Just before Winter Wonder Festival 2011, we put out an open call for questions to ask the various companies that attended the show. Our own Robert Baldwin caught up with many of the company reps and got a few interesting answers and some big news concerning the future of the Sci-Fi Revoltech line.
Editor’s Note: We had a question for Medicom, but we weren’t able to get in touch with their representative. Our questions for Tamashii will also have to wait because Bandai did not attend this event.
Noir Asks: Would it be possible to release more than one JoJo Super Action Statue per month? I find it rather difficult to keep my interest in the toyline at this pace they’re going at.
Medicos: Although we would like to provide figures at a quicker rate, production costs and overall sales figures make this a little unrealistic at this time.
SilntAngl5 Asks: We wanted to know if either the Revoltech or Figma lines had plans for doing Sailor Moon figures, since her 20th anniversary is coming up next year.
Sadly, neither company currently holds the rights Sailor Moon, so there are no plans as of this time.
Editor’s Note: With a little digging, we’ve discovered that Bandai may hold the master world license. But as of this writing, they have not revealed any plans to issue new product either.
AdventureVault Asks: I am a huge fan of The Big-O. Thank you so much for doing an R. Dorothy figure. Do you have any plans to do Roger or any of the other characters from this series?
Max Factory: Other characters from The Big O are on the books, but no information just yet.
AdventureVault Asks: The Big-O figure you’re releasing looks terrific. Are there any plans to release Big Duo and Big Fau also?
Max Factory: Big Duo and Big Fau, as seen in the pictures from Wonder Festival, will be available as vinyl figures in scale with the Max Gokin Big O. Big Duo will be available in May and Big Fau in June.
Tekwych Asks: With the new Assemble Borg iOS app and North American sales (thank you very much) what are the 2011 plans for Assemble Borg in North America?
Kaiyodo: We have no plans for Assemble Borg sales anywhere outside of Japan. Any sales outside of Japan are the responsibility of the appropriate distributor. We will accept orders from theses distributors and provide product for them like we would do for any domestic distributor in Japan.
NoisyDvL5 Asks: Are there any plans on giving the Skeleton from Jason and the Argonauts new weapons/accessories and a base, re-rereleasing him as the skeleton from The 7th Voyage of Sinbad?
Kaiyodo: Reworking the Skeleton figure to be from other movies is an idea that we have considered as well. However there are no definite plans. But this product has a good chance of being manufactured.
NoisyDvL5 Asks: Any plans for future Ray Harryhausen characters?
Kaiyodo: Yes, but we can’t say who just yet.
SilntAngl5 Asks: I’ve been anticipating that Jurassic Park T-Rex ever since he debuted is there any news on when he may be released?
Kaiyodo: The T-Rex is in a dormant state while we’re trying to work out the “Jurassic Park” licensing rights. But with the molds already made, we would like to push this one through.
Manekochan Asks: You mentioned Jet Jaguar was in the plans. Are there any plans to repaint him in his Medic, Fire Fighter, and Silver colors from Godzilla Island?
Kaiyodo: Jet Jaguar has been cancelled.
AventureVault Asks: Any plans to do Mothra in larva form?
Kaiyodo: Mothra in Larva form has been on the table, but is now in limbo (but a limbo close to the table).
AdventureVault Asks: Any news on when Godzilla might be coming and which version?
Kaiyodo: Godzilla will not be coming. The prime monsters from the Godzilla franchise (Godzilla, King Gidorah, Mecha Godzilla) are only accessible to the biggest toy manufacturer in Japan, and they have no intention of releasing that grip.
AdventureVault Asks: Any plans to do Zilla, the Godzilla from the 1998 US Godzilla movie?
Kaiyodo: Any incarnation Godzilla, including Zilla is off limits to all but the big B.
We’d like to thank everyone who submitted questions. I also want to thank Robert again for bringing us this great coverage. And many thanks to Kaiyodo, Max Factory, and Medicos for taking time out of their busy schedule to answer our questions. If everything goes as planned we’ll be bringing you coverage of Summer Wonder Fest 2011. So keep on the lookout for our next open call for questions!
Jet Jaquar cancelled!!! That sucks!
Bandai laying claim to their license was the apparent cause of this cancellation. With some luck, there may be a Bandai version of Jet Jaguar sometime in the future.
I’m happy that we could be getting more Big O figures and Harryhausen figures, but the answers about not getting Godzilla and Jet Jaguar really bummed me out.
This line of figures is so good that I’d keep buying them even if they can’t make Godzilla, Mecha Godzilla, and King Gidorah. I hope they don’t stop making kaiju all together.
I had already heard rumours that the Godzilla franchise came to an end at Kaiyodo through Bandai pressure, but I didn’t have confirmation until I saw the display at Tamashii Feature’s.
With some luck, figures compatible with what Kaiyodo has released may come from Bandai sometime in the future.