Latest news with #BandaiSpirits
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Bandai Spirits Is Doing A Metal Gear REX Chogokin Toy
In rather momentous news, Bandai Spirits has announced that they will be making a Metal Gear REX chogokin, with more details to be revealed at the end of the month. Metal Gear REX is the main enemy mecha in Metal Gear Solid, and is arguably one of the best mecha designs in the entire Metal Gear series. Designed by Yoji Shinkawa, the REX is able to fire a nuclear warhead from its right shoulder-mounted railgun and is also armed with an array of other formidable weaponry. Now, we already had a really massive and expensive toy of Metal Gear REX back in 2012, courtesy of threeA. However, it didn't really have much diecast used in its construction, and due to its size and weight, it often had issues with its leg joints. That was then followed by a very nice kit by Kotobukiya in the same year, and as that was a fair bit smaller, it held together a bit better, but was still a kit and suitably fragile with it. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder This new chogokin, though, is a whole other thing entirely. This is because chogokin toys use an inordinate amount of diecast in their construction, and while this may not be as huge as the threeA version, it will be an awful lot sturdier due to this use of diecast. It's also interesting that Bandai Spirits is releasing this via the vanilla Chogokin toy line, rather than anything else. In that, certain toy lines at Bandai Spirits carry certain expectations, but as this is just a Chogokin release, the team on this can do pretty much whatever they think will work. I remember holding back on the old threeA toy after reports came in that the joints shattered under its own weight, but I think I will take the plunge this time around, as the various other Chogokin releases I have are very well made indeed. More details about this Chogokin Metal Gear REX will be announced on August 28, the same day that Metal Gear Solid Delta is released. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Char Aznable's Helmet From ‘Gundam' Goes On Sale Again, With A Catch
Char Aznable is one of the main protagonists from Mobile Suit Gundam, with his helmet being iconic. So, no wonder a full-scale replica is going on sale again. However, there is an unfortunate catch with this resale. Firstly, this will be a Premium Bandai release. Secondly, and this is the kicker, it's a lottery sale. That means even if you place an order, you won't necessarily receive the helmet. Thankfully, you don't get charged if you lose the lottery, but this feels unfair. This kind of lottery tends to happen for extremely popular items, such as the Metal Build God Gundam I wrote about previously, and it's safe to say Char's helmet is popular. In the narrative of Gundam, Char wears the helmet to disguise his real identity, that of Casval Deikun, the son and heir of Zeon Deikun. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder While Hiroyuki Kitazume famously made a younger Zeon Deikun look surprisingly similar to George Lucas back in the 90s (shown above), Zeon was the political founder of the Zeonist movement. Something the Zabi family capitalized on and had him murdered as a martyr to fuel their rise to power. This is why Char, aka Casval, is so adamant about wiping out the Zabi family, as he knows they killed his father, and hence the need for his disguise. My only hope here is that Bandai Spirits bring this Westward at some point, as they have done so with other items in the past. Although Megahouse, one of their subsidiaries, does make this helmet, so we'll have to just wait and see. In the meantime, the lottery for Char Aznable's full-size helmet is underway, and the winners will be announced on August 19. The price point is also a bit steep, at 27,500 yen (or around $186 at the current exchange rate). Mobile Suit Gundam is currently available to watch via Crunchyroll. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Samurai Troopers' Is Back With A New ‘Demon Slayer' Infused Anime
'Samurai Troopers' is getting a new and quite shiny anime. The 80s anime classic Samurai Troopers, known internationally as Ronin Warriors, is getting a new anime, and it looks great. The original show's premise dealt with a demonic invasion being thwarted by plucky heroes in mystical samurai armor, which worked sort of like power armor. The mecha linkage wasn't an arbitrary one either, as mecha anime veteran Ryosuke Takahashi handled the series' composition. As for this new series, it seems to follow on from the original and takes a decidedly Demon Slayer-esque approach to the animation. The whole demon element to the story also lends itself well to leaning on Demon Slayer's mindshare, especially as Samurai Warriors would have acted as an inspiration for that series anyway. The other aspect to all this is that, back in the day, the original Samurai Troopers received all manner of amazing toys. Even recently, the series has had some more modern toy releases courtesy of Bandai Spirits. So it does make sense to create a new Samurai Troopers anime from the toy standpoint alone, and it seems Bandai Spirits is already involved in coming up with toys for this new show. In any case, a new Samurai Troopers anime is entirely welcome, and if you're curious about the original anime, you can pick up the Blu-ray via Crunchyroll's online store. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Sunrise Spirits Will Bring Classic Mecha Toys To Western Fans
Sunrise Spirits is a new toy brand for classic mecha anime. Sunrise is responsible for most of the major mecha anime ever made, and Bandai Spirits is now looking to honor this legacy with a new toy brand. Heading up this new Sunrise Spirits initiative is Yoshinari Kimura, Assistant Manager on the Robot Product Planning Team at Bandai Spirits. Following the increased accessibility and popularity of Sunrise mecha anime outside of Japan, Kimura wanted to ensure that Western fans weren't left behind. 'Given that people can now easily discover and watch Sunrise titles through social media, the official YouTube channel, and an ever-increasing selection of streaming platforms, we felt it was important to build an accessible solution for fans to purchase Sunrise merchandise. Through this initiative, we wanted to create a 'three-dimensional portal' for fans, both new and old. Furthermore, we wanted to clarify where people were able to purchase our products and figure out what would be necessary for us to sell them on an ongoing basis. The Tamashii Nations store in New York is one of many outside Japan. 'After carefully analyzing the balance between supply and demand, we concluded that the best way forward was to sell products through our own stores and an official online shop. Finally, when thinking about how to present the lineup within our stores in an accessible manner, we settled on the project name: Sunrise Spirits. 'The purpose of Sunrise Spirits is to serve as an entry point for both new fans and those who already have fond memories of Sunrise titles, and to maintain our lineup as a permanent platform. Thanks to our fans' passionate support, we have already expanded our presence to eight stores in Japan and another eight official Tamashii Nations store locations overseas, including New York City.' FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Considering the depth and breadth of Sunrise mecha anime, the Sunrise Spirits brand has its work cut out for it, but it's already well on its way to covering off some of the more major titles. 'We currently have seven products available for purchase, including five from 1980s-era series such as Dunbine, Dougram, and Xabungle (shown below), as well as Zegapain from the 2000s. In addition to developing this extensive lineup, we have also updated each product's key visuals to make them more appealing to a wider audience. The classic mecha Xabungle is also getting the Sunrise Spirits treatment. 'In addition, we also plan on adding Robot Spirits Villkiss from the 2010s anime Cross Ange to our lineup in 2025. There are numerous exciting animated series out there, so we plan to continue exploring product lineups that cater to different age groups while reviewing the status of existing items. 'We really want our overseas fans to enjoy the same purchasing experience and potential for discovery that are available to Japanese consumers. With characters becoming something of a global language these days, we feel it is important to offer both virtual and real-world entry points and touchpoints. 'In the years to come, we expect that continued internet and social media usage will result in decreased language barriers and a more border-free world. As manufacturers of physical goods, we believe it will be increasingly important for us to offer a platform where fans can purchase our products. Our goal is to create opportunities for consumers to experience, across numerous contexts, the reassurance of purchasing products on-demand directly from an official supplier. Additionally, with initiatives like the Sunrise Robot Laboratory, we can now explore new ways to present and share classic series. In 2025, Sunrise Spirits will feature products from both Walker Gallia and Xabungle. We look forward to people visiting our stores and checking out these exciting new releases for themselves. In the meantime, we hope fans will continue to enjoy and support our work.' Sunrise Spirits toy releases are currently available at the Tamashii Nations New York store as well as online via Amazon. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Fire Valkyrie From ‘Macross 7' Gets A Great New Toy This October
The upcoming DX Chogokin Fire Valkyrie from 'Macross 7'. Now that the majority of Macross is available in the West, the Fire Valkyrie from Macross 7 is getting the DX Chogokin toy treatment. Over the years, the Fire Valkyrie has been given numerous toys, even back when its host anime was released in the 90s. From Yamato's and Arcadia's 1/60 scale efforts, both of which were lovely, and the more recent and smaller Hi-Metal R releases from Bandai Spirits. However, the mainline DX Chogokin releases have dealt with other Macross series and skipped over Macross 7 until now. What's a bit different about this release, apart from its bigger scale and extensive use of die-cast, is that it affords a version of the face with its mouth open. You even get the missiles stored in the calves. The styling is also great, with the speakers in the shoulders being done very nicely. If all of this feels a bit strange for Macross, it's worth remembering that Macross 7 is a bit of a different beast compared to the rest of the franchise. In that, the emphasis in Macross 7 is squarely on music and its direct effects on aliens, in this case known as the Protodeviln. To be fair, this is very much in line with the original Macross, but most modern fans entered the fandom around the time of Macross Plus, which is more straightforward as to its narrative underpinnings. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder As such, Macross 7 can be somewhat divisive amongst the fans, but I personally love the series and its numerous OVA and movie spin-offs. The music is also great, with the band of Fire Bomber and its members having their own musically equipped variable fighters, being very much the stars of the show. The Fire Valkyrie, then, is an iconic design for Macross 7, and with any luck, we'll also get a Sound Booster set at some point (especially as the recent Hi-Metal R release did). Priced at 36,300 yen (or around $253 at the current exchange rate), it's definitely expensive but also similar in cost to other DX Chogokin releases from Bandai Spirits. Released in Japan this October, this DX Chogokin Fire Valkyrie is definitely something I will be picking up, and with any luck, it should come Westward too. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
