Kaiju
From Free net encyclopedia
Kaijū (怪獣) is a Japanese term that generically translates to monster.
While the first dictionary defintion for kaiju says monster, the secondary and more popular context for kaiju comes from media. Namely, the giant monster genre is known as kaiju eiga (怪獣映画 - giant monster movie). A more precise but archaic terms would be daikaijû (大怪獣 - "big monster"), but most kaiju are assumed to be giant, so daikaijû is in disuse today.
The most famous Kaiju is Godzilla and other well known Kaiju include Gamera and King Ghidorah. The term Ultra-Kaiju is short-hand for monsters in the Ultra Series.
Kaijū film series
Gamera the giant, tusked, flying turtle produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company
Godzilla arguably the most famous giant monster produced by Toho.
Mothra the giant moth is a common foe of Godzilla.
Rodan is another popular giant monster produced by Toho.