Lately I've been looking at Marmit toys all the time. I only own a handful of parababies and a couple vinyl paradise. Obviously the parababy sculpts are meant to be a "baby" version of the various monsters from the Ultra franchise shows, Spectreman, etc. And to that end the sculpts have softer features and generally proportionally bigger heads than their VP counterparts, which seem to be closer in detail and texture to the actual rubber suits from the shows. Does anyone know if these two lines were sculpted by the same sculptor? Or have multiple people worked on both lines? I guess the parababies came out over a period of what, six or seven years? It seems like they have a consistent sculptor, but I would be surprised if its the same guy who has done the Vinyl Paradise line. Any insight appreciated
i remember being told, the early larger Marmit figures were sculpted by original Bullmark sculptors. And they were always sculpted larger, as to make them feel in hand like you were a kid again. I always noticed, the later larger figures were way better detail and proportion wise. Some of them are down right amazing. Another mystery to me, is the Marmit X Gargamel Dogora. it's size is reminiscent of a Parababy, but was never released as such. A true shame, it's one of the coolest ones!
While I do agree with Paul on the increased detail and proportions of the newer Marmits, my personal preference lies with the older Vinyl Paradise line, much more than any of the recent Monster Heaven stuff. Of course, this is also mainly for classic figures, to which I prefer the clunky traditionalist sculpting. I also prefer a lot of the simpler paint applications, but to call them basic is an understatement; I can definitely see how it is not to everyone's taste. On the new release stuff that we have never seen before, I totally agree that the figures are amazing.
the old VP series either love of hate, they are big and fun to play with. but since its too big its very hard to display them. I used to collect 30+ of them but now i only keeps around 10+, i only keep the piece that easy to fit my shelf like Seijin or human type character, Gaira,Sanda,Guiron, m1go.... The VP line Meganuron,Moguera, Ebirah, Hedorah,Pulgasari,Matango and the star shape Seijin is a must have. Thinking to add the VP American Godzilla and Frankenstein to my collection.
All the VP Magma Taishi were done by the same guy, this I know, he also did my Sky Deviler and Cycloptopuss characters for marmit. I believe his name is Ota but I can't be positive. At Marmit they tend to just call him Ojii-san (grandfather, old man) I believe he is now around 80 years old. He sculpted Sky Deviler in a single day. The Vegetius toy was done by another sculptor.
Funny that you should mention that, because these are exactly what I had in mind in my post. You can definitely see the connection there I think, and in my opinion the Magma Taishi figures are the pinnacle of the VP line.
I know the insight that they were always sculpted larger, as to make them feel in hand like you were a kid again has been singled out already, but I just noticed this thread a few moments ago and am smiling ear to ear having learned this epic tidbit. Makes all the sense in the world!
So do you think the parababies were sculpted by someone else? How long ago was it when sky deviler was made?
I was told by VERY reliable Japan sources in the mid 90's. Whereas M-1 was actually filling collection gaps. YES! Ota san!
So do you think the parababies were sculpted by someone else? How long ago was it when sky deviler was made?[/quote] I think he made the earlier parababiess but not positive. They feel like the same hand made them. It also seems to me that they got bigger over time. I can try to ask Akamatsu-san sometime. Sky Deviler was made about 4 years ago and Cycloptopuss 2 years ago.
I've noticed before that the Anglias any Gayos parababy sculpts have a very different feel to them than most of the others. It makes sense that they would have been done by a different sculptor.
