Quick Review: Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roar Version Vinyl Figure By X-Plus

FIGURE SPECS

東宝30CMシリーズ GODZILLA ゴジラ(2014) 限定咆哮VER.

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​JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: FEBRUARY 2016

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​NORTH AMERICAN DIAMOND REISSUE: FEBRUARY 2018

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​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

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​MATERIAL: VINYL

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​FROM: “GODZILLA”, 2014

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HEIGHT: 13 INCHES / 33 CM

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​WIDTH: (TOE TO TOE) 8.5 INCHES / 21.5 CM

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​LENGTH: (HEAD TO TAIL) 17.5 INCHES / 44.4 CM

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​FIGURE WEIGHT: 2LBS, 3OZ / 538 G

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​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

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The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roar Version vinyl figure by X-Plus (released February 2016) is mostly the same figure as the original version which was released seven months earlier. But, three key differences warrant its own review.

Here, in this Quick Review, I will discuss the new head sculpt, translucent dorsal spines and nighttime paint scheme. You can get my thoughts on the rest of the figure in the Review for the Original Version.

​THE BOX

Unlike its predecessor, this new version of the figure comes in a plain, brown box with only a title and no art. If you are hunting for the Roaring version of this figure, this is what the box looks like. (The original version comes in a box with full color cover art.)

If you need to measure your mail slot to see if this badass will fit through it on Box Day, I’ve added my phone in the shot to give you an idea of how big it is.

Inside, the figure is in two pieces and wired into a plastic shell. You’ll need to connect the tail yourself.

PHOTO: CHATCHAI SHANE SOYCHANAWATTANA

PHOTO: CHATCHAI SHANE SOYCHANAWATTANA

The tail joint is diamond-shaped so you’ll have to leave the “twist” out of the “insert, push and twist” routine when connecting the tail.

RIGGING FOR LIGHT
For those of you interested in rigging this figure with light: you probably can. The fins are already translucent and can let light pass, but they’re not that easy to get to.

In the photos above you can see that the cavity inside the main body does go all the way up to the head, so you’ll be able to reach the topmost fins. Unfortunately, there is a wall along the back blocking access to the fins on the back. If you’re okay with it, you can remove the back fin piece and cut a hole or two through the back wall. Good news is, you’ll have a platform on which to attach your lights before glueing the fins back on.

Note that you DON’T want to remove this wall. This is a big figure and that wall helps keep it stable. Plus, the head attaches to the body with the usual “suction cup”; it’s just been glued and filled. If you remove this back wall, the head won’t be as sturdy.

(NOTE: Do NOT take this apart unless you know what you’re doing!!)

As for the tail, you only have access to the upper half. Special thanks to Chatchai Shane Soychanawattana for the tail joint photos.

This alternate roaring head sculpt looks awesome and I think it’s almost enough to change the whole feel of the figure.

SCULPT

The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roar Version has virtually the same sculpt as the first version with the only difference being the head and neck which now extends upward in full roar.

Actually, this is how we first saw this figure when it was teased at Super Festival 67 back in January 2015. An unpainted prototype sat on the X-Plus table with two different heads at this show. And it was the roaring head that sat on the figure while the standard head lie at its feet.

This alternate roaring head sculpt looks awesome and I think it’s almost enough to change the whole feel of the figure.

​POSE

Funny how this version almost feels like a whole new figure with just a new head sculpt, blue fins and darker paint scheme.

JOINTS & SEAMS

​This figure has the same seam issues that the original had. Ring Around the Shoulders and Ring Around the Neck. I discuss the distraction they cause in the review for the original.

The dorsal fins have been molded in translucent vinyl with a tint of blue to represent the powering up of Godzilla’s atomic breath.

PAINT JOB

X-Plus hasn’t come out directly and said that this new version has a nighttime paint scheme (like they did previously with the 30cm Series Gigan 1972), but it’s obvious that it does. The figure has an overall darker shade of black; perhaps with a tinge of blue added. Gone is the tan on the belly and under the tail. And gone is the mustard mustache around the mouth. This is kind of what I was expecting to get – colorwise – the first time around.

Dark blue highlights are added all over but you can’t really see them. To the naked eye, the figure looks like it’s all one shade of black (with the exception of the some visible highlights on the sides behind the arms.) My photos above have been slightly exaggerated so that you can see they really are there.

The dorsal fins have been molded in translucent vinyl with a tint of blue to represent the powering up of Godzilla’s atomic breath. Now, it’s REALLY starting to look different!

I’ve heard comments online that the blue fins make the figure look toyish. I can assure you it’s not like that in person. Cameras have a way of exaggerating the blues. Trust me, it looks good in hand.

It looks like they sprayed on a thin coat of white mid-fin before feathering the black color from the skin on the bases.

Note: the blue highlights on the side texture. These are visible to the naked eye.

The paint on the fins is precise and looks fantastic. You can see the effort that went into this figure by looking at the tail where the fins start to become shorter and more spread out.

​And, of course, light can pass through the fins.

MOUTH
One final difference in paint from the original release is the inside of the mouth. Blue has been mixed in for a sort of dark magenta color. Personally, I find this color distracting; it reminds me of nail polish. See for youself in the next photo below…

COMPARISON

There’s little difference in the sculpt between the original Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 (left) and the Roaring version (right).

NORTH AMERICAN (DIAMOND) REISSUE

​SUMMARY

This figure is hot and I give it 4 1/3 Rads out of 5. You’ll want to wear a radiation suit while handling it.

It has a fantastic sculpt that represents the 2014 design very faithfully and also captures the CGI monster’s personality in the pose. The blue fins are exciting and the tail joint is fairly well hidden.

It still has, however, a distracting intersection of seams around the neck and shoulders. It also could have done with more highlights to counter the sea of black that it is now.

Bad points aside, it’s an OUTSTANDING likeness. I’m really glad that I got it, even though I already had the original version. I now keep one with my collection, and another in my office.

MORE INFORMATION

• Rich Eso’s video review of the Godzilla 2014 Roaring Version.
• Phil The Kaiju King Compares the X-Plus Godzilla 2019 Releases.
• Kaiju Addicts Full Review: Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 (Original Version).

X-TRAS

​​By John Stanowski Originally posted February 10th, 2016​ on Kaiju Addicts.