Mutavore

Mutavore is a Category IV Kaiju that attacked Sydney on December 27, 2024.^[1][2][3]

Biology

Mutavore has a hooked, sharp curve above on its plated and bony structure around its head and curving down from its chin in a crescent shape. Near the top of Mutavore's bladed crest is its mouth. Mutavore has three eyes on both sides of its head.

In addition, the creature exhibits a bipedal structure containing two large arms ending in large claws, and two very small, almost insect-like appendages on its chest. Similar to its bladed head, Mutavore has huge, axe-shaped structures protruding from its back.

History

Breach of the Anti-Kaiju Wall

On December 27, 2024, a day after the Australian Jaeger Striker Eureka is decommissioned, Mutavore emerges from the Breach and heads towards Sydney. The creature manages to break through the city's Anti-Kaiju Wall in less than an hour and enters the city, beginning its attack until it is stopped by the Australian Mark-3 Vulcan Specter and the Japanese Mark-4 Echo Saber.^[2]

The pair of Jaegers manage to keep Mutavore on the coast temporarily, but are no match for the Kaiju, which completely rips open Echo Saber's torso and Conn-Pod, leaving the flaming wreckage of the Mark-4 to sink onto the coast, and knocks Vulcan Specter down, climbing on top of its body and brutally ripping off its head, proceeding to violently hammer the Jaeger's immobile body until it is completely scrapped.^[6][2][3]

However, the time that Mutavore lost in this fight was enough for Striker Eureka to be reactivated and deployed in the city. Piloted by Rangers Hercules and Chuck Hansen, Striker aggressively confronts Mutavore in a long-lasting fight and finally succeeds after delivering an alternating right and left uppercut which sends Mutavore reeling, Striker grabs the Kaiju and slams it backwards into a building. Mutavore attempts to grapple with Striker, grabbing onto Striker's arms, but the Jaeger quickly wrests its right arm free and delivers a right hook that knocks Mutavore clear away.^[4][7]

It finishes off Mutavore with a barrage of missiles from its chest-mounted launcher that slam stoutly into the beast’s head and neck. With pained screams, Mutavore drops dead, its fallen carcass damaging a building and crushing empty parked vehicles on a street.^[4]

Aftermath

Mutavore's breach of the Wall starkly demonstrates how futile the Anti-Kaiju Wall was as a defense against Kaiju attacks. A week later, the incident causes protests and riots in cities all around the Pacific Rim against the ending of the Jaeger Program.

Mutavore's body is later dissected for study. Part of its brain is used in an experiment by K-Science officer, Newton Geiszler, who proves his theory of the possibility of a Drift with a Kaiju using what remains of its brain.^[4][8]

Trivia

• According to Travis Beacham, the design attributed to Mutavore was called "Bladehead" during the production phase in which they had not yet decided which Kaiju would have which design.^{[9][10][note 1]}
• Mutavore is a Category III in the novelization, which is based on early drafts of the movie.^[6]
• The novelization of the first film also establishes that Mutavore destroyed Vulcan Specter and Echo Saber before being killed by Striker Eureka, something that is confirmed in Pacific Rim Uprising: Ascension and Pacific Rim: Aftermath, with Cavan Scott himself stating that Legendary's lore team confirms that these events did indeed occur in the timeline, however, Travis Beacham denied these events when asked about it on his Tumblr, indicating that he originally planned to rewrite the timeline and end these two Jaegers at the hands of another Kaiju.^[11]
• The date of Mutavore's attack has been the subject of much confusion as it is not explicitly mentioned in the film, but the two novelizations and the comic book mentioned above confirm its date as having occurred on December 27, 2024, making it the fourteenth and final Kaiju to attack that year. Hermann's statement about the attack having occurred a week ago led some people to believe for a long time that it occurred on January 1, 2025, since he said this on the 8th, but the facts mentioned lead one to believe that he was probably referring to last week and not exactly seven days ago.
• In the Jaeger Combat Simulator Mutavore is named "Sydney".^[12]
• The ticket reader during a news report of Mutavore's attack in Sydney reports that the Anti-Kaiju Wall could withstand an attack from a category IV Kaiju.^[13]
• Mutavore's tail is split vertically about halfway through, and, according to Pacific Rim: The Video Game, can be used like a pair of scissors.
• Mutavore bares resemblance to the creatures in Expedition which was written by Wayne Douglas Barlowe, who worked as a Kaiju concept artist in Pacific Rim.
• Mutavore's original concept design was used for Hardship.

Gallery

Notes

References

Kaiju in Pacific Rim Undetermined Trespasser • Hundun • Kaiceph • Scissure • Kame-san Category I Karloff • Hardship • Hammerjaw • Ceptid • Tengu Category II Onibaba • Itak • Ragnarok • Raythe • Clawhook Category III Yamarashi • Knifehead • Huo Da Category IV Gyakushu • Spinejackal • Mutavore • Otachi • Leatherback • Raiju • Scunner Category V Slattern Category Unknown Verocitor • Belobog • Reckoner • Baby Kaiju • Ceramander • Tentalus • Hidoi • Biantal • Tailspitter • Insurrector • Taranais • Taurax • Kojiyama • Bonesquid • Atticon • Fiend • Hound • Rachnid • Vodyanoi • Unnamed Kaiju Anteverse Precursors • Anteverse • Breach • Kaiju Blue • Kaiju Skinmite Culture Kaiju Cultists • BuenaKai • Sisters of the Kaiju • Kaiju organ Harvesters • Kaiju Groupie Events K-DAY • Kaiju Attack on Sydney • Kaiju War • Double Event PPDC Anti-Kaiju Wall • Kaiju Emergency Alert System • War Clock