Gappa: The Triphibian Monster (1967)

"There's more to life than ambition"

Gappa: The Triphibian Monster had a couple of unique things going for it but mostly it was a re-work of other, better Kaiju films. Humans had to re-learn the most basic lesson of nature---never approach or steal a baby animal as you will have to deal with the wrath of the mother.

A publishing CEO has decided to build Playmate Land (Hugh Hefner's use of that word has ruined it for me), a jungle paradise and experience with exotic animals. He sends a reporter, a news photographer, and a scientist to a remote island to see if there are any new species that could be brought to the attraction. The team is greeted by a primitive tribe, some unfortunately in black face. After a statue is destroyed during an earthquake a cave is revealed. Kurosaki and Koyangi discover a large egg that hatches. Tanooka, the researcher, along with Kurosaki decide to take the creature back to Japan even with the tribe begging them not to for it will make Gappa angry. No sooner have the men handed the creature over to the CEO than Big Daddy Gappa and Big Mama Gappa begin to wreak havoc in Japan searching for their offspring.

This was a lesson in the consequences of reckless ambition and greed. When Koyangi begs Kurosaki to return the baby Gappa to its parents he gives her the ‘men have to do what men have to do because we are men’ speech. She looks at him like he’s an idiot and wondering why she’d ever fancied him. Even after Kurosaki and Tanooka come to their senses the CEO refuses to accept his losses and to take responsibility for the epic disaster. While the men come to the conclusion that there is more to life than ambition and other people are important, too, Koyangi’s decision at the end to come to her senses and accept she’s an ordinary woman and needs to get married and wash diapers was eye-rollingly sexist.

The miniatures were about average for this timeframe. Despite the fact that the Gappas could fly, walk, and even breathe under water (where the Triphibian comes from) they were terribly static. They lethargically and quietly lumbered through the cities, unable to move their arms and bodies much. Other than Mothra when her besties were kidnapped and she went on a rampage to have them returned, the Gappas had the strongest motivation for destroying the humans. Even with that compelling motivation they came across as soulless. This is the first Kaiju film I’ve seen with a nuclear family and one that was anthropomorphic which should have felt more heartwarming. Small children might be more moved by it.

Gappa: The Triphibian Monster was actually a loving family of Gappas who weren’t afraid to tear down Japan to protect their own. If they’d had more mobile costumes and the film had better direction, this movie would have been raised to a higher tier in Monsterdom. As it was, Gappa didn’t lay an egg, but it didn’t soar either.

10/10/23

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"They're Happy. We Were Right. They're Not Angry Anymore." NOT DONE PEOPLE!

This was such a cute little movie!

Kids should love this is Mommy or Daddy explain to them that the Gappa's family is just as important as the kid's family. It portrayed a strong 'family values' message during the entire movie.

Contary to popular belief, most kids and many adults enjoyed being entertained in the past, and even today, by movies like this, which didn't/don't cost an arm and a leg to get into at a movie theater.

I was 10 or 11 years old when this movie came out, and I would have probably pooped my pants had I seen this movie then...
however, I didn't watch it until yesterday.

Its plot virtually duplicates that of the 1961 British film 'Gorgo'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgo_(film)

This is a great film for pre-teens, plus it had a love story, and a lesson about the importance of 'family' as well.

...A time when model buidlings, toy tanks and the likes were used by the studios, and were destroyed without a major outlay of finances; but kids really didn't care, as long as the little girls screamed loudly at every sight of the 'monster'!

It also had a historical significance as well; I used to have models of the type aircraft used in this movie hanging from my bedroom ceiling during the time period covered here. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which was extensively deployed in the late 50s and early 60s as a fighter-bomber during the Cold War with Russia. The models used look exactly like that fighter that I had hanging from my bedroom ceiling!

The main cast Hiroshi Kurosaki (Tamio Kawachi ) and expedition photographer Itoko Koyanagi (lovely Yoko Yamamoto) act as if they were really a couple and both played the melodrama excellently, adding humor to the story line as they went.

The support cast also fulfill their roles very well, and assist the main ccast in the primary story as well.

Magazine owner Mr. Funazu provided a great villian, refusing to lete teh babby Gappa go even when he knew that the baby's parents were indestructable and unstoppable by the Japanese and American military.

Mashida (Kōji Wada) provides much comic relief throughout the movie, and wins my vote for best support cast member!

Special kudos to Hiroshita Atami and Takashi Konagaias as Gappa (male and bigger) gappa parent, and Ken Misugi and Shiro Tonami as Gappa (female) gappa parent.

ThIs movie, especially sent me into the past memories of my mind, when directors and actors could tell a story witout it costing an arm and a leg. That alone was worth watching this movie!

However, I stil canot find the name of the youg actress who played Mr.Funazu's daughter; after th eGappas her and the young native boy stole the movie!

More about the Gappa!
The Gappas (ガッパ Gappa) are a species of ancient monsters. Two adult Gappas, male (雄ガッパ Osu Gappa) and female (雌ガッパ Mesu Gappa), and their baby son first appear in the 1967 Nikkatsu kaiju film, Gappa.


Contents
Design
Origins
History
Showa era
Gappa
Abilities
Flight
Amphibiousness
Physical abilities
Radiant Heat Beam
Bioluminescence
Pearl-like substance
Electricity
Filmography
Gallery
Trivia
References
Comments

Design
All three of the Gappas share the same characteristics, as they are based on various reptiles and birds, such as eagles and hawks. Overall, they resemble enormous bipedal griffins. As exhibited in the two adults seen in the film, the species is sexually dimorphic. The female has a smaller head crest and has a flatter face compared to her mate. Their scales are triangle-shaped, and their eyelids are the reverse to that of humans. The Gappas' wings are unlike those of birds; they are actually evolved ribs.[1]

Origins
In ancient times, the Gappas would fight other monsters for survival. They were already present when Earth was still an interstellar cloud, suggesting that the Gappas originated in outer space.[1]

History
Showa era
Gappa
An expedition to Obelisk Island by Mr. Funazu uncovers a baby monster, who hatches from an egg near a sacred temple. The natives plead with the skeptical scientists not to take the baby away, lest it anger the baby's parents. Sure enough, they take the baby away, and soon, inside the caverns, its two parents rise from the underground waters beneath the volcano, destroying everything in their path. Saki, the only survivor, is rescued by an American navy fleet and brought back to Japan.

The parents storm across Japan, destroying all in their wake, but their assault ceases once they recover their baby. Mercifully, they relent and depart to return to Obelisk Island.

Abilities
Flight
The Gappas can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 6.[2]

Amphibiousness
The Gappas have a maximum underwater speed of 150 knots.[2]

Physical abilities
The Gappas have a destructive force of 2 million horsepower. The Gappas' wings can emit hurricane-force winds; they can also cause tsunamis or storm surges using this ability.[1][2]

Radiant Heat Beam
The adult Gappas can fire a 4,000-degree Celsius Radiant Heat Beam (放射熱光線 Hōshanetsu Kōsen)[2] from their mouths. This is described as being "comparable to a death ray" in the film, it can also burn or melt anything it makes contact with. This ability is also speculated in the film to make the Gappas immune to poisons.

Bioluminescence
The Gappas emit bioluminescence from their eyes, which appears blue-white underwater and yellow on land.

Pearl-like substance
The female Gappa possesses a pearl-like substance within her body, likely stored in her legs. This substance can cause humans to go blind.[1]

Electricity
The baby Gappa's body is electrified and causes electric arcs/sparks whenever metals are attached to its body. This may suggest that adult Gappas are also able to emit electricity.

Filmography
Gappa (1967)
Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo (2022) [toys]


Trivia
Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."

An anatomical illustration noted that Gappa could emit "heat wave beams" from their eyes.[3

Spookykiryu Gigan before he was gigan

Shadowthewolf432 When Rodan Finds the weed

Shadow gojira fan Godzilla + Kappa + Griffin + Rodan = Gappa

Just A GoJi FaN Why didn't they get a sequel :( they're really underrated.

Godzilla .Junior1000 This is my little brother's favourite kaiju

Shin evangelion When Gamera and other kaiju mated and then boom , Gappa was born

SKuLL cRaWLer The Gappas look like if iguanadons had wings

SkullIslandExplorer Are they inspired by the Kappa? They look pretty similar. (FYI: Kappa are water monsters of Japanese
folklore

Godzilla .Junior1000 they are

KING GHIDORAH 19 their heads look like turtles

MosuFan2005 They are very cool, but they are really really really underrated. :(

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