Movie Monster Series

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The Movie Monster series (ムービーモンスターシリーズ,   Mūbī Monsutā Shirīzu) is the third line of 6-inch Godzilla figures by Bandai Japan. The line began in 2001.

Information

The Movie Monster series was launched in 2001, featuring reissues of 10 of the figures from the previous line, Toho Kaiju series. The figures were given a new vinyl color, different paint highlights (if not most giving resemblance to their film counterpart), and even a larger size difference when compared the Toho Kaiju toy line. The tags for the Movie Monster figures are completely different from the previous lines, the borders were removed with the pictures of each respective monsters taking up most of the front of the tag, and the back shows a picture of the head of one of the Godzillas from the respective era where the monster originated (Godzilla 1993 for Heisei monsters, and Godzilla 1974 for Showa monsters). Towards the end of 2001, Bandai Japan released one more figure to the Movie Monster series, Burning Godzilla.

To coincide with Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack in 2001, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2001, Baragon 2001, Mothra 2001 and King Ghidorah 2001 to the Movie Monster line up, but unlike the other figures in the line, they are not a part of the 6-inch scale. Instead, they're all part of the 8-inch scale, making this the only line of primarily 6-inch Godzilla figures to also produce 8-inch figures. Theater Exclusives for all four figures were made, as well as an Event Exclusive Crystal Godzilla, a Hobby Exclusive "Translucent Glitter Godzilla" and an "Orange Translucent Baragon." The tags for the GMK figures feature a picture of Godzilla's head.

To coincde with Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla in 2002, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2002 and MechaGodzilla 2002 with and without weapons to the Movie Monster lineup, and like the GMK figures, they're all part of the 8-inch scale. Theater Exclusives for both the Godzilla 2002 and MechaGodzilla 2002 with weapons were also produced, as well as a red "Ito Yokado Godzilla" and "Link Science MechaGodzilla".

During the Asian Fantasy Film Festival in 2002, Bandai representative Yasumasa Kawauchi announced to guests during a panel discussion that there was a 50/50 chance that a 6-inch Titanosaurus would be included in the Movie Monster series. Kawauchi also entertained a suggestion that the new Titanosaurus figure should be paired with a MechaGodzilla 1975 figure. By the end of 2002, Bandai added both MechaGodzilla 1975 and Titanosaurus to the Movie Monster lineup, along with reissues of Fire Rodan and G-Force Moguera with new paint schemes, as well as a re-scale of the Godzilla Junior figure from the standard 8-inch line. A "Clear MechaGodzilla" was produced as well.

In 2003, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 1974 to the Movie Monster lineup. It had been rumored for years that Toho was never proud of the 1970's version of Godzilla and would never allow Bandai Japan to produce a figure of Godzilla from that time period. Bandai also reissued King Caesar with a new paint scheme as well.

To coincde with Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. in 2003, Bandai Japan re-sculpted the Godzilla 2002 and MechaGodzilla figures from the Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla toy line to match their appearances in Tokyo S.O.S. Bandai also produced Mothra Imago 2003 and two Mothra Larva 2003 figures. As with the other Millennium figures, all figures in the Tokyo S.O.S. toy line are all 8-inch scale figures. Theater Exclusives for Godzilla 2003, MechaGodzilla 2003 with weapons, Mothra Imago 2003 and the female Mothra Larva 2003 were also produced, as well as an "HMV Godzilla," a gray "Ito Yokado Godzilla" and an "Ito Yokado MechaGodzilla." The tags for the Tokyo S.O.S. figures include a picture of Godzilla's head.

To coincide with Godzilla's 50th anniversary film, Godzilla: Final Wars, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2004, Anguirus 2004, Rodan 2004, Xilien 2004, Minilla 2004, Gigan 2004, Modified Gigan, Monster X and Keizer Ghidorah to the Movie Monster lineup, as well as reissue Mothra Imago from the Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. toy line in translucent red vinyl under the name "Fire Mothra." Unlike the other Millennium figures, only five figures are in the 8-inch scale (Godzilla 2004, Gigan 2004, Modified Gigan, Monster X and Keizer Ghidorah), the other figures are all part of the 6-inch scale. Theater Exclusives for Godzilla 2004, Anguirus 2004 and Rodan 2004 were also produced, as well as an Ito Yokado Exclusive Godzilla 2004 figure and HMV Exclusive Godzilla 2004 and Anguirus 2004 figures. The tags for the Final Wars figures feature a picture of Godzilla's head. Originally, Bandai was planning to make figures of all the other monsters that appeared in Final Wars, like King Caesar, Ebirah, and even Zilla, but following the film's poor box office performance, Bandai decided to cut their losses and cease production on figures of any other monsters from the film. MechaGodzilla 1975, Titanosaurus, Fire Rodan and Godzilla Junior were also reissued from 2002's lineup, their size and paint schemes are no different from before. However, all four figures come with single-sheet tags with the Toho license sticker in silver sporting the 50th anniversary symbol and the year 2004.

In 2005, Godzilla, SpaceGodzilla, King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah, Destoroyah, Godzilla 1954, Anguirus 2004 and Rodan 2004 were reissued from the 2001 and 2004 lineups with new paint schemes. Godzilla 2004, Gigan 2004, MechaGodzilla 2003 with the drill hand and Mothra Imago 2003 were all scaled down into 6-inch figures and were all given new paint schemes as well. The tags that all the figures come with are different from the previous lineups, the tags have pink borders on both sides, and the back shows a silhouette of the Millennium Godzilla in a fiery background.

In 2006, Bandai Japan added Hedorah to the Movie Monster line up, as well as a reissue of Godzilla 1968 from the Godzilla 50th Anniversary Memorial Box set with a new paint scheme. The tags for both figures are the same as the 2005 figures except the borders are purple instead of pink. Godzilla 1968's tag sfeatures a picture of Godzilla 1973 from Godzilla vs. Megalon. The inside of the tag shows a closeup picture of another publicity shot of Godzilla 1971.

In 2007, Bandai Japan added Jet Jaguar to the Movie Monster lineup. Jet Jaguar's tag is the same as Godzilla 1968's and Hedorah's. However, Jet Jaguar was the only figure released in 2007, and was the last figure in the Movie Monster series line until the reveal of Godzilla 2014 and Winged M.U.T.O. from Legendary Pictures' Godzilla in 2014, as the Ultraman Toyline became quite popular in the meantime.

Both Godzilla 2014 and Winged M.U.T.O. were released on July 12, 2014, the back of the tags for both figures are done entirely in black with the Legendary Pictures' Godzilla title labelled on the top middle right side. The top left of the back of the tags are given a similar shape to Godzilla 2014's Template:Scutes on the tail, and are also outlined in white.[1]

On February 14, 2015, the next toy line by Bandai Japan was at last released, Movie Monster EX.

In April 2016, Bandai announced it would be reviving the Movie Monster Series once again in July to coincide with the upcoming release of Godzilla: Resurgence. Bandai's sales sheet revealed plans for a six-inch Godzilla 2016 figure, along with two other figures tentatively labeled "Godzilla 2016 Monster A" and "Godzilla 2016 Monster B," later revealed to be figures of Godzilla's first two forms in the new film. Bandai also released two new classic figures in the Movie Monster line, Millennium Godzilla and MechaGodzilla 2004. The figures all include unique tags featuring the Template:Scutes of each character. The sales sheet also announced a new series of 12-inch figures dubbed the King of the Monsters Series, which features reissues of Bandai Creation's Godzilla 2004 and Kiryu figures along with a new Godzilla 2016 figure.[2] A repaint of Bandai's earlier MechaGodzilla 2004 figure with the drill hand designed to resemble Evangelion Unit-01 was also released as part of Toho and Gainax's "Godzilla vs. Evangelion" collaboration.

Gallery

References

This is a list of references for Movie Monster Series. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

External Links

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Toy Line
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MOGUERA
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