X-Plus is releasing the Daiei 30cm Series Barugon figure. This figure is 47 cm in length, the Ric version features an extendable tongue, and a light up gimmick for it's eyes and back spikes. It will retail for 24,840 yen, it can be pre-ordered now (Ric is Japan exclusive), with release scheduled for July 2019.

X-Plus is releasing the Large Monster Series Daiei Special Effects Gamera 1999, this figure features two heads (Ric version) with open and closed mouths. This figure stands 19cm tall and retails for 14,040 yen ($117 US). It can be pre-ordered now from X-Plus on both the Japanese and US Ric sites, with release scheduled for Dec 2018.

Yesterday we posted about the  X-Plus Irys figure design and the man behind it, Dopepope, now we had the privilege to ask him a few questions about this awesome calibration.

​Check out the interview below and his Artstation and DeviantArt pages (links at the bottom), and a big thank you to him for his courtesy.

Kaiju Battle: How did you and X-Plus come together to work on the Irys figure? 

Dopepope: A representative of X-Plus reached out to me via email. He mentioned they saw my work on Artstation and were very impressed with my kaiju work. They offered me a project right then. 

KB: Did you have a choice in the monster you would do?

DP: No, they had IRYS in mind from the start. 

KB: Were there any requirements in designing the figure (size, stance) from X-Plus and did X-Plus direct you to do a design based on something specific?

​DP: They wanted a movie accurate model, something that would be more proportionate to the suit, and a stance that would be possible for the suit actor. They provided wonderful reference for the model. Ultimately the model needed to be approved by Shûsuke Kaneko, the director of the film ‘Gamera 3 : The Revenge of Irys’. So, no pressure there, lol.

KB: Will the figure be made direct from your digital version or will it be sculpted traditionally based on it?
​
DP: I’m not exactly sure. I do think they’ll 3D print my digital file, use it to create molds. But there can always be unforeseen circumstances that require something to be re-worked traditionally. But that’s speculation.

KB: You have done some commissions and such that are meant for 3D printing recently, is this something you may get into yourself directly or will you stick with designing them only?

DP: I’d love to eventually create my own kaiju designs for production. I have several ideas for some cool monsters. Having them be released by X-Plus would be amazing, but maybe my own company would be pretty cool too. I do work with a few other designers and companies tho. So, we’ll see. 

KB: Is there a possibility we will see more of your designs getting released as figures down the line from other companies like X-Plus?

DP: Recently, at the 'Son of Monsterpalooza’ convention in California, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Mr Gee, the owner of X-Plus, and it seemed to open up doors for us to work together on projects in the future. I’m very eager to do just that. 

KB: Do you have any favorite monsters or particular designs you have done, that you would want to see in figure form?

DP: I do have a Shin Godzilla concept that I would love to see as a large statue. I’ll be looking into how I can get that manufactured. Let's hope that works out. it’s very cool.

Dopepope on ArtStation here.
Dopepope on DeviantArt here.
Thanks to John from Kaiju Addicts for a couple of question suggestions.

X-Plus was at Super Festival 78 this weekend and while there wasn't much new there was one interesting new item, a Favorite Sculptors Line Irys figure from Gamera 3 (1999). What makes this figure interesting is that it is the first digital inspired figure, created by Dopepope a digital artist who we have featured here on our site in our Saturday Showcase feature multiple times. All the FSL figures before were created from statues, kits, etc. from various artists but never a digital design. X-Plus had put out a call for sculptors a while back, this could have come from that call. The design is a typical awesome design by Dopepope, it will be quite interesting how it gets from digital to physical form, he has offer digital files for sale to use in 3D printer. Fans seem to be quite excited about this figure in general as are we, and the potential to have more digital inspired figures.

X-Plus is releasing the Real Master Collection Plus Gamera 1995 Poster Version, this resin figure features a paint scheme to simulate the poster for the film. It also features a light to give the effect Gamera is about to fire his weapon from his mouth. It stands 27.5cm tall and is 28.5cm in length, and will retail for 29,700 yen. This is a Ric exclusive limited to 100 pieces and can be pre-ordered now with release in June 2018.

X-Plus is releasing two more Gamera coin banks, the Favorite Sculptors Line DefoReal Gamera '95 and Trauma Gamera '99. Both feature the figure and base (bank), they are 11cm/10cm tall (approx 4+ inches) and 16cm deep (approx 6+ inches) and retail for 3,974 yen (approx $35 US). Both can be pre-ordered now with release in Sept 2017.

X-Plus has released updated pics and a bit more info on there X-Plus Daiei Gyaos 1967 Version. The new pics show the figure fully colored and also reveal the light up "gimmick" for the Ric version, it is two pattern lighting up the eyes and ears or eyes and head (pic at bottom right). Other info previously posted is it is 30cm tall (approx 12 inches), and will retail for 21,600 yen (approx $208 US, 19,980 yen ($192 US) for non Ric version), with pre-orders starting now with release in Jan 2017 from X-Plus for the Ric and AmiAmi and other retailers for the regular version without the light up feature.

X-Plus has announced the Daiei Gyaos 1967 Version Ric Boy Limited figure, this figure was originally shown some time ago and is finally getting it's release. The figure (shown unpainted) will feature a light up feature for the eyes, is 30cm tall (approx 12 inches), and will retail for 21,600 yen (approx $208 US). Pre-orders start now with release in Jan 2017 from X-Plus. We will update the images with the painted version once available. Also of note X-Plus states that this figure will be available abroad (US?) more info on that as we get it.

To go along with the release of Legion X-Plus is releasing an updated version of Gamera 1996 with a new head sculpt. It better lines up with his face off with Legion. It stands 23cm tall, will retail for 12,960 yen (approx $128 US), and will be released in Sept 2016.

X-Plus is releasing the Daiei Special Effects Legion Ric Boy figure, this huge and awesome figure is 38cm tall and a whopping 57cm in length (over 22 inches!). It features opening head weapon and talons and has a light up feature (the Ric Boy site list a battery pack). Price will be approx $436 US (non Ric Boy version, without light up feature, approx $383) with release in Sept 2016. Updated with hi-res images via Hobby Search.