Godzilla King Of The Monsters Missing Titans: Bunyip Explained

Godzilla: King of the Monsters confirms that numerous unseen Titans exist in the MonsterVerse, one of which being Bunyip. The movie reveals nothing about him but his name and location, but fortunately there are a number of clues to be found in old legends that date back to the 19th century.

The beginning of Godzilla: King of the Monsters mentions that the Earth is populated by at least 17 Titans, which is a surprisingly high number. Apparently, giant monsters dwell all over the planet, with at least one on every continent. Four of these Titans — Godzilla, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and Mothra — are Toho properties, a fifth is King Kong, and despite speculation that among them were even more Toho kaiju like Anguirus and Kumonga, the rest are Titans who are original to the MonsterVerse, including Behemoth, Scylla, Methuselah, and a third M.U.T.O. The names of the others and their locations are revealed on a monitor in the Monarch base, but they’re never shown on-screen.

One of the names on the monitor is “Bunyip”, who is being monitored at Monarch Outpost 99, located at Ayers Rock (or Uluru) in Australia. The name “Bunyip” is associated with a creature from Australian Aboriginal mythology. The indigenous people of Australia have long told stories of the dreaded Bunyip, and these legends were shared with the early European settlers. The first known recorded reference to Bunyip was made in the early 1800s. He was described as a black animal, resembling a seal, who frightened the natives with his booming roar.

Due to various sightings across Australia, Bunyip has a number of contradicting physical descriptions. He’s been said to look like a hippopotamus, a manatee, a combination of an alligator and a bird, and more. Bunyip is often described as having a lock neck. What he looks like is a matter for discussion, but his stomping grounds and behavior are less debatable. Whatever he is, Bunyip is said to lurk in swamps and other freshwater areas, feeding on women and children. Bunyip is commonly believed to be amphibious and nocturnal in nature.

What does all this mean about the MonsterVerse’s Bunyip? He could very well be a giant, long-necked, Titan who has the body structure and head of a hippopotamus, which would certainly make him an interesting addition to the MonsterVerse after Godzilla: King of the Monsters. But, varying accounts from early European settlers and the Australian Aborigines make it difficult to paint a clear picture of what Bunyip looks like. However, the name “Bunyip” and his connection to the region does at least shed some light on his nature, unlike other missing Titans such as Baphomet, whose mythological connections are extremely vague. Like Amhuluk, Bunyip is clearly linked to a specific creature, allowing audiences to develop a certain degree of understanding regarding this mysterious Titan from Australia.

About The Author