Minimates

Minimates are a brand of 2-inch poseable plastic figures made by Diamond Select Toys. A set of Godzilla Minimates were released in November 2014 to celebrate Godzilla's 60th anniversary, and two more sets were later produced and released in January of 2015 and March 2016, respectively. Vinimates are a larger 4-inch scale version of Minimates, with a line of Godzilla figures released in the fall of 2019 and a second announced for the spring of 2020.

Minimates

Series 01

“	Lurching from the ocean depths, the monster known as Godzilla revealed himself to the world in a horrifying fashion, laying waste to a large portion of Japan. Since then, however, he has defended Earth from such threats as the ancient Titanosaurus and the extraterrestrial Gigan. With the help of his mystical ally Mothra, Godzilla has proven himself to be a hero many times over.	„
	— Text from the back of the packaging for Series 01

• Godzilla
• Mothra
• Titanosaurus
• Gigan

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 01 packaging

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 01 packaging

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 01 figures out of packaging

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  Prototype Godzilla Minimate with miscolored chest

Series 02

“	Once feared by humanity, Godzilla has proven himself to be a defender of Earth, against threats from outer space, other dimensions, and even Earth itself. The robotic impostor Mechagodzilla and the pollution-loving spores that became Hedorah, the Smog Monster, both had their origins off-planet. Now, when Godzilla needs help, humanity stands ready to assist, with tanks, scientists, and even the size-changing robot Jet Jaguar.	„
	— Text from the back of the packaging for Series 02

• Hedorah
• Mechagodzilla
• Jet Jaguar
• Atomic Godzilla (with removable atomic breath piece)

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 02 packaging

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 02 packaging

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 02 figures out of packaging

Series 03

“	While Godzilla has few allies, there are certain kaiju who earned his respect after facing him in battle. Mothra battled Godzilla to protect her twin larvae, and Rodan fought Godzilla to protect his nestmate before joining him against King Ghidorah. Megalon is one of few who battled Godzilla and was never seen again.	„
	— Text from the back of the packaging for Series 03

• Burning Godzilla (with removable atomic breath piece)
• Rodan
• Megalon
• Mothra Larvae

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 03 packaging.

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  Godzilla Minimates Series 03 figures out of packaging

Vinimates

Series 01

Vinimates for the 1954 Godzilla, Showa Mechagodzilla, and 1999 Godzilla were announced and displayed at Toy Fair 2019. They were released that fall. Diamond Select offered two variant figures exclusively for comic shops for Halloween ComicFest 2019, consisting of a glow-in-the-dark 1954 Godzilla and a Shadow Version of Mechagodzilla resembling Black Mechagodzilla.

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  Godzilla and Mechagodzilla Vinimates figures at Toy Fair 2019

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  Godzilla 1954

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  Mechagodzila

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  Godzilla 1999

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  Mechagodzilla (Shadow Version)

Series 02

A second wave of Godzilla Vinimates, consisting of the 1962 Godzilla, Burning Godzilla and Heisei Rodan, were announced for a spring 2020 release. A Fire Rodan color variant was released as a New York Comic Con 2020 exclusive.

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  Godzilla 1962

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  Burning Godzilla

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  Rodan

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  Fire Rodan

Trivia

• The Godzilla of Series 01 is the only Minimate of Godzilla to be green, with all others being gray.
• The Godzillas of the first two series seem to both be based on the MegaroGoji suit.
• The Burning Godzilla figure from the third Minimate set is the only figure in any of the released Minimates series thus far to be based on the Heisei version of the kaiju included. The second wave of Vinimates, however, feature Burning Godzilla and the Heisei Rodan.
  • Strangely, the Rodan figure from Series 03 seems to be heavily based on the Heisei Rodan; however, text from the back of the box claims Rodan fought against Godzilla to "protect his nestmate," which may refer to either the female Rodan from the character's debut film (though this Rodan never encountered Godzilla) or BabyGodzilla from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, though it goes on to claim Rodan then aided him against King Ghidorah.

External links

• Official Minimates webpage
• Official Vinimates webpage

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