View source for King Ghidorah

{{short description| Fictional monster, or kaiju}}
{{hatgrp|{{Redirect|King Ghidra|the Japanese hip hop group|King Giddra|the rapper|MF Doom|the software|Ghidra}}
}}
{{Infobox character
| name = King Ghidorah
| series = [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]
| image = GT3HM - King Ghidorah on the rampage.jpg
| caption = King Ghidorah as portrayed by [[Shoichi Hirose]] via suitmation during the behind the scenes of ''Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster''.
| first = ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' (1964)
| last = ''[[Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle]]'' (2021)
| creator = [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]<ref name="cho">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lLGd5Nnl_Uw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20121127172848/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGd5Nnl_Uw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|author=CHO Japan |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGd5Nnl_Uw&list=UUU03keCaesfRWZPYV1FUxXw |title=1970's Godzilla FX Director - PART I - ７０年代のゴジラの特技監督 (SciFi Japan TV #06) |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-10-31 |access-date=2015-07-25}}{{cbignore}}</ref><br>[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]{{sfn|Ragone|2014|p=90}}<br>[[Shinichi Sekizawa]]
| designer = [[Akira Watanabe (art director)|Akira Watanabe]]{{sfn|Ragone|2014|p=90}}
| portrayer = '''Shōwa era:'''<br>[[Shoichi Hirose]]{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=116}}<br>Susumu Utsumi{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=357}}<br>[[Kanta Ina]]{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=359}}<br>'''Heisei era:'''<br>[[Hurricane Ryu]]{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=364}}<br>[[Tsutomu Kitagawa]]{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=102}}<br>'''Millennium era:'''<br>[[Akira Ohashi]]{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=238}}
| motion_actor = '''Legendary Pictures:'''<br>Jason Liles<ref name="Jason"/><br>Alan Maxson<ref name="Additional KG performers"/><br>Richard Dorton<ref name="Additional KG performers"/>
| alias = Ghidrah{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=117}}<br>King Ghidra<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/I_gjCovLhRA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200423090159/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_gjCovLhRA&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=AMC Intro - "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" (1990s) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_gjCovLhRA |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=March 1, 2019 |date=March 19, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><br>King Ghidora<ref>{{cite web |title=''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' - Initial Sony 1998 VHS Release |url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/fc/50/18fc50ebe0cf7ca90eb853498169e272.jpg |website=[[Pinterest]] |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804202401/https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/fc/50/18fc50ebe0cf7ca90eb853498169e272.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref><br />Monster Zero{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=37}}<br />The 10,000 Year Old Dragon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/04/godzilla-perfect-collection-box-6/|title=Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection Box 6|last=DeSentis|first=John|work=SciFi Japan|date=July 4, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2014|archive-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804201210/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/04/godzilla-perfect-collection-box-6/|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />The King of Terror{{sfn|Yoneda|1998|loc=4:49}}<br />The Gold King<ref name="SciFi Japan October">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/10/12/godzilla-the-planet-eater-press-notes-trailer-and-pics-from-toho/|title=Godzilla: The Planet Eater Press Notes, Trailer and Pics From Toho|work=SciFi Japan|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092705/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/10/12/godzilla-the-planet-eater-press-notes-trailer-and-pics-from-toho/|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />God of the Void<ref name="SciFi Japan October"/><br />King of the Void<ref name="SciFi Japan October"/>
| species = Three-headed dragon-like alien
}}
{{nihongo|'''King Ghidorah'''|キングギドラ|Kingu Gidora|lead=yes}} is a giant [[dragon]]-like [[extraterrestrials in fiction|alien]] monster, or ''[[kaiju]]'', which first appeared in [[Ishirō Honda]]'s 1964 film ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'', produced and distributed by [[Toho]]. The character was initially created by [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], and [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] as an homage to the eight-headed mythological Japanese dragon ''[[Yamata no Orochi]]''. Although the name of the character is officially trademarked by [[Toho]] as "King Ghidorah",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131211004826/godzilla/images/b/b3/Monster_Icons_-_King_Ghidorah.png|title=King Ghidorah Official Trademark|publisher=Toho|access-date=September 12, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228184542/http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131211004826/godzilla/images/b/b3/Monster_Icons_-_King_Ghidorah.png|url-status=live}}</ref> the character was originally referred to as '''Ghidorah''', '''Ghidrah''', or '''Monster Zero''' in some English markets.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=117}}

Although King Ghidorah's design has remained largely consistent throughout its appearances (an armless, bipedal, golden and yellowish-scaled dragon with three heads, two fan-shaped wings, and two tails), its origin story has varied from being an [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] planet-destroying dragon,{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=115}} a [[Genetic engineering|genetically engineered]] monster from the future,{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=267}} a guardian monster of ancient Japan,{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=193}} or a god from another dimension. The character is usually portrayed as the [[archenemy]] of [[Godzilla]] and a foe of [[Mothra]],{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=282}} though it has had one appearance as an ally of the latter.{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=193}}

Despite rumors that Ghidorah was meant to represent the threat posed by China, which had at the time of the character's creation just developed [[nuclear weapon]]s,{{sfn|Jess-Cooke|2012|p=38}} director Ishirō Honda denied the connection and stated that Ghidorah was simply a modern take on the dragon [[Yamata no Orochi]].<ref>David Milner, [http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm "Ishiro Honda Interview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114133740/http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm |date=2017-11-14 }}, ''Kaiju Conversations'' (December 1992)</ref><ref name="cho"/><ref name="dvdcommentary"/>

==Overview==
===Development===
According to special effects director [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]'s protégé [[Teruyoshi Nakano]], the initial idea for ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]],'' came from [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]], who also created [[Godzilla]]. Tanaka's inspiration came from an illustration of the [[Lernaean Hydra]] in a book about Greek mythology and [[Yamata no Orochi|Orochi]] of Japanese folklore. Tanaka was enamored with the idea of Godzilla fighting a multi-headed serpent but considered seven or eight heads excessive; thus, the number of heads was reduced to three.<ref name="cho"/> The final version, designed by [[Akira Watanabe (art director)|Akira Watanabe]],{{sfn|Ragone|2014|p=90}} was a three-headed [[dragon]] with large wings, two tails, and of extraterrestrial origin.<ref name="dvdcommentary"/>

Toho also drew inspiration from the three-headed dragon [[Zmey Gorynych]] or King Dragon {{Nihongo|キング・ドラゴン|Kingu Doragon}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_c.php?num_c=7592 |title=豪勇イリア／巨竜と魔王征服(1956) |access-date=2019-05-31 |archive-date=2017-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012010644/http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_c.php?num_c=7592 |url-status=live }}</ref> in the Japanese version of the 1956 Soviet film ''[[Ilya Muromets (film)|Ilya Muromets]]'', which had been distributed theatrically in Japan by [[Shintoho]] in March 1959.<ref>{{cite book|title=Godzilla Chronicle|publisher=[[Sony|Sony Magazines]]|page=78|date=July 1998|isbn=9784789712941}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Soviet SF Film Festival brochure|date=1984|publisher=Mount Light Corporation}}</ref> King Ghidorah's name is composed of {{Nihongo|"King"|キング|Kingu}} and "Ghidorah". The "Ghidorah" part of King Ghidorah's name comes from the pronunciation of the word "hydra" (Гидра, ˈɡʲidrɐ) in Russian, written as {{Nihongo|ヒドラ||Hidora}} in Japanese.

Other sources of inspiration included mythological creatures such as the [[Lernaean Hydra|hydra]], [[cerberus]], [[unicorn]], [[pegasus]], and [[qilin]].<ref name="TSEMCW">{{cite book|title=Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works|date=28 September 2012|publisher=Village Books|page=89|isbn=9784864910132}}</ref>

===Abilities===
King Ghidorah primarily attacks by blasting "gravity beams" from its three mouths.<ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia|date=23 July 2014|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4-096-82090-2|pages=36, 41, 53, 65, 134}}</ref><ref name="MonarchSciences_Ghidorah_Orca">{{cite web |title=GHIDORAH: Discover Godzilla's Ultimate Nemesis. {{!}} By MonarchSciences |url=https://twitter.com/MonarchSciences/status/1131983200157339652 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524205449/https://twitter.com/MonarchSciences/status/1131983200157339652 |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |access-date=May 24, 2019 |language=en |via=twitter.com}}</ref> These lightning-like attacks are roughly equal in power to Godzilla's atomic breath, and can be combined to form a stronger blast. King Ghidorah is seen using this ability in all its appearances except for ''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'', where King Ghidorah's form is instead composed of energy resembling gravity beams. King Ghidorah has sometimes shown control over gravity in general, allowing the monster to fly even after losing a wing, crush and destroy thousands of planets (as well as spacefaring craft) sacrificed to it, and cause nearby objects in the environment to float due to its mere presence.<ref name="RoMIII">''[[Rebirth of Mothra III]]'' (1998). Directed by Okihiro Yoneda. [[Toho]]</ref><ref name="G:TPE">''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'' (2018). Directed by [[Kōbun Shizuno]] and Hiroyuki Seshita. [[Toho]]</ref><ref name="G:TPE_news">{{Cite web |title=＜全三部作：最終章＞アニメーション映画『GODZILLA 星を喰う者』OFFICIAL SITE |url=http://godzilla-anime.com/news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135606/http://godzilla-anime.com/news/ |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=＜全三部作：最終章＞アニメーション映画『GODZILLA 星を喰う者』OFFICIAL SITE}}</ref><ref name="GvE:4-D">''[[Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D]]'' (2019). Directed by [[Kazuhiro Nakagawa]].</ref>

One trait that is seen in all versions of King Ghidorah is its great wings, which it uses to fly at [[Mach (speed)|Mach]] 3<ref name="TSEMCW"/> (or 550 knots in ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'').<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Monarch Sciences – Now Declassified |url=http://www.monarchsciences.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602150221/https://www.monarchsciences.com/ |archive-date=2019-06-02 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Monarch Sciences – Now Declassified |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Monarch Files">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/godzilla-2-monarch-site-every-secret/|title=Here's Every Hidden Secret On Godzilla 2's Viral Website|first=Hannah|last=Shaw-Williams|work=Screen Rant|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=July 18, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120051327/https://screenrant.com/godzilla-2-monarch-site-every-secret/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MonarchSciences_Ghidorah_Orca" /> In space, it can travel in a meteorite that produces magnetic fields,<ref name="GTHM" /><ref name="GvGigan" /> and fly at speeds exceeding Mach 400.<ref>{{cite book |title=All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book (4th ed.) |date=4 September 2016 |publisher=Village Books |isbn=9784800303622 |pages=95, 98, 112, 145, 171, 201}}</ref> Aside from this, it can use its wings to shield itself from enemy attacks (even Godzilla's atomic breath),<ref name="GvKG">''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' (1991). Directed by [[Kazuki Ōmori]]. [[Toho]]</ref><ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=144}}</ref> project lightning strikes similar to its gravity beams,<ref name="RoMIII" /><ref name="KotM">''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' (2019). Directed by [[Michael Dougherty]]. [[Legendary Pictures]]</ref> and generate supersonic shockwaves and strong winds. Ghidorah's electrical properties and generation of powerful bursts of wind cause yellow lightning storms to manifest in its vicinity.<ref name="G:TPE" /><ref name="KotM" /> The resulting unnatural hurricane can tear through the [[stratosphere]], raise tornadoes and waterspouts, and reach sustained wind speeds of {{convert|349|km/h|mph|0|abbr=off}}, strengthening over time, breaking the [[Saffir–Simpson scale]] and exceeding the strength of any known storm on Earth. Although supplementary materials for ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' state that this happens when Ghidorah takes flight due to its hyper-tensile tendons, traces of gold in its scales, and electro-receptor molecular biology,<ref name=":5" /><ref name="Monarch Files" /> in the film proper, the process starts as soon as Ghidorah awakens on the ground. As hinted by several scenes in the film and stated in the novelization, Ghidorah's hurricane furthermore disrupts and alters worldwide weather patterns to cause even more storm systems around the world.<ref name="KOTM_novel">Keyes, Greg. ''Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization''. Titan Books. {{ISBN|9781789090925}}.</ref> In the comic ''Kingdom Kong'', which takes place in 2019, not even a year after Ghidorah's defeat by the end of ''King of the Monsters'', the agency of Monarch reports that the storm has reached wind speeds of 644 kilometers (400 miles) per hour, with air pressure so dense that it triggers new cyclones every five minutes and creates [[waterspout]]s that reach down to the sea floor.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anello |first=Marie |title=Kingdom Kong |date=April 6, 2021 |publisher=Legendary Comics |isbn=9781681160801 |pages=12}}</ref> 

In physical combat, King Ghidorah rapidly attacks with kicks and stomps from the air, [[constriction]] with one or more necks and even by grabbing enemies to drop them from the sky.<ref name="GvKG" /><ref name="GMK">''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]'' (2001). Directed by [[Shusuke Kaneko]]. [[Toho]].</ref><ref name="G:TPE" /><ref name="KotM" /> 
In ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'', after King Ghidorah got killed by Godzilla, the future humans turned it into a [[cyborg]] called '''Mecha-King Ghidorah''', which has a Gravity Laser Cannon in the mouth of its robotic head, electrified [[Grappling hook|grapple]]s and a [[mechanical arm]] in its chest for capturing Godzilla.<ref name="GvKG" />

In ''[[Rebirth of Mothra III]]'', King Ghidorah can construct a corrosive dome to drain the life force of captured victims for the monster to absorb. It also has the power of hypnosis on eye contact, project lightning bolts from its wings, barrier generation using the light of energy attacks used against it and regeneration of its entire body from severed body parts. When Mothra traveled back in time to kill Ghidorah, the dragon's younger self is shown, less refined and spitting fireballs rather than gravity beams.<ref name="RoMIII" />

In ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]'', King Ghidorah can electrocute its opponents by biting them, he can also gain power by absorbing the energy of dead monsters and form an energy shield capable of deflecting Godzilla's atomic breath.<ref name="GMK" />

In ''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'', the third part of an animated trilogy, Ghidorah is depicted as an evolved entity from a universe with different physical laws that are worshiped by the Exif, who it influenced to become nihilists upon mastering advanced Gematron mathematics. While Ghidorah consumed the Exifs' homeworld, their first offering to it, through its gravitational powers, a few priests were spared and traveled to other worlds where they established cults to sacrifice the converted planets to Ghidorah in the same way.<ref name="G:TPE_news" /> The Exifs summon Ghidorah by having worshippers call out to it in prayer during times of great despair, allowing Ghidorah to physically manifest as a shadow to consume the worshippers through their shadows before its heads finally emerge through black holes. Its necks extend to infinite lengths, nigh-invisible to machines save for the gravitational energy it emanates, strong enough to distort Godzilla's heat ray by deflecting it or actually bending the concept of space. As long as someone native to the dimension it invades acts as its guiding anchor and witness, Ghidorah can defy that universe's physics, able to render itself intangible to enemy attacks whilst still capable of assaulting foes normally. It can even distort space-time and erode reality, able to change people's chronological perception of events and nearly succeeding in "erasing" Godzilla from existence. Though its avatar was rendered tangible to physics by the loss of connection to the priest serving as its key witness (thus allowing Godzilla to destroy its projection through reality), Ghidorah was simply banished back to its dimension, awaiting for another individual to serve as its link to open up its next chance to enter reality and feast. In order to prevent these circumstances from reoccurring, efforts had to be made to eliminate sources of anger, hate, despair, and revenge (achieved by the main character committing suicide with all of Earth's remaining machinery).<ref name="G:TPE" />

In ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'', Ghidorah has a divergent frontal lobe density in each of its heads, rendering each head capable of independent thoughts and divergent personality traits. Its scales are capable of running bioelectrical currents through its body, aided by traces of gold in its dermal layer, allowing it to raise unnaturally strong storms that gradually increase in power. After draining all of Boston's electric power grid by chomping down on a power substation, King Ghidorah is able to unleash chain lightning from the tips of the bones in its wings (referencing its [[Rebirth of Mothra III]] incarnation) and later shows more of its vampiric, energy-draining capabilities when it chomps down on Godzilla in a nearly successful attempt to siphon away Godzilla's remaining nuclear energy along with the power boost Mothra's ashes provided him (referencing a similar attempt made by Keizer Ghidorah in ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]''). As an alpha, Ghidorah's roar is able to awaken and influence other titans around the world into rampaging in the wake of Godzilla's supposed death, having taken over as king. Halfway through the film, it displays two "unnatural" abilities that were attributed to - and served as evidence of - its alien nature. The first is the durability to withstand the Oxygen Destroyer, emerging unscathed from the same detonation which severely injured Godzilla and killed all Earth-based lifeforms within a two-mile radius. The second is the possession of highly accelerated regenerative properties, having regrown the left head minutes after Godzilla tore it off, retaining the memories and personality since Ghidorah's neurons are spread throughout its body like in an octopus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mpaa.org/2019/06/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters-director-reveals-films-easter-eggs-more/|title=Godzilla: King of the Monsters Director Reveals Film's Easter Eggs & More|last=Abrams|first=Bryan|date=June 6, 2019|work=The Credits|publisher=[[Motion Picture Association]]|access-date=2019-06-12|archive-date=2024-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626160445/https://www.motionpictures.org/2019/06/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters-director-reveals-films-easter-eggs-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, according to the official novelization, a store of energy must be absorbed to do so, which Ghidorah acquired from the highly-radioactive lava of Rodan's volcano.<ref name="KOTM_novel" /> Later on, the same power substation Ghidorah consumed to boost itself also healed up the wounds on its wing membranes immediately after it fired lightning from the tips of its wings. Eventually, Godzilla succeeded in incinerating Ghidorah's wings, side heads, body, and finally, the middle head, to prevent the alien dragon from coming back. However, Ghidorah was not entirely destroyed, for the head Godzilla bit off during the fight in Mexico remained intact and was salvaged.

In ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'', it is revealed that Ghidorah's heads communicated with each other via telepathy, as its necks were so long that communication via the nervous system was impractical. Apex Cybernetics, which has acquired Ghidorah's skull and brain, is using these telepathic abilities as the basis of a psychic control system for [[Mechagodzilla]]. Once Mechagodzilla received an energy source sufficient to power it properly, Ghidorah's mind suddenly transferred itself to this new body, frying the pilot to death as it seized total control of the robot.<ref name="GvK">''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'' (2021). Directed by [[Adam Wingard]]. [[Legendary Pictures]]</ref>

==Film history==
===Shōwa era (1954–1975)===
[[File:Showa King Ghidorah 1965.png|thumb|Shōwa Ghidorah]]
In its debut film, ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'', Ghidorah is portrayed as an ancient extraterrestrial entity responsible for the destruction of the [[Venusians|Venusian]] civilization, five thousand years before the film's events. Its attempt to destroy Earth is thwarted by the combined efforts of [[Godzilla]], [[Rodan]] and [[Mothra]].<ref name="GTHM">''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' (1964). Directed by [[Ishirō Honda]]. [[Toho]].</ref><ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=44}}</ref>

Subsequent Shōwa era films portrayed Ghidorah as the pawn of various alien races seeking to subjugate Earth.<ref>''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'' (1965). Directed by [[Ishirō Honda]]. [[Toho]].</ref><ref>''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' (1968). Directed by [[Ishirō Honda]]. [[Toho]].</ref><ref name="GvGigan">''[[Godzilla vs. Gigan]]'' (1972). Directed by [[Jun Fukuda]]. [[Toho]].</ref> King Ghidorah appears in the fifth and sixth episodes of the television series ''[[Zone Fighter]]'', where it is revealed that it is supposedly a creation of the Garoga aliens, though it is left unclear as to whether this statement is true or not.<ref>"Attack King Ghidorah!". ''[[Zone Fighter]]''. Directed by [[Jun Fukuda]]. April 30, 1973</ref><ref>"King Ghidorah's Counterattack!". ''[[Zone Fighter]]''. Directed by [[Jun Fukuda]]. May 7, 1973</ref><ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=240}}</ref>

Screenwriter [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] insisted that the Ghidorah suit be fabricated using light-weight silicone-based materials in order to grant the wearer greater mobility.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=77}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=78}} The final Ghidorah design was constructed by special effects artist Teizo Toshimitsu,<ref name="inoue">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/24/yasuyuki-inoue-1923-2012/|title=Yasuyuki Inoue: 1922-2012|work=SciFi Japan|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305194943/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/24/yasuyuki-inoue-1923-2012/|url-status=live}}</ref> who had initially painted it green in order to further differentiate it from Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra, but changed it to gold on the insistence of [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], after his assistant noted that being a creature from [[Venus]], the "gold planet", Ghidorah should be that color.<ref name="cho"/>

The monster suit itself was built by Akira Watanabe and worn by [[Shoichi Hirose]].{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=116}} Hirose walked hunched over inside the Ghidorah costume, holding a metal bar for balance, while puppeteers would control its heads, tails and wings off-camera like a [[marionette]].<ref name="dvdcommentary">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/oYfzXLDv-94 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200425040850/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYfzXLDv-94&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYfzXLDv-94|title=Audio Commentary by David Kalat|work=Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster - Classic Media 2007 DVD Release|date=10 March 2018 |access-date=April 26, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The monster's heads were each fitted with remotely controlled motors, which were connected to operators via a wire extending from the suit's backside.<ref name="inoue"/>

Performing as Ghidorah proved challenging to Hirose, as he had to time his movements in a way that would not conflict with the separately operated heads and wings, as doing so would have resulted in the overhead wires tangling.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=77}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=78}} Because of the suit's weight, it frequently snapped the overhead wires supporting it.<ref name="inoue"/> Special effects were added as the creature is capable emitting destructive, lightning-like "gravity beams" from its mouths and generating hurricane-force winds from its wings.<ref>King Ghidorah character profile - Godzilla Movie Studio Tour (PC Game), 1998</ref>

Despite King Ghidorah's central role in the film's plot, the character was given little screen time, as Hirose had fallen out with special effects director [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], who never forgave Hirose for accepting a Hollywood deal, and subsequently he hired Susumu Utsumi to play King Ghidorah after ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]''.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=77}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=78}} In that film, King Ghidorah was given a darker shade of gold, and its movements both on land and in the air were more fluid than during ''Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster'', as the special effects crew had at that point learned from the shortcomings of the previous film's depiction of the creature.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=124}}

===Heisei era (1991–1998)===
[[File:Heisei Ghidorah 1991.png|thumb|right|Ghidorah in ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'', the first incarnation of the character to appear during the franchise's Heisei era]]
In ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' (1991), the creature is re-envisioned as a trio of diminutive genetically engineered creatures called {{Nihongo|'''Dorats'''|ドラッツ|Drats|lead=yes}} owned by a group of humans from the 23rd century known as the Equal Environment Earth Union, a group dedicated to [[Balance of power (international relations)|equalizing the power]] of Earth's nations. Seeking to stop Japan's global economic dominance in their timeline by transforming the Dorats into King Ghidorah through nuclear exposure, the Earth Unionists plant the Dorats on Lagos Island during the [[Castle Bravo|1954 H-bomb tests]] there. Prior to doing so, they remove the dinosaur that would ultimately become [[Godzilla]] from the island, so that King Ghidorah would be able to attack Japan without opposition. In 1992, the Earth Unionists unleash Ghidorah onto Japan, but it is defeated by a recreated Godzilla. King Ghidorah's body stays under the [[Sea of Okhotsk]] for two centuries before being recovered by a defected Earth Unionist to make it a [[cyborg]] and sent back to 1992 as {{Nihongo|'''Mecha-King Ghidorah'''|メカキングギドラ|Meka Kingu Gidora|lead=yes}} in order to stop Godzilla's rampage.<ref name="GvKG" />

The character's manes were deleted and replaced with horns, as it proved difficult for the special effects team to superimpose the manes into footage of people escaping the monster. Special effects director [[Koichi Kawakita]] had originally planned on having each of Ghidorah's heads fire differently colored beams, but this was ultimately scrapped in favor of the classic yellow color. This version of King Ghidorah was portrayed by [[Hurricane Ryu]].{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=364}}

In ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993), Mecha-King Ghidorah's remains are salvaged by the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (UNGCC) and used to build [[Mechagodzilla]].<ref name="GvMGII">''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993). Directed by [[Takao Okawara]]. [[Toho]]</ref><ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=154}}</ref>

In ''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'', a monster named Desghidorah appears, who heavily resembles King Ghidorah but has graphite black skin and a quadrupedal stance.

In ''[[Rebirth of Mothra III]]'' (1998), King Ghidorah is depicted as an extraterrestrial that landed on earth during the [[Cretaceous Period]] of the [[Mesozoic Era]] and [[Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event|wiped out]] the [[dinosaur]]s by draining them of their life energies. Ghidorah left Earth and returns in modern times to feed on human children. [[Mothra]] fails to defeat the monster and travels back to the Cretaceous in order to kill Ghidorah retroactively. Mothra defeats the younger Ghidorah, but the monster's severed tail allows it to regenerate back into its adult form in modern times. After hibernating from the Cretaceous era to the present day, aided by the ancient Primitive Mothra species, Mothra finally kills the monster by transforming into a new form: "Armor Mothra".<ref name="RoMIII"/> This version of King Ghidorah was portrayed by [[Tsutomu Kitagawa]], who would go onto play [[Godzilla]] in the Millennium era.{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=102}}

===Millennium era (2001)===
[[File:Millennium King Ghidorah 2001.png|thumb|right|Millennium Ghidorah]]
In ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]'', Ghidorah is portrayed as having been one of the three Guardians of Yamato, originating 1,000 years before the events of the film. Initially an antagonist, Ghidorah was imprisoned in [[Mount Fuji]], only to be reawakened in 2001 to halt Godzilla's destruction of Tokyo. Ghidorah is defeated, but then revived and empowered by ally [[Mothra]].<ref name="GMK" /><ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=182}}</ref>

Director [[Shūsuke Kaneko]] had originally planned to use [[Varan]] as Godzilla's principal antagonist, but was pressured by Toho chairman [[Isao Matsuoka]] to use the more recognizable and profitable King Ghidorah,<ref name="kaneko">Ed Godziszewski and Norman England, "Interview with Shusuke Kaneko", ''Japanese Giants'' #9 (June 2002)</ref> as the previous film in the franchise, ''[[Godzilla vs. Megaguirus]]'', which featured an original and unfamiliar antagonist, was a box office and critical failure. In order to emphasize Ghidorah's heroic role in the movie, the creature's size was greatly reduced, and was portrayed by [[Akira Ohashi]], who moved the creature's heads as hand puppets.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=240}}{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=241}}

In ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]'', a kaiju called {{Nihongo|'''Keizer Ghidorah'''|カイザーギドラ|Kaizā Gidora|lead=yes}} appears being based on Ghidorah as the true form of Monster X.<ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=208}}</ref>

=== Reiwa era (2018–2021) ===
[[File:Void Ghidorah.webp|thumb|King Ghidorah (depicted as Void Ghidorah) battling [[Godzilla Earth]] in ''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'' (2018)]]
In the post-credits scene of ''[[Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle]]'', Metphies, a priest of the Exif alien race, reveals to the main character, Haruo Sakaki, the name of the god his people worship: Ghidorah.{{sfn|Shizuno|Seshita|2018|loc=1:40:05}} The entity appears as the main antagonist of ''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]''.

The anime incarnation of Ghidorah is markedly different from its original portrayal, having evolved to the point of discarding its physical body in favor of a form of pure astral energy with two tails, two wings, and three necks that extend infinitely (at least 20 kilometers or 12 miles in length in the film),<ref>''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'' theater program. [[Toho]]. 9 November 2018.</ref> stretching out of three black hole-like portals to devour planets sacrificed to him by the Exif cult with its gravitational powers while its torso remains within an alternate dimension. In this state, King Ghidorah is completely invulnerable as long as its 'anchor' remains alive, and is capable of completely ignoring the laws of physics of the dimensions it invades, with its powers including [[intangibility (superpower)|intangibility]], the manipulation of [[Laws of thermodynamics|thermodynamics]], gravity and time through [[time dilation]].<ref name=":0">{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=226}}</ref>

In the anime, Ghidorah is the deity worshipped by the Exif under the titles of "Wings of Death", "Golden Demise", and "God of Destruction". It is summoned to Earth by the cult set up by Metphies in order to destroy Godzilla and devour Earth just as they fed him other planets they visited and converted to the Exif faith. Ghidorah overpowers Godzilla, who is left completely helpless while the interdimensional entity slowly erases it from reality. Metphies, who has linked himself to Ghidorah to serve as his witness to their reality, tries to convince Haruo to take his place as Ghidorah's link, since his thirst for revenge against Godzilla makes him the ideal host. Haruo refuses and breaks the link Metphies has to Ghidorah, causing the entity to be affected by conventional physical laws, allowing Godzilla to disperse, defeat, and effectively banish it back to its realm of reality for the time being while Metphies dies in the process. Some time later, Haruo receives a vision from Metphies, telling him that his lingering anger and desire to defeat Godzilla will ensure that Ghidorah will eventually be summoned again. With this, Haruo allows Godzilla to destroy him and all of Earth's remaining technology, sacrificing himself to prevent Ghidorah from returning to consume the Earth.<ref name="G:TPE" /><ref name=":0" />

In 2019, King Ghidorah was used in ''[[Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D]]'', Though this version of Ghidorah was nicknamed "'''Shin Ghidorah'''" or "'''Shin King Ghidorah'''".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Evan |date=2024-10-29 |title=Evangelion Works with Godzilla to Fight Ghidorah in Epic Crossover: Watch |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/godzilla-evangelion-new-crossover/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref> King Ghidorah first shows up in the ride when an explosion condensed into a new shape, released by [[Shin Godzilla (character)|Shin Godzilla]]. As it descends on the city and confronts Shin Godzilla, Shin Godzilla fires its atomic breath once again, but Ghidorah uses its gravity powers to deflect the beam in separate directions. Ghidorah then uses its gravity beams to lift several surrounding buildings into the air and throw them at Shin Godzilla, incapacitating it. The Evangelion Units attempt to fight King Ghidorah themselves, but are unable to stop its rampage. As they counter the dragon, Shin Godzilla rises back to its feet to continue battling the enemy. Ghidorah attacks Shin Godzilla, but it uses its dorsal plate beams to counter Ghidorah's assault and knock it back, before blasting Ghidorah with its atomic breath until it depletes itself and becomes immobilized. 

As Ghidorah rises again, the three Eva Units continue their effort to fight the monster; Unit-00 and 02 jump on King Ghidorah's body but are blasted off by its gravity beams. Unit-01 pulls a sword off of a nearby building and thrusts it into Ghidorah's chest, causing it to crash into the city below. For a brief moment, the creature seems defeated, only for Ghidorah to rise completely unharmed from the rubble and turns its attention to the frozen Shin Godzilla to shoot at it with gravity beams. Shin Godzilla's body begins to glow again, seemingly using Ghidorah's attack to regain it energy. It awakens and fires its atomic breath at Ghidorah, causing to two kaiju's beams to lock. Godzilla's beam gradually begins to overpower Ghidorah's, moving closer until it strikes at Ghidorah, creating a blinding explosion. Once the smoke settles, the Evangelion Units are left completely intact and King Ghidorah is gone, seemingly destroyed by the blast. Having defeated its rival, Shin Godzilla retreats back into the ocean, leaving Osaka-III and the EVA Units peacefully.

In 2021, King Ghidorah was used again in ''[[Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle]]'', this time it was redesigned by the ride's director [[Takashi Yamazaki]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keith |title=Japanese Amusement Park Reopens With New Godzilla and Osamu Tezuka Attractions |url=https://www.scifijapan.com/godzilla-toho/japanese-amusement-park-reopens-with-new-godzilla-and-osamu-tezuka-attractions |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.scifijapan.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ゴジラ・ザ・ライド |url=https://www.seibu-leisure.co.jp/amusementpark/attraction/godzilla.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=西武園ゆうえんち |language=ja}}</ref> This version of Ghidorah is first seen ravaging the city with his Gravity Beams, and is spotted by a Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) soldier, Ghidorah's enemy Godzilla arrives in the city approaching from the sea. The unnamed JSDF soldier delivers a safety briefing just before Ghidorah smashes in a wall of the theatre and roars at the guests, only to fly away. Ghidorah's Gravity Beams strike a building near the lead vehicle, crushing it with rubble. Ghidorah lands in front of the vehicle, but it drives between his legs. It gives chase, trying and failing to bite it with all three of his heads. Finally it flies ahead of it, lands, and charges forward at full speed. The vehicle soon reverses and hides in the shell of a building, but Ghidorah soon finds the vehicle and snatches it up in the jaws of his middle head. As it flies off from Japan, Rodan shows up and attacks head-on. Ghidorah repulses the new attacker, but drops the vehicle.

The vehicle then deploys its parachutes as the monsters clash each other. Ghidorah prevails easily, throwing Rodan to ground before assailing the smaller winged kaiju with gravity beams. It then breaks the top of the Tokyo Tower off, which the vehicle narrowly avoids, as Godzilla arrives in the city and meets up with Ghidorah. They both roar a challenge and the vehicle lands on Godzilla's side and climbs up his shoulder before driving down his tail, soaring into the air once more, and landing on a roof. Ghidorah throws Godzilla to the ground near the building, forcing the vehicle to drive off the roof and deploy parachutes again. Godzilla grabs Ghidorah by the heads and throws it towards the vehicle, which just slips through a gap between his wing and leg.

Ghidorah recovers and pounces, but Godzilla intercepts Ghidorah with a powerful blast of atomic breath, suspending it in mid-air and blasting a hole through its chest. Godzilla roars in victory as the vehicle lands, one of Ghidorah's still-living heads then shows up out of nowhere and kept attempting to attack the vehicle. Godzilla squishes the final head of Ghidorah, splashing blue blood fluid and brains everywhere, ending Ghidorah and resulting in Godzilla roaring a victory.

===MonsterVerse (2019–2021)===
[[File:Legendary King Ghidorah 2019.jpg|thumb|right|MonsterVerse Ghidorah]]
In 2014, [[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Pictures]] announced their acquisition of the licenses to [[Rodan#MonsterVerse (2019)|Rodan]], [[Mothra#MonsterVerse (2019–2024)|Mothra]] and King Ghidorah from [[Toho]] to use in their [[Monsterverse]] franchise.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeffries |first=Adrianne |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/26/5940259/godzilla-2-confirmed-with-director-gareth-edwards |title=Gareth Edwards returns to direct 'Godzilla 2' with Rodan and Mothra |publisher=The Verge |date=July 26, 2014 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171544/https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/26/5940259/godzilla-2-confirmed-with-director-gareth-edwards |url-status=live }}</ref> The trio were introduced in ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' in a [[post-credits scene]] depicting cave paintings of all three monsters, including [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]].<ref name="KSI Cameo"/>

In June 2017, a press release confirmed [[Rodan#MonsterVerse (2019)|Rodan]], [[Mothra#MonsterVerse (2019–2024)|Mothra]], and King Ghidorah would all be featured in ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]''.<ref name="pr">{{cite press release|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/warner-bros-pictures-and-legendary-pictures-monsterverse-kicks-gear-next-godzilla|title=Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse Kicks Into Gear as the Next Godzilla Feature Gets Underway|website=Warner Bros.|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=January 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118221453/https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/warner-bros-pictures-and-legendary-pictures-monsterverse-kicks-gear-next-godzilla|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, Jason Liles, Alan Maxson, and Richard Dorton were cast to provide the motion capture performances of the heads of King Ghidorah, with Liles performing the middle head, Maxson performing the right head, and Dorton performing the left head. Other actors would perform the rest of King Ghidorah's body.<ref name="Jason">{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/rampage-breakout-star-jason-liles-cast-as-godzillas-archenemy-in-godzilla-king-of-monsters-exclusive/|title='Rampage' Breakout Star Jason Liles Joins 'Godzilla: King of Monsters' (Exclusive)|last=Verhoeven|first=Beatrice|work=The Wrap|date=April 26, 2018|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120000657/https://www.thewrap.com/rampage-breakout-star-jason-liles-cast-as-godzillas-archenemy-in-godzilla-king-of-monsters-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Additional KG performers">{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/rampage-2/rampage-jason-liles-playing-king-ghidorah-godzilla-king-monsters/|title=Rampage's Jason Liles Playing King Ghidorah In Godzilla: King Of Monsters|last=White|first=James|work=Empire|date=April 26, 2018|access-date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120000815/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/rampage-2/rampage-jason-liles-playing-king-ghidorah-godzilla-king-monsters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

This version of Ghidorah stands 521 feet (158.8 meters) tall, weighing 141,056 tons with an unknown wingspan that allows it to fly at a maximum speed of 550 knots.<ref name="MonarchSciences_Ghidorah_Orca" /> Unlike previous incarnations of the character, Ghidorah's three heads are portrayed with independent personalities from each other, although Ghidorah overall still exhibits the inherent sadism of most incarnations: the middle head is the leader and more prominently sadistic than the other two, the right head is angry and thirsty for battle, and the left head is curious, distractable and more submissive - the heads are officially named Ichi, Ni and San respectively<ref name="doughertytwitter">{{cite tweet|user=Mike_Dougherty|last=Dougherty|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Dougherty|number=1136289119729016833|title=Center head: Ichi; Right head: Ni; Left head: San... aka Kevin. 🐲🐲🐲#GodzillaMovie}}</ref> (meaning "One", "Two" and "Three" in Japanese). It is referred to as "Monster Zero" (a reference to ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'') by the organization Monarch. According to Monarch's database, ancient civilizations called the monster "Ghidorah".<ref name="Monarch Files"/>

In this incarnation, King Ghidorah is portrayed as a rival apex predator to Godzilla that originated from another world, "[falling] from the stars" in ancient times, who actively seeks to usurp Godzilla's domination of the other monsters, proving to be different from most of the known titans due to being actively murderous and genocidal towards humans while threatening to destroy Earth's ecosphere. It's briefly speculated by the characters that Ghidorah's motives behind the destruction are [[Terraforming in literature and popular culture|terraforming]] the Earth into a more ideal environment for himself, though the novelization briefly suggests when discussing said theory that maybe Ghidorah has no higher end-goal than hatefully murdering every living thing that isn't him.<ref name="KOTM_novel" />

Referenced in various myths and said to be the inspiration for the beasts in humanity's various [[Chaoskampf]] stories, King Ghidorah is shown through ancient cave paintings to have fought against Godzilla and/or its species in the past before, but its nature scared ancient humans enough that the info contained in those myths was left incomplete. King Ghidorah ended up being frozen in Antarctica, discovered by Monarch who proceeded to study the monster until it was freed by eco-terrorists led by Alan Jonah. Godzilla is attracted to Ghidorah's activity and they engage in a short battle, but Ghidorah retreats when Monarch's military forces intervene; proceeding to Mexico once it senses Rodan being awoken from its own hibernation inside a volcano.<ref name="KotM_Guide_234">{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=234}}</ref>

Ghidorah forces Rodan into submission but is then attacked by Godzilla again, who manages to gain the upper hand by dragging the flying monster into the ocean. Godzilla is nearly victorious after completely biting off Ghidorah's left head, but in desperation, the human military attempts to kill both Ghidorah and Godzilla by detonating a new weapon called the Oxygen Destroyer. Caught in the blast's center; the weapon almost kills Godzilla but is revealed to have no effect on Ghidorah, who flies back to land and within minutes, fully regenerates his severed head, which would eventually allow the humans to deduce that it is in fact an alien with a completely different biology than any known lifeform on Earth. With Godzilla seemingly defeated, Ghidorah becomes the new "alpha" or "king of the monsters", and puts out a worldwide call that awakens all of the Earth's Titans, and commands them to aid him in destroying human civilization and inflicting an extinction event that could wipe out all multicellular life on Earth,<ref name="KOTM_novel" /><ref name="KotM_Guide_234" /> with Rodan as his right hand. Ghidorah even starts causing massive electrical storms in the eastern United States, radically altering climate conditions.<ref name="KotM_Guide_234" />

When Ghidorah comes to [[Boston]] to destroy the Orca device that is negating its hold over the Titans, it battles a revived Godzilla while Mothra fights Rodan. This time, Ghidorah defeats Godzilla after empowering himself by feeding on the city's energy supply and throwing Godzilla from a high altitude, but is stopped from killing him thanks to distractions from Mothra (who is killed by Ghidorah in an act of self-sacrifice which enables Godzilla to absorb her life force) and the humans (who use the Orca to distract Ghidorah from sucking Godzilla dry before the latter could use Mothra's power boost). Godzilla recovers and uses Mothra's power to unleash a series of thermonuclear pulses that obliterate Ghidorah, piece by piece. In a [[post-credits scene]], Jonah and his men are shown Ghidorah's previously severed head from a fisherman in Mexico. He tells the fisherman, "We'll take it."<ref name="KotM_Guide_234" />

The tie-in ''Godzilla vs. Kong'' graphic novel ''Kingdom Kong'' reveals that Ghidorah's passage over Mexico during Rodan's awakening left an isolated version of his hurricane anchored above the ocean, even after Ghidorah's death has enabled the rest of Earth's climate to re-stabilize. 2 years later, this storm is drawn towards Skull Island amid the Titan Camazotz' invasion of the island via the Hollow Earth, and it permanently merges with the perpetual storm barrier surrounding Skull Island, enveloping Skull Island in an endless superstorm which effectively destroys all unprotected life on the island after Camazotz is defeated.

In the 2021 sequel, ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'', set five years after the events of ''King of the Monsters'', Ghidorah's severed head is being used by Apex Cybernetics' Ren Serizawa (portrayed by [[Shun Oguri]]) to [[telepathy|telepathically]] interface with [[Mechagodzilla#MonsterVerse (2021)|Mechagodzilla]]'s body. Godzilla senses his fallen rival's presence, which prompts him to attack the Apex facilities where Mechagodzilla is being built. Eventually, what's left of Ghidorah's consciousness takes control of the cybernetic Titan, killing Apex CEO Walter Simmons and electrocuting Ren Serizawa, before battling Godzilla in Hong Kong. Ghidorah's influence on Mechagodzilla is evident from his desire for unabridged destruction and the senseless killing of humans. Mechagodzilla and Ghidorah's consciousness were finally destroyed by the combined efforts of Godzilla and [[Kong (Monsterverse)|Kong]].<ref>{{Harvp|Skipper|2022|p=236}}</ref> In the [[novelization]], Ren's death is changed so that instead of being electrocuted, his mind is trapped inside Mechagodzilla and overwritten by the Ghidorah-derived mind, and the novel drops hints that Ghidorah's consciousness may have possessed Ren's body and escaped afterwards.<ref name="novelization">{{cite book|title=Godzilla vs. Kong: The Official Movie Novelization|date=April 6, 2021|last=Keyes|first=Gregory|author-link=Gregory Keyes|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=978-1789097351}}</ref>

==In other media==
The various incarnations of King Ghidorah appeared in other media associated with the series, such as video games, television shows, and comics.

===In video games===
King Ghidorah's appearance in video games after 1991 usually utilize its Heisei design, combined with traits from other versions.

In the Pipeworks trilogy (''[[Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee]]'', ''[[Godzilla: Save the Earth]]'', and ''[[Godzilla: Unleashed]]'') and the ''[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Godzilla]]'' game for [[PlayStation 4]], both King Ghidorah and its mechanized counterpart appear as playable characters and enemies.

The eighth level of ''[[Kyoei Toshi]]'', a 2017 PS4 game where players, as civilians, must escape and survive kaiju attacks, features the Heisei versions of Godzilla and King Ghidorah shooting and biting at each other next to a building the player must enter to retrieve an important package.

In 2024, King Ghidorah and [[Hedorah]] were added as downloadable guest fighters in the indie game ''[[GigaBash]]'', coming two years after [[Gigan]], [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]], [[Mechagodzilla]] (specifically [[Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla|"Kiryu"]], the Millennium Era version), and [[Destoroyah]] were introduced as DLCs to the game.<ref name="GBNemesis">{{Cite web |title=GigaBash - Godzilla: Nemesis DLC on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2920450/GigaBash__Godzilla_Nemesis_DLC/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522002801/https://store.steampowered.com/app/2920450/GigaBash__Godzilla_Nemesis_DLC/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although presented with its Heisei appearance, King Ghidorah also includes traits from its Showa and [[Monsterverse]] counterparts in attacks, taunts, and backstory (as it is stated to be an alien invader).

As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, the mobile game ''Godzilla: Battle Line'' includes Desghidorah, Keizer Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah and all versions of the standard King Ghidorah (including the one from ''[[Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle]]'') except the Showa version.

King Ghidorah appears as a figurine in the limited-time Godzilla DLC for [[Dave the Diver]], which ran from May 23 to November 22, 2024.

===Television===
Stock footage of King Ghidorah from ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' was used in four episodes of ''[[Courage the Cowardly Dog]]'': ''Courage in the Big Stinkin' City'',{{sfn|Cohen|2000|loc=04:56}} ''The Tower of Dr. Zalost'', Fishy Business{{sfn|Dilworth|2001|loc=07:49}} and ''Nowhere TV''.{{sfn|Cohen|2001|loc=09:22}} Mostly serving a small role in harmless jumpscares and background footage, the kaiju briefly shoots fire at Courage through a television.

==Appearances==
King Ghidorah appeared in a brief piece of stock footage in ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]''.{{sfn|Honda|1975|loc=42:21}} The mechanical head of Mecha-King Ghidorah appears briefly in the opening of ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]''.{{sfn|Okawara|1993|loc=00:26}} Spin-off characters based on King Ghidorah (although quadrupedal in appearance) were featured in other Toho films: Desghidorah in ''[[Rebirth of Mothra ]]''{{sfn|Rhoads|McCorkle|2018|p=168}} and Keizer Ghidorah in ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]''.{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=282}} A post-credits scene in ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' depicts cave paintings of [[Godzilla]], [[Rodan]], [[Mothra]] and King Ghidorah.<ref name="KSI Cameo">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/kong-skull-island-after-credits-scene-explained/|title='Kong: Skull Island' Post-Credits Scene Explained|last=Goldberg|first=Matt|work=Collider|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=April 27, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425235331/https://collider.com/kong-skull-island-after-credits-scene-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was implied that King Ghidorah took over [[Mechagodzilla]]'s consciousness in ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]''.<ref name="Mechaghidozilla">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/godzilla-vs-kong-mechagodzilla-ultimate-revenge/|title='Godzilla vs. Kong's MechaGodzilla Is the Ultimate Revenge|last=Stone|first=Sam|work=CBR|date=April 3, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403122622/https://www.cbr.com/godzilla-vs-kong-mechagodzilla-ultimate-revenge/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

===Films===
* ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' (1964)
* ''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Godzilla vs. Gigan]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Rebirth of Mothra III]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Godzilla: The Planet Eater]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' (2019)

===Television===
<!-- Stick only to official appearances. List stock footage appearances in the paragraph above.-->
* ''[[Zone Fighter]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Godzilla Island]]'' (1997 - 1998)
* ''[[Godzilland]]'' (1992 - 1993)
* ''[[Godziban]]'' (present)

===Video games===
* ''[[Godzilla: Monster of Monsters]]'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] - 1988)
* ''[[Godzilla (Game Boy)|Godzilla]]'' ([[Game Boy]] - 1990)
* ''[[Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters]]'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] - 1991)
* ''[[Battle Soccer: Field no Hasha]]'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] - 1992)
* ''[[Super Godzilla]]'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] - 1993)
* ''[[Kaijū-ō Godzilla]]'' / ''King of the Monsters, Godzilla'' ([[Game Boy]] - 1993)
* ''[[Godzilla: Battle Legends]]'' ([[Turbo Duo]] - 1993)
* ''[[Godzilla: Monster War]]'' / ''Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters'' ([[Super Famicom]] - 1994)
* ''[[Godzilla: Giant Monster March|Godzilla Giant Monster March]]'' ([[Game Gear]] - 1995)
* ''[[Godzilla Trading Battle]]'' ([[PlayStation]] - 1998)
* ''[[Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact]]'' ([[Dreamcast]] - 1999)
* ''[[Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee]]'' ([[GameCube|GCN]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] - 2002/2003)
* ''[[Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee|Godzilla: Domination!]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance|GBA]] - 2002)
* ''[[Godzilla: Save the Earth]]'' ([[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2|PS2]] - 2004)
* ''[[Godzilla: Unleashed]]'' ([[Wii]], [[PS2]] - 2007)
* ''[[Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash]]'' ([[Nintendo DS|NDS]] - 2007)
* ''[[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Godzilla]]'' ([[PS3]] - 2014 PS3 [[PS4]] - 2015)
* ''[[City Shrouded in Shadow]]'' ([[PS4]] - 2017)
* ''Godzilla Defense Force'' (2019)
* ''Unnamed MonsterVerse Mobile Game'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://godzillareviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/monsterverse-mobile-game/ |title=Article: "MonsterVerse Mobile Game" |publisher=Godzilla Movie Reviews |date=2019-08-10 |access-date=2019-08-10 |archive-date=2019-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813190245/https://godzillareviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/monsterverse-mobile-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Godzilla Battle Line'' (2021)
* [[GigaBash]] ([[PlayStation 4|PS4]], [[PlayStation 5|PS5]], [[Steam (service)|Steam]], [[Epic Games Store|Epic Games]] - 2024)<ref name="GBNemesis" />

===Literature===
* ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'' (manga 1991)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tohokingdom.com/web_pages/grap_novs/gvskg_manga.htm |title=Graphic Novel: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah |publisher=Tohokingdom.com |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=2015-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909231805/http://www.tohokingdom.com/web_pages/grap_novs/gvskg_manga.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Godzilla Saves America: A Monster Showdown in 3-D!'' (1996)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tohokingdom.com/books/godzilla_saves_america.htm |title=Book: Godzilla Saves America: A Monster Showdown in 3-D! |publisher=Tohokingdom.com |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=2015-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909210341/http://www.tohokingdom.com/books/godzilla_saves_america.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[Godzilla (Marc Cerasini series)#Godzilla 2000|Godzilla 2000]]'' (novel 1997)
* ''[[Godzilla (Marc Cerasini series)#Godzilla vs. the Robot Monsters|Godzilla vs. the Robot Monsters]]'' (novel 1998)
* ''[[Godzilla (Scott Ciencin series)|Godzilla vs. the Space Monster]]'' (novel 1998)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters]]'' (comic 2011 - 2012)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths]]'' (comic 2011)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Legends]]'' (comic 2011 - 2012)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: The Half-Century War]]'' (comic 2012 - 2013)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Rulers of Earth]]'' (comic 2013 - 2015)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Cataclysm]]'' (comic 2014)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla in Hell]]'' (comic 2015)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla: Oblivion]]'' (comic 2016)
* ''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla Rivals]]'' (comic 2022)
*''[[Godzilla (comics)#IDW Publishing|Godzilla vs. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]] (comic 2022)''

==Cultural impact==
British-American hip hop artist Daniel Dumile (known primarily as [[MF DOOM]]) released the album ''[[Take Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album)|Take Me To Your Leader]]'' (2003) using the artist name "King Geedorah".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/2/5835/1/ |title=King Geedorah "Take Me To Your Leader" |publisher=HipHop-Elements.com |access-date=June 23, 2014 |archive-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207103026/http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/2/5835/1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album's cover art features an image resembling King Ghidorah and the album features samples from the English versions of various Godzilla films. In 2022, a species of branching worm was named after the monster, ''[[Ramisyllis kingghidorahi]]'', discovered in the waters around [[Sado Island]]. According to scientist [[Maria Teresa Aguado]], the name was selected as "King Ghidorah is a branching fictitious animal that can regenerate its lost ends, so we thought this was an appropriate name for the new species of branching worm".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sci-news.com/biology/ramisyllis-kingghidorahi-10483.html|title=New Species of Branching Worm Discovered in Waters Off Japan|date=21 January 2022|publisher=Sci-News|access-date=January 21, 2022|archive-date=21 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121223927/http://www.sci-news.com/biology/ramisyllis-kingghidorahi-10483.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
The character has been well-received and is considered to be the most famous enemy of Godzilla. [[IGN]] listed the creature as #2 on their "Top 10 Japanese Movie Monsters" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/15/top-10-japanese-movie-monsters?page=2|title=Top 10 Japanese Movie Monsters|last=Hawker|first=Tom|work=IGN|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2016|archive-date=June 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626160449/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/15/top-10-japanese-movie-monsters?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' listed the character as #4 on its "The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time" list, calling it "iconic" and saying that it "... simply looks cooler than some of the more powerful bugs, crabs, and robots."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Josh |title=The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2014/05/most-badass-kaiju-monsters-of-all-time/ |website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |access-date=March 1, 2019 |language=en |date=May 8, 2014 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101083136/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2014/05/most-badass-kaiju-monsters-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In his review of ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'', Ethan Reed of ''Toho Kingdom'' praised King Ghidorah, calling it "a fantastic addition to the franchise" and "no less than pure evil, a relentless force of destruction that wipes out the life of entire planets just for the sake of it" and concluded that "King Ghidorah is not only one [of] the best characters in the series, but one [of] the best movie villains as well."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/reviews/sub/ethan_reed/gtthm.htm|title=Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (Review)|first=Ethan|last=Reed|work=Toho Kingdom|date=July 22, 2009|access-date=January 27, 2019|archive-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127225346/https://www.tohokingdom.com/reviews/sub/ethan_reed/gtthm.htm}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|sure=yes|reason=Source is a fansite.|date=March 2019}} Similar views were expressed in ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'', which listed Ghidorah as #5 on its "10 Best Movie Dragons", describing it as "probably the deadliest beast in all of Godzilla lore".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holman |first1=Curt |title=The 10 Best Movie Dragons |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/01/the-10-best-movie-dragons.html |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=March 1, 2019 |language=en |date=January 3, 2013 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421140546/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/01/the-10-best-movie-dragons.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Godzilla historian Steve Ryfle, however, has criticized Ghidorah's design in ''Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah'', citing its stiff movements and recycled [[Rodan]] roar, as well as noting that it did not deviate enough from Eiji Tsuburaya's original design.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=271}}{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=272}}

Following the release of ''King of the Monsters'', Ghidorah's left head has gained the nickname "Kev/Kevin". This was following an announcement by Mike Dougherty who released a tweet with the names of Ghidorah's head. Due to his seemingly unique personality, Kevin has become the subject of [[memes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/godzilla-king-ghidorah-heads-names-revealed-michael-dougherty/|title=Godzilla Director Reveals Each of Ghidorah's Heads' Names|last=Valdez|first=Nick|date=June 7, 2019|website=ComicBook|access-date=January 7, 2023|archive-date=January 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107132803/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/godzilla-king-ghidorah-heads-names-revealed-michael-dougherty/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hydreigon]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Works cited==
* {{cite AV media |first=Ishiro |last=Honda |title=[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]] |publisher=Toho Co., Ltd |year=1975}}
* {{cite AV media |first=Takao |last=Okawara |title=[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]] |publisher=Toho Co., Ltd |year=1993}}
* {{cite book |title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G |last=Ryfle |first=Steve |year=1998 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=1550223488 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl}}
* {{cite AV media |first=Okihiro |last=Yoneda |title=[[Rebirth of Mothra III]] |publisher=Toho Co., Ltd |year=1998}}
* {{cite AV media |first=David |last=Cohen |title=[[Courage the Cowardly Dog]] - Episode 15: Courage in the Big Stinkin' City |publisher=Warner Bros. Television |year=2000}}
* {{cite AV media |first=David |last=Cohen |title=Courage the Cowardly Dog - Episode 20: Nowhere TV |publisher=Warner Bros. Television |year=2001}}
* {{cite AV media |first=John R. |last=Dilworth |title=Courage the Cowardly Dog - Episode 27: The Tower of Dr. Zalost |publisher=Warner Bros. Television |year=2001}}
* {{cite book |first=Carolyn |last=Jess-Cooke |year=2012 |title=Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood |publisher=[[Edinburgh University Press]] |isbn=9780748689477 |edition=First}}
* {{cite book |title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series|last=Kalat |first=David |year=2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786447497 |edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book |last=Ragone |first=August |title=Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters |edition=paperback |date=May 6, 2014 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=9781452135397}}
* {{cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |year=2017 |title=Godzilla FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the King of the Monsters |publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books |isbn=9781495045684}}
* {{cite book |title=Japan's Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema |last1=Rhoads |first1=Sean |last2=McCorkle |first2=Brooke |year=2018 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476663906}}
* {{cite AV media |first1=Kobun |last1=Shizuno |first2=Hiroyuki |last2=Seshita |title=[[Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle]] |publisher=Toho Co., Ltd |year=2018}}
* {{cite book |last=Brykczynski |first=Ben |year=2019 |title=Godzilla: A Comprehensive Guide |publisher=Blurb Inc.}}
* {{cite book |last=Skipper |first=Graham |title=Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters |publisher=[[Welbeck Publishing]] |year=2022 |isbn=9781802790009 |pages=219 |language=en, ja}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |last=Milner |first=David |title=Koichi Kawakita Interview I |url=http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/kawakit.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518113440/http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/kawakit.htm |archive-date=2021-05-18 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=www.davmil.org}}

{{Godzilla}}
{{MonsterVerse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:King Ghidorah}}
[[Category:Extraterrestrial supervillains]]
[[Category:Fictional demons]]
[[Category:Fictional dragons]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with electric or magnetic abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
[[Category:Fictional monsters]]
[[Category:Fictional kings]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1964]]
[[Category:Godzilla characters]]
[[Category:Mothra characters]]
[[Category:Kaiju]]
[[Category:Toho monsters]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:King Ghidorah]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Fire-breathing monsters]]
[[Category:Monsterverse characters]]
[[Category:Internet meme characters]]
[[Category:Fictional cyborgs]]
[[Category:Animal supervillains]]
[[Category:Fictional genetically engineered characters]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from the 23rd century]]
[[Category:Fictional animal deaths]]