Eidai's Gripping Tale

text: Matt Alt, graphics: Robert Duban

September 2000

12.31.04

Special thanks to Todd Stadtman
Addtional thanks: Tom Franck, Marzia Gherzo, Michael Grifka, H-Man, Yutaka Ishida / Kaikodo, Dennis Nicholson, Masato Shono, Alen Yen, Scott Zuieback

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rip. The mere mention of the name sends shivers down any true toy-completist's spine. Not only are there literally hundreds of the little bastards, but they're small -- real small. Small enough to give even the most die-hard collector pause when reaching for their wallet. Japanese diecast toy fetishists are used to laying down big bucks for tiny chunks of robot-shaped metal, but the Eidai corporation's legendary Grip series of toys is LITERALLY grip-sized. Like "Hot Wheels" cars, the vast majority of them can fit on the palm of a hand with ample room to spare.

But then again, that's their charm. Near as anyone can tell, the Grip Character Series of toys, as they're officially known, were created by Eidai in the wake of the success of the Popinika series of small diecast sci-fi vehicles. But the Grip toys take the concept to an extreme by miniaturizing the designs even further. Does size matter? Maybe. But the sting of being physically puny sure is reduced when you're provided with rocket punches, spring-loaded missiles, and insane combination mechanisms. Unlike MOST mini-sized toys, these little guys are packed full of juicy gimmicks.

Eidai's real genius, however, was their "bottom-feeding" license-buying scheme. By making their toys smaller and cheaper than anyone else's, they were able to secure the rights to all sorts of characters that'd already been scooped up by bigger companies. Companies like Popy, Bullmark, and Takatoku made most of their toys within two standardized scales, "standard" and "deluxe." Eidai focused most of their energies on souped-up mini-sized diecasts, a market share all but ignored by the big boys, and as such they managed to work without much direct competition at all. In fact, their concept of miniaturizing without losing attention to detail makes their toys total stand-outs even today.

Starting with plastic models based on vehicles from the Gatchaman and Thunderbirds shows and then branching out into diecast toys, Eidai slowly but surely built one of the largest single character toy-catalogs of the 1970's. Unfortunately for modern-day collectors, what they DIDN'T build is much of a standardized numbering system. Some pieces feature a unique numbering system based on the given series they're in. Some simply make use of a number derived from the overall Grip Character numbering scheme. And some, amusingly enough, make use of BOTH. Good luck trying to figure it out.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that Eidai didn't limit themselves to character toys. Not only did they produce a huge number of "normal" diecast cars, but also a series of miniature tractors and other industrial equipment dubbed the "Grip Zecchin Series." ("Zecchin" seems to be a mis-romanization of the word "zekken," which means "racing number.") And who could forget the misleadingly named "Jumbo Grip" toys? Clocking in at roughly five inches in height, they aren't actually "jumbo" except in relationship to the original Grip pieces themselves.

And finally, the icing on the cake: not only did Grip produce an entire universe of oddly-numbered and thematically disparate toys, they sold many of the same pieces in a variety of different colors and box-variations. Whether this was done to stoke the flames of collector enthusiasm or just because they'd run out of paint and printing supplies, we'll never know. But it adds yet more flavor to the never-ending, masochistic collecting nightmare that is known as Grip Character Diecast. Bring the pain!

Update 05.09.01: Additional notes regarding Eidai's box numbering and box variations:

It has come to my attention that there were multiple issues of a number of Eidai's Grip Character toys, notably in the Gatchaman series. These toys were issued in boxes bearing the "Eidai Corporation" logo, as well as in boxes with the more commonly seen "G" Grip logo. These boxes feature two distinct numbering sequences. Conventional wisdom seems to be that the "Eidai Corp" boxed Gatchaman toys are from an earlier run. However, as the numbering sequence found on those boxes is in fact higher than that of the "G" logo boxes, if these were produced earlier, this is somewhat logic-defying. Unfortunately, it has yet to be determined which sequence came first. In the interest of thoroughness, both numbering sequences have been added to the lists contained in this article. Back to planet earth now. - RD

							AKUMAIZER 3
			65				Gari Bird - No.1
			66				Zabitan - No.2
			67				Evil - No.3
			68				Gabura - No.4
			69				Gariba A - No.5
			70				Gariba B - No.6
			72				Zaidabek - No.7
							BANKID
			79				Pegasus - No.1
			80				Dragon - No.2
			81				Ox - No.3
			82				Swan - No.4
			83				Bankid Mother - No.5
			84				Bankid Baby - No.6
							BATMAN
			40				Batcycle
			46				Batmobile
			--				Batman-Boat
			--				Batman-Boat - red version
							BIBYUN
			85				Beni-Shark - No.1
							CASSHAN
			23				Friender Motorcycle - No.1
			24				Friender Sidecar - No.2
			26				Warugada Hotrod - No.3
			J5				Friender Motorcycle - Jumbo
							Friender Sidecar - Jumbo
							CONDORMAN
			49				Condorman Base - No.1
			54				Mach Condor - No.2
			52				Condorman - No.3 note: 51 in catalog
							DENJIN ZABOGA
			32				Denjin Zaboga
			48				Strong Zaboga - No.2
			--				Denjin Zaboga - Jumbo
							DIAPOLON
			72				Apolon Kichi ("Base") - No.1
			73				Diapolon - No.2
			76				Apolon Header - No.3
			75				Apolon Legger - No.4
			74				Space Clear - No.5
			77				Apolon Trang - No.6
							GAISLUGGER
			100				Solon - No.1
							GANBARON
			91				Daibaron - No.1
			92				Hiraida - No.2
			93				Bakshin - No.3
							GATCHAMAN
							Eidai Corp. logo boxes:
			102				G1
			106				G2 - red version
			106				G2 - blue version
			104				G3
			103				G4
							G5
							G logo boxes:
			11				G1
			12				G2 - red version
			12				G2 - blue version
			13				G3
			14				G4
			15				G5
			31				Red Impulse - No.7
			27				Super Sneider
			J1				G1 - jumbo
			J3				G4 - jumbo
			J2				G5 - jumbo
							HURRICANE POLIMAR
			39				Polimar Roller - No.1
			39				Polimar Roller - No.1 - blue version
			40				Polimar Drill - No.2
			41				Polimar Machine - No.3
			41				Polimar Machine - No.3 - alternate colors
			42				Polimar Hawk - No.4
			43				Hurricane Polimar - No.5
			44				Polimar Base - No.6
			J9				Hurricane Polimar - jumbo
							IRUKA FAMILY
			59				Irutan
							MAHA GO GO GO
			16				Maha Go Go - G-logo box
							Maha Go Go - Eidai Corp. logo box
			47				Maha Go Base
			J8				Maha Go Go - jumbo
							Maha Go Go - jumbo color ver 2
							Maha Go Go - jumbo- black version
							MEKANDA ROBO
			94				Tri F1 - No.1
			95				Tri GT2 - No.2
			96				Tri B3 - No.3
			96				Tri B3 - No.3 - alternate colors
			97				Mekanda Robo - No.4
98			Mekanda Max - No.5
			ROCKBAT
	49		Rockbat
	54		Blazer
			STINGRAY
			Stingray - blue version
	G400		Stingray - grey version
			SUPERMAN
	--		Superman - version 1
	--		Superman - version 2

							TEKKAMAN
			55				Tekkaman - No.1
			57				Blue Earth - No.2
			58				Pegas Robot - No.3
							Pegas Robo Tank - No.4
							THUNDERBIRDS
			1				Thunderbird 1 - No.1 grey version
			1				Thunderbird 1 - No.1 copper version Eidai box
			1				Thunderbird 1 - No.1 copper version G-logo box
			2				Thunderbird 2 - No.2 green version
			2				Thunderbird 2 - No.2 blue version Eidai box
			2				Thunderbird 2 - No.2 blue version G-logo box
			3				Spectrum Persuit Vehicle - No.3 grey version
			3				Spectrum Persuit Vehicle - No.3 blue version
			5				Jet Mole 1 - No.4
			4				Thunderbird 4 - No.5 - red version
			4				Thunderbird 4 - No.5 - gold version
			4				Thunderbird 4 - No.5 - orange version Eidai box
			4				Thunderbird 4 - No.5 - orange version G-logo box
			6				Thunderbird 3 - No.6
			7				Skydiver - No.7
			8				Joe 90 Max Car - No.8 - blue version
			8				Joe 90 Max Car - No.8 - green version
			8				Joe 90 Max Car - No.8 - red version
			9				Shadowmobile - No.9
			10				Penelope Car/FAB 1 - No.10
			28				Captain Scarlet Patrol Car
							Straker's Car
			G400				Thunderbird 1 repackage - No.1
			G400				Thunderbird 2 repackage - No.2
							Thunderbird 4 repackage - No.3
			G400				Jet Mole 1 repackage - No.4
			G400				Spectrum Persuit Vehicle repackage - No.5
			G400				Joe 90 Max Car repackage - No.6
			J10				Tunderbird 1 - jumbo
							TIME BOKAN
			60				Mekabuton - No.1
							Tentoki - No.2
			62				Chorobo - No.3
			63				Yago-Marine - No.4
			64				Meka-Gorilla - No.5
			78				Dotabattan - No.6

							ULTRAMAN LEO
			32				Mac Base - No.1
			33				Mac-Ki 1 - No.2
			35				Mac-Ki 3 - No.3
			34				Mac-Ki 2 - No.4
			37				Mac-Roadie - No.5
			38				Mac Mole - No.6
			--				Ultraman Leo - jumbo
							ULTRAMAN TARO
			17				Condor 1 - No.1 - G logo box
			107				Condor 1 - No.1 - Eidai Corp logo box
			108				Belmida the Second - No.2
			109				Andromeda - No.3 note: numbered as No.2 on some boxes
			110				Super Swallow - No.3
			111				Wolf 777 - No.5
			112				Rabbit Panda - No.6
			22				Space Station - No.7
			25				Dragon - No.8
			29				Sky Whale - No.9
							YATTAMAN
			86				Yattawan - No.1
			87				Kabbacho Car - No.2 ("Hippo-Bird Car")
			88				Pawani Car - No.3 (Crocodile Car)
			89				Ga-Sukanku Car - No.4 (Skunk Car)
			90				Yatta Pelican - No.5
			102				Yatta Ankou - No.6
							ZUBAT
			101				Zuba-Car - No.1

				AKUMAIZER 3
				10/7/75 - 6/29/76 "Akumaizer 3," yet another live-action series created by Ishimori Shotaro (who also created Kamen Rider, Robocon, and Goranger, among many others), was a sort of tokusatsu retelling of "The Three Musketeers." The three main characters, Zabitan, Evil, and Gabura, wielded fencing foils and could transform into various creatures and vehicles. Zabitan transformed into the spaceship-like Zaidabeck, Gabura into a big bird called the "Gaburacho," and Evil into....a bucket. No joke. Try and figure that one out, because we sure can't.
				BANKID
				10/3/76 - 3/27/77 The full title of this show is actually "Flying Saucer Battle Bankid," and it's basically a sentai show that features kids and teens as the heroes -- kind of like a tokusatsu version of "Menudo."
				BATMAN
				May 1939 - present Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, in 1939. Eidai's toys are apparently based on the designs of the campy 1960's live-action TV show, which featured the paunchy yet lovable Adam West.
				BIBYUN
				7/6/76 - 3/29/77 The full title of this show is "Bibyun, the Super God," and it was a continuation of the story laid out in "Akumaizer 3." Just as with its predecessor, it was created by the unstoppable Ishimori Shotaro.
				CASSHAN
				2/10/73 - 6/25/74 A very popular series that was created by the same team as "Gatchaman" ("Battle of the Planets"). Casshan's robotic canine sidekick, Friender, is one of the more memorable designs from the series.
				CONDORMAN
				3/31/75 - 9/22/75 Not to be confused with the live-action Disney kiddie-flick of the same name. Killed in the line of duty in the Nevada desert, Mitsuya Isshin is ressurected as Condorman, a superhero with the ability to transform into the airborne Golden Condor or the land-based Dragon Condor.
				DENJIN ZABOGA
				4/6/74 - 6/29/75 A live-action series most notable for the fact that the human-sized Zaboga was a mindless machine controlled by the main character, the perpetually jeans-jacket-clad Yutaka Daimon. In spite of being a live-action creation, Zaboga featured a complex series of gimmicks (including the ability to transform into a motorcycle.) The latter half of the series featured a powered-up version of Zaboga called "Strong Zaboga."
				UFO SENSHI DIAPOLON
				4/6/76 - 9/28/76 This animated series ran for a paltry 26 episodes in mid-1976. Takeshi, a friendly, human-looking visitor from the planet Apolon, helps Earthlings fight against the evil alien "Dazan Army." Everything from the costumes of the five-member team to the Apolon robots themselves featured an oddly-concieved football theme. (In that respect, it's kind of an answer to the live-action Mach Baron, which featured zombie football players as enemies.) The show was later re-edited and re-recorded -- without any new animation -- to make a show called "Diapolon II: Action Series." It tanked.
				GAISLUGGER
				4/12/77 - 8/30/77 Animated.
				GANBARON
				4/3/77 - 9/25/77 Yet another "one season wonder," Ganbaron was a live-action show about a young boy who could "henshin" (transform) into the robotic superhero Ganbaron. It was indended as a sort of lighthearted sequel to the Red and Mach Baron shows, but actually shared almost nothing in common with them (the previous two had focused on the exploits of piloted giant robots rather than individual transforming heroes.) Ganbaron had three mechanical vehicles at his disposal which could be combined into the undisputed king of the show (from a toy standpoint, anyway) -- the multi-purpose super big-ass kung-fu battle robot Daibaron.
				GATCHAMAN
				10/1/72 - 9/29/74 The spirit of high-tech teamwork in this smash-hit animated series laid the groundwork for the entire Sentai ("Power Rangers") series of televison shows. A brutally edited version entitled "Battle of the Planets" became a hit in America as well, despite being a sanitized shadow of the original Japanese show.