Mogera モゲラ by Marmit マーミット

This figure is based on Mogera モゲラ (Moguera) from the 1957 movie “Earth Defense Force” (Chikyū Bōeigun 地球防衛軍) which was released in the US as “The Mysterians.”

The last two photos show Mogera with a die-cast Robby the Robot figure that came with the Forbidden Planet reissue DVD. For more information on the Marmit Mogera kit, see here.

商品名：リアルソフビキット　モゲラ　　＜特撮映画『地球防衛軍』より＞ シリーズ名：リアル ソフビキット マーミット　リアルソフビキット　モゲラ。 通販限定アイテ ム です。 大きさは約25cmです

Photos © 2010 Geozilla Omni-Monster. All rights reserved.

Mogera モゲラ by Toru Oishi 大石透 and Marmit マーミット

This figure is based on Mogera モゲラ (Moguera) from the 1957 movie “Earth Defense Force” (Chikyū Bōeigun 地球防衛軍) which was released in the US as “The Mysterians.”

This is a “garage” kit made entirely of hard vinyl, except that the antenna are metal (I have installed them straight, rather than bent forward, to avoid breaking them), and the clear lower steam-shovel scoop jaw (which I have not installed) is made of clear plastic. Except for the antenna and the jaw, it came fully assembled and painted. It is about 10 inches tall with the antenna.

Designed by Toru Oishi 大石透 , about 30 of these were made for sale by Marmit マーミット in 2006. (You can read a lot more about Toru Oishi and his kaiju modeling career here.)

商品名：リアルソフビキット　モゲラ　　＜特撮映画『地球防衛軍』より＞ シリーズ名：リアル ソフビキット マーミット　リアルソフビキット　モゲラ。 通販限定アイテ ム です。 大きさは約25cmです

Photos © 2010 Geozilla Omni-Monster. All rights reserved.

Moguera 1957 (モゲラ Mogera)

This Moguera figure is an original mold with an old toy style, reissued by Marusan in 1998. It is about 6 inches tall. Notice the drill-like nose and the steam shovel-like lower jaw to help the monster burrow its way through the earth underground. (Moguera is Japanese for "Mole.")

Moguera (モゲラ Mogera) is from the 1957 Toho Studios tokusatsu film "The Mysterians" (地球防衛軍), directed by Ishirō Honda (drama) and Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects). The Mysterians was the first tokusatsu filmed in TohoScope and the first Toho film to use stereophonic sound. It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes. (Alternate titles for the movie: "Chikyu Boeigun" (Japanese) and "The Earth Defense Force".)

In the Mysterians, scientifically advanced wanderers from the destroyed planet Mysteroid request a plot of land on Earth... and earthling women to breed with! After a demonstration of their destructive abilities, mankind must decide whether to capitulate or to resist.

Moguera is a robot used by the alien Mysterians to assist in convincing the earthlings to cooperate. Moguera attacks a small village with its optic heat blasts, but is destroyed when the bridge it is standing on collapses due to the military dynamiting it.

A second Moguera appears as the Markalite beam cannons assault the Mysterians' base. This Moguera trys to destroy one of the Markalites by burrowing underneath it, but the weapon falls on top of it, crushing and destroying the robot.

[Sources: Adapted from Wikipedia.]

Here are some images released in connection with the movie in its various forms:









Photos © 2006 Geozilla Omni-Monster. All rights reserved.