possible, dying throught the end battle.
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originality: 3
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personality: 6
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coolness: 4
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reminiscient of: Hydra
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| Culanos |
RATINGS |
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I personally can't stand vampire-related stories for the most part. They just seem so boring, compared to anything else. In an Ultraman series, vampires seem far too wimpy to even be included. The monster vampire Culanos is fairly boring and looks like a lot of other vampire-bat inspired creatures (like that bat monster from Battle Fever J, among countless others)
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originality: 1 |
| personality: 2 |
| coolness: 1 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Decimonia |
RATINGS |
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One of the more surreal kaiju from the Tiga series. (Most of the monsters are a bit conventional in many ways. They start getting more surreal in Dyna, I think). Anyway, Decimonia is an very cool abstract shape with cool armor plating and an energy weapon. He can't do much physically except barge into you, and he has these wierd guitar-strings somewhere on him. Why? Looks cool, though.
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originality: 9 |
| personality: 4 |
| coolness: 9 |
| reminiscient of: Bullton |
| Guam |
RATINGS |
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The Decimo-Seijin's kaiju is interesting in that he has no legs where one might have thought he should have. He is like a quadraped but without the rear legs. It took me a while to notice that, actually, and that made him more interesting to me. This episode is a follow-up to the previ0ous one with Decimonia, so Guam has a similar look on the surface.
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originality: 6 |
| personality: 2 |
| coolness: 4 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Goldoras |
RATINGS |
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The time-travel story was great in this episode and was so much the focus that Goldoras was not as much the star, but he is a great design anyway. A nice bipedal dinosaur type which may not have looked strikingly original, but he has good personality.
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originality: 4 |
| personality: 6 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Manon-seijin |
RATINGS |
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The most bizarre, surreal episode which featured a very memorable race of seijin. The Manon are decidedly female aliens, and are reminiscient (to me) of some kind of tribal folk masks.
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originality: 8 |
| personality: 6 |
| coolness: 8 |
| reminiscient of: Dada |
| Deathmon |
RATINGS |
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Haunting creature that floats in the sky. (not the main monster in the story...Faldon is). The Deathmon is very creepy, like a big floating alien head.
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originality: 8 |
| personality: 1 |
| coolness: 8 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Faldon |
RATINGS |
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Big monster with huge hunchback, no neck. decent design; Jamila-like in shape, perhaps. Just an illusion monster, so no actual personality.
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originality: 4 |
| personality: 1 |
| coolness: 5 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Galra |
RATINGS |
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Powerful monster with cool surface texture (like Makina and Evolu).
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originality: 6 |
| personality: 3 |
| coolness: 8 |
| reminiscient of: Zarogasu |
| Bakugon |
RATINGS |
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Hey! This could have been an Ultraman Taro kaiju! Bakugon was made up of various objects and animals, textures and emanated wierd optical effects....he was a walking surreal nightmare! Very interesting, if not amusing kaiju.
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originality: 8 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 8 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Irudo |
RATINGS |
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These creatures were the extension of the Giant Brain. (Does Irudo mean Id? I think so). Pretty cool Ultraseven-like creatures, perhaps.
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originality: 4 |
| personality: 4 |
| coolness: 4 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Phybas |
RATINGS |
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A giant monster that inhabits the computer-world; hey! Is this a Gridman episode? Anyway, Phybas was a big, clunky, robot-like machine monster.
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originality: 5 |
| personality: 2 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: King Joe |
| Geozark |
RATINGS |
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One of my favorite Tiga monsters, this landshark monster has a wierd tail. Is there another head on the end of that tail. I have a toy of this monster and still can't tell. Anyway, Geozark is actually a robot. I'm not sure how the bad guy (Evil Tiga and the corrupt scientist guy) had the resources to build Geozark, but never mind. I shouldn't ask stupid questions. But I can't help it....how DO these mad scientist types obtain the materials, find the space, and secure the manpower needed to build a giant 50 meter robot monster?
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originality: 7 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 9 |
| reminiscient of: Gubira |
| Evil Tiga |
RATINGS |
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I am not going to include Ultraman-wannabee characters in these reviews as a rule of thumb. (such as Fake Dyne, Imit-Ultraseven, etc.). They're not really true kaiju in my book. After all, if their action figure is considered part of the usual Ultraheroes toy line (even if they are a bad guy) and NOT part of the Ultra Kaiju line, that will be my guide.
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originality: N/A |
| personality: N/A |
| coolness: N/A |
| reminiscient of: Zarab's Fake Ultraman disguise |
| Gardie |
RATINGS |
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Gardie is short for Guard, or Guard Dog, right? He WAS an actual dog when he was regular-sized anyway. Gardie acts just like a guard dog, fighting for Tiga against Evil Tiga in a truly touching episode. It's amazing how much he resembles a dog without really looking like one. It's the acting.
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originality: 5 |
| personality: 10 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: ? |
| Gijela |
RATINGS |
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The mountainous flower of doom is much like every other giant flower kaiju (Greenmonsu, that one from Ultra-Q, the Legion Flower, the one from Dyna, etc.). Because of the story in this episode, Gijela was impressive. (this kaiju is significant in the overall story-arc). He has Biollante-like roots and does most of what you'd expect a giant flower to do (spray posion gas, etc.)
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originality: 2 |
| personality: 3 |
| coolness: 6 |
| reminiscient of: GreenMonsu |
| Taraban |
RATINGS |
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This monster design was one of the winners in a kaiju-design contest and I can see why. Taraban is a great kaiju, as good as any of the classics. Great rainbow coloration and makes a great sound (Taraban's cry is a major plot point in the story). Amazingly, this snail-like creature can fly! He is also a very extra-dimensional creature and has some reality-bening properties. The bottom-line: Any kaiju with eyestalks is cool in my book!
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originality: 9 |
| personality: 9 |
| coolness: 9 |
| reminiscient of: Namegon |
| Metamorga |
RATINGS |
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This was a direct sequel to the Evolu story. Metamorga is a highly evolved simian kaiju. I'm not crazy about monkey monsters; just like vampire monsters they tend to be lame. How many ways can you design an overgrown ape? Metamorga DOES fight very well; his style is appropriately simian-like.
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originality: 1 |
| personality: 9 |
| coolness: 3 |
| reminiscient of: Goro (Giant Gorilla), Gigass, King Kong and others... |
| Menjula |
RATINGS |
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More annoying sound than Gazort? I think so. The Menjula made this terrifying cackle that pierced the soul. No kidding. Excellent wierd design that had two monster stuck together, like siamese twins, with a weapon in the middle. They flapped around a lot and had disturbing horns that protruded from their chests. One had one horn, the other had two. Male and female?
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originality: 10 |
| personality: 10 |
| coolness: 9 |
| reminiscient of: Pesta, sort of...(because of the two-man suit) |
| Chalija |
RATINGS |
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A funny creature that wanted to "buy" a kaiju and went to Tsubaraya studios to find one. Eventually went back in time to visit the real Eiji Tsubaraya! Anyway, Chalija (a form of Challenger?) was a nice design, but I felt that I never saw enough of him.
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originality: 7 |
| personality: 10 |
| coolness: 9 |
| reminiscient of: |
| Yanakaagi |
RATINGS |
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The kaiju that Chalija finds in the past is a very nice designed dinosaur-like monster. Since this story showcased the original Ultraman (Tiga travels back in time to meet him), I strongly believe that Yanakaagi, who was a kaiju that original Ultraman was supposed to be following and who crashed into a lake, was supposed to be a retelling of Bemular. Makes sense, right? He kind of looks like Bemular if you think about it, too.
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originality: 3 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 5 |
| reminiscient of: Bemular |
| Zoigar |
RATINGS |
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The flying kaiju (there are many of them) at the end of the series, the Zoigar are elegantly designed aerial creatures. When one gets its wings clipped and must fight on land, it makes a great land kaiju too. Notice how most aerial kaiju seem to get their wings clipped during the battle and must then fight like every other monster on land. You don't get too many air-only battles.
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originality: 3 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 7 |
| reminiscient of: Aron (from Ultraseven) |
| Gatanazoa |
RATINGS |
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Appropriately humongous, immobile creature that is at least three times as big as Tiga. Notice how many TV series with monsters-of-the-week have the last monster being really large and immobile. (often using tentacles and long-range weapons in lieu of regular fighting tactics). Anyway, Gatanazoa is very impressive nonetheless; a massive gastropod/cephalopod with an upside-down head. (I love that part). he makes a very cool slowed-down elephant noise too. I have a few toy figures of this kaiju, and none of them do the design justice. I also like the fact that the climactic battles with Gatanazoa took place in the ocean. It was actually a good change of pace.
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originality: 9 |
| personality: 5 |
| coolness: 10 |
| reminiscient of: I hate to say it, but Goudes! (from Ultraman Great) |