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MOGUERA

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MOGUERA
Species:Mechanoid
Height:Heisei: 120 Meters
Weight:Heisei: 160,000 Metric Tons
Appearances:Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (1994 film)


Summary

MOGUERA (MOGERA) is a U.N.-built mecha that first appeared in the 1994 Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla.

Constructed by G-Force after the destruction of Mechagodzilla, MOGUERA was built to do what its predecessor had come so close to doing: destroy Godzilla. MOGUERA's first action came not against Godzilla, but a crystalline anomaly that was sighted approaching Earth. MOGUERA was launched to destroy the space creature, but was severely damaged and failed to halt its approach to Earth. MOGUERA was salvaged and repaired by G-Force, then deployed to Fukuoka to stop the space monster, now known as SpaceGodzilla, after it constructed its own fortress in the city. MOGUERA engaged SpaceGodzilla, and was joined by Godzilla, who sought to rescue his adopted son from his extraterrestrial clone. Together, MOGUERA and Godzilla were able to destroy SpaceGodzilla's power source in the Fukuoka Tower and finally destroy him, but MOGUERA was also obliterated in the battle, leaving only Godzilla standing.

Name

MOGUERA's Japanese name comes from that of the original Moguera, which itself is derived from the Japanese word mogura (lit. dirt dragon), meaning "mole." Unlike the original, however, MOGUERA's name is often spelled in Latin characters as MOGERA or M・O・G・E・R・A, though pronounced the same. The MOGUERA acronym stands for "Mobile Operation Godzilla Universal Expert Robot Aero-type," though the "Universal" portion is omitted from the Japanese acronym, due to MOGUERA's name not having a U. The book Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works instead expands the acronym as "Mobile Operation G-Expert Robot Aero-type," while the Japanese trailer for Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla writes the Aero-type portion as "A-type." After being repaired and upgraded following its first battle with SpaceGodzilla, it is designated MOGUERA II-SRF (MOGERA-SRF Mogera Tsū Esuāruefu). MOGUERA's name is sometimes abbreviated as MGR, such as on the helmets of its pilots.

While this version of the character's name is usually spelled as an acronym in both English and Japanese media, it is still sometimes spelled in English as Moguera.

Design

Just like the previous incarnation of the character, MOGUERA is a giant bipedal robot resembling a mole with square feet, a sawblade on its back, a drill on its nose, cone-shaped hands, and a short tail. In contrast to the green, gray, and yellow color sheme of the original Moguera, the Heisei version is silver with a black nose and hands and light blue trim on its body. MOGUERA has yellow eyes and a singular antenna atop its head. It has a port for the Plasma Maser Cannon on its chest, and tank treads on the bottom of its feet.

Origin

MOGUERA is an anti-Godzilla mech constructed by G-Force with the assistance of Russia under the leadership of Dr. Alexander Mammilov, whereas Mechagodzilla was constructed in conjunction with the United States led by Dr. Leo Asimov. While the two machines were completed a year apart, they were both constructed simultaneously in different sections. MOGUERA's construction was delayed due to the complexity of the mech's structure, and it was finally completed in 1995 using the mainframe and surviving parts from Mechagodzilla. According to the book Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works, MOGUERA was seemingly constructed with reference to documents of the original Moguera collected by the United Nations back in 1957 when the Mysterians attacked.

History

Heisei Era

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)

MOGUERA was constructed after the destruction of Mechagodzilla in another attempt to kill Godzilla. It could split up into two different vehicles: Land Moguera and Star Falcon. It was first sent to fight SpaceGodzilla when he was detected flying toward Earth. MOGUERA was sent flying out of control into space by SpaceGodzilla, but it managed to make it back to Earth. It was sent out again after undergoing repairs to engage SpaceGodzilla in Fukuoka, but pilot Akira Yuki, who held a grudge against Godzilla, redirected the mech and attacked Godzilla instead. The other pilots, Koji Shinjo and Kiyoshi Sato, knocked Yuki out and flew to Fukuoka. MOGUERA battled SpaceGodzilla alone until Godzilla arrived and joined the battle. MOGUERA's pilots decided to focus their attacks on SpaceGodzilla, and assist Godzilla in knocking out SpaceGodzilla's power source, the Fukuoka Tower. MOGUERA split into the Star Falcon and Land Moguera, and with Godzilla's help managed to destroy the tower. With SpaceGodzilla's means of constantly recharging his energy disabled, Land Moguera emerged from the ground and began firing on SpaceGodzilla, with Star Falcon providing air support, to stall for time and allow the two vehicles to reform into MOGUERA After reforming, the mech managed to destroy SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals with its spiral grenade missiles. Godzilla and MOGUERA seemed to have the upper hand, but SpaceGodzilla responded by using his tail crystals to stab and throw MOGUERA at a building, causing it to become trapped. Shinjo and Sato escaped the downed mech, but Yuki stayed behind and attempted to fly MOGUERA back into the battle. With sparks erupting from MOGUERA's ruined armour, Yuki slammed the machine into SpaceGodzilla, knocking the monster down, but MOGUERA lost control, crashing into a series of buildings and becoming completely disabled. Shinjo rescued Yuki from the wreckage before Godzilla took advantage of MOGUERA's last act to bring down SpaceGodzilla. Godzilla used his hyper spiral ray to finish his adversary off, striking the space monster with the beam before he could get back up. The first shot crippled SpaceGodzilla, and the second struck the wreckage of MOGUERA, blasting the mech's head off its body and engulfing what was left of the machine in flames. The third and final shot destroyed SpaceGodzilla for good, creating a massive explosion that completely obliterated the celestial clone. MOGUERA may have fallen in the final battle, but Godzilla couldn't have won the confrontation without the machine's help.

Trivia

  • MOGUERA's role in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla was going to be filled by Mechagodzilla at one point, but Koichi Kawakita pushed for the studio to revive one of his favorite monsters, Moguera from The Mysterians, for the film instead.
  • While limited to Godzilla: Save the Earth and Godzilla: Unleashed, MOGUERA is the only Godzilla kaiju that can say its own name.
  • MOGUERA's ability to split apart into the Star Falcon and Land Moguera is likely inspired by an early version of the Heisei Mechagodzilla that appeared in an earlier draft of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, which would have had the ability to split apart into a jet and a tank.
  • MOGUERA is the heaviest mecha in the Godzilla series, weighing in at 160,000 metric tons, 10,000 metric tons heavier than the Heisei Mechagodzilla.
  • A new mecha called G-END that was featured in an early draft for Godzilla vs. Destoroyah would have been constructed from MOGUERA's remains.