Most people will think of Godzilla when they hear the term Kaiju, but there is a lot more to it than that despite the dominance of Godzilla in the mythology.
From the East to the West, the popularity of Kaiju stories continues to grow with them being used in everything from movies, TV shows, video games and online slots.
Here, we have taken a look at how Kaiju popularity keeps spreading all over the world.
Defining Kaiju and exploring its origins
Broadly speaking, Kaiju is used as a term to describe any movies that feature a type of giant monster, though Kaiju can of course also be used to describe the creatures themselves.
Kaiju history can be traced all the way back to ancient Japanese legends, with records from the early 20th century showing that the term was used to describe the extinct Ceratosaurus when there were reports that it was actually alive in Alaska.
Japanese folklore, however, did not include any mentions of Kaiju until the 1950s when monsters began to be depicted in films, with the release of the 1954 film Godzilla key.
In the movie, which was directed by Ishiro Honda, Godzilla is destroyed - but this did not stop it becoming the longest running franchise in film history, according to Guinness World Records.
Kaiju were often used as a metaphor for nuclear weapons with Japan having suffered huge losses as a result of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
Kaiju games like online slots grow in popularity
While the roots of Kaiju can be found in films, more recent years have seen the monsters used as a basis for a wide range of games, including slots that can be played at online casinos.
This adaptation by Elk Gaming - simply titled Kaiju - is a slot that will appeal to fans of the monsters, as well as those who play slots in the hope of landing a big win.
With high volatility, the game does not pay out as regularly as a lot of other slots on the market, but when a spin of the reels results in a win, it tends to be a significant one.
While Elk Gaming is not known as one of the largest studios in the world of slot game development, a focus on quality over quantity means that Kaiju is well worth checking out.
Kaija is far from the first slot of its kind to have been released at online casinos, though, with IGT's Godzilla on Monster Island slot game having been a big hit when it first came out.
What can Kaiju fans expect from Godzilla vs. Kong?
Fans of monster movies will be counting the days until the release of Godzilla vs. Kong, which is set to come out in cinemas in the summer of next year.
After making the first Godzilla film, Japanese director Honda went on to direct King Kong vs. Godzilla, but the new movie is not thought to be a straight remake of his movie.
Instead, Godzilla vs. Kong is more of a sequel to films such as Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which have both come out in the last few years.
The intention from film company Legendary is to create a shared cinematic franchise that features Kaiju such as Godzilla alongside other famous movie monsters such as King Kong.
Who is in the upcoming Kaiju film?
Godzilla vs. Kong has been in development for a number of years, with anticipation rising fast as the days tick down to its planned May 2021 release in the United States.
The cast for the film will include Stranger Things and Enola Holmes star Millie Bobby Brown, while Zhang Ziyi returns after appearing in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Other stars set to feature include Alexander Skarsgard as a geologist who works with Kong, as well as Brian Tyree Henry, Rebecca Hall, Kyle Chandler and Shun Oguri.
Expected to coincide with the cinema release of Godzilla vs. Kong is a mobile game, from which some images have already been leaked, with players surely hoping they get to control Kaiju.
It is fair to say Kaiju is a phenomenon now enjoyed around the world, with its popularity spread from the east to the west.
Before you keep reading, check out this Godzilla Minus One inspired shirt we think you might like!
From Legendary, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will hit theaters on March 26th, 2027! Visit the GxK: Supernova page for more information, production updates and everything we know so far!
From Toho, Takashi Yamazaki is directing a sequel to Godzilla Minus One! Visit the Godzilla Minus One sequel page for the latest information!
There is also the next season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on the way, as well as other spin-off Godzilla series in the works at Apple TV!
