My Girlfriend was downtown today and was looking for a gift for me, and what do you know? This is what she found! All tucked away in a corner behind other Godzillas. One of his toes is messed up, and his face is a little askew. But absolutely one of my favorite pieces in my collection!! I'm not sure who it's made by, the tag doesn't say very much. But it fits in my Orange Army just fine!! Very S7!!
It looks like an Imperial. One of the 'Godzilla' toys from China that is a bootleg Godzillla. The tags often make a reference to a dinosaur and 'king of the monsters'. I really do not know anyone who actually collects them but they are often a childs first introduction to "Godzilla" and is usually what is found in toy stores in the US on or someones shelf who is more of the movie fan, not a toy collector. They are at least doing different colors on these toys, glad you are happy with it and be happy you got a thoughtful girl! redhanded
So it seems, I have seen the newer brighlty colored ones in LA a couple summers ago in some toy store on Melrose. They stuck out to me because some guy was selling them on ebay, posted the auction on a yahoo Godzilla list as some "rare new" Godzilla toy and though he could flip them! And he was from LA... I am sure almost 100% sure he got them at that store. Silly silly people.
So it's an Imperial Godzilla! Thanks for the background on him redhanded! I could definitely see it being a bootleg. When you were in LA did you happen to see any other orange variations??
Although appearing similar in a rudimentary retro kinda way, it is not an Imperial - it is a bootleg, most likely from China. Imperial Godzilla's were tagged and licensed by Toho and produced by the Imperial Toy Co. of Los Angeles (Made in Hong Kong) starting in 1985. They came in 6'', 9'" and 13" tall versions. These were the toys that were popular with US kids and fans after the Godzilla 1985 movie came out.
See I was close! They do look very Imperial though. And in the shop I was at there were atleast 4 or 5 different colorways. I recall a Green and Red, a Red and Green, Green and Im sure there was a few others, not my cup of tea but enjoy em if you do! Redhanded
I have a yellow Gigan and another color variation of the Godzilla by the same bootlegger...if I dig them I'll post pics.
