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

​JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: FEBRUARY 2016

​NORTH AMERICAN DIAMOND REISSUE: FEBRUARY 2018

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: VINYL

​FROM: “GODZILLA”, 2014

HEIGHT: 13 INCHES / 33 CM

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

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

​FIGURE WEIGHT: 2LBS, 3OZ / 538 G

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

​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.

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…

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

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.

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

東宝大怪獣シリーズ 「ゴジラ1995」 少年リック限定版

​JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 2015

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES

​MATERIAL: VINYL

​FROM: “GODZILLA VS. DESTROYAH”, 1995
ゴジラVSデストロイア

HEIGHT: 10.75 INCHES / 27.3 CM

​WIDTH: (TOE TO TOE) 7.5 INCHES / 19.05 CM

​LENGTH: (HEAD TO TAIL) 15 INCHES / 38.1 CM

​FIGURE WEIGHT: 1.5 LBS / 680 G

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

The Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 by X-Plus was released in September 2015, not with the expected accolades and praise but with controversy and sometimes even ire. The main reason for this was a muddled head sculpt, so smothered in paint that it more resembled an inexpensive Bandai figure than a high-end X-Plus. I admit I was one of the first to get really disappointed.

But, so much of the Large Monster Series Burning Godzilla is good. REALLY good. That’s why I was so pissed off at that face peering at me from inside the box. Why did something so good have to get ruined with that face? I’ve since found that I just had to get over it and focus on the positive.

I’m kind of over it. It is what it is. There is still a LOT to like about it. And, it’s not like we’re getting another DesuGoji any time soon. So if you want Burning Godzilla in your collection — your proper, movie-accurate collection — you’ll have to pick this one up.

I’m glad I did.

I’ve been waiting for an X-Plus Burning Godzilla to come out since I started collecting. Yes, they did release a Gigantic Series version but that doesn’t really count, at least not to me. The Gigantic version is overly stylized and not modeled with the movie accuracy that X-Plus is so well known for and what I mainly want to collect. I wanted a Burning Godzilla that would fit in with the rest of my ‘accurate’ figure collection.

So, let’s now review the good, the bad and the ugly on this figure.

The figure is too large to fit into the standard Large Monster Series window box and so, instead, comes to you in a larger, white blind box with monochromatic art on the front. As usual, the tail comes as a separate piece which you’ll need to attach. New collectors: check out Rich Eso‘s “Squishy Soft” video to see how it’s done.

If you got the Ric Boy exclusive version, then you’ll find your “battery box” wired into the plastic shell below the tail. The round, orange sticker on the front let’s you know you’re lookin’ at a Ric.

​Let’s set aside the soft features on the head for now and take a look at what else we get: a really AWESOME sculpt of Burning Godzilla. I just paused writing this to pick it up and give it a good look. I just don’t know what to say about it that I haven’t said a hundred times before. I’m trying not to repeat the same old thing: ‘It looks like it walked right out of the movie’.

Oh, the hell with. It DOES look like it walked right out the movie!

THE HEAD
Hmmm. Well… hmmm. I don’t know what to say that you can’t already see for yourself. The head sculpt looks good from some angles and not as good from others. Some collectors have complained that the cheeks are too puffy. I tend to agree when looking at it from certain angles. Yet at the same time I can find the same “puffiness” in photos from the movie. This figure just has a way of making the puffy bits puffier.

It would be easier to judge the head sculpt if the face wasn’t so smothered in that thick light-blocking paint.

SPINES
Here’s a dorsal fin comparison. A shot from the movie on the left and the X-Plus sculpt on the right. I invite you to look any fin and compare EACH spike on that fin. I think you’ll find the “spirit” of each spike, it’s direction, angle, etc. are matched on the figure. Holy shit! Who the hell gets THAT precise?

X-Plus does.

This is yet another example of how X-Plus delivers more accuracy than you can ever hope for compared with other lines.

Love the pose. It’s standard and subtle; just the way I like it. The front claws are done so well they seem like they’re actually moving. The tail is expressive and gives the impression that it’s getting jerked by that invisible Toho wire.

The pose looks GREAT from all angles.

​(Don’t forget to click on the photos for a larger view.)

The only free joint on this figure is where the tail gets attached and I’m pleased to report that you can hardly see that connection after it’s been put together. In fact, I just picked it up to try to locate the joint and couldn’t find it right away. I actually had to look at photos I had taken of the figure still in the box to see exactly where the tail attaches, which is not near the body but almost half the way down.

Glued joints can be found under both shoulders and below both knees. Unfortunately, the sealed joints above the biceps do stand out in a tight-string-around-the-finger sort of way. The knee joints are almost invisible thanks to the baggy folds of skin above them.

I can’t find any seams around the jaw or head. And the seams on both sides of the back piece which holds the dorsal fins are equally cloaked with perfect fits. If it weren’t for those shoulder joints, I’d say this is one of the most seamless figures they’ve ever put out.

​As usual, and for the benefit of new collectors: this figure has a base coat of a dusty, off-black color which looks PERFECT. Too often lower end Godzilla toys and figures are too dark and toyish looking. The asphalt black on this figure looks GOOD and is a complement to the realistic sculpt. I have to mention, though, that this off black can come off a little shiny on the head and torso. This is no doubt because these areas are made of translucent vinyl. I don’t know if the change in material is causing this, or if they used a different kind of paint (more likely) which has the ability to block the Ric light gimmick on the inside.

There are easy-to-miss subtle highlights on the side of the tail and possibly on the sides behind the arms. (It’s hard to tell with the shinier paint there.)

The claws and toes are painted with a tannish, bony color which feathers into the black fingers and toes well. This bony color looks good, but seems a bit too bright for my taste. Then again, I think that’s true of ALL the X-Plus Godzilla figures.

Soft ashy whites are added to the smaller dorsal “bumps” from the middle of the tail down. This color is also expertly applied to the small row of fins rising up the back on both sides of the larger fins. Again, very un-toylike and a big part of why X-Plus is so, so good.

The tongue and the inside of the mouth are a dark, reserved red and those teeth… HOLY SHIT! The teeth are probably the most impressive part of this figure’s paint applications. Each TINY, individually sculpted tooth is painted an off white which meets the gums PERFECTLY. I don’t see how it’s humanly possible for this to be done by humans on an assembly line. WOW! No, really. F’N WOW! Scroll back up to the Head section to see what I mean. Keep in mind those photos are extreme close-ups.

Now, I’ve saved the best for last…

FIERY PATCHES
The X-Plus Burning Godzilla’s burning patches look IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE and are made possible with a technique I first saw used on the S.H.MonsterArts version, and then again on the X-Plus Gigantic Series Godzilla 1995. Translucent material is used on the body and painted yellow and orange from the INSIDE. The colors from the inside show through while the surface is clear enough for light to refract through the sculpted texture. Dark, opaque paint in added on the outside to confine the effect to the signature patches as seen in the movie. The effect in ingenious and amazing.

The same technique was used on the dorsal fins. They don’t look as cool as the patches on the front, but X-Plus has managed to get them to look ALMOST EXACTLY, colorwise, as they do in the movie. Scroll back up and take another look at that fin comparison above!

I don’t usually have a “Size” section on my reviews but this figure has made it necessary due to its unexpected larger size.

It’s part of the Large Monster Series and should level off around 25cm (9.8 inches) but instead it reaches up to 27.3 cm (10.75 inches)! But WHY?

I have to assume that X-Plus needed more room to work with when installing all of the lights for the Ric Boy versions. I’m still not sure how I feel about that move, though. I am a scale freak and I want everything IN SCALE! I want all of the Godzilla’s on my Large Monster Series shelves to line up at the heads. That is just one (but an important one) of the most important things that make the collection to me.

Granted, I (we) should be used to and prepared for minor discrepancies like this since a full third of the 30cm Series figures are too short. At least this figure is taller than it should be instead of shorter. One could also argue that Burning Godzilla was technically significantly taller having shot up to 100 meters near the end of the Heisei series’ third installment Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Okay: small consolation. But consolation nonetheless. Until you realize that most of the Showa Godzilla’s were only 50 meters tall.

In the end my solution was just to get the hell over it. Like I said, at least it’s BIGGER than it should be.

Let’s move on and see just how much bigger this guy is…

Before we get to the most obvious size comparison (with the Large Monster Series Destoroyah), let’s take a quick look at a shot from Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.

​As you can see, Destoroyah is a good deal larger than Godzilla.

I’d say these two scale up perfectly. (Keep in mind that Destoroyah’s head is tilted up in the screenshot and lower in the figure shot.)

By the way: check out the UNCANNY resemblance between the top of Godzilla’s head in both the screenshot and on the figure. The slope of the forehead and nose are captured so perfectly on the figure that it’s almost scary. Now, THAT’S why we collect these!

Side by side comparisons. (Don’t forget to click on the photos for larger views.)

The Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 (100 meters) is actually kinda close to how much taller than he really should be compared to the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1989 (80 meters) on the left. However, the Large Monster Series Godzilla 2001 (60 meters) reaches up higher than the ’89. We’re just going to have to accept that the heights on X-Plus figures can go up and down.

Here, the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 is flanked on the left by Godzilla 1989 and Godzilla 1991 from the Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection, which are both short for 30’s. So, here we have an overly tall Large Monster Series figure leveling off with two short 30cm Series figures. That’s actually kind of cool in a way.

​Here’s a size comparison with the Gigantic Series Godzilla 1995. I often hear collectors say that there’s no need for this Large Monster Series version when one has the Gigantic. That doesn’t work for me, though, since the GBG is so utterly stylized. Movie accuracy is more important to me. And my collection as a whole is, too. I’m absolutely glad this figure in my collection standing with the other movie-accurate 25’s.

Here’s a size comparison with other recent and somewhat recent releases specifically for new collectors. Left to right: Large Monster Series Mechagodzilla 1975 (this is vinyl, but the RMC version is more recent), 30cm Series Godzilla 2014, Gigantic Series Sakai Godzilla 1999, Large Monster Series Ultraman 1966-1967 C-Type Appearance Pose and the 1968 Manda and Mothra DAM set in the front.

The Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 by X-Plus is 15 inches long from nose to tail and takes up a tad more room than other Godzilla’s in the same line. The tail curls in toward the figure’s left side making it a little easier to fit on the shelf.

The Ric Boy exclusive version of this figure comes with a light-up feature. And of all the light-features put out so far, this figure is surely one of the most deserving, if not THE most deserving.

Plug in the power and all of Godzilla’s fiery patches, dorsal fins and eyes go ablaze with light. Well, sort of. It’s not really that bright. But I like it exactly the way it is. It’s subtle and not overbearing. Too often, light gimmicks are way, way too bright. This one’s just right.

It’s still a shame, though, that we had to trade in crisper facial features for this light feature.

A nitpick: the eyes on this figure light completely opposite the way they do in the movie. Here the pupils are dark and swim in lit whites. But in the movie, it should be the other way around, with blazing pupils and dark whites. Honestly, though, I don’t think there was much X-Plus could have done about this since the pupils here are likely light-blocking decals.

This photo was shot with a long exposure to make the light appear brighter in order to make it clear where the light was coming from, how the paint laid over it and the potential for leaks.

The eyes on my figure are not evenly lit as the right one is noticeably dimmer than the left. Not all figures are like this though. Some collectors have told me that the eyes on their figure are even.

Another peeve: note how hot the lights are at the base of the dorsal fins, and how dim they are up higher where it matters more.

LIGHT LEAKS
The glow from inside can leak though in areas which didn’t get a thick enough coat of light-blocking paint. Look closely at the photo above. You can see speckled light leaks on the face, neck, etc.

​The light feature is powered with an external “battery box” which plugs into the back of the left leg.

Note that with this figure we now have a box much larger than we’re used to. This new design first appeared with the X-Plus Bandai Exclusive Large Monster Series Biollante.

I liked the older, smaller boxes better. But, I suppose more batteries and a bigger box to house them is needed here.

This figure comes with a sculpted “plug” to cover the power jack when not in use. A nice new touch which X-Plus began implementing with the Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection Godzilla 1989.

BE CAREFUL that you don’t loose this piece! It can fall out easily and disappear when you move the figure.

The Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 has a lot going for it. Crazy accurate body sculpt, larger size and wicked burning patch effects.

But it also has a lot going against it. Very soft facial features due to over thick paint which doesn’t even manage to prevent light leaks.

If it weren’t for these issues, I’d give this figure 4.5 Rads. I almost feel like I still want to rate it that way because I’m so glad it’s finally on my shelf. But in order to more accurately rate this for the collecting community, I’d say this figure is only warm at 3 out of 5 Rads. So much potential lost on this one.

Still. I’m beyond glad that I have one. 99% of the time, I see this figure facing off Destoroyah on my shelf unit, too far away to notice the soft face sculpt. (…but I know it’s there! AARGH!)

By John Stanowski, Originally posted February 7th, 2016 on Kaiju Addicts.

It’s Winter Wonder Festival time again at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba, Japan and take a look at who showed up: the Gigantic Series Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection Godzilla 1954 by X-Plus. (Cue wild applause.)

In my interview with X-Plus’ Gee Okamoto from last year, he said he wanted to make a Gigantic Series Godzilla 1954, Godzilla 1962 and Godzilla 1989. So this big reveal was only half a surprise. (But, I’m still fully giddy about it.)

This vinyl figure will be reproduced from a piece by renowned sculptor, Yuji Sakai. It will be the 5th figure in the Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection, and the 4th in the Gigantic Series.

Sakai’s book, Godzilla Dream Evolution, states that the original resin version of this figure is 48cm (18.8 inches) tall. The vinyl X-Plus version will be slightly shorter.

If you have the book, the original figure is on page 21.

​This figure is due out in early summer. (Thanks for translating, Dell!)

By John Stanowski Originally posted February 7th, 2016 on Kaiju Addicts.

​大怪獣シリーズ 「ウルトラマン Cタイプ」 登場ポーズ

​JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: APRIL 2015

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES

MATERIAL: VINYL​

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, 1966-1967

​HEIGHT: (ARM TO FLOOR) ABOUT 10.75 INCHES / 27.3 CM

​HEIGHT: (HEAD TO FLOOR) 10 / 25.4 CM

​FIGURE WEIGHT: 3 OZ / 85 G

​ARTICULATION: ANKLES

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

​X-Plus has provided Ultraman fans with multiple releases of the original 1966 titan of light from Nebula M78. Each release featured our hero in a different iconic pose. The wrestling pose, a standing pose and, of course, the Spacium Ray pose. For years I wondered when the hell were they going to get around to the Appearance Pose?

It finally appeared in February 2015 as a pre-order and hit shelves a month later. And it’s freaking awesome!

This figure comes in the standard Large Monster Series Ultraman 1966-1996 Collection off white window box. Ultraman figures from shows post ’96 come in a darker box (blue, I think). As usual, the figure is wire-tied into a plastic shell inside. (I’ll try to add a photo of the box later!)

​As usual, X-Plus Ultraman vinyls have super realistic and accurate sculpts that set them well apart from vinyls from most other companies. And this figure is no exception.

I’ve always been amazed at how good these things look. And, while X-Plus makes the same attempt at realism with their Godzilla and Kaiju figures, extra credit must be awarded for accomplishing that with Ultraman. There’s just a lot less room for error when it comes to this guy. And, X-Plus comes through and EXCELS with it. In my earlier reviews, I was fond of saying that X-Plus figures look like they literally walked off the screen. I find the need to say it again with this figure. If you were to light it just right, photograph it and composite it into a photo, it really would be difficult to tell if you were looking at a vinyl or the real thing.

Always a nice touch on X-Plus Ultras: the eyes are molded in translucent plastic which is segmented on the outside and painted white on the inside. This allows the light to create patterns of refraction on the inner, painted surface. The effect looks great!

​The ridge running down Ultraman’s back (which hid the suit’s zipper from view) is reproduced so faithfully on this figure. This is actually one of my favorite details to look for on new X-Plus Ultraman figures.

Ridges for the zippers on the suit’s boots are also found perfectly sculpted on this figure.

One minor downside to the sculpt on this figure (as on all X-Plus Ultras) is the lack of individually sculpted fingers. When compared to the attention the rest of the figure has received, the hands are not as impressive. I think it would have been a nice touch if X-Plus had applied a darker wash into the groves between the fingers to help out in this, this only weak area of the sculpt. But, NOT complaining at all. I’m still floored that we can get Ultraman figures with such a super-high level of accuracy.

For those who are not blessed (cursed?) with an obsession for the original Ultraman, this is his appearance pose.

Science Patrol member Shin Hiyata would reach into his breast pocket with his right hand and pull out the beta capsule, hold it up in the air and transform into Ultraman. When he appeared, he would be in the same position with his right hand in the air. Unlike Hiyata, Ultraman also has his left arm curled upward as if flexing a muscle.

Preparing to battle kaiju, Step One: Intimidation. Show off that bicep.

​Seams. Yes, ouch. Unfortunately there are always clear seams on the shoulders of every X-Plus Ultraman figure. We’ll just have to look past that. It is a vinyl, after all.

Other than that, nothing really noticeable. Ever. On any of them.

I should point out that the ankles have articulation as do all X-Plus Ultraman figures. This is really helpful if you plan to have your figure stand on its own instead of using the accompanying base. A slight twist on each ankle is very helpful when trying to find balance.

Finally, there is what appears to be a faint seam running around the waist. But hold on there. That was etched into the sculpt in order to reproduce a real seam on the real suit. X-Plus’ attention to accurate detail never fails to amaze.

​There’s not much going on here since Ultraman is basically just silver and red. And in the case of this particular figure, those colors are noticeably brighter than on previous X-Plus Ultraman figures. The red is “redder” and cleaner. And the silver is brighter and shinier. Why? Because this is the appearance pose. He’s only just arrived and has no dirt or debris over him yet. That logic doesn’t really work very well, since the suit got beat up as the episodes went on. I just like to consider this figure the “first” appearance of the C-Type suit.

The only other color on this figure comes from the molded blue plastic color timer on his chest and the translucent eyes I mentioned earlier.

​Here, Ultraman stands among some of his foes. A selection of Ultra kaiju from X-Plus’ Reborn flavor. Left to right: Large Monster Series Red King Reborn, Bemular Reborn, Baltan 1 Reborn and Gomora Reborn.

Reborns are newer sculpts to replace previous X-Plus releases. They are larger than original sculpts, yet still no match for Ultraman’s taller and out-of-scale height. I just don’t get why X-Plus does this. Apparently, they think our hero needs to be taller than the bad guys, and taller than he was on the show.

Ultraman seems like a good fit for this selection of Toho Large Monster Series figures. Left to right: Godzilla 1968, Mechagodzilla 1975, Godzilla 1966 and Hedorah (Landing Stage). Even though he looks good on the shelf besides these, technically he’s a bit taller to be in proper scale with them.

Here is a size comparison with other figures which were released around the same time as this one (left to right): The 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection Godzilla 1991, Large Monster Series Mothra 1964 and the 30cm Series Godzilla 2014. He actually looks to be in scale with that ’91.

​If you’re new to X-Plus but already an Ultraman collector, here’s the figure with some figures from other lines you may already have. Left to right: Ultra-Act Ultraman (the new one), a Bandai and the CCP Type C. (By the way, if you ever order an Ultraman figure from CCP and you get a choice to go for Orange or Red, get the Orange. Their red is too dark while the orange looks perfect.)

​This figure barely even has a footprint. Unless you use the base which seems to be wider than it need be. Making room for this guy on the shelf: not a problem.

​The Exclusive Ric Boy version of this feature comes with a light gimmick which make the figures eyes glow white, and his color timer blue. Usually, Ric Boy’s come with two modes for the color timer: steady blue and blinking red for when his power is running low. This figure, however, only comes with the steady blue. Which, if you think about it, makes perfect sense seeing as how he’s only just “appeared”. He hasn’t even had a chance to run low on power, so no blinky blinky on this one.

​While Ultraman gets his power from Earth’s sun, the figure gets it from the base. A port under the figure’s right foot let’s it step onto the plug on the top of the base. A switch on the back of the base controls the light.

​This figure has an amazing, accurate sculpt, great paint applications and features the second most famous Ultraman pose of all time. How could you not be excited about this one? Four and a half rads on the Rad Meter!

​By John Stanowski Originally posted January 8th, 2016 on Kaiju Addicts.

X-Plus is a Japanese company which produces hyper-realistic (compared to other collectibles) soft vinyl figures. They are in the statue category as they typically have little or no articulation. X-Plus makes figures based on the Godzilla, Gamera and Ultraman franchises. They also include occasional dips into other non-Godzilla Toho kaiju as well as television series like “The Space Giants” and more. The figures come from all eras starting where it all began in 1954 up to Final Wars.

​Unlike smaller and cheaper vinyls, X-Plus vinyls are super, high quality. More care is taken to hide their joints. Textures are deep and tactile delights. And probably one of the more refined features of X-Plus vinyls are the individually sculpted teeth. Where smaller vinyls simply have two ridges in their mouths with teeth merely painted on, X-Plus sculpts each tooth as a separate piece. The paint jobs are works of art themselves alone, carefully capturing the shades and hues from the “real” thing as opposed to sloppy, assembly line air brushing.

One curious thing about X-Plus figures is that their photographs NEVER look as good as they do in person. So if you really like what you see online, be prepared to be blown away when you have it in front of you!

X-Plus does its best to produce Godzilla figures which look like they stepped right out of the movie. And—with the exception of the Gigantic Series—there is no fancy, artistic stylization. And there are no phoney-looking sculpts. (Although, sometimes, they might miss the mark a little). Every effort is made to capture the essence of each kaiju character. And even more effort is put into including every single detail. Very often you’ll find details on an X-Plus figure that you didn’t even realize were there on the actual monsters.

​Keeping in line with the super-accurate nature of these figures, you’ll often find details that were not meant to be seen in the films, but actually do exist on the monster suits used to film the scenes. Most of the Godzilla figures have a tiny mesh of holes in the neck which were used by the suit actors to see through. Occasionally you’ll find even more suit details that weren’t meant to be seen on the big or small screen.

From Ultraman: the Giant Series Gyango has a visible zipper on its back. Red King has a fat flap on one side of his back. And Skydon’s eyes are not level with each other. Each of these details can be verified by revisiting the movie or episode.

Being made of vinyl, these figures will last a lifetime and beyond. One thing to note about soft vinyl is that the warmer they get, the softer they will become. Don’t worry, they don’t get squishy like a stress doll. Although they might give a little to squeezes in the hot summer months.

And because they are vinyl figures (just like the Bandai’s), you will now and then find seams and doll-like joints which, usually, are well hidden.

​These figures are meant to be collected, displayed on shelves and not played with. There is usually no articulation. And even when there is articulation possible with non-glued joints, the limbs usually have “place” it was meant to be.

Every brief once in a while, there will be some articulation possible and even intended. The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1989 has a hinged jaw and the Toho 30cm Series Kiryu 2003 has joints which you are free to pose as you like.

The two most popular franchises X-Plus makes figures based on are Toho and Ultraman properties. The Toho figures are mostly filled with Godzilla and his foes. But you’ll also find the original Rodan and Mothra as well as the Gargantuas, Sanda and Gaira, Baragon from Frakenstein Conquers the World, Gappa, the original Mogera and more.

Probably most of the figures X-Plus puts out are based on the Tsuburaya Ultra series: Ultra Q and Ultraman series from 1966 all the way to the present. Both Ultraman and ultra kaijus are produced.

More recently, X-Plus has been making figures from the Daiei Gamera franchise. The Showa Gameras and enemy monsters are being released in the 25cm Series line, and all three Gameras from the Heisei films have already been released in the 30cm Series.

Other occasional figures have come out based on Daimajin, Spectreman, The Space Giants and more.

​X-Plus puts figures out in differently scaled lines.

​THE LARGE MONSTER SERIES
This series includes figures that are all around about 25cm tall (almost 10 inches) or larger or smaller depending on the character. Because of this, collectors often refer to this line as the “25cm Series”. Godzilla from all eras, Showa Gamera and especially Ultraman figures populate most of this line. New figures come out every month.

THE REBORN SERIES
This is not really a series at all and is part of the Large Monster Series. I’m making a point to mention it because there is a noticeable size difference between very old Ultraman kaiju releases which tend to be shorter than the 25cm average height and those marked “Reborn”. Reborns are new sculpts and tend to be larger and more in scale with other franchise figure in the Large Monster Series.

​THE 30CM SERIES
This includes the Toho 30cm Series, Daiei 30cm Special Effect Series and the Giant Series (Ultraman kaiju). They are about 12 inches tall and noticeably larger than the Large Monsters Series. Not every figure in this series is tied to the 30cm/12-inch height. While most figures do clock in at around 12 inches, other figures will attempt to stay in scale. So a Space Godzilla or Hedorah will be taller than 30cm, while a Baragon or will be a little shorter. New figures come out every month.

​REAL MASTER COLLECTION
This series has the distinction of using Polyresin instead of Vinyl. Polyresin figures are heavily, solid and more statue-like. The resin material also let’s the sculpt shine in a way vinyl can only come close to. The one drawback to polyresin figures is their fragility. Little doral fins, spikes, spines and antennae are easily broken off if mistreated. The Master Collection typically mimics other regular vinyl releases. So, if you are attempting to hunt down a Gigan, Kiryu or a Spacium Pose Ultraman, make sure it’s vinyl if that’s what you want. Master Collection = resin!

THE GIGANTIC SERIES
This one just started in late 2013. It is a line of truly huge figures which are so big that they laugh at shelves and almost demand their own table. Unlike almost everything else X-Plus puts out, these figures tip the scales away from accuracy in favor of fierce and powerful stylization. So far, only one figure released has been released: Godzilla 2001. the plan is to release two Gigantic Series figures per year.

AND THERE ARE MORE
There are several older and discontinued series which should be mentioned because you’re bound to come across them while scoping out older figures. Please scroll to the bottom of the page.

X-Plus Godzilla figures are not like other collectibles in that they’re not always around like, say, S.H. Monsterarts figures. Basically every new X-Plus vinyl that comes out is a limited edition and most are gobbled up quickly. New figures are announced and then pre-orders are taken. You can pre-order these from a variety of online stores, most notable of which are Hobby Search and Hobby Link Japan. After this cycle is complete you’ll have to rely on online stores with leftover stock and Ebay sellers (who very often jack up the prices) to find that older figure. The longer you wait to grab an older figure, the higher the price will become. In the aftermarket, X-Plus figures get very expensive very quickly.

Occasionally figures get re-issued and become available again. There is no schedule for re-issues and they are random. The re-issues are made available as part of the month’s regular set of new offerings, and they do take up a slot meaning that there will be one less new figure during the month a re-issue is made available.

Recently, re-issues have been occuring more frequently and many have been made available only as Ric Boy Exclusive Versions.

X-Plus Vinyl Figures usually come in two flavors, regardless of which size they are or which series they belong to.

RIC BOY MINI FIGURES
The Ric Boy Exclusive Editions always have something extra, and with a slightly higher price tag. That extra thing has traditionally been a mini-figure somehow related to the figure. E.g. the 25cm Godzilla 1989 came with a mini Super X2 and the 30cm Godzilla 1989 came with a mini rose-form Biollante. Typically, the extra mini figure is not in scale with the main figure.

​RIC BOY ALTERNATE LIMBS/FEATURES
Ric Boy Exclusives may also come in the form of extra, alternate heads or limbs for different looks. The 25cm Gamera 1996 came with an alternate head, tail and all four limbs so that you could switch him from a standing pose, to a crawling pose. Usually, the extra limbs are limited to just one or two. The 25cm King Caesar comes with alternate ears for either a dog-like, or alert look.

​RIC BOY LIGHT GIMMICK
Another type of Ric Boy exclusive, and more common lately, is the light gimmick. Godzilla 1962, 1964, 2003 and more have come with dorsal fins which light up. The Ric Boy Mothra Imago came with light-up eyes and in Baragon’s case, light-up eyes and horn.

Ric Boy Exclusive editions are typically only available from the X-Plus Ric Boy website (or the US Ric website). The site is in Japanese and would require translation and the use of a forwarding service like Tenso.com since X-Plus will not ship overseas. See the Where To Buy X-Plus page for tips on making this work. However, many Ric Boys make it to sites like Ebay, though at higher prices.

STANDARD VERSIONS
Standard versions are what you will find to be most available in stores in Japan or in the aftermarket. They are simply, just the figure with no extras.

X-Plus figures are not for casual collectors since they are very expensive. The prices will vary but, basically, the Large Monster Series (25cm) are around about $100 each when first released. The 30cm Series are around about $200. The Ric Boy versions of both series are usually $30 to $50 more on top of that. And figures in the aftermarket, especially on Ebay, can double, triple and even quadruple in price the further they get from their release date.

To collect X-Plus you need an undying love of Godzilla and if that’s you I’m describing, then when you see one of these in person, you’ll be one of the few who realize how mindbogglingly awesome they are.

It’s not unheard of for those with the means to quickly grow a large collection in a short amount of time. There’s a joke going around in Godzilla collector circles that these figures are addicting. I certainly feel that way and it’s the reason why I named this website Kaiju Addicts. So, if you are a weak-minded fool when it comes to Godzilla like I am, you may be very surprised at how many X-Plus figures you accumulate despite the price tags.

​THE HUNT
Part of the reason for this addiction I think is the fact that each figure is a limited edition and most of them are not within your reach. At least, not at first. Little by little they show up, new or used, on sites like Ebay and Yahoo Japan. And that’s when you strike and bring that prize home, ready again to plot your next victory.

THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO GO
You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you ignore most or all of the previous releases and their often crazy mark-ups and pay strict attention only to new figures. You’ll watch them get announced, get excited, make your pre-order and then wait for Box Day when your new X-Plus is finally shipped to you.

But if you do want to join in on the search for older figures, see the Where to Buy X-Plus Figures page for more information and tips.

MONSTER MUSEUM
The Monster Museum (or Kaiju Museum) line started in 2012 and is a series of (so far) nine miniature Ultraman and ultra kaiju figurines. They are only four inches tall and made of fragile polyresin. The details on them are outstanding, especially for such little figures. Each one also comes in a plastic display case. So, if you are hunting down old Ultra kaiju and you stumble upon an amazing $50 DEAL, stop. It’s probably a 4-inch polyresin figurine.

​X-Plus USA
At one point, I’m guessing in the early 2000’s, X-Plus attempted to break into the U.S. market with an side company called X-Plus USA. They put out a selection of smaller Godzilla vinyls with subpar sculpts, resin “Chess Piece” figurines and large polyresin statues like Mothra, King Ghidorah and a couple of others. I’m not very familiar with any of these releases since I don’t consider them to be modern fare (post 2009). But I’m telling you what little I know of them, so that you will be prepared when you go shopping for older figures.

Also note that some comic book shops and online stores are referring to the new X-Plus North American Diamond Re-issues as coming from X-Plus USA. They’re not. They’re still coming from X-Plus in Japan and distributed by Diamond Comics in North America.

By John Stanowski Originally posted on Kaiju Addicts.

(Note: some information in this article maybe out of date but can still be helpful.)
If you a new X-Plus collector then you already know that your choices are limited when it comes to purchasing these vinyl figures. So here, for you, is my list of dealers who can satisfy your X-Plus cravings and get your fix.

Note: I’m in the U.S. so my sources are biased in that regard. If you know of a good online retailer not mentioned here, please let me know and I’ll add it to the list!

There’s no better time to buy an X-Plus vinyl Godzilla or Gamera figure than by pre-ordering it before it’s even released. If you don’t pre-order, then you’re in for bloated prices in the after market; and soon you may not even be able to find kaiju you’re looking for very easily. There are a few sites I know of that let you pre-order. If you know of any not listed here, please add a comment!

Standard Version Figures from Hobby Link Japan www.hlj.com
Hobby Link Japan is located in Japan. They take and ship international orders. They really have their act together and their warehouse is HUGE. And they sell X-Plus preorders! They do an awesome job of packing using their own sturdy shipping boxes. Sometimes, they will have a very small selection of X-Plus figures a few months after they’ve been released. But you should consider this store mostly as a place to get pre-orders.

Standard Version Figures from Hobby Search www.1999.co.jp/
Hobby Search is in Tokyo, Japan. They take and ship international orders. They have a habit of displaying a ton of old X-Plus products that have long been sold out. To filter this out make sure you click on “List New Products” by “Availability”. I can’t comment on the experience of shopping there but my next five X-Plus pre-orders are set up through them. I’ll post an update after I’m able to comment their service.

Ric Boy Exclusive Versions from the X-Plus Online Store https://jp.ric-toy.com/, ​https://us.ric-toy.com/

If you don’t live in Japan then you really need to jump through hoops to order from this site. You might ask why you should even bother when there are excellent alternatives available. The reason is, as far as I know, it’s the only place where you can pre-order the X-Plus Ric Boy Exclusive versions. At a higher price tag, you can get an exclusive “extra” which usually takes the form of an additional “mini” figure related to main figure. Examples of past exclusives are a tiny SY-3 Rocket which came with the 25cm Anguirus and a mini rose form Biollante which came with the 25cm Godzilla 1989. Exclusive may also come in the form of a light gimmick. Lately Ultraman figures have had battery-powered lights. There was also a 25cm Baragon with a light-up horn, 25cm Gigan with light-up visor, etc. I’m not going to get into how you can order from the X-Plus Ric-Toy Store here as it’s beyond the scope of this list. Watch for a special article on just that.

X-Plus figures usually come in two flavors. Standard Versions are made available from retailers like Hobby Search. But the Ric Boy Versions (figures which come with an extra feature such as interchangeable limbs or companion mini figures) are sold only directly from X-Plus’ web shop – https://jp.ric-toy.com/.

You can also reach this shop by visiting the X-Plus Ric Boy main site here: https://jp.ric-toy.com/ and then clicking on the WEB SHOP button in the top header, or by clicking the blinking button on each individual figure page (but only while the figure is still up for preorder.

Buying directly from X-Plus isn’t very straightforward. The site is completely in Japanese and so creating an account can involve a lot of work. Try using the Chrome web browser to help you translate automatically.

The difficulties don’t end there, though. X-Plus will NOT ship overseas. To make this work, you will need a Forwarding Service like Tenso.com. Tenso will receive your box from X-Plus and then they ship it to you for a small fee. Signing up with Tenso is relatively easy since they have an English version of their site. They will then give you a special Tenso address to use in place of your own address when creating accounts on Japanese sites which don’t ship overseas.

MIKE JOHNSON
Mike is a collector in league with a toy shop in Japan. You can reach him through email or Facebook PM. Rich Eso has an informative post with details on How To Order From Mike Johnson.

Ebay.com
This is a great place to start. There are a lot of X-Plus kaiju waiting for you there from U.S. sellers and also from Japanese dealers who are willing to ship internationally. Of all the X-Plus sources that I know of, Ebay has the most X-Plus Godzilla, Gamera and Ultraman vinyl figures than any other site. Beware bloated prices!: 1. Ebay dealers tend to wildly bloat the prices on X-Plus vinyls if they are even slightly rare which basically means a few months after they’re initially released. Beware (Some) Free Shipping: I often have shipping issues from dealers in Hong Kong who offer free shipping. It’s my guess they use the Free Shipping! deal as an incentive but then send your package using slug mail. This doesn’t always happen. But it does happen often. And a final word of caution: shipping from Japan to the U.S. could go as high as $60! But they are some of the best and friendliest dealers around. When searching on Ebay.com try not to use just “X-Plus” as a search term as you’ll be presented with all manner of plus-sized women’s clothing… and nothing could be further from what you were really looking for! Instead start off with “X-Plus Godzilla”. Keep in mind some Ebay sellers neglect to put ‘Godzilla’ in the title if they are selling a kaiju so refine your next search with “X-Plus Baragon”, “X-Plus Rodan”, “X-Plus Ultraman”, etc. After you become aware of what’s currently being offered on Ebay, start using the Sort By Newly Listed filter at the top to see them in the order of their appearance. That way you can keep up with what’s being added faster. A super rare 25cm Baragon recently showed up on Ebay and I didn’t even have a chance to see it before it sold because there are collectors out there checking every day.

Amazon.com
There are far fewer X-Plus options on Amazon, but the prices are often better than can be found on Ebay. Use the same search tips listed in the Ebay section above.

Amazon.co.jp
The Japanese Amazon site has a good selection. The site has a button to convert everything to English. But English search terms don’t really turn up much X-Plus. (See the section on Japanese Search Terms for help). Amazon.co.jp lets you register and they can take your money. However, as far as toys and figures go, they will not ship outside of Japan. You’ll need the help of a forward service. These companies allow you to use their address to have your Amazon.co.jp purchases shipped to. And then they, in turn, ship it to you after they receive it. You basically pay shipping twice this way. Once to have it sent to the forwarding service and again to have it shipped to you. But the shipping is usually inexpensive for the first one. The forwarding service that I use is called Tenso. It’s easy to start an account there. The trickiest thing to accomplish is making sure you enter their Japanese address properly into your Amazon.co.jp account. You can also use forwarding services for other retail sites in Japan as well.

Yahoo Auctions Japan
Ebay has left Japan, but there is Yahoo Auctions – a very popular site there. And they often have lots of older X-Plus figures. I’ve never signed up with Yahoo Auctions Japan directly so I can’t tell you how possible/difficult it is to get stuff from there. What I do is bid there through another company called Buyee (buyee.jp). It’s owned by Tenso and it lets you bid on Yahoo Auctions items through them. And the great part is, if you win, the item gets sent directly to Buyee who then ships it to you. It’s very easy to set up an account at Buyee. And it makes it very possible and even convenient for you to buy X-Plus from Yahoo Auctions. All you do is find a figure on Yahoo Auctions, copy the URL, go to Buyee and paste in the url in a special field. Buyee translates all of the auction details for you and lets you bid on it right from there. Suh-weet.

X-PLUS SEARCH TERMS ON JAPANESE SITES
Searching for X-Plus figures on Amazon.co.jp or Yahoo Auctions while using English search terms will bring you very limited results, if any. For starters, the English term “X-Plus” means little to these sites. The Japanese you should be using is “エクスプラス”. But that alone isn’t enough. X-Plus is a big company and they sell a lot more than just Godzilla figures. So let’s add Japanese for Godzilla (“ゴジラ”). Now combine the two and you can search for “X-Plus Godzilla”… or “エクスプラス ゴジラ”. Use that and you will get the results you want. “X-Plus Ultraman” is “エクスプラス ウルトラマン”. If you want to find an X-Plus Baragon, Gamera or Gyango, first search for it by name in English on Google. In the search results you’ll usually find a Wikipedia entry for that monster and they will usually provide the Japanese katakana or hiragana for that monster in Japanese. You’ll usually see it in the summary in the search results. So combine the Japanese for “X-Plus” given above followed by a space and then paste in the Japanese from Wikipedia. Easy peezy.

Diamond Distributors is a supplier for comic book stores in the United States and Canada. Recently they came to an arrangement with X-Plus to distribute these vinyls in the west. Currently the offerings from Diamond are technically re-issues since they’ve all come out before in Japan. There’s a possibility that, if things go well, X-Plus and Diamond will be releasing totally new sculpts. There’s also the possibility that Diamond releases may actually sync up with the new first-run releases in Japan. For now, though, Diamond will be making available figures that have already come out. This is great news for collectors who missed out on the first run and don’t want to pay super expensive aftermarket prices. Diamond will distribute two figures from the X-Plus back catalog every three months. Here’s a list of online stores offering X-Plus via Diamond Distributors.
(*Kaiju Battle note: Diamond no longer has an exclusive deal with X-Plus but many comic shops and other retailers do get figures through them, normally standard versions, linked below.)

• Big Bad Toy Store
• Entertainment Earth
• Kaiju Live
• Awesome Collector
• Toku Toy Town
• Showcase Daikaiju

​By John Stanowski Originally posted on Kaiju Addicts.

I don’t usually review the cheap stuff, but the recently released Rodan 1993 Figural Vinyl Bank by Diamond Select Toys keeps catching my eye. I got the urge to talk about it so here I am with my third “Not X-Plus, But…” figure review.

Standing a little over 9 inches (22cm) tall, Diamond’s Rodan bank has a wingspan of about 15 inches (38cm). It’s very sturdy and is very stable standing on its own.

Sculpt-wise, it totally captures the essence of the Heisei Rodan from 1993’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, though. The torso seems a bit wide. Because of that, and it’s lack of good detail, I’d have to say it may be considered slightly stylized.

Being an X-Plus collector and a realism buff, I originally dismissed this “bank” when I first saw it. But, seeing as how Rodan 1993 is totally unrepresented in my collection, I got one. What the hell? It’s only SRP $29.99.

It was when I walked passed it a few times today that it started to catch my eye. Rodan 1993! I got a little tinge of excitement even though this figure is pretty crude when compared to the X-Plus quality which I’ve become accustomed to. But, I love seeing that Heisei Rodan head when I walk by it! But, that gappy seam at the base of the neck bugs me.

And then I remember, this is a bank. You can insert coins into a slot on the figure’s back and retrieve them by removing the head.

Why the hell anyone would want to save a fist full of coins in a Rodan figure is beyond me. I can’t help thinking that turning a figure into a “bank” somehow puts it into it’s own licensing category or something, and thus the only way Diamond could make these.

The head is on fairly snug but will give way with a slight back and forth tug. Note: when you receive your Diamond Select Rodan Bank, the gap under the head may be much more pronounced than you see in this mini review. That’s just because the factory didn’t insert them on all the way. You can easily tweak it on tighter after you de-bag and de-tag it.

But, be careful when you do! Rodan’s beak and head “spikes” are fairly sturdy, strong and sharp. Keep this in mind if you plan on giving it to your kid as a “Don’t Touch Daddy’s X-Plus, Touch This Instead” figure.

​The Diamond Select Rodan 1993 Vinyl Bank is around about the same size as the two Showa Large Monster Series Rodan figures by X-Plus. Here you see it with the Large Monster Series Rodan 1956. If you don’t mind mixed quality on your shelves and scale is not an issue for you, then this bank would look good in your 25cm series collection.

Serendipitously, this bank is almost in scale with the X-Plus 30cm Series. Seen here with the X-Plus 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 (closest relative available from X-Plus), Rodan is a bit taller than he need be to be in scale with Godzilla. Remember, Rodan was a little guy in 1993.

So, again, if you don’t mind mixed quality on your shelves, this bank is an “okay” fit with your X-Plus 30’s. And, don’t forget: as mentioned in my Gee Okamoto Interview, X-Plus plans to begin work on a Mechagodzilla 1993 figure next year!

This thing makes me HUNGRY for an X-Plus version. For now, this will have to do.

The Rodan 1993 Figural Vinyl Bank may be subpar for X-Plus and resin kit purists, but if your collection is a bit more eccentric, this thing is pretty damn nice. Especially for the low SRP of $29.99.

Please note that this bank is seen here in somewhat dramatic lighting and won’t look as good out of the bag… unless you apply your own dramatic lighting.

Just released, you can grab this thing practically everywhere. You’d do best to find one at a local comic store so you don’t have to worry about dishing out an extra $10 or so for shipping.

By John Stanowski Originally posted December 24th, 2015​ on Kaiju Addicts.

X-Plus collector and diorama photographer, Steve Harron, likes to keep our jaws on the floor. His latest shot features his Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1954 advancing through the bay to a row of unsuspecting N-scale buildings.

By John Stanowski Originally posted December 11th, 2015​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​Gee Okamoto has been the main force behind the X-Plus line of Godzilla and Ultraman vinyl figures for the past 17 years. His work has culminated into the modern line of ultra-realistic figures (post 2009) which so many collectors love and are now so addicted to.

He has graciously agreed to spend some time for an interview with Kaiju Addicts to let us know what in the works at X-Plus as well as a taste of what’s to come in the not too distant future.

KAIJU ADDICTS: Diamond Comic Distributors visited Tokyo last week hoping to finalize plans for the Godzilla figures to be sold in North America. Did the meeting go well?

GEE OKAMOTO (X-PLUS): Yes, it did. Currently there won’t be any more changes in the current plan, basically.

[ Diamond will be putting out about 5 Toho 30cm Series Godzilla figures sometime during 2016-2017. ]


KAIJU ADDICTS: Can you tell us anything about which Godzilla figures DCD will carry?

GEE OKAMOTO: Only that they will come from the Toho 30 series.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Is it possible that the North American (Diamond) versions of some of the figures will be different? E.g. a Godzilla 2014 in Roaring Pose, or a Godzilla 1984 with closed mouth?

GEE OKAMOTO: We are planning to go ahead with the same figures which were released in Japan. However, I am examining the possibility of different versions.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Bluefin Distribution will distribute the Toho Large Monster Series Biollante and Ghidorah. There was often trouble with the Ghidorah boxes since the figures would break while shipping. Has the box been modified to prevent this?

GEE OKAMOTO: Yes, of course. The packaging has been revised. A release date has not yet been decided.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Is it possible that Bluefin will distribute more reissues from the Large Monster Series? Even the smaller figures closer to 25cm?

GEE OKAMOTO: It’s possible because the license permits it. As I understand it, as of now, DCD is licensed for 1/6 scale which would include the Toho 30cm Series. BlueFin is licensed for 1/8 Scale figures, which includes the Large Monster Series.

[ Gee goes on to explain that the 1/6 scaling applies to the size of the suit actor which would fit inside the figure, not the figure itself. ]

​
KAIJU ADDICTS: X-Plus will soon release the Toho Large Monster Series Total Advance Complementary Set Vol. 1. (Manda and Mothra). Will there be more sets to complete a DAM line-up? Can you tell us more?

GEE OKAMOTO: I want to keep an open mind and consider things. I will wait for ideas from Kaiju Addicts. (laugh)

[ Vol. 2 with Baragon and a mini Flying Varan has since been announced. ]

KAIJU ADDICTS: You made a Large Monster Series Godzilla 1995 and then almost immediately after that, a Destoroyah. Can we expect more Heisei figures to come out soon?

GEE OKAMOTO: I will start making plans for a Heisei Mechagodzilla next year. I am also interested in a Heisei King Ghidorah, but that would be more costly, so we’ll see.


KAIJU ADDICTS: There have been many 2-figure sets coming out lately. There was a Godzilla 1966 and Ebirah set. A Mothra Imago 1964 and Godzilla 1964 set. And most recently, a Biollante and Godzilla 1989 set. Are there plans for more re-issue sets in the future? Maybe a Large Monster Series Godzilla 1971 and Hedorah Landing Stage set?

GEE OKAMOTO: Of course, I would like to think so. I like the idea of putting out a color set of Gigantis The Fire Monster.

[ He is referring to the Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 1955 and Anguirus 1955.]

​
KAIJU ADDICTS: Collectors everywhere want a Female MUTO figure. But, so far, a company has not stepped up to make one. Are you interested in making a Toho 30cm Series Female MUTO?

GEE OKAMOTO: Of course, I am interested. But, I am considering it carefully because the MUTO’s are not very popular in Japan. An X-Plus MUTO release may be slightly difficult.

KAIJU ADDICTS: Do you still want to make figures of kaiju from Pacific Rim?

GEE OKAMOTO: I am already developing a Razorback (sic.) figure and a Knifehead figure. They will be in the Large Monster Series, but their size will be substantial, about 1/350 scale. These will be releases for Japan only.

[ I’m not familiar with a PR Kaiju called Razorback. It’s possible that he is referring to Leatherback. Arlo Hansen from The Kaiju Planet has told me that the production team had different names for the PR kaiju, so “Razorback” may actually be something else. We’ll have to wait and see. ]


KAIJU ADDICTS: Do you want to make an X-Plus figure of Shin Godzilla 2016?

GEE OKAMOTO: We weren’t able to obtain any significant details on this design yet. If we do get any advance information on it, it would come only slightly earlier than it would for the public. Either way, if we do plan to make a Shin Godzilla, it would come well after the movie is released. We need to be motivated to start development for this figure and that can only come after we see the movie.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Do you have plans to make figures based on the newly designed CGI Kaiju from the new Ultraman TV series coming out in July 2016?

GEE OKAMOTO: No, I’m sorry. There are currently no plans for that at the moment.


KAIJU ADDICTS: The Large Monster Series Gesura has been announced. This is the last kaiju to complete the X-Plus line-up of original Ultraman kaiju. What will happen next for original Ultraman 1966-1967? Will you make more Reborn versions?

GEE OKAMOTO: There are a lot of figures I’d like to make Reborn versions of. However, there are also a lot of other kaiju which we haven’t made at all yet. I will proceed with both and try to keep a balance between the two.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Collectors often say they would like X-Plus to make vehicles from the movies that are in scale with the figures. The Xilian Saucer or Super X for example. Did you ever consider making these?

GEE OKAMOTO: I’ve never considered that, but it does sound interesting. I do like dioramas. I will keep an open mind concerning this in the future.


KAIJU ADDICTS: X-Plus made a flying Mothra Imago 1961 and a flying Mothra 1964. Do you want to make any other kaiju like Rodan, Hedorah, Battra or Megaguirus in a flying pose?

GEE OKAMOTO: I often consider making Rodan in a flying pose. As for Hedorah, we have already made a small one [ as a Ric Boy extra]. I will consider this more in the future.
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KAIJU ADDICTS: Kaiju like GMK Baragon 2001 and Fire Rodan are smaller kaiju. Is this preventing them from being made into figures?

GEE OKAMOTO: No, not at all. We’ve examined the possibility of both of them many times. But we never seem to get to the development stage with them.

KAIJU ADDICTS: Do you have any ideas for the next Gigantic Series figure?

GEE OKAMOTO: I want to make a Gigantic Series Godzilla 1954, Godzilla 1962 and Godzilla 1989. At some point, I’d also like to make something from Ultraman.


KAIJU ADDICTS: Is X-Plus going to make a Dogora figure?

GEE OKAMOTO: I hope so!


KAIJU ADDICTS: Will X-Plus ever make a King Kong 1962, King Kong 1967 or Mecha Kong figure?

GEE OKAMOTO: I love Kong very, very, very much! However, the license is difficult to get. I’m very disappointed by this.
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KAIJU ADDICTS: Do you bring your work home with you and collect X-Plus? If so, how big is your collection?

GEE OKAMOTO: I love them all. But, the Japanese house is not so big. I cannot fit all of them. It would be great if I could gather all of the things I’ve helped to create for X-Plus for the past 17 years. That includes the Ray Harryhausen figures and the X-Plus ALIEN cookie jar! (laugh)

I am sorry if my answers were short and simple. Thank you and your readers for your continued support!

By John Stanowski Originally posted November 2nd, 2015​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​Collector Sam Torres takes some seriously AWESOME X-Plus diorama shots.

(All Photos ©, Sam Torres.)

By John Stanowski Originally posted August 16th, 2015​ on Kaiju Addicts.