[Xabungle]

Varan grew up in a tough part of Monster Island. In 1954, upon hearing of the success of Gojira, Varan decided to take up a career in acting. Friends recall him saying "My acting could say something meaningful - like a message on the evils of atomic warfare." Varan was discovered in the Toho New Face campaign shortly after. After two intensive years of lessons on acting, dancing, and singing, Varan was deemed ready.
Varan's first appearance would be a starring role, in Varan The Unbelievable. Years later, Varan would recount the origin of the title: "My mom wouldn't believe I was in the title role. So that's what they called it - unbelievable!" Accounts from Toho indicate Varan was being groomed to be the next King of the Monsters.
Under the direction of Ichiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya, the film took shape. To the great disappointment of Varan, though lots of footage was shot specifically for the American version of the film, Varan was featured in none of it. Varan never once met the film's American protaganist, Myron Healey. Ultimately, Varan's flight sequences - for which he had gone through intensive workouts - were cut altogether for the American version.

Modern reviewers have little good to say about Varan the Unbelievable. Compared to Gojira and it's personification of the atomic threat, audiences were disappointed with the film. Even among the kaiju community, much of Varan's recognition comes from a cameo in the film Destroy All Monsters.

Having 'peaked' in 1968, Varan left acting. He was arrested in 1979 for attacking a US nuclear sub. While incarcerated, Varan began studying Tibetan Buddhism. He now lives on Monster Island, near his childhood lair. Varan directs community theater, and has adopted a young monster from America named Godzooky.

There - a little incentive to see Varan.