8. Mothra
- Mothra first appeared in the novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra (1961), her first film appearance in Mothra (1961)
Mothra is one of the most famous monsters from the Godzilla universe. She has a long history in the Kaijū franchise and accordingly various backstories. What makes her special is that she typically appears as a protector of humans and was worshiped by ancient civilizations as a goddess.
Depending on the lizard’s mood, she is either an adversary of Godzilla or a supporter in the fight against other giant monsters. In battle, she has faced opponents like Rodan or King Ghidorah to save the Earth from destruction.
In the American film Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters, it is explained that she forms a symbiosis with Godzilla (who also acts as a savior of the Earth here). In the film, she allies with the giant lizard and grants it immense powers to defeat Ghidorah. As it turns out later, Mothra is not just a Kaijū, but multiple beings. In Godzilla x Kong: New Empire, a new Mothra appears to help.
While Mothra may not be the strongest monster of the franchise in pure power, she remains a significant supporter of the Earth through her abilities.
