Hedorah first appeared in Toho's Godzilla vs. Hedorah in 1971, a kaiju formed from industrial pollution and smog that grows by absorbing toxic waste. The film's environmental message made the monster a cult favourite among Godzilla fans, and clips of its distinctive cry have since circulated through fan edits, compilations and soundboards. It remains popular because the sound is instantly recognisable as a Godzilla-era monster without needing a famous line, making it useful for original kaiju scenes, parodies and horror-themed edits.