Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others

Discussion in 'Japan Toys' started by chimply.kaiju, Aug 18, 2011.

  1. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I do not criticize the price of the figure, it seems to me that there is a Market for everything, it seems to me that this has more to do with a comment made by @Rich, if you are a good sculptor, a good painter, if you work the vinyl masterfully then It is also art, and who could determine the price of art? art is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
    I also understand the feeling of frustration of many members who are fans of HxS since day one and that the price that some of their figures have reached limit you to collect them, because as some of us might consider it a piece of art for others it is still simple toys.
    I hope not to offend anyone but I feel that this thread spends more time criticizing the way in which the artist markets his pieces rather than talking about the pieces. At the end of the day I do not believe that Mr. Hirota reads this thread and if that were the case, he would not change his way of marketing his pieces, he has already found his niche and is already at the level that many artists would like to reach.
     
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  2. zindabad

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Call this more rambling about the ceiling of prices than a statement about Hirota specifically.

    Yeah, you can't put a price on art, but when does a work stop truly being a toy? Part of the fun of this thing to me is buying works of design, skill and homage on par with most "fine art" that allow for a totally different owning and viewing experience to a sculpture or painting. That is, there's a realm of dumb fun that comes with swinging your kaiju doll around in your fist, mashing it up with others and leaving it in the open air for play and reorganisation at any time.

    The dumb fun isn't so dumb on reflection: those experiences supplement our appreciation of sofubi, specifically, as art. You appreciate the quality of the vinyl and assembly when you take something apart; you appreciate the skilled painter's yen for both beauty and function when you disassemble something, and notice the paint holds up to your careful yanking and pushing, or when a piece (god forbid) takes a small fall and comes out unscathed. When you're an art market investor, that's not how you treat your stuff. An appropriate comparison at this time is that the most valuable paintings often get stored in the climate-controlled dark, and I wouldn't be surprised if the same happened to a couple of these one-offs.

    My point is that the hype leaders remain fundamentally toys only to aftermarket buyers that can shrug off a couple grand for a doll. For everyone else a part of the experience of buying handmade toys, the reason we're passionate about dolls and not ceramic sculpture or paintings, is disappearing for the top end of the market. Find that a bit sad, that's all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2019
  3. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    As absolutely beautiful and breathtaking as a Brutal-A with guts is, that costs about as much as I spent at Death's Vault AND Five Points Fest, buying a ton of shit from top-tier artists like @Rich and @JoeMan, plus the airfare, AirBNB and food.

    As much as I would love one of those in my collection, it's a lot easier to look at everything else I got instead plus the great time I had with tons of awesome people as a much better bang for my buck.
     
  4. Alebrije

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2019
  5. zindabad

    zindabad Line of Credit

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    On a lighter note, the eyes on the large pink Fink seem to be blue GID. Really lovely touch.
     
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  6. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others

    Borrowed from taniguchiko’s Instagram. Lifted for the design for the new minis it would appear. File this next to the Mazinger mechanical beast and Midori model kits art for being very on the nose.

    (Pic of toy from rkungfu69)
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2019
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  7. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    That’s a very, very kick ass lookin’ mini.
     
  8. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I like this mini robot, a cool dude and lots of fun. Personally, I would have left off the mouth, as I think the proportions with the eyes being the way they are, make it a little on the cartoony side (compared against the original record label), but my main suggestion would be that I think Hirota really missed a beat here by not including a little rocket to put in that chest. He clearly took all the stylings from vintage rocket-firing toys, and I would not expect him to necessarily create a working mechanism, but to have the hole and nothing to do with it, a real missed opportunity at some fun (which is why I am here). All likely moot, as I am sure these will only be available for 700$+.
     
  9. zindabad

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    For the record that little chap was $90, and considering it looks fully masked I entertain, perhaps against good sense, some hope for a big run. Even as I type that I realise it's a pretty foolish thing to say, though. Wholehearted agreement re:little rocket attachment, either way. It's the kind of design that makes you smile, so why pass up a chance to smile even harder?

    I think Hirota's additions on the mini work well, the same way touches like the King Joe backpack on Brutal A help elevate an existing design into something a little more than the original. But that's the thing; it's just a little more. I'm not the first genius to think of this take, but it does surprise me that the maker folks seem quickest to celebrate as a bona fide artist has lifted entire designs for half his roster. Maybe that's worth discussing at this new juncture.

    This isn't to diminish the quality of Hirota's craftsmanship or his innovation on the technical side. Nobody else pours marble so finely, and nobody else has made something as audacious as the full guts Brutal A. But the bones seem to regularly belong to somebody else, from Takeshit and Cosmo Liquid to the illustrators for vintage model kit packaging. The lifting appears very direct and complete, even for a craft built on homage and bootlegging.

    What do y'all make of it all? I know this is the kind of topic that runs in circles, but figure we can have an interesting time exploring regardless.
     
  10. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Well, if we were very strict in terms of copyright, I think we would be talking about the most expensive bootleg figures in history and the best made too.
     
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  11. JoeMan

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    It’s definitely been talked about before. I remember Rich bringing it up. My guess is that ultimately making vinyl for so long he is definitely a top craftsman, but maybe never from a position where he was tasked with doing original designs? Like people have mentioned almost everything has some kind of draw from the past, little if it such a blatant copy. Anyway no one seems to care, all they care about is they want the toy. It seems to be if they know the source material that just makes it even cooler because they have this little vintage knowledge.

     
  12. ungawa222

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Love that header.
     
  13. Alebrije

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I've never been a fan of Mr. X, I was always more attracted to the aliens that come on the set, but this Mr. X is a winning version and from what I've seen HS made two versions of the set.
    My favorite is the purple alien.
    Note: photos from IG

     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
  14. Rich

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I still haven’t seen much from Hirota in means of original design, every time I think it is someone pulls the source material.

    Also I’ve heard many times now he doesn’t sculpt his own stuff, at least at this point anymore. Not that it matters, id just like a clear answer is all. Either way even if he’s doesn’t he still is the director and this is his take.

    That said, it’s pretty clear at this point that’s the point. His brand revolves around nostalgia, and boy no one does it better. His originality revolves around taking all these pieces from all different areas and making them cohesive under one umbrella. That’s pretty amazing that he’s able to consistently take more and more parts and make it all feel like it’s from the same source.


    This is all aside from his production, paint and package design which is again, flawless at every point.

    As for the $90.00 production figs, hell when he’s making, 6-7k on one offs it’s easy to see how he’s able to keep those prices down. I mean he can give them away and still be ok.

    Same for all his art. The high price he sells for allows him to worry less about money and more on the art. The more he charges and sells for the more he can focus on the art and get deeper, more refined and grow faster.

    Just some thoughts ...
     
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  15. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Damn, those new Mr. X sets look phenomenal. Gorgeous stuff :shock:
     
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  16. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I really dig the new X sets. It is a great tribute, and the meshing works so well with this figure. The neon aliens remind me so much of my Exogini bootleg Kinnikuman it is uncanny. I would dearly love this set for that reason alone. (Along with about a thousand others I am sure. Also, probably not qualified.)

    Since these are already being posted, literally in hand, I am guessing this is a lottery I have already long missed out on having a ghost's chance on.
     
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  17. Anti Social Andy

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Hirota's creations brings so much joy and happiness to his passionate and enthusiastic fans!

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. eckotyper

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I think anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. this doesn't apply only to art.
     
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  19. eckotyper

    eckotyper Post Pimp

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    the purple/clear Brutal A is very good. but the marbled Brutal A to me is the show winner. that thing just speaks. Gloss/Matte are amazing, as was the glow kraken like i stated before. it was great to be able to see the show and how i went down. I'll continue to be happy with what I own, and hope opportunities do come down the line. Hirota hasnt really used his blog lately compared to what it used to be.
     
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  20. taviq

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    Ha HA HAAAAAA
     
  21. Ethan

    Ethan Formerly siphilon

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    HAHAHA thank you Andy. Oh, jesus christ too!
     
  22. Alebrije

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    For the little that is this was the only version of King Ju that was sold at the event in Shanghai, but I like it a lot, blue clear vinyl base and a good paint app.
    Photo from Instagram
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2019
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  23. hellopike

    hellopike S7 Royalty

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    nevermind
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
  24. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    Hirota Saigansho: Gorilla-ju, Mecha Gorilla-ju, & Others
    I already had time with this poster, but for some reason or another I had not been able to frame it but I could finally do it, now the problem will be where to put it. Thanks to my good friend Aldo @kopponigen for making this possible. Sorry for the awful photo.
    [​IMG]
     
  25. JoeMan

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

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