Mothra

The beginning of the film focuses on the mysterious Infant Island, whose nearby waters are being used for atomic tests by the Rolisican government. A massive typhoon catches a ship dubbed the Daini-Gen'you-Maru and quickly runs it ashore. Four survivors are later found by a rescue party. Oddly enough, not a single one of them is afflicted with radiation poisoning.

While in the hospital, the survivors claim that the natives of Infant Island were to thank for staving off the radiation. According to their story, the natives of the island gave them an unknown juice which helped their bodies fight off radiation poisoning. Two reporters and their camera man heard the survivors' tale, having infiltrated the hospital in order to get the inside scoop.

In light of this news, the Rolisican and Japanese governments co-sponsor an expedition to the island. Capitalist Clark Nelson, radiation specialist Dr. Harada, anthropologist Shin'ichi, and a reporter named Fukuda travel to the island. It is there that they discover bizarre plant life, a small tribe, and a pair of beautiful twelve-inch-tall fairies.

The fairies plead with the group to end the atomic testing taking place in the island's nearby waters. While most of the group acknowledges the plea before leaving, Nelson has a very different idea for the girls. He returns to the island and kidnaps them for profit.

Clark Nelson forces the girls to sing in private shows against their will. However, they warn that the deity of their island will come to their aid very soon. Surely enough, a gigantic egg on Infant Island hatches not long after. The giant caterpillar Mothra emerges and heads for Japan, intent on destroying anybody and anything that gets in its path.

Directed by kaiju legend Ishiro Honda, this film was released in Japan in 1961. Both the original release and the American release the following year received positive reviews from critics and moviegoers alike.