Space Godzilla is up next! Probably the best looking release as of late. I think the chonky style present across the AA series really suits this kaiju. Photo courtesy of sofvi.tokyo.
I love how silly this one looks. It's been a long time... I'd need to watch the film again to catch the reference. I do love the desire to capture and translate specific moments, unique puppets and props over just another iteration of a general suit design. Photo courtesy of sofvi.tokyo.
@HBCoffin seems to be taken from this scene when Dr. Yamane and crew inspect the scene of the disaster. Love this guy as well - silly fun expression aside there's something I also enjoy about the diorama piece. Anyone know if the lottery is open to the US? Not 100% clear from Medicom's site details.
Thanks for the screenshot! I was scrubbing through the film earlier trying to find a clip but got sidetracked. The lottery does seem to be restricted to Japanese residents. I'm not sure why but recently Toho licensed items have been limited to domestic entries. If you have a Tenso address I can confirm that's worked for me in the past.
In general, when you get a license to make a small-run toy from Toho's Japan office, the terms are that you can only sell it in Japan.
A large bulk of the earlier Godzilla lotteries were open to entries from USA, Canada, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Here's one which had the option to select the country: https://www.medicomtoy.tv/blog/?p=61804 At some point within the last year or so they moved to Japan only. Not sure about the reason behind the shift. I wonder if Toho changed their licensing terms or if Medicom had issues dealing with international customers.
My money is on Toho changing the licensing terms. They want non-Japanese people buying stuff through their official stores.
You're probably right. Medicom still offers plenty of products to customers overseas, even Toei stuff which isn't nearly as popular on this side of the Pacific.
The lottery said : Please input of your name, address (in Japan), contact information and The agent price almost doubled!!!
Gappa family is up next. I like the adult figures but the child is underwhelming. They got real lazy on these. Considering he's utilizing 3D modeling techniques they could have at least made the young one smaller or relative scale to the parents, but it really should have gotten it's own unique body sculpt. It would have also been nice to give one of the adults an open wingspan similar to the Marusan set. Photos courtesy of sofvi.tokyo. In order from top to bottom: male, female, child.
Nothing has turned up at auction yet. Really bummed I didn't get a winning ticket for the Space Godzilla. Hope some collectors here got lucky.
I think he probably means direct via lottery. I myself was on a streak for quite a while before I sat out a good number of releases. Once I started applying again, every entry since I've failed to get a winning ticket.
That may be but closed yahoo auctions show pretty reasonable and affordable aftermarket prices. Lotteries are always going to be a gamble.
Definitely. If you keep your eyes open the figures that pop up shortly after shipping starts sell for close if not equal to retail. However, once the market dries up a bit sellers eventually take advantage of any perceptible shortage and jack up prices (e.g. everything sitting around on Mercari apart from the Gamera and Garamon figures which don't seem to be as popular are listed at double the original retail price or higher).
OK, I'm all about this one. Destoroyah hasn't gotten enough soft vinyl treatment and though not all of AA's Toho sculpts have been winners I think this one looks great, or it speaks to me at least. Photo courtesy of sofvi.tokyo.
No mainly just not getting them through the lottery. I missed a puppet one that i really wanted and you are right I might get it later on. I am just sour about not getting the puppet one with the buck teeth, didn't get and have not seen it yet in yahoo. but like @HBCoffin I was in a winning streak passed on a couple of releases and was take off the lucky list. That was also true for some other harder to find goji's.
Gremlins from Anraku is interesting. From here: https://sofvi.tokyo/240812_medicom-toy-exhibition-24/ Also he seems to have deleted his blog, or at least I can't view it currently.
