Godzilla (Shōwa)

Godzilla (Japanese: ゴジラ, Hepburn: Gojira) is a giant monster, or kaiju, that originated from the Godzilla franchise owned by Toho Co., Ltd.. The Shōwa era iteration of the character debuted in the 1954 film Godzilla, the first entry in the franchise, depicted as a prehistoric reptile awakened by hydrogen bomb testing which wreaks havoc on nearby Tokyo. The first Godzilla is killed, however, a second Godzilla appears in the 1955 film Godzilla Raids Again.

The character was depicted through suitmation, mainly portrayed by Japanese stunt actor Haruo Nakajima from 1954 to his retirement in 1972; other stunt actors had also performed as Godzilla during Nakajima's tenure. The direction of Godzilla's character changes as the Showa-era films progress, beginning as an antagonist, gradually becoming an anti-hero, and ultimately a hero of the planet — occasionally forming alliances with various kaiju.