Livyjira

Livyjira
Data
Category	Kaiju
Height	56 m
Weight	56,000 t
Home World	Earth
First Appearance	Ultraman Arc episode 5 "Ocean on the Mountain Ridge"
Latest Appearance	Ultraman Arc episode 24 "The Descending Dream"
Roar(s)

Livyjira is a prehistoric species of whale-like Kaiju who first appeared in the fifth episode of Ultraman Arc.

Subtitle: Giant Cetacean Beast

Conception

Etymology

Livyjira's name is a combination of the binomial name of Livyatan melvillei, a prehistoric species of sperm whale (whose genus name was inspired by the biblical sea monster Leviathan, and species name from Moby-Dick author Herman Melville) and the Japanese word Kujira .

Design

Livyjira was designed by Kemon Kawamoto, who was also in charge of the storyboarding for its debut episode. Notably, director Masayoshi Takesue requested that the Kaiju's mouth be designed as large as possible to swallow Ultraman Arc.

According to Kawamoto, the initial commission was to design the kaiju based on archaeoceti, with the concept of it being an earth kaiju. However, director Takesue requested that the design reflect more of his personal style. As a result, Kawamoto made the head larger to fit with Showa-era monsters. The design also featured air vents, inspired by the kaiju's ability to "salt generation," positioned on the front for visual impact. These vents were imagined as a mechanism for dispersing salt, like a fan.

The head design particularly emphasized fossil characteristics. Takesue wanted the head to have a "prehistoric" feel. Since whale fossils have a relatively plain appearance, Kawamoto specially designed the eyes to be prominent and made the head shape instantly recognizable. The design also incorporated glowing elements on the head, inspired by the bioluminescent traits of deep-sea creatures. The glow was arranged similarly to airplane windows. The ultimate goal was for these glowing parts to form a specific shape when viewed from the front, while providing a different visual effect when seen from the side.

Livyjira's body included white sections symbolizing salt accumulation and toughened areas on the abdomen to represent seaweed attachment, a detail requested by Takesue. To make the giant mouth more flexible, Kawamoto removed the arms and used chest mechanisms to mimic arm movements, allowing the actor to better express the kaiju's behavior.

History

Ultraman Arc

Once a prehistoric species of gigantic deep sea creatures, the fossil of a Livyjira was discovered by the archaeologist Professor Makino, known as the Dinosaur Professor, at the entrance of Daiko Mountain Ridge. However, unbeknownst to everyone, a second Livyjira, which was very much alive, awoke from its deep slumber due to the excavation process and the influence of "Onyx," and, using its abilities, flooded the entire mountain ridge overnight, turning it into a saltwater lake.

The SKIP were sent in to conduct an investigation, but could not uncover anything of substance even as the day for the evacuation order to be lifted drew closer. Nevertheless, they refused to give up and worked together with the professor, with a fossilized piece of Livyjira, which Hiroshi Ban had found during his university days, being the key item to uncovering the true reason behind the ocean's resurgence: the Kaiju itself had been producing the saltwater! Certain that the source laid where the salt concentration was highest, the SKIP had YouPi descend into the depths of the Daiko Mountain Ridge, where it and the giant cetacean beast locked eyes.

Emerging from the lake, Livyjira almost got to Hiroshi and Professor Makino if not for the timely intervention of Ultraman Arc, who it dragged down to the bottom of the lake. In its natural habitat, Livyjira produced a salt mist that made it difficult for the Ultra to see where it was coming from as it maneuvered the murky waters. Fortunately, with a bit of quick thinking, Arc dispelled the mist with a makeshift energy rotor and plugged Livyjira's blowhole shut with a tree. As a last resort, Livyjira charged Arc head-on, but the warrior fired the Arc Finalize directly into its mouth, causing the aquatic kaiju to swell up and burst. ^{Ocean on the Mountain Ridge}

Alongside Shagong, Leodo, Digelos, Givas, and Zadime, Livyjira was one of the monsters conjured in a dream created by Guilebaku in an effort to convince Yuma that everything he had experienced for the past 16 years was just a dream. ^{The Descending Dream}

Trivia

• Suit actors: Shun Takahashi (ep. 5), Koki Ikuta (ep. 24)
• Some of Livyjira's roars have a slowed down and reversed Showa Godzilla's roars mixed in.
• Livyjira's suit would be modified for Dugrid in Ultraman Omega.

Data

Stats

• Height: 56 m
• Weight: 56,000 t
• Origin: Prehistoric ocean ➝ Daiko Mountain Ridge

Powers and Weapons

• Giant Mouth: Livyjira's main weapon is its massive jaws, which it can use to bite opponents or even attempt to swallow them whole.
  • Burrowing: Livyjira can use its mouth to burrow through the earth, primarily for digging through underground water veins and constructing its nest.
• Salt Generation: Livyjira can produce great quantities of salt within its body, which is primarily used to turn water bodies into highly-concentrated saltwater and create a suitable habitat for itself. It also uses this defensively against foes by firing salt from its blowhole directly into their line of sight.
  • Saltwater Mist: When produced in greater quantities, the salt Livyjira generates creates an underwater mist that confuses and deter foes.
• Biosonar: As a species of whale, Livyjira's voice features ultrasonic frequencies, and he can use these frequencies to locate objects in his environment through echolocation, effectively making it a biological form of sonar.

Salt Generation

Merchandise

Ultra Monster Series

• Livyjira (2024)
  • Release Date: August 3, 2024
  • Price: 700 yen
  • JAN/ISBN: 4570118204295
  • Materials: PVC

Ultra Monster Series (2016) Livyjira is a small soft vinyl figure that has 2 points of articulation at its arms.

Gallery

Ultraman Arc

Miscellaneous