Know Your Monster: 13
GYAOS
This monster is a ferocious flying fortress — part-bat and part-Pterodactyl. Much like the bat, the Gyaos (pronounced Gao-ess) is nocturnal and usually avoids daylight. But when forced to duel before dark, it can emit a fog-like gas to block out the sun. The Gyaos is a ghastly red hue, differing from most other Japanese movie monsters that are green, gray or brown. He’s also quite a screecher, capable of delivering a supersonic scream at three million hertz. Now, that hurts thinking about it!
What are its fighting techniques? It can swoop down upon an opponent in dramatic fashion, using its talons and three claws on its wings to tear apart other creatures. It also can spew forth a deadly beam that it can aim with great precision, hitting targets at considerable distances. There have been different incarnations of the Gyaos, the most invincible being the Super Gyaos that is so tough it can easily deflect missile attacks.
One interesting bit of trivia: The Super Gyaos was the first suitmation monster ever played by a woman, Yumi Kanayama, who handled the role in the 1995 film Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Otherwise, the Gyaos often appears opposite Gamera, notably in the 1967 movie Gamera Vs. Gyaos, released in the United States under the title Return of the Giant Monsters.
Here’s a short clip of Gyaos taking on Gamera in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. As you can see, it’s a no-holds-barred grudge match between these two.
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Tomorrow’s featured monster: Hedorah
