[quote="king_ghidorah"]I think most people recognize the names King Ghidrah (yep, Ghidrah), Mothra and Rodan.[/quote]
Ghidrah the Three Headed Monster was quite a famous film here in the states.
So was godzilla vs Monster Zero/Invasion of Astro Monster.
Even down to American cartoons which introduced many of these characters to the current crop of young adults at an early age rodan seems to be the most popular of Godzilla foes :
Animaniacs
1. "Godzilla and Rodan" got an animaniacs mention
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDgf62WL5iE 6:49
Simpsons
2. They also got 1 if not 3 Simpsons references (so do Mothra and Gamera)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAVb9eIGsK0
3. Rodan also appears on Monster Island (a peninsula) when Lisa thinks she'll get sentenced there:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpv5q_ ... MNLvuR9KSo 7:45-8:00
http://www.scaryforkids.com/pics/monster-island-01.jpg (hit enter in your address for your browser after clicking or paste the link)
4. Homer Fights a Godzillla Roaring Rodan at 2:45 in this sped up clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB6Okl3vghQ
Rugrats
5. Reptar (their version of Godzilla) takes on Dactar after helping him in the film starting at 3:41
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlBa0pEVw4U
Apparently Dactar would become a regular even showing up in the Rugrats movie.
And those are just the ones I could find on youtube.
Besides Rodan is the only character I know suggested for an independent game, and there were claims it would be a US exclusive (an advertisement I remember from the back of my Monster of Monsters box as a kid):
http://tohokingdom.com/vg/rodan.htm
No idea how it did in box offices but Rodan is the first film my mom can remember seeing in theatres. Just one example but it can't have had a terrible market blitz.
Angilas may be my favorite ally, but Rodan definitely has my respect as his most famous compatriot (sans mothra, but in the US I wonder if thats true).