Denjin or D

Discussion in 'Japan Toys' started by bryce_r, Jul 11, 2017.

  1. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Denjin or D
    So it's been a few years since I read this on Robot Loves Monster but does anyone have any clues or insight into a company called Denjin?

    They make the gundams and have a tiger mask line of toys via medicom.
     
  2. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    Denjin or D
    They've gone by a number of names on the Gundam vinyls: Denjin, D, D&G Grenade, D + C, and Grenade.

    My suspicion is that Denjin is a subsidiary of or sub-line under Denboku, sort of like the Marmit / Target Earth relationship. Both Denjin and Denboku generally produce only licensed vinyls, which are sold at C3 or Wonderfestival. They have also both produced Tiger Mask figures. In fact, I found one that has both companies' names on its header:

    https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1047952580&ref=dos

    EDIT: As a parting thought, maybe one day they can convince Medicom to produce the Gundam vinyls because, damn, those things are expensive on the secondary market.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2017
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  3. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Denjin or D
    Thanks Daniel! I always thought that there might be some sort of connection - looking at the styles and licenses that they have done, it makes a lot of sense - but glad to hear this proposed from someone else. I think you nailed it with the TE/Marmit analogy. Like you said, if Medicom got into doing the Gundam vinyls, which are completely spectacular by the way, that would be phenomenal. Denboku has been outstanding with its versions of anime characters, while perhaps not the purview of this board, I would be so over-the-moon just with entire shelves of what they have done so far. [I am gazing with green spectacles in your direction @organic_addict @Aldo ;)]
     
  4. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Denjin or D
    On the blog it mentions prototyping some of the wrestlers which makes sense that they are done in the same anime style as some of the other denboku ones. But no mention of the gundams so I've been curious for awhile.
     
  5. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    How is there no discussion of this amazing clear 'mechanic model' version of the Mk. II Gundam from the last C3 AFA Chara Hobby whatever show???

    [​IMG]

    Not cheap at a retail of 15,000 yen, but I am totally down for the eventual half-painted version.
     
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  6. Sanjeev

    Sanjeev Post Pimp

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    Denjin or D
    Because skullbrain gives exactly zero fucks about robot sofubi?? ;)

    Or how about because it's the Gundam MkII from Zeta Gundam...which no one cares about! :razz: For real, if they did an RX-78 in this style, I woulda been all the fuck over it. I did pick up the standard-colors Z'Gok from that show, which is my probably my favorite Gundam mecha of all time (though odd that it took them this long to drop the standard colors--the vintage mini tribute color scheme and the red Char edition have been out for ages). I don't have it in hand yet, but it looks glorious:

    [​IMG]
     
  7. shincartoon

    shincartoon Toy Prince

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    Denjin or D
    I stayed away from this figure because of the small size.. and it does not have the manga like proportions.... if it was as tall as the other Denjin mobile suits I would of had been in crazy love fever
     
  8. shincartoon

    shincartoon Toy Prince

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    Denjin or D
    I really love the denjin gundam sofubi because the style reminds me of the Pramo Kyoshiro manga that I loved when I was a kid.
    [​IMG]
    Unfortunately the after market prices are crazy so I only have the one that I bought from bryce_r here on skullbrain. He gave it to me for a super discounted price compared to japan market, Thank you so much bryce!
     
  9. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    Denjin or D
    @Sanjeev Aww, poor Mk. II. I hate to say it, but I am also mystified by the perpetual fascination Japan fans have with the Z designs, particularly the Mk. II and Z Gundam. I guess it was probably the formative Gundam experience for a lot of them growing up, and so the hero MS have been treated accordingly. (I've always been a 0083 or 08th MS Team guy, myself.)

    Actually, the Z'Gok was produced in its standard colors sold several years ago (this is the version that I have); I think this recent one is a reissue. I'm actually glad to see the old figures being reissued because prices are getting ridiculous, as shin mentions.

    EDIT: I'm also waiting for the full-size Gogg and Acguy. 8)

    @shincartoon Interesting observation on the Pramo Kyoshiro style of the Denjin figures.

    The prices are absurd on the old figures, and they don't seem to have been put off much by the recent reissues. It kills me to see this, as the early figures would regularly sell for 3,000-5,000 yen back in 2009 or so. I remember seeing some literally in a basket on the ground in Mandarake at the time (the basket on ground is where they put the stuff that no one wants).
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2018
  10. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Denjin or D
    Sorry, you guys are both wrong. It's 0079 or nothing. ;)

    But I wholeheartedly agree with the unfortunate prices on these figures. They are crazy to try and capture from any of the normal 'resale' methods, and sadly anything released at the C3 events even more so. I have no doubt at all they are simply wonderful figures, and do hope to hold one someday, but yeah, the right circumstances would have to come together for that to happen.

    Then again, just look at the Buta Gundam toys.

    In short, I cannot get enough robot sofubi to fill my shelves (yes, we exist Sanjeev!); sadly, that is not an easy thing to do.
     
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  11. Sanjeev

    Sanjeev Post Pimp

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    Denjin or D
    Oh, I wasn't aware the Mk II was smaller than the other D figures. That's a bizarre choice. First off, who the fuck wants their rowbutts outta scale!? But more to the point, wouldn't it be less trouble to manufacture a sofubi figure in a larger scale so that it would be easier to stuff in the guts?? I have Medicom's Dougram and Abe Toru/Big One Craft's Mazinger Z clear-with-guts figures, and they're definitely full size (~10"). Didn't break the bank either.

    Heh...well, I think it IS a generational thing. The original MSG is only something I came to appreciate as an adult fan back-tracking old anime. I may have grown up with Go Nagai's stuff from the 70's, but Gundam just wasn't a thing...until probably the late 80's, when Zeta-era stuff started to trickle over and into US comic book stores at the time. The Zeta look and feel may not be for everyone, but I'd say it was very representative of the late 80's slender/angular tech aesthetic.

    Oh?? Are you sure on the Z'Gok? I thought I was keeping track of Denjin's releases...and I coulda sworn they'd only put out the vintage tribute color scheme and Char's red suit until now. Weird that I'd miss out on my favorite mecha! Anyway, YES: Gogg, Acguy...and Zock!

    I dunno if I buy that, man (the difficulty in scoring robot sofubi...not your fandom!). My buying, in general, has slowed down immensely in the past year or so...but I do pick up odds and ends here and there. When I look at my "temporary" shelf where I toss my latest acquisitions, it's MOSTLY robots. And come to think of it, mostly Medicom releases. High-end boutique stuff like Ilu Ilu and Butanohana is just not on my radar. Plus, vintage mini sofubi robots can be purchased by the truckload for short money...unless you're looking for a particularly spicy meatball... ;)
     
  12. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    Yeah, I actually saved the original listing and it is from 2011. Disgustingly, the price was 'only' a little over $100 back then (which I thought was high at the time).

    The coloration of my Z'Gok looks like it is slightly different as well- less saturated than your version. Some of the newer reissues are billed as 'anime color versions', so I'm wondering if that was the case here.

    Can you imagine the size of a Zock vinyl???
     
  13. shincartoon

    shincartoon Toy Prince

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    Denjin or D
    Yup. Here is a pic of them. much smaller than the ones behind them...

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Sanjeev

    Sanjeev Post Pimp

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    Denjin or D
    It'd be interesting to see a side-by-side shot of the pair. Anyway, I haven't been paying super-close attention to their releases (I'm basically just scanning Y!J briefly once or twice a week to see what pops up). Have they been doing "anime color" versions of a lot of their previous releases? I guess that's a smart way to squeeze more money out of your molds without doing straight reissues.

    Oh, I'm imagining! I'm guessing it'd be a good 13-14" tall! :razz:

    Oooh, weird. They should absolutely make a full-size version of that. Actually...scratch that...they should make a full-size clear-with-guts RX-78! And a Zaku to go along with it.

    Hey, a guy can dream, right? ;)
     
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  15. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

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    @Sanjeev They reissued the Gouf in 'anime colors'. Not sure if the other reissues were recolored or just straight reissues.

    The newer Mk. II is somewhere between 1/144 and 1/100 scale. At first, I thought they made it in scale with the MG kits, but it is too small.
     
  16. Sanjeev

    Sanjeev Post Pimp

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    Ah, the Gouf's another favorite of mine. Oh hell...ALL the Zeon suits are kinda amazing!
     

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