55 Blue Question

I'm wondering if anyone can help me figure out what Pantone color is closest to the og Marusan 55 Blue?

I know S7, I believe in issue 1, stated that the Marusan (& Bullmark) version(s) used Pantone 316. However, when I look at my Pantone book the 316 (C) is much closer to a dark green than blue. At least to me...

So when I look at the pics of the figures versus the Pantone book, the figures look blue to me.

 

Excellent research topic. The oldest Marusan Gojira in my collection closely resemble Pantone 316 (C), which I call blue/green vinyl (Midnight Green? ), and the ones that have that classic brighter "Marusan Blue" look more like Pantone 2965 (C) to me:



Here are some "blue" examples:



So, which one really is 55 Blue? Should we also compare the rare blue Garamon, Gomess, and Namegon? I have noticed that blue and green when mixed are very open to interpretation, and also seem to change colors depending on the light.

 

Thank you guys for participating here...

Initially, I was wondering if my Pantone book (1999 / Fourteenth Printing) was out dated and maybe the numbers changed. Then, I thought that would be INSANE, no?!

I also started wondering if maybe the color softened after the vinyl being pulled. I have been told by quite a few that they chose a particular color only to see it come out different after the fact. Most notably reds becoming pink and orange-like.

Finally, I started thinking that maybe the og 55 Blue's just faded or lightened in color because it has been 40-50 years ago. Age is all. I personally don't own any sofubi that old, so I can't compare.

 

Just a thought: when trying to gauge the vinyl color on a vintage figure, wouldn't it be best to heat the toy up and pop it apart so that you can judge the color of the interior surfaces? They would be least affected by UV fading, chemicals/pollution, etc...

 

@Sanjeev Now that would just be clear thinking and logical. There's no room for either on these boards

 

I could get some photos of a few different interiors. I am still curious if the color reference is regarding that rare blue Garamon more than the Gojira, or if they are expected to be the same color vinyl. I obviously do not have that Garry, and I don't expect anybody else on this board to have one either.

@Shirahama - Do you have any info to contribute to this thread?

 

Dennis and I have already been discussing it. He was just as confused by it as I am/was. He was also the one who reminded me about the issue of S7 that had the article. I used their digital availability of back issues to find the article. Though S7 listed the color 316, it still led me to posting this thread.

 

The Pantone 316 guide in that Super7 scan looks slightly darker than the 316 (C) example colors I am finding. I wonder if that is an effect from how the digital copy was archived. I attempted to capture some interior photos from the two most common Marusan vinyl colors that I have observed:



The difference is subtle, and I would describe the one on the left as blue/green and the one on the right as blue.

Spoiler: Here are two sets of each example color

Now, where does the legendary rare blue Garamon fit into this puzzle? If anything is going to quality for 55 Blue, it might as well be this one.







I discussed the topic with Eiji Kaminaga of Marusan, and he said his company does not attempt to match a Pantone color when recreating vintage vinyl colors, and he had no other info on 55 Blue. He said they will send a vintage example toy to the production company to match the vinyl color.

 

I asked some older Japanese about this color significance, it has been referenced a few times to the Imperial Navy of Japan during WW2. It should also be noted that blood, royal blood, and deep blue of the ocean, all have a strikingly similar tone.



Look at the veins in your arm compared to the color discussed. Hirota, Yoda, Sato and many other traditional Japanese have put the wording of "Royal" in the verbage of their blue dolls. It continues the road of a heritage that goes far back in time.

Perhaps the whole way back to the establishment of Japanese culture itself when one studies it in depth. As for Godzilla, the scores all have a similar flair to WW2 era music (With a few exceptions) that creates an atmosphere of something special and to be respected.

Pride maybe is the best way to express.

What a better and more fitting tone to continue a heritage that, while painful to a lot of Japanese, due to the War; exhibits the nature of life itself. When Kaiju dolls were first introduced they certainly had, and still have a sense of integrity.

The "Royal Road" continues from the depths of the Pacific to the blue skies above us. We are all so very fortunate to share an existence in such a glorious World that, for lack of a better way to put it, does not need us at all.

 

Thanks Mark for adding so much to the post. I especially like that you spoke with Eiji and his attitude is pretty much just send it over to the plant and let's hope for the best

 

I swiped these Beautiful Book of Monsters scans from @The Moog (thanks!). I really feel the Marusan "blue" when I see the original Garamon (top-left), Gomess (top-right), and Namegon (bottom-right):





There are plenty of Gojira in that vinyl color as well, even if that was not the first blue/green mix they were using for that character.

 

So... which color do you all prefer? Bullmark will even let you choose for yourself with the Namegon reissue:

 

I like the dark navy blue on the right.

 

I prefer the colorway on the left. For me, that is the classic.

Pretty clear however, that the variants of blues over the years are all over the place. And, I'm really, really okay with that.

On a side note, the eyes for these are f-ing hilarious btw. Love it

 

I had a hunch about this hidden surprise knocking around inside what I believe is the oldest Marusan in my possession, so I popped it open and found a nugget of pure 55 blue

Spoiler

 

So if you smoke that, you blast open your third eye and reach enlightenment, right?