Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

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Gojirasaur
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Gojirasaur »

KingKaiju wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:47 pm Bandai seems to be liking their 5" figures. I've seen a few of them at my local target. Solid figures for the price they're at.
Personally, I had hoped they were a retail-friendly stepping stone to getting more MMS into western big box retailers, and that alone. They have made some inroads on MMS with a few smaller chains, and maybe the 5" series will establish more of a footprint with more retailers to that end, but, despite owning a couple, I do not want 5" to be the future.

Not to restate all the points I made before, but I still find it sad that Bandai has had to consolidate down to lower-end product lines rather than simply having different products at different price points. Unlike those other disparate lower price-point ranges like blind boxes, gashapon, and the like, the 5" range seems to aim more for the market MMS is made for than not, but is less in every conceivable way.

I hope it is merely still a foot in the door to get better product into retailers who carry them, but if we start seeing more effort being put into 5", or even the action figure range, than MMS, like more event exclusives, or, heaven forbid, P-Bandai releases, then Bandai will have sunk even lower than before.
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LSD Jellyfish
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

Mechagigan wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 4:05 pm Y'know they really ought to do a Third Street Godzilla. I'd instantly buy that. Seems like it'd be really fitting for some kind of exclusive

Edit: anybody seen these? Looks like new variants of the 5" US minus one. Weird, but I like the mount fuji looking blue one

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So to be clear, these seem to be “wide releases”. I’m seeing listings of these things on Amazon, Yodobashi Camera, and a few other places, including of course the G-Store. I’m not going to preorder these or anything, and just check if they’re in the stores on their release date.

This won’t replace the Movie Monster Series, but it would not surprise me if they’ve pivoted into seeing if there’s a market for smaller figures that are cheaper.

Keep in mind there’s something ironic about the current MMS stuff being around this price ten years ago, and now something half the size is that price.

Added in 25 minutes 19 seconds:
Titanus_Rodan wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:14 pm LSD-
I’ve been meaning to ask you since you live in Japan but where do they normally sell the Bandai Godzilla figures at? Obviously there’s Toys R Us, Yodabashi Camera and specialty shops but do they sell them at other major retail chains in Japan too?
Late response but;
I’ve seen MMS Stuff/Bandai stuff (ultraman) sold wherever kids stuff is available, but usually the selection isn’t great. Big malls tend to have these kind of hot-topic type stores, have them too. Absolutely right about Toys R Us and Yadobashi Camera. However, really at this point I just order most of them on Amazon.

Ah, here’s another kind of electronics/department store, Joshin, that sells them:
https://joshinweb.jp/srhzs.html?KEYWORD ... EST_CODE=1
Spirit Ghidorah 2010 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:54 pm Anno-san pleasures me more than Yamasaki-san.

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Gojirasaur
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Gojirasaur »

LSD Jellyfish wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 2:46 am This won’t replace the Movie Monster Series, but it would not surprise me if they’ve pivoted into seeing if there’s a market for smaller figures that are cheaper.

Keep in mind there’s something ironic about the current MMS stuff being around this price ten years ago, and now something half the size is that price.
Irony is a nice way of putting it.
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

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Gojirasaur wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:58 am
Not to restate all the points I made before, but I still find it sad that Bandai has had to consolidate down to lower-end product lines rather than simply having different products at different price points. Unlike those other disparate lower price-point ranges like blind boxes, gashapon, and the like, the 5" range seems to aim more for the market MMS is made for than not, but is less in every conceivable way.

I hope it is merely still a foot in the door to get better product into retailers who carry them, but if we start seeing more effort being put into 5", or even the action figure range, than MMS, like more event exclusives, or, heaven forbid, P-Bandai releases, then Bandai will have sunk even lower than before.
This again? Why are you worrying about something that's most likely not going to happen? Are you still on about that fear that this 5" series is going to replace other things Bandai is doing? The MMS series seems to be thriving at Japanese retail and the Godzilla Store, they're still doing HG figures (and new set just hit recently), SHMA seems to be as healthy as it ever was (who knew they'd do film accurate versions of the Godzilla vs Gigan cast) and they also just related a gorgeous high end Soul of Chogokin Mechagodzilla. Bandai is doing fine and things like the MMS series are not going to go away because Bandai is selling a smaller version of the same thing to give retail American customers some variety in size and pricing.

You seem poised for disaster to hit any minute now just so your claim that Bandai isn't meeting expectations you set for them 20-30 years is coming true. I know my push back to your posts annoys you and I'm sorry. But come on man, stop with the doom and gloom.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Titanus_Rodan »

Gojirasaur wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:58 am
KingKaiju wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:47 pm Bandai seems to be liking their 5" figures. I've seen a few of them at my local target. Solid figures for the price they're at.
Personally, I had hoped they were a retail-friendly stepping stone to getting more MMS into western big box retailers, and that alone. They have made some inroads on MMS with a few smaller chains, and maybe the 5" series will establish more of a footprint with more retailers to that end, but, despite owning a couple, I do not want 5" to be the future.

Not to restate all the points I made before, but I still find it sad that Bandai has had to consolidate down to lower-end product lines rather than simply having different products at different price points. Unlike those other disparate lower price-point ranges like blind boxes, gashapon, and the like, the 5" range seems to aim more for the market MMS is made for than not, but is less in every conceivable way.

I hope it is merely still a foot in the door to get better product into retailers who carry them, but if we start seeing more effort being put into 5", or even the action figure range, than MMS, like more event exclusives, or, heaven forbid, P-Bandai releases, then Bandai will have sunk even lower than before.
I really don’t understand what Bandai is doing that you find so offensive

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Legion1979 »

The Bandai Godzilla lines are in the best place they've been since at least 2004 and yet, Gojirasaur is ready for everything to come crashing down.

I truly don't get why we keep having this conversation.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Gojirasaur »

Titanus_Rodan wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 9:42 am I really don’t understand what Bandai is doing that you find so offensive
Offensive? I'm concerned; not offended. I'd like to see Bandai excel in the west. The 5" line seemed like a temporary stepping stone when it was conceived with its shelf-friendly J-boxes. While these new colorways might be wide releases, they are reminiscent of exclusives, and it worries me a little that the effort to push MMS further into western mass-market retail might be winding down with the 5" line being the main vinyl line. I hope it's not the case, but unique releases are not what I expected to see in the 5" range.

As for the previous points I made, I stand by them, and there's no need to rehash explaining them again to those who don't agree.
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Legion1979 »

My own opinion here? Who cares? The retail MMS in this country are just 1:1 riessues of the Japanese retail stuff anyway. Regardless over the last two years 20 MMS figures have gotten US retail releases, which is a nice variety honestly. The 5" line is what so far? G54, MG and Minus One G, with some variants? It doesn't feel at all like this line is poised to replace the MMS series at US retail.

And again. If it does, who cares? For the most part the US releases of this stuff isn't unique, and what happens here has no effect on how these sell in Japan, where the MMS is clearly still Bandai's flagship line. I honestly don't understand the point of getting so worked out about any of this. US consumers are lucky that Bandai is doing this at all.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by KingKaiju »

JVM wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:00 pm
KingKaiju wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:08 am Man. My prayers were answered. Dream 5 set was restocked, and preorders reopened for Super Godzilla on BBTS. THAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOU, Godzilla!
Preorders appear to have closed again for SG. I had second thoughts about skipping him.
I saw that. I must have gotten lucky with someone cancelling their order. lol
Gojirasaur wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:58 am
KingKaiju wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:47 pm Bandai seems to be liking their 5" figures. I've seen a few of them at my local target. Solid figures for the price they're at.
Personally, I had hoped they were a retail-friendly stepping stone to getting more MMS into western big box retailers, and that alone. They have made some inroads on MMS with a few smaller chains, and maybe the 5" series will establish more of a footprint with more retailers to that end, but, despite owning a couple, I do not want 5" to be the future.

Not to restate all the points I made before, but I still find it sad that Bandai has had to consolidate down to lower-end product lines rather than simply having different products at different price points. Unlike those other disparate lower price-point ranges like blind boxes, gashapon, and the like, the 5" range seems to aim more for the market MMS is made for than not, but is less in every conceivable way.

I hope it is merely still a foot in the door to get better product into retailers who carry them, but if we start seeing more effort being put into 5", or even the action figure range, than MMS, like more event exclusives, or, heaven forbid, P-Bandai releases, then Bandai will have sunk even lower than before.
Yeah, I would love more access to MMS figures. I've seen my local FYE carry a few, and that's great. But between these 5" mini MMS or a wider MMS release, I want that. Hell, the Godzilla Store opening to the US was already huge for me. I'm hoping we get there eventually.
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by ShyGuyPal101 »

(sorry keep editing and expanding upon my thoughts) On the topic of the 5" line: I don't think it will be more than a side-line that maybe we get a few figures from throughout the year. The jump to the smaller scale for Ultra Man, although not ideal at the time, was probably a smart move in the long term. There are probably 10x more monsters in the various Ultra Man series than there are for Godzilla. If you wanted a figure of that one favorite monster of yours, then you don't have a whole lot of luck on your side. I don't think we'll ever see a Godzilla 500-like series for a very long time, if ever. This 5" line seems more experimental to me than anything. Plus Bandai has a habit of starting new lines and dropping them early in. Or they forget about them until a few years later (*coughkingseriescough*). It may be another situation like that. Regardless, I don't think we'll see Movie Monster Series go away anytime soon. Plus, they know how much they can milk us now. There's no putting that cat back in the bag! :lol:

However! I do think its a neat side line. I would really hope we get smaller sized kaiju in the line eventually, like we did the Odo Island Godzilla. By the way, not sure who the user was that gave a detailed description of the figure- thank you for that! I am looking forward to it. I think its nice if it lives alongside the MMS line. Personally, I wish the Shokugan line would come back becuse I like that scale size a bit better. They re-released them in blind boxes lately, but without any new figures. It feels more appropriate because the size different is much more significant than the 5" line. Anyways, thats all to say I don't mind the 5" line and hope it continues in parallel with less attention. Just something that exists, like the Shokugan figures did. MMS is definetly the money maker and has been only getting bigger and bigger throughout the years.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by GODZILLAFAN1964 »

Really hoping Godzilla 71 gets revealed soon

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Mechagigan »

I only have the 5" G'54, since that's always been one of my favorite MMS sculpts, but that's it so far. I'm tempted to buy Minus if I see him in person, but the lack of leg articulation is really lame. I'll pretty much only be buying sculpts I already like/have, since I do really like tiny toys, and cool characters that match the scale. Minilla must happen. I think complex characters like G2K or Evo would look neat in the scale, too

I miss the cool little Shokugans too, though. Smaller is cooler, especially for all the detail they managed to pack in. The Shin Godzilla and Baby Shin from 2018 or so are both favorites.

If I had to make some sweeping guess, I'd say maybe MMS will lean more towards us big kids, and this 5" line could take the position of widely available kid's toys. Seems like MMS has been paying more attention to it's hardcore fanbase, and the new posed figures definitely play into that. Though, more realistically, it's probably nothing more than they're just going to recycle the US figures and throw cool paint jobs on them, as these two already have.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Petezilla »

I'm actually curious what the future has in store. I really hope the 6" MMS will not be affected much by this new 5" line in the long run. But I fear otherwise. Once BANDAI introduced the Ultra 500 Series in 2013, their previous flagship 6" UHS/UMS was killed of abruptly - although having had stable monthly releases for years upon year before.
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Size DOES matter!

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Creature22 »

MMS Dancing Godzilla 1965 just entered my HobbyLink Private Warehouse… right down to the wire as I only had about 2 days left to ship another item I was holding, so the wait paid off.

Somehow DHL is the cheapest option for me. Now the race begins to receive my Godzilla ‘65 before ShinRobjira. :lol:

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Legion1979 »

He probably already has it. He's probably right now trying to come up with something to say about the titties.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by GODZILLAFAN1964 »

Really hoping Godzilla 65 comes with a tag

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Gojirasaur »

Petezilla wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:27 am I'm actually curious what the future has in store. I really hope the 6" MMS will not be affected much by this new 5" line in the long run. But I fear otherwise. Once BANDAI introduced the Ultra 500 Series in 2013, their previous flagship 6" UHS/UMS was killed of abruptly - although having had stable monthly releases for years upon year before.
Thanks for injecting that history into the discussion. The logic of this is lost on some.

Still, I hope this is not the case here, and I am not saying for a fact I believe it is...yet. It has just been a possibility, one which the recent unique releases within the 5" line seem to raise a bit more now to me. While conceivable that the economics of shifting more effort into the 5" line and pulling back on MMS could possibly make sense on paper, I will not be one of the adopters were that to come to pass. The tradeoffs are too many in the 5" line to satisfy the desire for reasonably affordable, and reasonably articulated, tangible representations of the characters we love.
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Poe Ghostal »

Meanwhile I've never stopped being sad the line switched from 8" to 6"
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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Legion1979 »

Gojirasaur wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 8:10 am Thanks for injecting that history into the discussion. The logic of this is lost on some.
Must be the reason you're ignoring my responses. Guess my 40 years of collecting this crap doesn't matter because I don't get your "logic".
Last edited by Legion1979 on Thu Jan 16, 2025 8:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Official Bandai (Japan) Thread 2.0

Post by Legion1979 »

Poe Ghostal wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 8:14 am Meanwhile I've never stopped being sad the line switched from 8" to 6"
That's why i don't believe for a second the 6" MMS line is going to end. They've done the scale switch before already. They're not going to get even smaller as a permanent new line that replaces the old one outright, espeiclaly since they've shown there's still a lot more life left in the 6" series. That would just push a lot of customers away. Ultraman had a similar switch to a small size, but that was only once as well. Additionally, Ultraman went as far as it really could with the 6" series in my opinion, and at the time it really felt like it was a good idea for a complete shake up.

Additionally, I said it before and it was ignored (cause "logic", I dunno) but this 5" line has been pretty slow out of the gate with only a minimal amount of sculpts, while the MMS line has spent the last 2 years absolutely orgasming out toys at a volume they've never done before. I don't know how anyone could worry that this little 5" series is suddenly going to take over. If it were they'd be more committed to it, or it would be pushed as the new standard size. That's not happening. Are these things even available in Japan? If they're not, why would anyone worry about the MMS series ending when these toys aren't even available in the country where the toys are made.

Additionally, could someone prove to me that this 5" line is even catching on? Does anyone actually care about it? I don't see anyone on the groups I'm on even mentioning them. They seem to be going over like a wet fart, making it all the more odd that anyone should be threatened by them.

And if this entire disucssion is ONLY about the US side of things...I think people need to look at the bigger picture.

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