HG Series
The HG Series (
HG Series
Godzilla
The first wave of Godzilla figures was released in 1994 in conjunction with Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla.[1] It includes the following figures:
- Godzilla '95
- King Ghidorah
- LittleGodzilla
- Moguera
- SpaceGodzilla
- Super Mechagodzilla (includes Mechagodzilla and the Garuda)
Gamera
The first wave of Gamera figures was released in 1995 to commemorate Gamera's 30th anniversary and the release of that year's film, Gamera the Guardian of the Universe.[2] The figures included in this set are:
- Gamera
- Gamera 1995
- Gyaos
- Gyaos 1995
- Barugon
Godzilla 2
The second wave of Godzilla figures was released in 1995 to coincide with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.[3] It includes:
- Godzilla '96
- Battra (Imago)
- Biollante
- Mothra (Imago)
- Mecha-King Ghidorah
- Destoroyah (Perfect Form)
Gamera 2
The second wave of Gamera figures was released in 1996 to coincide with the release of Gamera 2: Attack of Legion.[4] The figures included in this set are:
Godzilla 3
The third wave of Godzilla figures was released in 1997 to coincide with Rebirth of Mothra 2.[5] It includes:
- Godzilla '54 (First Generation Godzilla)
- Godzilla '64 (MosuGoji)
- Mothra '96
- Underwater Mode Mothra
- Desghidorah
- Super X and Super X2
Godzilla 4
The fourth wave of Godzilla figures was released in 1998 to coincide with TriStar Pictures' GODZILLA.[6] Figures included in this wave are:
Godzilla 5
The fifth wave of Godzilla figures was released in 1998 to commemorate the release of Rebirth of Mothra 3.[7] It includes the following figures:
Gashapon EX Godzilla
In 1998, Bandai re-released the first wave of Godzilla figures with additional "Gashapon EX" branding. These figures featured slightly different paint jobs and were sold exclusively at 7-Eleven stores instead of in vending machines.[8] Just as with the first wave, the figures included are:
Gamera 3
The third wave of Gamera figures was released in 1999 in conjunction with the release of Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris.[9] The figures included in this set are:
- Gamera '99
- Gamera '99 (flight mode)
- Iris
- Hyper Gyaos
- Jiger
- Zigra
Godzilla 6
In 1999, in anticipation of Godzilla 2000: Millennium, Bandai released a sixth wave of Godzilla figures.[10] There is also a clear version of this set, which can be seen on the display and insert sheets, that was given away to 100 winners of a mail-in raffle. The set includes:
- Godzilla '99
- Godzilla '62
- Orga
- Varan '58
- Minilla '67
- Moguera '57
Godzilla 7
The seventh wave of Godzilla figures was released in 2000 in conjunction with Godzilla vs. Megaguirus.[11] It includes the following figures:
- Godzilla 2001
- Megaguirus
- King Ghidorah '65
- Destoroyah Aggregate Form
- Larval Battra and Larval Mothra
- Xilien
Godzilla 8
The eighth wave of Godzilla figures was released in 2001 to coincide with the release of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.[12] It includes the four monsters featured in the film, plus two classic monsters:
Eiji Tsuburaya Selection
The Eiji Tsuburaya Selection set was released in 2001 to commemorate the 100th birthday of Eiji Tsuburaya. This set includes three Godzilla kaiju and three Ultra Q kaiju:
Godzilla 9
The ninth wave of Godzilla figures was released in 2002 to coincide with the release of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.[13] It includes:
- Godzilla 2002
- Godzilla 1974 (comes with interchangeable arm allowing transformation into Fake Godzilla)
- Kiryu (Mechagodzilla)
- Mechagodzilla 1974
- King Caesar
- Mecha-King Ghidorah
Godzilla 10
The 10th wave of Godzilla figures was released in 2003 along with the film Godzilla: Tokyo SOS. All six of the figures in this wave are new molds, but all except Ebirah are based on monsters that have already received HG Series figures.[14] The figures in this wave are:
- Godzilla 2004
- Kiryu (Mechagodzilla) 2004
- Mothra Imago 2004
- Ebirah 1966 (comes with removable water accessory)
- Destoroyah Perfect Form 1995
- SpaceGodzilla 1994
Godzilla 11
In 2004, to celebrate both the release of Godzilla Final Wars and Godzilla's 50th anniversary, Bandai released a 11th wave of Godzilla figures.[15] All of the figures in this wave are of monsters featured in Godzilla Final Wars, including:
- Godzilla 2005
- Monster X
- Gigan 2004 (includes interchangeable head and hands allowing transformation into Modified Gigan)
- Fire Mothra
- Rodan 2005
- Kamacuras 2005 and Kumonga 2005
Godzilla Chronicle
Continuing the celebration of Godzilla's 50th anniversary, a wave of reissues of past Godzilla figures was released in early March 2005. It includes:
- Godzilla 1954 - from Godzilla 3
- Godzilla 1954 - from Eiji Tsuburaya Selection
- Godzilla 1955 - from Eiji Tsuburaya Selection
- Godzilla 1962 - from Godzilla 6
- Godzilla 1964 - from Godzilla 3
- Godzilla 1974 - from Godzilla 9
- Godzilla 1989 - from Godzilla 5
- Godzilla 1994 - from Godzilla
- Godzilla 1995 - from Godzilla 2
- Burning Godzilla - from Godzilla 4
- Godzilla 1999 - from Godzilla 6
- Godzilla 2000 - from Godzilla 7
- Godzilla 2001 - from Godzilla 8
- Godzilla 2002 - from Godzilla 9
- Godzilla 2003 - from Godzilla 10
Godzilla Chronicle 2
A second wave of reissues, this time of Godzilla monsters other than Godzilla himself, was released sometime in 2005. It includes:
- Anguirus 1955 - from Eiji Tsuburaya Selection
- Baragon 1965 - from Godzilla 5
- King Ghidorah 1965 - from Godzilla 7
- Gorosaurus 1967 - from Godzilla 5
- Gigan 1972 - from Godzilla 4
- Megalon 1973 - from Godzilla 8
- Mechagodzilla 1974 - from Godzilla 9
- Biollante 1989 - from Godzilla 2
- Mecha-King Ghidorah 1991 - from Godzilla 2
- Battra 1992 (Larva) & Mothra 1992 (Larva) - from Godzilla 7
- Battra 1992 (Imago) - from Godzilla 2
- Mothra 1992 (Imago) - from Godzilla 2
Godzilla Chronicle 3
A third wave of Godzilla reissues, as well as a brand-new Hedorah figure, was released in late January 2006. It includes:
- Godzilla 2004 - from Godzilla 11
- Destoroyah 1995 - from Godzilla 2
- LittleGodzilla 1994 - from Godzilla
- SpaceGodzilla 1994 - from Godzilla
- Moguera 1994 - from Godzilla
- Hedorah 1971
- Anguirus 1968 - from Godzilla 4
- Rodan 1956 - from Godzilla 5
Gamera Chronicle
A fourth wave of reissued figures, now of Gamera monsters, was released in early April 2006 as a tie-in for Gamera the Brave. It includes:
- Gamera 1996 - from Gamera 2
- Guiron - from Gamera 2
- Gyaos 1995 - from Gamera
- Legion - from Gamera 2
- Jiger - from Gamera 3
- Gamera - from Gamera
- Gyaos - from Gamera
- Space Gyaos - from Gamera 2
Godzilla 2014
In 2014, Bandai released its first wave of completely new Godzilla HG figures since 2004, in commemoration of Legendary Pictures' Godzilla. From this point onward, the waves abandoned their previous numbering. It features four figures:
Shin Godzilla
To coincide with the upcoming film Shin Godzilla, Bandai released a new wave of Godzilla figures in August 2016. The wave includes:
Shin Godzilla 2
Following the release of Shin Godzilla, Bandai announced a second wave of HG Series figures based on the film. It includes all four forms of Shin Godzilla:
- Godzilla 2016 (1st Form)
- Godzilla 2016 (2nd Form)
- Godzilla 2016 (3rd Form)
- Godzilla 2016 (4th Form) [includes interchangeable mouth parts to simulate Godzilla firing his atomic breath]
Shin Godzilla Climax
In 2017, Bandai released another wave of Shin Godzilla figures, all of which were repaints of the figures from the previous wave. Figures in this wave are:
- Godzilla 2016 2nd Form Model Color Ver.
- Godzilla 2016 4th Form Model Color Ver. (includes interchangeable mouth parts to simulate Godzilla firing his atomic breath)
- Godzilla 2016 4th Form Frozen Ver.
- Godzilla 2016 4th Form Daytime Ver. (includes interchangeable mouth parts to simulate Godzilla firing his atomic breath)
Godzilla 2017
Bandai announced a wave of HG Series figures for release in the third week of January 2018 to commemorate GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters. Figures in this wave are:
- Godzilla 2017
- Burning Godzilla (1995)
- Godzilla 1995
- Godzilla 2016 4th Form
Gamera One
A new wave of Gamera figures were released in April 2021 as part of the then-ongoing commemoration of the franchise's 55th anniversary. The wave consisted of four figures from the 1995 film Gamera the Guardian of the Universe. The poses of the flight mode figures are based on the film's Japanese theatrical release poster. The figures include:
- Gamera 1995
- Gamera 1995 flight mode
- Gyaos 1995
- Gyaos 1995 flight mode
Shochiku x Toei Kaiju Festival
A "Shochiku x Toei Kaiju Festival" wave was rolled out in the second week of February 2022 as a promotion for the companies' film What to Do with the Dead Kaiju? It includes:
- Kibo (from What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?)
- Mushroom (from What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?)
- Guilala (from The X from Outer Space)
- Metallinome (from Captain Ultra)
Gamera Two
A second wave of Gamera figures, this time based on the 1996 film Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, was released in August 2022. It includes:
- Gamera 1996
- Gamera 1996 flight mode
- Soldier Legion
- Flying Legion
Toho Kaiju
A wave of "Toho Kaiju" HG Series figures was announced in September 2023 and released in the third week of December. It includes:
- Godzilla (2023)
- Gigan (1972)
- Sanda (1966)
- Gaira (1966)
Gamera 2023
A set of figures based on the 2023 anime series GAMERA -Rebirth- was announced in November 2023 and released in the third week of April 2024. It includes:
- Gamera 2023
- Gamera (flight mode A)
- Gamera (flight mode B)
- Gyaos (Juvenile)
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
A set of figures based on the movie Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire were revealed in June 2024 and released in the fourth week of September. It includes:
Destroy All Monsters
In celebration of both Godzilla's 70th anniversary and the HG Series' 30th anniversary, a set of figures based on the movie Destroy All Monsters will be released in November 2024. It will include:
- Godzilla (1968)
- Rodan (1964)
- Baragon (1965)
- Gorosaurus (1967)
Godzilla vs. Mothra
A set of figures based partially around Godzilla vs. Mothra was announced in September 2024. It will include:
HG D+
Godzilla 01
In the fourth week of May 2019, to accompany the release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Bandai released the first wave of Godzilla figures in the HG D+ line. These figures come in round shells bearing the texture of Godzilla's skin that can be opened into miniature dioramas, complete with effect parts. The wave includes the following four figures:
Godzilla 02
Bandai released the second wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in November 2019. Figures in this wave are:
- Godzilla (1989)
- Biollante (Flower Beast Form)
- Hedorah
- Mechagodzilla (Type-3 Kiryu)
Godzilla 03
Bandai released the third wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in April 2020. The Godzilla 2016 (2nd Form) and (4th Form) are reissues of the sculpts from the Shin Godzilla 2 set. Figures in this wave are:
- Godzilla (1999)
- Gigan (1972)
- Godzilla (2016) (2nd Form)
- Godzilla (2016) (4th Form)
Godzilla 04
Bandai released the fourth wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in October 2020. Unlike older sets, the base of the dioramas are purple rather than black. Figures in this wave are:
Godzilla 05
Bandai released the fifth wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in January 2021. Figures in this wave are:
Godzilla 06
Bandai announced the first two figures in the sixth wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in November 2020, and the next two in February 2021. The set was released in August 2021 to commemorate the earlier release of Godzilla vs. Kong. Figures in this wave are:
Godzilla 07
Bandai initially announced the first two figures in the seventh wave of HG D+ Godzilla figures in November 2020 as part of the sixth wave. However, in April 2021, it was revealed that Mechagodzilla and AquaMothra would be included in this set, along with Godzilla Ultima. The set was released in October 2021, and includes:
Miscellaneous figures
HG D+ EX Mothra & Rodan & Mothra Larva Set
Premium Bandai released a set of Godzilla "HG D+ EX" figures in November 2019. Unlike the previous D+ Godzilla 01 wave, these figures come as a box set with only half of the capsule shell, which is used as a base for the dioramas. The set includes three figures:
- Mothra (2019)
- Mothra larva (2019)
- Rodan (2019)
HG D+ EX Biollante (Plant Beast Form)
Premium Bandai announced a second Godzilla HG D+ EX figure in August 2020, to be released March 2021. Unlike the previous EX set, this is a single extra large gashapon with a light-up function:
- Biollante (Plant Beast Form)
Gashapon HGX Godzilla
In May of 2022, Bandai announced a wave of Godzilla figures in its Gashapon HGX line. Unlike past waves, HGX consists of seven different sets, each containing a figure and pieces of another figure, all of which are from the movie Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. If all seven sets are collected, the pieces can be assembled into a figure of Destoroyah's Perfect Form. A lighting unit which is sold separately can be combined with the Godzilla 1995 figure and used to make its body glow. The sets are as follows:
- Godzilla 1995 and Destoroyah (horn)
- Super X3 and Destoroyah (right wing and right arm)
- MBT-MB92 and Destoroyah (head and upper body)
- CLT-95 and Destoroyah (left wing and left arm)
- MBAW-93 and Destoroyah (left and right legs)
- Destoroyah (Juvenile) and Destoroyah (lower body)
- Destoroyah (Aggregate) and Destoroyah (tail)
Bootlegs
Starting in the summer of 2000, bootlegs of the Wave 4 Godzilla figures began appearing on the internet, and remain common on sites such as eBay and Amazon to this day. Though at first glance it may be difficult to spot the differences between the real figures and the bootlegs, there are some notable differences. The bootleg figures are generally smaller and feature less precise paint jobs. They also lack the markings on their tails which list the copyright date and "BANDAI CHINA," instead simply reading "CHINA."[16] Bootlegs of the Burning Godzilla specifically will often feature alternate paint jobs, recoloring the burning patches with different colors. Below are pictures comparing the actual figures and their bootlegs.
Trivia
- A wave of HG Series figures has been made for almost every Godzilla film since 1994. The only films without their own dedicated waves are GODZILLA: City on the Edge of Battle and GODZILLA: The Planet Eater.
- HG Series figures have been made of every single unique monster in the Gamera series, with the exception of Zedus.
References
This is a list of references for HG 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]
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