"Gamera vs. Jiger" released 1970

Gamera vs. Jiger, released March 21, 1970 in Japan, is the sixth movie in the Gamera franchise.  When a statue on Wester Island in the Pacific Ocean is requested for an exhibition for Japan's Expo '70, a tribal member tries to prevent the removal of the statue.  However, removal of the statue proceeds and Gamera shows up to hamper the process.  Only the children seem to know that Gamera isn't a threat, but the statue is removed.  

Soon Jiger appears and Gamera must come to the rescue of Osaka.  Interestingly, Gamera uses his smarts rather than his brute strength to win the day.

"Gamera vs Guiron" released 1969

Gamera vs. Guiron, the fifth installment of the Gamera series in the Showa era, was released March 21, 1969 in Japan.  Daiei Films introduced Gamera in 1965 to compete with Godzilla, but we all know how that went.

Two kids discover a spacecraft that landed near their home with the door wide open.  They go inside despite the bratty little sister threatening to tell Mom.  The doors close and the two boys are whisked off to another planet and Gamera must come to their rescue.  First he has to battle Guiron, a strange creature with a curved blade for a head.

It was featured twice on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

"Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris" released 1999

The third of a trilogy of Gamera movies, Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, was released in Japan March 6, 1999.  It follows a girl Ayana discovering an egg in a cave and it hatches, releasing a demon.  She uses her psychic bond with the creature to exact revenge on Gamera with whom she holds a grudge.

It has been praised as one of the best in the Gamera series.  It won an award for Best Sound Recording at the 54th Mainichi Film Concours, a series of film awards sponsored by Mainichi Shinbun, one of the largest newspaper companies in Japan.

"Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion" released 1996

The sequel to Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Daiei Studios released Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, July 13, 1996.  A meteor has crashed on Earth, carrying hundreds of dangerous alien creatures,. thus the term 'Legion', a reference to the Bible in which a man is possessed by many demons named 'Legion'.

It is up to Gamera to save the world once again.

This is the first giant monster film to win the Nihon Science Fiction Taisho Award, give by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (equivalent of the Nebula Award) in 1996.

"Gamera, The Giant Monster" premieres 1965

Gamera, the huge fire-breathing turtle and University of Maryland's mascot made his debut in  Gamera, the Giant Monster, released November 27, 1965.  Daiei Films created Gamera to rival Godzilla, but Gamera became his own movie icon and spawned more spin-offs. 

There were changes in the series.  This is the only movie to be filmed in black & white and the only one to feature Gamera as the antagonist.  In the rest of the series, he is a friend to all children.

"Gamera vs Barugon" released 1966

The second film in the Gamera series, Gamera vs Barugon, released April 17, 1966, is the only film not to feature a child or pre-teen as a main character.  It takes place six months after Gamera, who was last seen trapped in a spaceship and launched.  A meteor collides with his ship and he returns to Earth with a vengeance.

Meanwhile, a large opal has been discovered and it turns out to be an egg.  It is exposed to infrared light and eventually, Barugon is hatched and all hell breaks loose.  Barugon can freeze things (including Gamera) from some sort of "freeze-ray" from his tongue.  He can also emit a rainbow spectrum from his back which can destroy things.

Gamera thaws out, kicks Barugon's butt and saves the day!

"Gamera vs Gyaos" released 1967

The third installment of the Gamera series, Gamera vs Gyaos, was released March 15, 1967 by Daiei Films.  It introduced the Gyaos, who became a favorite adversary of Gamera, kinda like King Ghidorah to Godzilla.

It was released in the U.S. as Return of the Giant Monsters and spoofed by Joel and the Bots on Mystery Science Theatre 3000.