Tamashii Feature’s is Bandai’s own personal toy show, showcasing the new projects and properties that they will be releasing in the following year. So to wrap up our coverage of the Japanese toy industry this week, our own Robert Baldwin stopped by on media preview night to check out what Bandai has in store.
I wanted to start this off with what I think is the biggest news. Like many of you, I was extremely sad to see the essential end to the kaiju figures in the Sci-Fi Revoltech line. That sting is lessened a bit by Bandai’s revelation of their own highly detailed and super-articulated Godzilla line.
This new Godzilla line will be available this fall. We couldn’t actually measure the figures, but they seemed to be about seven inches tall. Also, they are going for a more modern look with the first wave with the promise of older versions and other monsters if the initial release performs well. No information on pricing yet.
We’ve got a lot more pics from the show and we’ve broken them up into two galleries for easier viewing:
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Includes Soul of Chogokin’s of Aegis, Combat-san, and Hoihoi-san as well D-Arts, Pretty Cure, Samurai Trooper (Armor Plus), Saint Seiya, & Star Driver. |
Includes Tiger & Bunny, Ultraman, Ultraman Zero, Composite, Scryed, UMW, Doraemon (RobotDamashii), Pa-Man, Glen Fire, Mirror Knight, MSG, El Shadai, & Macross. |
There were also presentations for all of One Piece, two Saint Seiya, one Ultraman and one Rockman, but they were off limits to photos.
Last, but not least, the current word on Sailor Moon is that Bandai is working on a new licensing agreement as we speak and there are new merchandising plans. We’ll just have to wait and see how this turns out.
Thanks again to Robert for his great coverage!
BAD ASS.
um, is there any indication on a price estimate for those godzillae?
No prices yet.
Bandai claims they have yet to decide if these are even going to see production.
Why must they tease us so much.
Reminds me of those Showa Kamen Rider Figuarts from a few years back. Sigh.
Although it isn’t official, the quality of the figures that were displayed seem to be an indication that these are going to be released.
Oh, and an “unofficial” conversation that I overheard, they are shooting for an October release for Godzilla.
If Bandai would just announce that they’ll release a COMPLETE series of Godzilla figures, their sales would skyrocket. But they never do, it’s always the same 5 figures, and 4 of those are Godzilla!
Bandai (especially the Tamashii division) is always afraid that they may be overextending if they put out too many products at once. Although there may be enough demand to warrant the release of multiple figures, they fear that they may be creating their own competition.
As for multiple versions of the same figure, every manufacturer does that in order to get the maximum use out of a single mold. That’s why Kaiyodo is working on a MkIV Iron Man (which can use most of the MkVI molds) but doesn’t have any plans for a MkV.
GOOD GRAVY JESUS I WANT THOSE SA GODZILLA FIGURES! EVERYONE BUT MOGUERA! Though I will kill Bandai if they tease us about this and don’t deliver!
Just a note, the figure you are referring to is MOGERA (Mobile Operation Godzilla Expert Robot Aerotype) from “Godzilla vs Space Godzilla”.
There is a phrase used among some of us in the anime/Japanese toy community.
Bandai Hates You
It’s somewhat a Zen Koan, a simple expression of a very complex situation between the Consumer, the Consumer’s Money, Bandai, and Bandai’s willingness to fulfill the Customer’s Needs/Wishes/Hopes.
Interestingly, when uttered by someone in the Gundam fan community, it doesn’t get much sympathy or traction because on the whole, if it’s Gundam, Bandai will support it to crazy lengths. So maybe the U.C. Hard Graph line of military models is stagnate, it at least got a shot and I think a new kit is on the boards for this year. Compare that to the love shown to Space Battleship Yamato: Resurrection. Which was more or less ZERO love.
I can tell you everything you need to know about Bandai’s new Kaiju Revoltech-wannabe line just from looking at history. It’ll cost more than it should (because it’s not about actual cost, it’s about charging ‘what’s expected’, see), the super cool stuff will be Tamashii Web Only exclusives, they’ll feel more delicate than their Revoltech rivals and they’ll kill the line before they get to the monster you REALLY crave.
Bandai Hates You.
🙂
Bandai markets their products following a valid form of logic. Unfortunately, this form of logic is not necessarily consumer friendly and often results in complaints from the very customers who pay Bandai’s bills.
Does anybody know when the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers will be released? Thank you,
No dates yet.
In fact, there is no official word as to whether these figures are even going to be released.
I’m guessing that we’ll get something official in June (at the Tokyo Toy Show) at the latest.
I hope bandai releases these. For them to go out of there way and create hyper articulated figures only to throw them out at the last second is just insane. Besides all of their other godzilla figures sell like hotcakes (from the imported line…not the cheap Bandai creation figures that are sold here in the states.)I’ve been going to G-fest every summer and people buy the 6″ and 8″ figures by the dozen. So I’m sure these will sell fine.
I’m confident that Bandai will be releasing what was shown at Tamashii Feature’s.
Although there isn’t any official release date (or even any official word that the figures will be released), one of the guys from Bandai was “unofficially” telling one of his clients that they’re hoping for the first of the figures to be in stores this October.
I honestly dont know how I’m gonna be able to wait that long. I think I’ll have to be placed into a coma…
I find it weird that the kaiju line had ended, yet a Showa Gamera is already made:
http://tokusatsurevoltech.com/series026/
I heard that these figures are going to be in the 20cm scale. so that means that virtually everyone of these figures will be in the ballpark of 8″ in height.
I’m hoping these are compatible with the recent Revolktech kaiju. The Anguirus and Baragon are just spectacular.