Maguma

Maguma  (Japanese: マグマ?, Hepburn: *Maguma*) is a fictional monster, or *kaiju*, which first appeared in the 1962 film, *Gorath,* directed by Ishirō Honda and produced and distributed by Toho. Maguma is depicted as a giant walrus, and would go on to appear in the 2017 novel, *GODZILLA: Monster Apocalypse, the first official prequel novel for the GODZILLA anime trilogy.*

## Overview

Based upon the giant walrus (sometimes refered to as "Odobenus rosmarus magnus") and named after subterranean molten rock (magma), the Maguma suit was designed by special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, and worn by stuntman Haruo Nakajima, who frequently performed kaiju in Toho films of the era (including their most famous monster character, Godzilla).

### Name

Maguma's name is the Japanese approximation of the word "magma." The name is somewhat ironic given that Maguma emerged from an iceberg in Antarctica, though this may be in reference to the dormant volcanism of the continent. The name "Maguma" was chosen by a public poll.

### Development

Maguma's appearance in *Gorath* was requested by Toho executives, who felt that the inclusion of a kaiju was necessary in an Eiji Tsuburaya tokusatsu film. Director Ishiro Honda was opposed to the idea, but eventually gave in and contributed to design proposals for the creature. Honda said in a later interview that *Gorath* would have been his favorite film he directed were it not for the inclusion of Maguma. In Takeshi Kimura's script for *Gorath*, Maguma was simply described as a dinosaur, while the finished product still referred to Maguma as a reptile despite his strong resemblance to a walrus.

### Design

Despite canonically being a giant prehistoric reptile, Maguma resembles a giant walrus with elongated fore and hind limbs, green eyes, pale tusks, and smooth brown skin with no visible hair. Unlike real-life walruses, which possess vestigial tails, Maguma has no tail at all.

### Origins

Maguma is a walrus-like creature which inhabited Antarctica tens of thousands of years ago and was reawakened due to changes in the climate caused by the ignition of the jet pipes. Despite its appearance, Maguma is actually a member of a species of reptiles, determined by examining samples of its blood under a microscope.

## Abilities

### Physical Abilities

Due to possessing no extraordinary abilities, Maguma relies exclusively on its forelimbs to cause destruction. This is demonstrated when it uses one of its flippers to breach and destroy part of a jet pipe power station. Although not taken advantage of in its sole film appearance, Maguma also possesses sizable tusks which could be used to wreak further havoc.

### Durability

Maguma displays at least a moderate measure of durability, surviving a forcible avalanche and being buried under a number of boulders and other chunks of rock.

### Weaknesses

Although surviving the first attempt on its life by way of burying, Maguma was less fortunate against the lasers of the VTOL and was quickly dispatched.

## Videos

Maguma (+ Making of a KAIJU PROFILE)【wikizilla.org】Kaiju Profile: Maguma
## References

1. ↑ wikizilla.org/Maguma
2. ↑ https://www.kaijubattle.net/creature-feature