Kaiju Big Battel
Kaiju Big Battel is a performance by the New York City based performance entertainment troupe created by Rand Borden. The performances are parodies of both professional wrestling and the tokusatsu ''kaiju'' eiga films of Japan. These Battels are presented in the style of professional wrestling events, with the costumed performers playing the roles of giant, city-crushing monsters similar to Godzilla and Gamera. The odd spelling of battel originates in a mistake Borden made on a T-shirt design, which became an inside joke. The performances include many in-jokes aimed towards fans of professional wrestling, superhero comic books and Japanese popular culture. Many of the names of the characters are in mock Spanish or mock Japanese, and Engrish is used liberally for comedic effect.
History of Studio Kaiju
While a student at School of the [Museum of Fine Arts, Boston], Rand Borden and peers who grew up watching Ultraman decided to make kaiju suits for a short film. The first character created was Midori no Kaiju, which Borden assembled from upholstery foam coated with latex. After about a year, he finished this first kaiju suit. The other students did not make anything, but Borden enjoyed making the costume decided to make more.On Halloween night in 1994, the first live competition, or Big Battel, occurred at the Revolving Museum in Boston. The Battel featured Midori No Kaiju, as well as Atomic Cannon, Powa Ranjuru, Force Trooper Robo, Taro "The Mouth" Fuji's commentary, and Anthony Salbino's construction. The first full-scale Kaiju Big Battel event was held in March 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. The earliest performances in other cities included matches with other troupes of costumed wrestlers at venues such as Fort Thunder in Providence, Rhode Island. Borden has created more than 120 monster costumes, which he keeps in storage.
In 2000, Borden formed Studio Kaiju and hired his brother, David, as manager. Kaiju Big Battel: Terebi Sento was the studio's first DVD release, showcasing four matches from 2001 and several bonus features. Kaiju Big Battel: A Practical Guide to Giant City-Crushing Monsters, a comedic history of the first 8 years of Kaiju Big Battel, was published in 2004 by Hyperion Press.
Studio Kaiju was dissolved in 2011 and Rand Borden returned to producing Kaiju on his own.
Kaiju Big Battel performed at TwitchCon 2017 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California at an event that was simultaneously broadcast on Twitch. On May 4, 2019 Kaiju Big Battel held their first European event at Alexandra Palace in London, England. On October 10, 2024, Kaiju Big Battel held their first Asian event at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan.
Notable characters
- Dusto Bunny is a monstrous anthropomorphic dust bunny. His height is "one billion dust mites", and he weighs "64 tons ".
- French Toast is a giant waffle with a French accent. His nickname is "The Awful Waffle".
- Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle is a martial artist wielding a cleaver and wearing a can of soup over his torso. He weighs "120 fluid tons".
- Dr. Cube is the main villain of Kaiju Big Battel. He is a disfigured plastic surgeon who wears a white box over his face to hide his scars. He uses genetic modification and mind-control to command an army of kaiju to destroy mankind and control the earth. His character was created after Rand Borden found a surgical gown and a box.
- American Beetle is an American-born hero "so proud of his Mexican heritage that he only speaks Spanish"
- Referee "You Call that a Knife" Dundee keeps order in the big ring.