Kaminaga-san's panel is going to be at G-Fest and hosted by @Louie Gorosaurus - don't worry if you aren't able to attend, there will be video. @deafmetal @Mark K @akum6n At Five Points I did get a chance to get some specific answers to your specific questions. Shimada Toy was the mold-making company that was set up by Marusan back in the 1960s. Eiji suspects that if the molds still exist and if anyone has them, it is the current iteration of the company (not sure if the name is still Shimada or something else). However, these molds are the property of that company, and if anyone wanted to use them they would have to negotiate with them for access. He wasn't aware of this but if he gets the chance he is going to check out the ones he has back in Japan. He says it seems likely that these were made during the "Maruzan" era. He doesn't know any of the artist or painter names from the 1960s, but he says the differences in the paint jobs produced over time is likely due to so many different factories being used. He is speculating that since Namegon required injection molded parts (the eyes), Bullmark may have felt that the figure was too expensive to produce. This is a question that Ishizuki-san may be able to answer definitively. Unfortunately he doesn't have access to the molds from the reissues in the 1990s any more. (This includes the beloved Giant Gorilla, which really bums me out because @daveblog and I wanted to do a Royal Ape reissue of it to match our giant size figure.) The original molds from the original 1970s toys is long gone. I asked about Bondoraa, which was on the table. He said the mold for Bondoraa is new, created from a vintage production figure.
Thanks for this @Roger !!! That Five Points table had some stellar figures, I hope you had a great time.
We did! It was a lot of work but Marusan had a much better show this time around. If you can catch him at G-Fest and DesignerCon, definitely do so, more toys are going to be flown in for those shows.
Also, clarifying a change of plans: the unsold toys from Five Points Fest are going to be for sale at G-Fest. This is what was left: Marugacha (Ultraman and Spectreman characters, plus Marumon) Marugacha EX (Kanegon) Neronga clear Takkong glow (Kubo-san paint) Bondoraa (Kubo-san one-offs) Baron (Kubo-san one-offs) King Godras U-Tom Windam Mecha Giant Gorilla Again, if you want to see what these look like, check out my Instagram Rogzilla71, I posted two videos during the show. The unsold toys from G-Fest are going to Monster Patrol afterwards, and there will be a show there the weekend after G-Fest. I am pretty sure he is bringing additional new toys to G-Fest, and then again for DesignerCon. In case anyone is near Eastern Pennsylvania, Kaminaga-san is doing an event with the Allentown Toy Show and Antique Toy Collectors of America. I don't have any of the details but if you want to drop in and say hello to him, feel free. He will not be selling toys there.
Thank you remembering and asking about this, Roger. That is a bummer that the old molds are gone, even for the 90s reissues. I got a little hopeful when I saw the Bondora and Ebireon. Even more so now, I appreciate Kaminaga-san's extra work in continuing the legacy of the Marusan original kaiju in the current lineup. 450 Toragiras, please.
Monster Patrol is putting up the remaining Marusan toys on 7/30 at 6PM Pacific Time. View this post on Instagram
Tsuburaya Online shop has five (Bullmark) Marusan Ultra Q reissues up for sale with beautiful color, although possibly a little too on the nose https://store.m-78.jp/collections/bullmark Also, Bullmark via Graveyard Gallery is selling new "phantom mold" middle sizes of Astromons, Live King, and Cosmo Liquid from Taro... https://store.hakabanogarou.jp/view/category/ct110 Where is mid-size Oil Drinker!
Pre-order for 4 new Bullmarks at Graveyard gallery. Looks to be open until Dec 4, shipping estimated April 2024 Godzilla plastic model version/Hawaiian color Radon/Red Mogera/Original color Baran/Orange
I believe so, and they have been getting some nice ones lately. I like this entire Toho kaiju group. Some classic Popy colors on the Rodan and other Bullmark greatest hits on these. The flesh vinyl Megalon from the previous batch was irresistible to me with the Hawaiian spray chest and red/blue/silver colors from that bootleg edition on the rest of the body. *chef's kiss* Bullmark Megalon
So the Marusan yt ch is now rebranded MARUMON, as Eiji explains it's Marusan Origian Monsters: I don't see this rebranding on Marusan's other platforms. The episode guest is Jeremy from Tokyo Toy Banzai. Spoiler The video thumbnail image shows an ongoing stamp campaign that will culminate in a factory visit for one lucky collector collecting all 7 stamps {6 shown + 1 from an accompanying book about Marumon's history}, plus a golden edition of the stamps. Kaminaga-san will be traveling to all those locations listed on the stamps. Although it's unclear if one has to meet him in person to get the stamps.
I dont think hes rebranding anything, probably just for this episode. The main YT page still says マルサン TV
The Marusan Original Kaiju have been called Marumon since at least 2017. Marusan Original Monsters. The company is not being renamed.
Here is a shot of the upcoming 450 Series Zimella, the same monster that originally appeared in the TEDEROS series. This one is definitely in the style of Heisei-era kaiju figures:
Just letting everyone know that Marusan will be at Toycon UK, Five Points Fest, G-Fest, and DesignerCon this year.
Anyone else pick up the new Unitang from Hakaba Gallery? It's looking to be a good year for fans of Ultra Ace kaiju.
