The Monster Names In Godzilla’s Monsterverse Explained

“MUTO” and “Titan” are both names that relate to giant monsters in the Monsterverse – and by association, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – but they also carry different meanings. First mentioned in Legendary’s first Godzilla movie, the term “MUTO” is an important part of Monsterverse lore. Considering that Apple TV+’s new Godzilla show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, takes place after the events of the film in the Monsterverse timeline, it’s only natural for it to be relevant once more.

While “MUTO” is something that is said quite often, particularly within the first movie, “Titan” is the much more prevalent term in the Monsterverse. It’s been understood since Godzilla: King of the Monsters that the Monsterverse is covered up in Titans, including Godzilla, Kong, Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan. Well over a dozen of them were in hibernation prior to the events of the film. As evidenced by the marketing for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a few of the creatures lurking in the Monsterverse will be on hand in the new Apple TV+ series. As for whether they’re MUTOs or Titans, definitions of these titles allow for some clarity on the distinction.

What MUTO Really Means In The MonsterVerse

As explained in 2014’s Godzilla, MUTO is the abbreviated form of Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism. So in a sense, it’s the monster version of UFO (Unidentified Flying Object). Used by Monarch, it’s a catch-all term that describes newly discovered, gigantic creatures. It was for this reason that both of the monsters that Godzilla fought in the 2014 film were known to the characters as MUTOs. The title has also been used to describe additional members of the two creatures’ species in Monsterverse canon, including MUTO Prime from the Godzilla: Awakening graphic novel and King of the Monsters’ MUTO.

However, it’s important to note that even though the name “MUTO” has become permanently linked to these creatures, it’s not the actual name of their species. That connection only exists because it was the only title given to them in the film. The Monsterverse never did give their species a proper name, so the correlation between “MUTO” and the villains of the 2014 movie remains. Naturally, the term not being exclusive to that species can cause some confusion, given that any monster type that Monarch discovers would technically be a MUTO.

All Giant Monsters With Names In The Monsterverse Are Titans

Of course, once a monster is officially named by Monarch, it’s not “unidentified” anymore, as the “MUTO” designation would no longer fit. This is where the term “Titan” comes into play; after a monster is named by Monarch they become known as Titans, hence why Monarch’s scientific names for monsters like Godzilla, Rodan, and Behemoth are Titanus Gojira, Titanus Rodan, and Titanus Behemoth. With these rules in mind, it makes sense that any creature already in Monarch’s database that appears in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – or any Monsterverse installment for that matter – would be labeled a Titan. A creature they’re not aware of, though, could be temporarily classified as a MUTO.