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Gavadon (ガヴァドン)[1] is a Kaiju that was created when children's graffiti of creatures were brought to life by strange rays coming from outer-space. It was eventually detained by Ultraman and taken to outer space, and changed into a constellation. It debuted in episode 15 of the series.

Subtitle: Two-Dimensional Monster (二次元怪獣, Nijigen Kaijū)[1]

Conception

Etymology

In Ultraman Blazar, Gavadon's name is derived from the words gabatto (がばっと), which means "to leap out", and don (ドン), an onomatopoeia to illustrate a big impact.

History

Ultraman

Within the confines of Tokyo, a group of children drew a peaceful, larva-like creature at a giant clay pipe. But later, at the break of day, the strange rays turned it into a real, living monster! The creature was peaceful, wanting nothing more but sleep, however its appearance put humanity on edge and the Science Patrol had to get rid of it. They attacked the wailing monster, assaulting it with firepower. Their attacks managed to blow off its tail, but as the sun began to go down, Gavadon vanished into the air. The kids, having seen their creation come to life, went to work at making it into something much stronger.

GAVADON B II

Ultraman vs Gavadon (B)

The children went to work at making it into something much more unique. They gave it limbs and more colors, a defined head, and a much more ferocious appearance and turned it into an adult stage. When the space rays hit the drawing, it came to life, but like its larval form, Gavadon wanted nothing more than to sleep. The self-defense forces wanted the monster gone and attacked it since it's snoring will make a negative impact on the Japanese economy due to it's terrible noise pollution. As numerous rounds exploded on its body, the scared creature tried to flee, but there was no escape.

More attacks struck the monster and soon Hayata summoned Ultraman, who immediately began battling Gavadon, swinging the monster around by his tail! Watching on from a bridge over a weir, teary-eyed, the kids begged Ultraman not to hurt their monster. Hearing their pleas, Ultraman gathered the monster into his arms and flew him into space. Gavadon was transformed into the most ever-lasting piece of art, turning into a constellation of stars the kids could see once every year on July 7. However, the boy who drew Gavadon earlier questioned how are they going to see Gavadon if the same night in the next year will be rain, as the episode ends without an answer. Terrifying Cosmic Rays

Trivia

  • Suit actor: Teruo Aragaki (A & B)
  • Gavadon A's noises are taken from the crawling noises of Larvae Mothra, from 1961's Mothra. Gavadon B's roars are children grunting slowed down.
  • Gavadon is the first instance where an Ultraman directly listened to the plight of children.
  • Gavadon is one of the monsters that didn't reappear in Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero as Powered Gavadon due to the budget for making the other powered monsters in the series. However, unlike many of those monsters, Gavadon (in both adult and larval stages), received a figure around the time, reminiscent of the Powered-style designs, suggesting he may have been planned to appear in the series.
  • Gavadon's original design was to be a moose-walrus creature covered in children's graffiti. The finalized design however is based on the initial design for Dodongo which depicts a skeletal Dimetrodon.
    • Gavadon's initial Walrus design evolved from concept art for Neronga.
  • Gavadon was the design inspiration for WoO in Bio Planet WoO, particularly his origins and normal form's design.
  • The Gavadon B suit would be modified into Zumbolar.
Cute thing

Gavadon A as part of Belyudra's body

  • Gavadon A and B were among the monsters that make up Belyudra's body and neck respectively in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie.
    • This is one of few occasions Gavadon A and B are treated as separate entities.
  • Gavadon was mentioned in Ultraseven - Operation: Solar Energy as one of the many monsters that Ultra Guard previously encountered.
  • In February 4, 2015, the Twitter website for Tsuburaya Productions celebrated Puyo Day (a celebration revolving the title character for the game series Puyo Puyo) by posting Gavadon A's image and comparing their similarities. Sega's official Twitter account took notice of this and thanked Tsuburaya for their involvement.[2]
  • In episode 24 of Ultraman Max, The Untargeted Town, Gavadon A can be seen, graffiti'd on a pipe.

Ultraman Ginga

Gavadon appeared in Ultraman Ginga as a Spark Doll. In episode 7, he is seen as one of the audience members along with many of monsters cheering on Ultraman Ginga as he fights Dark Galberos. It is likely that he returned to space in his original form after Ultraman Ginga defeated Dark Lugiel.

Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Ultra Monster ☆ Hero Battle Royale!

Both of Gavadon's forms were referenced by Tomoya Ichijouji at the beginning of the movie and their drawings were seen near the end of the movie in a sketch book. Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Ultra Monster ☆ Hero Battle Royale!

Ultraman Blazar

Gavadon Blazar Art01

Jun's first drawing of the Two-Dimensional Kaiju, Gavadon.

Gento's son Jun is classmates with an unusual character, Arata. One day, Jun encountered Arata sketching by the riverside, and he was brought to Arata's secret base filled with kaiju drawings. Under Arata's insistence, Jun made a doodle of his own kaiju, which Arata named Gavadon. As night came, mysterious rays of light fell upon the secret base, and the drawing of Gavadon began to beat like a heart.

Gavadon Blazar Art02

The second drawing of Gavadon.

The following day, the news reported on what appeared to be a white tsuchinoko-like creature in the neighborhood, which Jun instantly recognized as Gavadon. At the base, the two boys rendezvoused and managed to successfully capture the kaiju, but not without Arata's sister, Tsumugi, finding out. They returned to the base and took care of the kaiju before it reverted back into its two-dimensional form. Having seen the kaiju come to life, the kids went to work at making it much larger.

Gavadon Blazar Art03

The third drawing of Gavadon.

Just as they had predicted, Gavadon returned in a larger form! Having been driven away from the secret base by one of the site's workers, the kids ventured into the outdoors with Gavadon and had their fill of fun, but this was short-lived as the fear-stricken adults returned to bring Gavadon into custody. Thankfully, the kaiju disappeared in the nick of time, but having had enough of the adults' interference, Arata rallied the group to draw the largest Gavadon yet, so that no one would be able to lay a hand on their friend.

The sudden appearance of a gigantic Gavadon napping peacefully in Mitama City prompted the SKaRD to deploy on observation duty. As the GGF made preparations to attack the sleeping kaiju, the kids ran straight to Gavadon's aid. Having caught a glimpse of the children, Gento ran headfirst into the firing zone as the operation commenced and transformed into Ultraman Blazar to protect the children.

Gavadon Blazar Constellation

Gavadon's constellation.

Summoning the Tilsonite Sword, the Ultra used the Raidenz Finish to stir Gavadon awake, but he couldn't land a single hit due to the elasticity of the kaiju's rubbery body. As the terrified creature attempted to flee, Blazar spun the Spiral Burrade into a "crane game"-like contraption and managed to grapple onto the kaiju before losing his grip. The one-sided "fight" continued into dusk as an exhausted Blazar desperately tried any means to stop the kaiju. Watching on from the sidelines, the kids begged Blazar to stop hurting their kaiju friend. Hearing their pleas, the Ultra gathered Gavadon into his arms and flew into space. But this was not their final farewell, as Gavadon would live on forever as a constellation of stars in the night sky. As a teary-eyed Jun looked back upon the night sky, the Gavadon constellation shed a single tear, as it faded into the twilight.Betwixt Morn and Dusk

Trivia

  • Suit actor: Hiroyuki Arai
  • This marks the first time Gavadon A takes on an Ultra.
  • In an interview with Cinema Today, director Kiyotaka Taguchi mentioned that two of his favorite monsters from the original Ultraman who he wanted to reappear in the modern era were Bullton, who was brought back in Ultraman Z, and Gavadon A, who he wondered why hadn't returned. When merchandise of the kaiju sold out quickly at events such as Ultraman Festival and Ultra Heroes EXPO due to the kaiju's popularity, he was finally given leeway to bring Gavadon back. In fact, his love for Gavadon was so apparent that when he was shown a prototype of the Gavadon A model by Tsuburaya Productions' sculpting department LSS during the early stages of production for Ultraman Blazar, he immediately requested to be put in-charge of the Gavadon episode, even before the start of the series' composition.[3]
  • The small Gavadon prop and the 2-meter suit were modelled after its plush toy merchandise.[3]
  • Due to legal issues, the filming crew could not obtain permission to have graffiti drawn on public property as was done in the original episode, so they had to opt for the "secret base" concept and built prefab tentage just in time for filming.[4]
  • Like his debut series, Gavadon A also appears in episode 15 of Blazar.

Data

Gavadon A

GavadonARender Front

Front

GavadonARender Side

Side

Stats
  • Length: 40 cm ~ 30 m[5]
  • Weight: 400 g ~ 20,000 t[5]
  • Origin:
    • Ultraman: A clay pipe yard near the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, later materialized to the Tokyo suburbs
    • Ultraman Blazar: Arata's secret base -> Central Avenue, Mitama City
Powers and Weapons
Ultra Kaiju Battle Breeders
  • Snore (いびき, Ibiki)[6]: This ability increases the strength of monsters in Gavadon A's vicinity.
Ultraman Blazar
  • Consumption: Perhaps due to its unique physiology, Gavadon can consume 2D images. It can eat pictures of food as if they were real, sucking them into its mouth and removing them from what they were originally printed on.
  • Rubbery Body: Gavadon's soft, rubber-like body makes it surprisingly tough. Missiles simply bounce off of its hide, and it was unaffected by the electricity of the Tilsonite Sword. In addition, Gavadon's skin is very smooth and difficult to hold on to, with Ultraman Blazar struggling to grab and control its movement even with his energy techniques to help him.

Gavadon B
Gavadon render
Stats
  • Length: 60 m
  • Weight: 40,000 t
  • Origin: A clay pipe yard near the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, later materialized near Setagaya, Tokyo
Powers and Weapons
  • Resistance: Gavadon B demonstrates greater resistance to weapons than Gavadon A, managing to withstand a large number of tank bombings and some flamethrowers.

Merchandise

Ultra Monster 500

Gavadon spark doll
  • Gavadon (B) (2013)
    • Release Date: August 3, 2013
    • Price: 650 yen
    • JAN/ISBN: 4543112805331
    • Materials: PVC
Ultra Monster 500 Gavadon (B) was a small soft vinyl figure with four points of articulation on its front and hind legs. On the bottom of its left foot was a Live Sign compatible with the DX toy line.
Ultra Monster 500 Gavadon (B) was later rebranded as Ultra Monster Series (2016) Gavadon (B), with the Live Sign removed.

Ultra Monster Series (2016)

UMS 2016 204 Gavadon
  • Gavadon (A) (2023)
    • Release Date: October 21, 2023
    • Price: 700 yen
    • JAN/ISBN: 4570117960529
    • Materials: PVC
Ultra Monster Series (2016) Gavadon (A) is a small soft vinyl figure with no points of articulation.

Others

Gallery

Ultraman

Ultraman Blazar

Miscellaneous

References


Ultraman Kaiju
The Birth of Ultraman Kanegon | Garamon | M1 | Red King | Alien Baltan | Antlar | Chandlar
Ultraman Bemular | Alien Baltan | Neronga | Ragon | Greenmons | Guesra | Antlar | Red King | Chandlar | Magular | Suflan | Pigmon | Gabora | Jirahs | Gango | Mummy Man | Dodongo | Pestar | Gamakugira | Gavadon | Alien Baltan II | Bullton | Alien Zarab | Aboras | Banila | Hydra | Kemular | Underground People | Telesdon | Jamila | Gubila | Guigass | Dorako | Red King II | Suflan II | Gomora | Dada | Goldon | Woo | Keronia | Zumbolar | Alien Mefilas | Giant Member Fuji | Alien Baltan III | Kemur II | Alien Zarab II | Skydon | Seabozu | Zaragas | Re-Pigmon | Re-Dorako | Re-Telesdon | Geronimon | Keylla | Saigo | Alien Zetton | Zetton
Ultraman Blazar Kaiju
Ultraman Blazar Bazanga | Gedos | Earth Garon | Taganular | Leviera | Dorgo | Alien Cannan | Nijikagachi | Garamon | Cicada Human | Baby Demaaga | Demaaga | Gebalga | Deltandal | Gavadon | Mogusion | Zangill | Zamsher | Irugo | Brood Gebalga | Firdran | Zugugan | Deltandal B | Red King II | Guigass | Alien Bado | Alien Pitt | Alien Ghose | Eleking | Pandon | Dada | Varallon | V99
Ultraman Blazar The Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown Earth Garon | Gongilgan | Alien Damuno | Taganular | Zugugan
Manga Tyrant | Earth Garon | Bazanga | Nijikagachi | Jaranga | King Joe | King Silvergon | King Guesra | Kingsaurus III
Pre-series
(Figure-Oh No.307)
Extraterrestrial amorphous organism | Gakuma | Antlar | Mukadender | Silvergon | Kingsaurus III | Zumbolar | Goldon | Guesra | Leilons | Seagorath | Zonnel | Lagoras | Gokinezura | Majaba | Crescent | Cosmo Liquid | Pestar | Peguila | Magular | Red King
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