Godzilla is no stranger to new forms. In fact, the Godzilla franchise is packed full of different versions of the king of the monsters, each with unique powers and abilities. But Snow Godzilla from Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: The Marvelous Fast ALFA-X That Comes From the Future (phew!) is a cool new form that needs to make its way into the franchise's main continuity.
Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion is a collaboration between the toy company Takara Tomy and Japan Railways Group, an organization that owns and runs many railways around Japan. The series started as a spinoff of the Plarail line of model trains and has become a massive franchise in its own right. It follows the adventures of Hayato Hayasugi, a young boy who joins a group called the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute. This group helps protect the world against monster attacks using bullet trains that can transform into robots called Shinkalions.
The series has blossomed into what can only be described as the anime version of Nintendo's Super Smash Brothers franchise, as it has featured Shinkalions piloted by Hatsune Miku, Hello Kitty and even Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Shinji pilots the Shinkalion 500 TYPE EVA, a train that turns into a mech that resembles the Evangelion Unit-01. So, it was only a matter of time until Godzilla found a way to appear in the series.
Snow Godzilla inhabits another dimension. However, in the film, he is teleported into our world. Like other versions of Godzilla, Snow Godzilla is a giant hulking beast that towers over buildings and people. One of the staff at the Shinkansen Ultra Evolution Institute estimates Snow Godzilla's height to be 118.5 meters, making it about the same height as Shin Godzilla, the third tallest version of the monster. Snow Godzilla's general shape resembles the Godzillas seen in the Heisei era films with elements of Shin Godzilla mixed in. However, rather than being green, Snow Godzilla is covered in a layer of off-white snow, which makes it very visually striking. Snow Godzilla also has yellow eyes and ice-like fins along its back, further playing into the winter motif.
However, what makes this Godzilla more than just a palette swap is its powerset. Snow Godzilla is amazingly tough and durable, being able to withstand several direct hits from powerful Shinkalions. Even hitting it with finishing moves isn't enough to take the beast down. When the Shinkalions are able to damage Snow Godzilla, it regenerates within mere minutes. Snow Godzilla is also able to teleport, making it much more mobile than other iterations of the monster, allowing it to easily avoid attacks and appear when its prey is not expecting it.
Snow Godzilla, like other versions of the monster, has access to an atomic breath. However, Snow Godzilla's is uniquely destructive, to the point that the beast has a membrane that covers its eyes when it deploys it to prevent it from hurting itself. As this breath charges, massive rings of snow and energy form around Snow Godzilla's mouth. After a few minutes, Snow Godzilla lets out a massive blue beam of spiraling energy. This beam is gigantic, engulfing several robots and throwing them into the air like they were nothing. This beam is also able to manipulate time, though the movie doesn't make it clear if this is something Godzilla can control or just a side-effect of the immense energy build up.
Snow Godzilla can be seen as the inverted twin of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah's Burning Godzilla form, where Godzilla channels the power of fire rather than ice. The unique white appearance is striking and would look amazing if transposed to the higher-budget environment of the mainline Godzilla franchise. Its unique version of the kaiju's powerful atomic breath is also a terrifyingly fascinating attack. If it can easily toss Shinkalions around, imagine the destructive power it could have when put against real-world military forces? King Kong would stand absolutely no chance.
