Bandai America
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Bandai America, formally Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America as of 2021, is the U.S. distribution arm of Bandai, which produces and releases toys for the American market. Bandai America released Godzilla figures in the U.S. from 2002 to 2019. They were primarily available at Toys 'R' Us and Kmart until 2019, when Walmart began selling the 13th wave of classic Godzilla figures. Despite announcing plans to create figures for upcoming films following Legendary Pictures' Godzilla in 2014, the company ceased releasing new figures, instead reissuing prior figures or importing figures from Japan. Bandai America stopped releasing Godzilla figures in 2019, after which Playmates largely began filling its former role by both re-releasing Bandai America figures and creating new figures from both the classic Toho films and the films of the Monsterverse. However, Bandai America resumed releasing Godzilla figures in 2023, listing five Movie Monster Series figures on Amazon.[1] Bandai America received the master toy license for the Ultra Series from Tsuburaya Productions in 2023 as well, and will begin selling figures and other merchandise based on the franchise and the upcoming Netflix animated Ultraman film in North America in summer of 2024.[2]
Classic Godzilla figures
Wave 1 (2002)
Bandai America's first Godzilla figures became available online at the end of 2002, reaching brick-and-mortar stores the following year.
The back of the Wave 1 box
Wave 2 (2005)
After several years of silence, new Bandai America Godzilla figures arrived in stores without any prior announcement.[3] This would become a staple of the company's releases. Bandai America planned to include two additional figures in this wave, Anguirus 1955 and Mecha-King Ghidorah, but they were ultimately cancelled.
The back of the Wave 2 box
Unreleased Mecha-King Ghidorah and Anguirus 1955 figures
Wave 3 (2006)
Every monster included in this wave was from Godzilla Final Wars, which Sony released on DVD in the United States in December 2005. The art on the box was changed from being mostly orange with the Millennium Godzilla breathing his orange atomic breath to Godzilla 2004 breathing an uncharacteristically orange atomic beam set on a blue and white background with a faded Showa King Ghidorah on the right above him.
Wave 4 (2007)
The fourth wave was released in 2007, and featured all-new figures. It was also the first wave to introduce figures in a new 12-inch scale. The box art was changed yet again, this time still featuring Godzilla 2004 breathing an orange atomic breath on a grey background with a faded Showa Gigan above him and to the right as well as a faded Showa King Ghidorah below him to the left.
12-inch Godzilla Final Wars
12-inch Mechagodzilla
The back of the Wave 4 box
Wave 5 (2009)
This wave included First Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, and a 12-inch tall Gigan 2004.
12-inch Gigan 2004
Wave 6 (2010)
Wave 6 included reissues of Godzilla 2004, First Godzilla, and Rainbow Mothra. The box art was also altered, primarily the color, changing it to a black background with red destroyed buildings, as opposed to the old boxes' simple grey, though it still featured Godzilla 2004.
Wave 7 (2011)
Wave 7 included more reissues, this time Godzilla 2001, Gigan 2004, and SpaceGodzilla.
Gigan 2004
Wave 8 (2012)
Like the past two waves, Wave 8 consisted entirely of reissues. Bandai America planned to include a new LittleGodzilla figure in this wave, but cancelled it after learning of the character's low popularity among Godzilla fans.[4]
Unreleased LittleGodzilla
Fusion Series Wave 1 (2012)
Following the release of Wave 8, Bandai America launched a series of figures called the Godzilla Fusion Series. Figures in the Godzilla Fusion Series are reissues of previous molds but made from softer, translucent, and glittery vinyl.
Fusion Series Godzilla 1968
Fusion Series Gigan
Fusion Series Mechagodzilla
Wave 9 (2013)
This wave was headlined by a new King Caesar figure, along with reissues of Burning Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, Gigan, Rainbow Mothra, and Godzilla 1968, along with the 12-inch Godzilla 2004 and Mechagodzilla.
The back of the Wave 9 12-inch figure box
The back of the Wave 9 6.5-inch figure box
Fusion Series Wave 2 (2013)
The second wave of Fusion Series figures was released in 2013. It consisted of figures not part of the initial Fusion Series line. Bandai America planned a variant of the Fusion Series Burning Godzilla named Meltdown Godzilla and made of bright orange vinyl representing Godzilla melting down during the climax of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, but cancelled it.
Fusion Series Godzilla 2000
Fusion Series Rainbow Mothra
Fusion Series Burning Godzilla
Fusion Series Burning Godzilla prototype
Unreleased Fusion Series Meltdown Godzilla
Wave 10 (2014)
Wave 10 consisted entirely of reissues, though it notably changed the box art from Godzilla 2004 to a photograph of the Godzilla 1954 figure featured in the series.
The back of the Wave 10 box
Wave 11 (2014)
Wave 11 was released to commemorate the release of Legendary Pictures' Godzilla, and consisted of a figure of Godzilla from that film along with reissues of Godzilla 1954 and King Ghidorah.
Wave 12 (2015)
This wave included reissues of the 6-inch Godzilla 2014 and King Ghidorah figures, as well as a reissue of the 12-inch Godzilla 2004 and a new 12-inch Godzilla 2014. Bandai America's Toy Fair 2015 display included Godzilla 2014 and MUTO figures from Bandai's Godzilla-E.G. line, rebranded as "Hatch-n-Heroes," though they were never released. These boxes' art was changed as to better fit the 2014 film, the art being orange and black with Godzilla 2014 featured up in the top right corner.
Wave 13 (2019)
This wave began arriving at Walmarts in January. Though Bandai America had released figures of all these monsters before, they partially resculpted King Ghidorah[5] and gave Godzilla 1968 a duller pink mouth. In early 2020, these figures were repackaged and sold alongside Playmates' new 6-inch Godzilla figures, though the figures themselves were not altered from the Bandai America releases.
Wave 14 (2019)
Beginning in June 2019, reissues of Bandai America's 12-inch Godzilla Final Wars and Mechagodzilla figures were sold in stores such as GameStop and FYE, alongside reissues of the chibi figure two-packs.
Play sets
Pack of Destruction (2002)
This set featured 10 2.5-inch kaiju figures: Godzilla 1954, Burning Godzilla, Minilla, Manda, Mothra Larva and Imago, Gigan, MOGUERA, Destoroyah (Aggregate Form), and Destoroyah (Complete Form).
The front of the packaging
Godzilla Crumble Zone (2002)
This set featured all the monsters from Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, although the film had yet to be released in the U.S.: Godzilla, King Ghidorah (with folded wings), Mothra Larva and Imago, and Baragon. It also included a large mat, several vehicles, and breakable buildings.
The front of the packaging
The back of the packaging
Tokyo Vinyl (2012)
In 2012, Bandai America began a line of smaller stylized vinyl figures, consisting of Godzilla 2004 and Mechagodzilla. Due to the poor sales of this line, Bandai America cancelled plans for figures of Godzilla 1954, King Ghidorah, and Minilla.[4]
Unreleased Godzilla 1954
Unreleased King Ghidorah and Minilla
Chibi figures (2013)
In 2013 Bandai America began releasing small chibi figures of six monsters, available in single packs, two-packs or as a complete set. The two-packs were reissued in 2019.
Chibi figures six-pack front cover
Chibi figures six-pack back cover
Chibi Godzilla and Mechagodzilla two-pack
Chibi Mothra and King Ghidorah two-pack
Chibi figures two-pack back cover
Chibi Godzilla
Chibi Mechagodzilla
Chibi Mothra
Chibi King Ghidorah
Chibi Gigan
Chibi Destoroyah
Chibi Destoroyah packaged as a single figure
Convention-exclusive figures
Bandai America has released three convention-exclusive figures: a Burning Godzilla 2004 at the San Diego Comic-Con 2013, a Godzilla 2014 with blue dorsal fins at the New York Comic-Con 2014, and a sparkling, semitransparent Godzilla 1954 at the San Diego Comic-Con 2019.
Burning Godzilla 2004
Burning Godzilla 2004 + Box
Burning Godzilla 2004 + Box
Godzilla 2014 with box
Godzilla 1954 in box
Godzilla 1954 box sleeve
Godzilla (2014) figures
In addition to the Godzilla 2014 figures released along with Bandai America's classic Godzilla figures, the company produced several toys exclusively for Legendary Pictures' Godzilla in 2014.
Atomic Roar Godzilla
This figure's jaw unhinges to shoot out a pillar of flashing atomic breath as it roars. It is powered by three button cell batteries, which are included.
Godzilla Fighting Figures
A button on the tail of the Smash Strike Godzilla causes it to thrash around, while a button on the chest of the Tail Strike Godzilla causes its tail to swing.
Smash Strike Godzilla
Loose Smash Strike Godzilla
Tail Strike Godzilla
Loose Tail Strike Godzilla
Packs of Destruction
The Packs of Destruction each contain a small monster figure, several breakable buildings, and a military aircraft. Each pack has two variants with differently-colored buildings. These packs scale with the larger Destruction City set.
Godzilla (grey buildings)
Godzilla (red buildings)
Winged MUTO (grey buildings)
Winged MUTO (blue buildings)
Destruction City
The Destruction City consists of small figures of Godzilla and the Eight-Legged MUTO, several buildings, and five military vehicles. The pieces of this set scale with the smaller individual Packs of Destruction.
Godzilla Chibi Two-Packs
As part of their Godzilla merchandise, Bandai America released chibi figures of Godzilla and both MUTOs. These figures are the same size and style as the company's 2013 chibi Godzilla figures.
Chibi Battle Damaged Godzilla and Eight-Legged MUTO two-pack
Chibi Godzilla
Chibi Battle Damaged Godzilla
Chibi Winged MUTO
Chibi Eight-Legged MUTO
Shokugan (2014 and 2019)
- Main article: Shokugan.
Bandai America brought Wave 1 of these 3.5-inch soft vinyl figures to the United States in 2014. Wave 2 figures, as well as a nearly 20-inch premium Godzilla 2018, were part of the company's display at Toy Fair 2019.[6][7] Wave 2 of the Shokugan figures was called "3.5" Import Vinyl Figures" in Bandai America's display, while the giant Godzilla 2018 was called "Mega Godzilla." Pre-orders indicated that the wave was split into two assortments, the first consisting of Godzilla 2017, Type-3 Kiryu, Rodan 2004, Hedorah 2004, and Shin Godzilla's second and fourth forms, and the second consisting of Godzilla 2004, Godzilla 1989, and Anguirus 2004 in addition to reissues of Godzilla 2017, Type-3 Kiryu, and Shin Godzilla's fourth form. The figures shipped in August of 2019.
Godzilla 2016 (fourth form), Godzilla 2016 (second form), Godzilla 2017, and Type-3 Kiryu 3.5" Import Vinyl Figures in Bandai America's Toy Fair 2019 display
Mega Godzilla alongside Bandai America's King Ghidorah, King Caesar, and Godzilla 1954 classic Godzilla figures at Toy Fair 2019
Godzilla Card Game (2019)
- Main article: Godzilla Card Game.
Bandai America released a competitive Godzilla Card Game in September of 2019, and began supporting the game with organized in-store play events in October.
Movie Monster Series (2023)
On July 15, 2023, after nearly four years of silence regarding any Godzilla merchandise, Bandai America announced that it would be bringing five previously-released Japanese Movie Monster Series figures to North America through Amazon that coming fall. The figures included King Ghidorah 2019, Millennium Godzilla, Godzilla 2019, Hedorah, and Mechagodzilla (Heavily Armed).[1]
On August 25, Bandai America announced that it would next be releasing Destoroyah and Burning Godzilla on November 30.[8]
Japanese releases
- Main articles: Movie Monster Series#Movie Monster EX Series, Movie Monster Series#King of the Monsters Series.
At the least, the Smash Strike, Tail Strike, and Atomic Roar Godzillas, as well as the Destruction City, were all sold in Japan. Bandai also released the 6-inch Bandai America figures of Godzilla 1968, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla 1974, and King Caesar as part of the Movie Monster EX Series in 2015. The following year, it released the company's 12-inch Godzilla 2004 and Kiryu figures as part of its King of the Monsters Series.
Atomic Roar Godzilla
Tail Strike Godzilla
Destruction City
Unreleased Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Shin Godzilla figures
Bandai America announced plans to produce figures of Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah from Godzilla: King of the Monsters in a 2015 interview with Toho Kingdom, though they were ultimately never released.[9] The company also expressed plans to release figures for Shin Godzilla in the same interview, which were never released either.
Bootlegs
Bootleg versions of Bandai America Godzilla products include 12-inch figures of Godzilla 2004 and Kiryu, vinyl versions of the "Smash Strike" and "Tail Strike" Godzilla 2014 figures, and a malformed Godzilla 2000 with a glowing chest and dorsal fins.
Trivia
- Bandai America has long been erroneously referred to by Godzilla fans as "Bandai Creation," due to packaging for their first five waves of figures reading "Creation" underneath the Bandai logo.
- From December 2014 to February 2015, Toho Kingdom hosted a Bandai America poll for fans to weigh in on which non-Godzilla monsters they wanted the company to produce next.[9] The top six vote-getters were Anguirus, Megalon, Titanosaurus, the female MUTO, Varan, and Biollante. Bandai America never released any of these figures, nor the Shin Godzilla figures they referred to in a follow-up interview with the website.
References
This is a list of references for Bandai America. 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]
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