Alen Yen's ToyboxDX

	5.1.01-- 5.31.01


RUMBLE INDEX

5.31.01: E3MSIA!

So TBDX Secret Agent Hiroko and I happened to find ourselves at "E3" last week, the hallowed Electronic Entertainment Expo, hawking our tiny firm's translation skillz to the highest bidder.

It's 99.99% oriented around the video-game industry. But lo and behold, we stumbled across Bandai's booth -- complete with a yummy glass case chock full o' MSIA and these two large-scale bad boys. I have to say I was impressed: the detail level on these guys is top-notch. I'm a huge fan of the old Bandai 1:100 DX Z-Gundam toys from the mid-'80s, and these easily match or surpass the standard. They're obviously prototypes (note the paint overspray on the GP-02's arm), but they're looking mighty tasty. They even seem to have hinged cockpit covers and other fine details usually left off of the Japanese toy-leavings gracing American shelves.

-- Matt

5.29.01: Big (Scale) Ones

In the late 70s (could have been 1980, the mind fuzzes in the mists of youth), I had happened to settle in front of the TV one Sunday afternoon for a KTLA matinee of the Beatles' Peter Max-addled psychedeli-toon "Yellow Submarine" which I'd never seen in full. As luck would have it, I was in for a double-feature, because immediately afterwards was broadcast the most bizarre thing I'd ever seen - a two hour movie featuring what appeared to be a gigantic Japanese World War II battleship floating in space. The movie's title was (to me) equally befuddling: "Space Cruiser Yamato." The fact that any show could come on immediately after "Yellow Submarine" and make you say "what the hell is *this*?" is a statement in and of itself... MORE!

-- LeMel

5.29.01: The Games They Play...

Yamato Toys unveils shots of the VF-19 transforming toy, a recolored version of their YF-19 as seen in the Macross Digital Mission video-game series. Look for it in August!

-- Matt

5.28.01: The 19800¥ Question

The proverbial ship has finally come in. Big ass box from HLJ on my doorstep this morning. All else is forgotten... MORE!

-- Gene Moy

5.21.01: Brand New U.S. Jumbo!!!

It's true. I've been contacted by some people who are starting a toy company and are going to release an original robot in Jumbo format as their first item. In much the way Nakajima couldn't afford licences so they created their own characters, these guys are going to include a comic book with the toy that will explain it's origin and and hopefully pave the way for more. Here's the rundown: Polyethelene, 24"+, Shooting fists, rockets, 1000 limtied production first run , Retail price around $150. The catch? They need to get feedback that people would actually be into this. SO, it's your duty as a robot nut to e-mail your comments, suggestions, feeling, or anything to them at BigMecha@aol.com. If all goes accoring to plan these could be in our hands before the end of the year! More news soon...

-- Sean

5.21.01: Jumbo Megatron- Behind the Scenes

Hot off the wires... details on the homegrown Jumbo Megatron:

...I'd like to use some form of plastic with the color molded in. I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF MAKING IT A COMPLETELY SOLID PIECE. This is because people equate weight with quality and the molding process is A LOT cheaper!... MORE!

-- Marvin

5.18.01: GA50 vs. SOC: A Photostudy

When I opened the SOC box, my first words were, well, probably the same thing many of you said. "That's it?" To see the body of the Daiku shoved demurely into one small corner of that giant box, and to know that *that* was the most substantial object in the box, well, it makes the heart sink... MORE!

-- LeMel

5.18.01: AFFE: One Last Time

Right now you're thinking, "Come on already, Roger, why is this rubber monster convention getting so much coverage in the Rumble?"

Okay, here's why Toybox DX folks in the tri-state area might be interested:

Three exclusive toys, two from Bandai and one from M-1. So far these will be the most limited items from either company to be sold at a convention. Even if you don't keep them, you won't be able to find better "trade bait" for deals with Japanese collectors.
A chance to meet Nobuhiro Arai of Bandai Japan and ask him those burning questions like "What are the next Soul of Chogokins going to be?", "How does Bandai feel about those Popy bootlegs?" and "Why don't we have a Soul of Popynika Bazoler yet?"
A dealer's room packed with toy sellers from both America and Japan, including my friend Tadayuki Osumi. He'll be selling M-1 vinyls, UFO catcher prizes, and vintage items, but he's also taking requests. Is there a hard-to-find piece that you've been searching for without success? Contact me via email and we'll see if he can set you up.

Above all, it's going to be FUN. If you're interested in attending AFFE 2001, check out their website and subscribe to their mailing list. Hope to see you there!

-- Roger

5.16.01: Kuddly Kargosaur

Sick and tired of hearing about the Soul of Chogokin Daikumaryu? Good news! You get to hear about the UNI-FIVE VINYL DAIKUMARYU!

That's right! Remember the chunky but funky remake of the old Popy Daiku vinyl that was sold as an exclusive at the Tokyo Toy Fest earlier this year? It's exclusive no more. Diamond Comics will be offering both the "anime color" and Popy-esque "antique color" versions in the June issue of Previews for $65 a pop.

Sure, it may not be able to do the "Vollution Protect," but it just might be able to float in your bathtub. Try THAT with your SOC.

-- Matt

5.15.01: MarU.S.A.n!

Here's an interesting find: the web site for Marusan USA. Apparently the company is primarily targeting tin toy collectors in the states, but vinyl kaiju may not be far behind. According to a Marusan USA rep, "Yes! We will be marketing the vinyl monsters in the US, but only those that we have a licence to market. We will keep you informed. We will also have special issue colors available in limited quantities."

So which US licenses will Marusan USA be obtaining? Tiger Mask? Astro Mu 5? Ohgon Bat? Atragon? Daimajin? Gamera? Perhaps even... Godzilla? Only time will tell. Currently toys for all of these lines are being sold by Marusan Japan, and hopefully at least some of them can make it over here. Pics can be seen at the Japanese web site (and get a load of the Mil Mascaras figure).

We'll keep you posted as news comes in. In the meantime, check out the History section of the Marusan USA web site for some neat tidbits about the history of the company, the birth of Bullmark, and this painful reminder that in 1966 the Marusan Godzilla only cost 350 yen.

-- Roger

5.15.01: A Moment of Silence, Please...

Today, Tuesday, May 15th, marks the 17th anniversary of the passing of Takatoku Toys. Please silently transform a Valkyrie (or, barring that, Jetfire) to commemorate the occasion.

-- Matt

5.15.01: Macross Machinations

Macrossworld.com unveils the first official shots of the Yamato Toys VF-1 Valkyries today -- check 'em out and drool at the incredibly sharp detail.

These particular designs were approved by none other than Valkyrie designer Shoji Kawamori himself -- and represent the most accurate-to-the-series transformation of any VF-1 Valkyrie toys to date. Look for them to hit shelves at the end of the summer.

The rebirth of the VF-1 falling on the anniversary of Takatoku's demise... mere cosmic coincidence?

-- Matt

5.14.01: Science Team Tansor!

Diecast transforming vehicles, for earth, sea, and air! These are the only Italian toys that I have seen that rival Popy's for ingenuity of design. I am unfamiliar with the "Science Team Tansor" TV show these are from� perhaps one of our Italian friends could tell us? I am also unsure of the name or history of the toy company that made these ships... MORE!

-- Cramerica

5.12.01: Mega in the House

There's a new kid on the block when it comes to Gundam toys: Megahouse. Well kinda, since Megahouse is part of the Bandai umbrella group. But a new subsidiary has to count for something, doesn't it?

Megahouse's novel approach to the Gundam action figure may put them beyond all the other wee-Bandai's: twelve-inch-tall motorized (!) figs of Gundam RX-78 and Char's Zaku. Utilizing docking stands and infrared sensors, the 20,000-yen-a-pop mobile suits actually "fight" with each other when they're brought linked together. The bases also include speakers to play music and sound effects. In essence, these "Interactive Action Figures," as they're called, look like Gundam versions of those motorized Star Wars figs from a few years back. Release date is set for winter 2001.

[Yappy sez: That similarity might not be as coincidental as Matt thinks. Back at the New York Toy Fair, Thinkway Toys (makers of the aforementioned Star Wars figure banks) displayed early prototypes of 12" Interactive Mobile Suits-- seemingly identical to the Megahouse ones. Could this be the same product repackaged and marked up for Japanese consumption? Unfortunately, Thinkway was neither generous nor polite enough to offer any press information at the time. Must have been my deodorant...]

-- Matt

5.11.01: The E.Y.E.S. have it

The past few years have seen a renaissance for everyone's favorite body-snatching hero, Ultraman. This year's model is the kinder, gentler (and unconventionally blue) Ultraman Cosmos. But enough about that glory hog-- what about those hard-working, minimum-wage earning science patrollers watching the big guy's silver back?

This year Bandai immortalizes E.Y.E.S., the Science Patrol du jour, with two sets of HMMs-- High Metal Models. Boths sets share a nifty Core Module onto which parts are added to form different vehicles. The Tech Thunder Set makes Tech Thunders 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Tech Diver Set provides parts for Tech Divers 1 and 2. Price TBD-- expected Summer relase.

-- Yappy

5.9.01: Unoriginal GGGangster

Speaking of licensing madness, take a gander at this brand-spanking new Gaogaigar figure. Is this the new Kotobukiya diecast? Nope, no gokin in this golden-boy. Then is this the new Kaiyodo action figure? Hell no, Kaiyodo's mono-shaft-driven mutha has much bulkier proportions.

Enter Yujin into the cross-licensing frenzy. The makers of fixed-posed PVCs enters the "full-action" market with their first fully poseable release. Standing a respectable 15cm tall, this GGG is priced to move at a paltry ~Y2500. The trademark Dividing Driver comes included, but the massive Goldion Hammer will be sold separately for Y2000. Release date TBD.

-- Yappy

5.9.01: Sun Fang Gang

First Votoms... now everyone's second-favorite kinda-maybe-somewhat "realistic" mecha line. Bandai claims another once-Takara-exclusive license with the impending release of Dougram HG ("high grade") gashapons. Expect Dougram, the weather-beaten Dougram that appeared in episode 1, Soltic, Blockhead, and Crabgunner in late May.

Since their takeover of Sunrise Animation in 1994, Bandai's been gradually piss-marking their properties. Can something more substantial than mere PVC come out of this aquisition? We can only hope.

-- Yappy

5.7.01: Retro Repro R.C.

I found this gem at a local flea market last weekend. It was sitting on a shelf behind a dealer's booth. An elderly woman was working behind the counter. I saw it, and immediately asked the price.... MORE!

-- Josh Bernard

5.6.01: Daiku-Disappointment?

I'd begin this review by saying that this is the Daikumaryu toy I've been waiting for ever since I was a kid, but that's not actually the case... MORE!

-- Matt & Warren

5.6.01: The Future of Kaiju

Forget Daikumaryu. Throw out your gokin. Recycle your vinyl. Rich Clark sends in stunning shots of the cutting-edge of character toys: the stupendous Soul of Abalone Gojira. Or is it Gomess? You decide.

100% pure abalone shell, baby-- just as nature intended. Available at the finest boutiques in Cancun right now. Ooooh. Aaaaaah.

-- Yappy

5.5.01: Daikumaryu Daddy

Mighty Matt Alt translates the interview with original Daikumaryu designer Dan Kobayashi found in the SOC manual. Thousands cheer... MORE!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

5.5.01: Daiku-Porn

Well...here it is, finally... MORE!

-- Analyst

5.4.01: S.O.C. Q&A

The Bandai monolith drops snippets of info about the upcoming Soul of Chogokin Gettas:

Q: So what about the Getta Machines?
A: Three die-cast Getta Machines -- basically, Popinika -- will be included. Each machine will have various types of option parts so that you can recreate the forms of the vehicles in their combination sequences.

Q: What happened to Getta Three?
A: The initial plan was to sell it separated between the boxes of the other two robots. But after talking to fans, it seems that Bandai has settled on selling the three robots as a single set.

Q: What's the price, then?
A: It's planned to be roughly the same as that for the SOC Combattler V. The original information based on the robots being sold separately stated that a price roughly equal to that of the SOC Mazinger Z was being considered, so the price shouldn't change much from what was initially announced.

-- Matt & Yappy

5.3.01: Mo' Sanadamushi

Richard Hagen updates his Daikumaryu Rumble Plus with semi-pseudo-kinda-final impressions. MORE!

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

5.3.01: Micro Fleed

Next up in Marmit's Mini Metal line is Duke Fleed's french-cuff-wearing horned robot. If Marmit continues this series (a gokin paean to all things Go Nagai), will we see mini versions of Big X, Govarian, or dare I hope, Aztekaiser? Keep them fingers crossed... Grendizer will be available in July for Y2800.

-- Yappy

5.3.01: The horror of globalization

Medicom, what hast thou wrought?! Yes, they are legitimately licensed Kubricks-- the first series of what might become a limitless horde. The lil' bastards pop up in July.

Speaking of things lego-like, Run'A's first set of Ultraman Tinibiz figurines arrive at the beginning of this month. Ultraman, Ultraseven, Baltan, King Joe, Zetton, Metron, Pegassa, and Dada will obviously double as keychains. Y480 each.

-- Yappy

5.2.01: Quickies- Sanadamushi to Neko

First impressions. Haven't yet truly had the time to go through all the gimmicks on the toy; all I did was heft the diecast main body of the Daiku and assemble Gaiking... MORE!

-- Richard Hagen

5.2.01: Transluscent Terrors

Straight from the hard drive of Club Daikaiju majordomo Jim Cirronella: Asian Fantasy Film Expo exclusive Gomess and Ultraman. Jim reminds us that these are preliminary Bandai test shots; "the final product may differ slightly."

[Update 5.9.01: Jim writes us with bad news: "Tsuburaya Productions doesn't want us to display any photos until the final figures have been approved." Thems the rubs.]

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

5.1.01: Getta Meter

According to Marmit, the molds for their upcoming meter-high Getta One figure should be ready to go by July. It's going to be molded in FRP -- fiber-reinforced plastic, similar to fiberglas -- and will be sold exclusively via mail-order. The price for owning one of these "Jumbo Jumbo Machinders" will run an amusing 200,000 - 300,000 yen (it hasn't been decided yet.) That's $2500 bucks. And that's before shipping.

Word of advice to die-hards: save yourself the effort, and just buy the sucker its own seat next to you on an airplane...

-- Matt

5.1.01: Falling Down Drunk Again

Gene Cahill writes in with massive corrections to Roger's obviously alchohol-addled Chiller rumble.

The photo with the 4 Rat-Bat-Spider-Creatures is the standard Rat-bat, Red with blue paint highlights. The AFFE Exclusive will be a beautiful glow figure...so it will probably be that light yellow vinyl with painted highlights.

The pic with the two R-B-S-C prototypes show rejected paint schemes for the R-B-S-C. Too bad, because ALOT of people told Jim [Cirronella] they wanted the brown one (Myself included).

There you go. Gotta keep da Rodge away from the Mad-dog...

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

5.1.01: Big Scale Booty

So we just got our massive annual Bandai gokin fix... and news and pictures of the upcoming Soul of Chogokin Getta team have been floating around for the past few months... so what's next? Junior Robot? We wish, really. Daimos? Dangard? Dancougar? No my friends, something unexpected... something much, much more insidious...

Well, we already know that the hot-off-the-mold Yamato has been designated BPX-01-- "B" standing for "BIG". Let's say Bandai took a long look back at their SOC line-up and decided, retroactively, that those were really "ST" sized. What if they decided to start anew with a proper "DX" line? (1:144 scale vs. 1:100 scale, for you mecha-heads) What if they decided to start from the very beginning? What if, deep in the bunkers of Bandai, crystal meth-fueled designers were busy scribbling away at plans for Soul of Chogokin BGX-01 Mazinger Z?

"Crap, not another Mazinger!" you say? Well consider this: it will be the first true-blue DX chogokin Mazinger toy. DX Trans-jet and Daigokin don't really count. Consider that they're planning a multifunction arm design incorporating all of the current SOC's gimmicks into one piece. Consider teeny drill missiles that will actually fit into Mazinger's upper arms. Consider swappable battle-damaged parts. Consider a scale Hover Pilder with folding wings. Consider Kadou-Senshi-esque uber-poseability... But it's early yet... let the speculation run wild.

-- Yappy & Matt

5.1.01: Soaring high in the sky

He may be small but only in size.
Unifive Choshingokin Mighty Atom,
Unifive Choshingokin Mighty Atom,
He is brave and gentle and wise!

(Release date TBD, ~Y7800, gokin and electronics, baby)

-- Yappy

5.1.01: Screw Car Robots...

Lady Cindra writes in with news that Medarot has been aquired by Foxkids for this fall (under the name "Medabots"). Does that mean we might see a domestic release of that wacky Spirit Voice Command Metabii that tormented Darren? Or the diecast-framed Dual Model toy-kits? Will Takara oversee the U.S. license? Or will we get home-grown crap? Only time will tell...

-- TBDX Rumble Crew

Previous | RUMBLE INDEX | Next