Excerpts from Interview with Hiddy of Secret Base

I don't agree at all - SB has evolved more than any other "kaiju" company and is the most diverse of them all. Unfortunately the diversification of SB has been trending towards crap. Everything SB has done outside of fight figures has been lame. Evolution and diversity aren't necessarily good things.

 

I have always wondered when he'd move on. I mean how long can you keep doing the same thing and not feel like you have exhausted the medium? Don't get me wrong I think lately SB's figures have been as good as ever but at some point you need to move onto the next thing for your own sake.

 

of course all these guys know each other. some are friends, some are not. Many of them used to work together in this business. Now they don't. you get the picture.

but the difference is that rightly or wrongly, Hiddy believes he helped start this whole craze and everyone else is milking it.

 

Yes...but he is talking about the whole "Kaiju" scene not just any single company.

 

If he believes that, then I'd like some of what he's smoking.

 

1) Secret Base came after Bounty Hunter
2) Fight figures etc aren't kaiju

 

heh

 

hiddy is a good businessman. he's gone from elite toys and limited hoodies to corporate crossovers for suburban youth. huzzah for new markets!

 

I was waiting for someone to say this.

 

I should clarify that Hiddy just said the "Kaiju" scene all looks the same to him. I disagree and made the statement that the "Kaiju" scene feels more diverse then the Secret Base line. He has his opinion and I have mine.

 

I love the Secret Base fighters, and the Pushead & Usugrow collabs.

But alot of the other product is ehhhh. Example, last year's lucky bags.

 

Secret Base has been around a lot longer and lasted better than a lot of companies that came after.

Bring on more SB 12" suits.

 

I would buy 12" suits

 

I think "ehhhh" is being quite kind. Those were the most godawful UNlucky bags I've ever witnessed. Will be interesting to see what (if anything) they do this year.

 

fucking 'ay. still haven't tracked down the clear orange RI meant for S7. what was going to be an easy lay-up has turned into a search and rescue mission.

 

I think SB/Hiddy is the God father of the model that other boutique toy companies like (most notably) Gargamel and Real Head have run with. But each have now taken a different path, so there's room for all. RxH seem to be sticking closest to the old model - lots of toy releases and lots of colorways. Gargamel seem to be going for a more art collective feel with their more frequent custom shows and one-offs. And SB are looking at a broader appeal. IMO SB's path is the most diverse, and maybe the most risky, in terms of varied product and collaboration - seems most people here dont care for the majority of the non-toy releases - but its a toy board and we collect toys so thats not surprising. Luckilly there have been enough quality toy releases to keep the OG fans interested, and attract newer one along the way as well.

As for limited editions - if thats ALL u collect then shame on you - but if you collect across the board then fair enough, get 'em while you can!

As for the kaiju scene not evolving - depends how you define it. If not diversifying is the definition - then many are stuck. But if evolution is cool new designs from new companies, then evolution is alive and well in the scene. Elegab strike me as a great example of innovative fresh new designs executed in an old medium.

I was also stoked to see Hiddy mention Michael Lau and Eric So - far, far too underated on this board IMO. Eric So especially is a huge talent - and no one even seemed to notice him at SDCC08.

 

your opinion was too powerful!

 

awesome little read.

 

I'm more of a kaiju guy and I really dislike fight figures. Still to each their own I say. I have to disagree with Hiddy's remarks regarding kaiju though regarding it "not evolving". If he's trying to imply that kaiju companies just do different colorways of the same old toho/ultra characters, he'd basically be calling the kettle black?! Doesn't SB do endless versions of the same fight figures as well? On the other hand I see great diversity in the kaiju/patchi scene. Newer (well newer than SB, Gargamel, RxH) companies like Shikaruna, Zollmen, Elegab, Yamomark really have upped the anti with very original sculpts and spectacular use of color. Even older stand bys like M1 & Marmit are doing interesting things. Maybe people just like those companies more and it's eating his profits? Personally those companies I've mentioned have kept me in it.

 

Awesome interview. I don't find it sad or depressing at all. Dude wants to move on, though I don't like any of his artsier crap (aka non-fight) I can see where he's coming from. I'm always a little detached from BxH and SB because they have a bit of that "street fashion" attitude which I can't connect with, I'm too dorky to care.

Fight figures are cool as shit, but if that's all I collected I'd be bored. Kaiju (or neo-kaiju) are cool as shit, but if that's all I collected I'd be bored. I can keep going with that statement, it's pretty universal.

 

kool interview. He has passion. And vision. The passion is what sets them apart. I think there is bad blood as mentioned above between he and other companies biting his style. I give him credit for reaching out to the American market. Did you guys get yesterday's release? It is the first SB i have ordered since UNKB brain. I felt like you guys above with the releases until yesterday blew my socks off...

 

I've only been actively buying Secret Base for not even a year(so my opinion might not count) but have been following it for going on three years now thru S7 mag, blogs, sb site, ect. 
Maybe Secret Base is not putting out the weirdest, ugliest or biggest toys out there but they definitely put out innovative quality product. Personally the fight figures really do it for me and I buy what I like regardless of what anybody thinks, how limited they are or if they're considered kaiju or not. No other company out there has made me as excited/anxious and held my interest as they have.

Also I really doubt they'll stop making fight figures all together, they might slow down(which they've already have) but even if they do since I came so late there's enough out there for me to keep buying for a long while.   

 

i think what hiddy has to say is interesting...not depressing,,,certainly opinionated (but that is a good thing,,neutral ass-kissing is bland)

what i am curious about,,,has this interview only been published in english or is there a japanese version too?? not sure how his hometeam collectors would feel about his views on their wacky ways....

did he express more explicit views for an english-only published interview??

 

me and Greg got a chance to have a nice dinner with Hiddy and SB crew during SDCC. He's still stoked on the toys and making toys. I'm sure he just doesn't want to be labeled as strictly "kaiju". He wants his company to grow and let's face it, it's next to impossible if you're just making fight figures. Also, from an artist standpoint, you create something then move on to other projects, mediums etc.

 

The diversification is cool to explore new lines, styles, products, etc., but I hope they never follow Gargamels lead and abandon the fight figure format (although in some ways it would be cool to have a fixed goal and aim for completion!) . . .