A Detailed Look at the Kaiju in Pacific Rim

[b]Pacific Rim[/b] sets out to re-introduce Western audiences to a popular Eastern genre - [b]Kaiju[/b] film making. What are [b]Kaiju[/b]? - [b]Kaiju[/b] are essentially Monsters, which wreck havoc on society. In fact, the term "Kaiju" is the Japanese word for Monster. [b]Godzilla[/b], for example, was a "Kaiju". [b]Pacific Rim[/b] introduces a number of new Kaiju to the hundreds - thousands which already exist in Eastern cinema, comics and games. Some of the Kaiju present in Pacific Rim pay homage to earlier creations, but for the most part, the designs of the Kaiju seen in this film are quite unique and original. This thread will give further insight to each of the [b]Kaiju[/b] introduced, what their characteristics are and how they play a role in either the movie. Feel free to comment or add your own ideas, in the response section below. [b]Pacific Rim - The KAIJU[/b] The Kaiju in Pacific Rim are toxic in nature, their blood and fluids which they excrete can be extremely hazardous to Humans. Because of this, the Kaiju are classified into categories, known as the [i]Serizawa Scale[/i]. This scale has a range of 1 to 5 (I - V). This scale measures a particular Kaiju's water displacement, toxicity levels and ambient radioactivity as they pass through the portal, located in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. [b]1. - Trespasser[/b] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/706][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_02.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] The [b]Trespasser Kaiju[/b] was the first Kaiju to breach the portal and enter our World, in August of 2013, near the city of San Francisco. [b]Trespasser[/b] emerged, to destroy the monumental Golden Gate Bridge, before rampaging through the city. After a short time, the US Military decided to use Nuclear force on the giant beast, after exhausting conventional military efforts to put it down. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/472][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_TV_Spot_4_13.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] The Nuclear bomb did kill the Kaiju, but also destroyed much of San Francisco - many lives were lost that day. Following this devastation, this day would forever be known as [b]K-Day[/b]. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/32][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/pacificrim_trailer_hd_screencaps_01.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]2. Sydney[/b] [i]Category [b]1[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/705][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_01.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] The [b]Sydney Kaiju[/b] earned its name by emerging from the portal to attack Sydney Australia. This Kaiju was classified as a [b]Category 1[/b], due to it's smaller stature and lower levels of toxicity, however still a destructive force of nature. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/623][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/sydney_kaiju_pacificrim.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] In the film, [b]Sydney[/b] comes face-to-face with Australia's home-grown STRIKER EUREKA [b]Jaeger[/b], and her chest-mounted "Anti-Kaiju Rockets". Not much needs to be said about how that plays out for the unsuspecting Kaiju... [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/672][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Under_Attack_03.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]3. Knifehead[/b] [i]Category [b]3[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/710][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_06.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] A shark-like monster, the [b]Knifehead Kaiju[/b] emerges from the portal in the year 2020 to face-off against the [b]Jaeger[/b], GIPSY DANGER at sea. This Kaiju got its name from its enormous, blade-like head crest, which extends upward like a giant knife. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/52][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/pacificrim_trailer_hd_screencaps_13.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]Knifehead[/b] is significantly larger than the previously mentioned [b]Sydney[/b] Kaiju, and poses a larger threat. In the trailers, we witness this Kaiju biting and ripping at GIPSY DANGER during their confrontation. This Kaiju is also capable of moving rapidly under water, and propelling itself out of the water like a rocket, to attack the [b]Jaegers[/b]. Pair this abnormal agility and power with a massive knife-like head protuberance, and you have the making for a serious killing machine. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/667][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_At_The_Edge_30.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]4. Leatherback[/b] [i]Category [b]4[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/709][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_05.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] The [b]Leatherback Kaiju[/b] resembles that of a Gorilla/reptile. A very massive, muscular Kaiju, with two huge, frontal claws, which deliver incredible power when laying a smack-down on a [b]Jaeger[/b]. This Kaiju faces off against multiple [b]Jaegers[/b] in [b]Pacific Rim[/b] and is by far one of the prominent antagonists throughout. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/725][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_21.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]Leatherback[/b] is seen attacking GIPSY DANGER in various trailers and is also seen ripping apart the Russian [b]Jaeger[/b], CHERNO ALPHA, with the help of the next Kaiju on our list, [b]Otachi[/b]. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/181][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/PR_WonderCon_trailer_36.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] It's worth noting, [b]Leatherback[/b] is also seen emitting a powerful EMP pulse from an unknown organ, located on its back. This seems to be some kind of bio-weapon, which the Kaiju can use to inflict serious damage on anything within its blast radius. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/282][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Main_Trailer_43.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]5. Otachi[/b] [i]Category [b]4[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/708][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_04.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]Otachi[/b] is one bad Kaiju. First appearing from the portal in the year 2025, this Kaiju stands out from the rest, because of its ability to fly and weighing in at over 2,600 tons, it's one of the larger Kaiju the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. have encountered. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/464][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_TV_Spot_4_05.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]Otachi[/b] is seen in the trailers, getting smashed over the face by an oil-tanker by GIPSY DANGER who uses it like a Baseball bat. We also see [b]Otachi[/b] deal some pretty heavy pain on GIPSY DANGER in return, by grinding the [b]Jaeger's[/b] head against buildings, as well as flying with GIPSY in her claws, smashing her into buildings below. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/208][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/PR_WonderCon_trailer_63.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]6. Raiju[/b] [i]Category [b]4[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/715][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_11.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] A lesser known Kaiju, [b]Raiju[/b] is a Category 4 [b]Kaiju[/b], who has yet to make an appearance in any of the trailers. The only info we have on this Kaiju comes to us in the form of concept artwork and a preview of [i]NECA's[/i] Toy models for it. What we do know, is that this [b]Kaiju's[/b] head opens up to expose it's real face. [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/537][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_HeroClix_Figures_05.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [b]7. Slattern[/b] [i]Category [b]5[/b] Kaiju[/i] [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/713][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/Pacific_Rim_Kaiju_Featurette_09.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] Another, lesser known Kaiju from [b]Pacific Rim[/b] is the [b]Slattern Kaiju[/b]. However, this is the first Category 5 Kaiju to be encountered by the [i]PPDC[/i] and is the "Big Boss" Kaiju of the film, if you will. Weighing in at over 6,700 tons, it is by far the largest and most powerful of all the Kaiju to be featured in [b]Pacific Rim[/b], and is briefly seen tackling STRIKER EUREKA while underwater (near the Portal entrance we're assuming) in one of the recent trailers. This Kaiju is both extremely intelligent and extremely toxic, gaining in the [i]Category 5[/i] clarification. [b]Slattern[/b] will be seen near the end of [b]Pacific Rim[/b], as it will pose the greatest threat to Humanity. [b]Other Kaiju...[/b] There is another [b]Kaiju[/b], which goes by the name [b]Scuner[/b], which will be in [b]Pacific Rim[/b], but due to lack of information and presence in any of the trailers, we will wait to fill its bio, once we gain enough information. The [b]Scunner Kaiju[/b] resembles the [b]Knifehead Kaiju[/b] in terms of build and stature, however instead of sporting a massive knife-like crest, [b]Scunner[/b] fashions two massive tusks on the side of its head. The only image of the [b]Scunner[/b] Kaiju we have, is from a preview for [b]Pacific Rim: The Game[/b] in which we see a screenshot, of [b]Scunner[/b] fighting the [b]Otachi Kaiju[/b]. (Seen below) [center] [url=http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/gallery/view/img/227][img]http://www.pacificrim-movie.net/media/pacificrim_game_screencap5.jpg[/img][/url] [/center] [center] [i]This thread will be updated as new and more accurate information is presented to us and/or after we have seen Pacific Rim and can expand on the bios with more information.[/i] [/center]