In September, TOHO launched the “TOHO presents NEW MONSTER GENERAL ELECTION,” a project aimed at creating an all-new creature capable of standing alongside the globally renowned King of the Monsters, Godzilla.
The final results were officially revealed at Godzilla Fest on November 3, with Dimensional Entity XENOLHU taking first place with 16,850 votes. The monster is set to appear in a new Fest Godzilla special-effects production scheduled for release in 2027 or later, with merchandise also confirmed as part of the winner’s prize.
The “TOHO presents NEW MONSTER GENERAL ELECTION” invited fans to help create a new creature that could leave its mark on the history of TOHO monster movies. Eight monsters designed by SHIROGUMI INC. entered the race, which was split into two voting phases. Phase 1 selected the four monsters with the most votes, while Phase 2 reset the totals and opened a fresh vote to determine the winner. Organizers also revealed that the campaign received 221,247 votes in total.
The final rankings were as follows:
No. 1: Dimensional Entity XENOLHU (16,850 votes)
No. 2: Drone Carrier Machine SAGIUS (14,649 votes)
No. 3: Assault Dinosaur Monster RIGEDOH (9,181 votes)
No. 4: Planet Raid Monster GILX (8,421 votes)
XENOLHU was already leading when the interim results were announced and successfully held on to the top spot. RIGEDOH, meanwhile, surged upward after placing fourth in the interim rankings.
(For profiles of all eight monsters, check out our previous article.)
Winner Profile: Dimensional Entity XENOLHU
Height: 58 meters
Weight: 45,000 metric tons
This eerie life-form emerged from another universe. Using its octopus-like tentacles to grasp space itself, it can move through the air. Its space-manipulating telekinesis generates unknown waves that cause hallucinations in any living creature they touch. Godzilla’s powerful heat ray produces similar waves, and when that energy interfered with XENOLHU’s world, the entity became intrigued and ultimately crossed into this one.
Special Attack: Abyss Gaze
XENOLHU summons a gigantic demonic eye capable of stripping away the will of anyone caught in its gaze. Targets are subjected to overwhelming mental pressure, causing their bodies to rapidly decay and crumble into ash.
During the results announcement, organizers also revealed a sharp divide between preferences in Japan and overseas. According to the TOHO representative overseeing the project, Drone Carrier Machine SAGIUS ranked first among voters in Japan, while overseas votes overwhelmingly favored XENOLHU.
The representative suggested that XENOLHU resonated with overseas fans because its design is unlike that of previous kaiju, with an appearance reminiscent of fantasy creatures from international productions.
While XENOLHU has been entrusted with the major role of facing Godzilla in a screen production, the representative added, “As for the monsters that placed second and below, we hope to listen to everyone’s feedback and find ways for them to make appearances in the future.”
The representative also noted the high level of fan participation in the “TOHO presents NEW MONSTER GENERAL ELECTION.” Similar events could potentially be held in the future, offering TOHO another way to explore which types of monsters resonate most with audiences.