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| '''Rodan''', is a [[fictional monster]], introduced in ''Rodan'', a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company responsible for the [[Godzilla]] series. Like [[Godzilla]] and [[Anguirus]], it is designed after a type of [[prehistoric]] [[reptile]] (The Japanese name "Radon" is a contraction of "pte'''ra'''no'''don''' " and may also have been chosen to suggest radiation). Radon is usually referred to as ''Rodan'' stateside, possibly to avoid confusion with the atomic element Radon. He is occasionally portrayed as enemy of Godzilla but has allied himself with the King of Monsters on several instances against more dangerous threats.
| | Gojira! |
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| [[Image:Rodan.jpg|thumb|Rodan]]
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| ===Weapons and Abilities===
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| Rodan's primary weapons are his speed and agility; he can create hurricane-force winds in his wake by flying at supersonic speeds at low altitude. He also uses his beak and claws effectively in battle, and his wings, despite their delicate appearance, are quite durable. Rodan can lift creatures several times his weight. He also could emit a blast of wind from his mouth in the 1956 movie, but this concept was never used again. In ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II'', Rodan develops the ability to emit a radioactive heat beam from his mouth, after exposure to Godzilla and a radioactive waste disposal site.This heat beam is uranium-based.
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| ==Origin==
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| ===Showa series===
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| In ''Rodan'', two Rodans were unearthed and awakened by mining operations in Kitamatsu along with a swarm of prehistoric insects called [[Meganulon]]s. After devouring several people and reducing Sasebo to ruins, the Rodans are apparently killed in a volcanic eruption triggered by a bombardment of their nest in Mount Aso.
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| Rodan (presumably one of the two creatures in ''Rodan'') went on to fictional crossover into the Godzilla series, appearing in ''Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster'' in 1964 when he broke out of the volcano and helped Godzilla and [[Mothra]] defeat [[King Ghidorah]]. In this appearance and all subsequent appearances in the Showa series Rodan is as tall as Godzilla with a wingspan a little wider than he is tall. Rodan appeared with Godzilla again in ''Invasion of Astro-Monster'', where both were mind-controlled by Xilians to destroy Earth's cities and later fought King Ghidorah again when the mind control was broken.
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| In ''Destroy All Monsters'', Rodan was again used by aliens to wreak havoc on Earth, this time by the Kilaaks. Again the mind control was broken and the monsters fought King Ghidorah. Rodan would only appear again in the Shōwa series in stock footage used for ''Terror of Mechagodzilla''.
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| Rodan was one of the only monsters not affected by Godzilla's atomic ray. In ''Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster'' Godzilla uses his ray against Rodan several times but the pterosaur 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.
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| ===Heisei Series===
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| Rodan in the Heisei series appeared in ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II'', where he sought to protect [[Godzilla Junior]], whose egg was in the same nest as Rodan. Rodan played a vital role in the film's climax, sacrificing his own life to revive Godzilla by transferring his life-energy to him.
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| Heisei Rodan is notably much smaller than his appearances in the Showa series, standing only about 1/3 as tall as Godzilla and having a wingspan 1/2 Godzilla's height. The prominent rows of spines on his belly are replaced with overlapping ridges of bone, and he has three horns 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.
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| 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 Godzilla's uranium heat ray as a weapon, with all of its properties. Besides that, Fire Rodan remained basically the same as Rodan.
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| ===Millennium series===
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| In the 2004 film, ''Godzilla: Final Wars'', Rodan is used as a weapon of destruction by the Xilians via mind control. He appeared alongside an all-star cast of classic monsters, as they wreaked havoc on the major cities of the world and were sent to fight Godzilla. Rodan attacked New York City, and later fought alongside [[King Caeser]] and [[Anguirus]] to fight Godzilla, when all three were defeated.
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| G:FW Rodan combines elements of both the Showa and Heisei versions, such as the Showa's size and the Heisei's coloration (red with some yellow on his stomach, etc.) and physical appearance (besides the head, which was far closer to how it was in the Showa era).
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| ===Other Appearances===
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| Rodan (as Fire Rodan) is a playable character in Atari's ''Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee'' and ''Godzilla: Save the Earth'' video games. Rodan is a very fast character with good combo abilities and extended flight time (his energy bar does not begin to drop until several seconds have passed or until Rodan uses his heat ray, and even then it still drops much slower than [[King Ghidorah]] or [[Mecha-King Ghidorah]]'s energy bars). His weapon rating is also good. On the negative side, Rodan's attacks are generally weak and his defense is low, meaning he is best playing a hit-and-run style of fight.
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| Rodan has appeared, either alone or alongside Godzilla, in the Animaniacs cartoon series, The Simpsons, The Colbert Report and Family Guy.
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| The science fiction story ''Miniatures'' by Stephan Dedman is about a monster named ''Rodin'' which has Rodan's appearance, but which leaves behind works of statuary by Auguste Rodin at scenes of devastation.
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| In the cartoon series Rugrats, the monster ally of Reptar is a Rodan looking monster called "Dactar"
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| == External links ==
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| * [http://www.godzillatemple.com/ Barry's Temple of Godzilla]
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| * [http://www.tohokingdom.com/ Toho Kingdom]
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| * [http://www.kaijuphile.com/ Kaijuphile: Monster Site. Monster Obsession.]
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| * [http://www.monsterzero.us/ Monster Zero News]
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| * [http://www.scifijapan.com/ Sci-Fi Japan]
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| * [http://www.gojistomp.org/ Godzilla Stomp]
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| * [http://www.godzillashrine.com/ The Godzilla Shrine]
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| * [http://homepage3.nifty.com/kadzuwo/mothra.htm Secret Message of "Mothra" (Mosura)] (multilingual trivia and links)
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| * [http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/2295/main.html Mothra's Shrine]
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| * [http://www.kaijuphile.com/rodansroost/ Rodan's Roost], a fan site.
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| ==Source==
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| {{Wikipedia}}
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| [[Category:Kaiju]]
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