Mondo got the Godzilla license

Yes!!! Gah, I shot these back in November and have been wondering when they’d release! Such a unique version and so vivid in hand. Also, Crunchy Roll exclusive?! Who’d have thunk!!!

 

Super Space Godzilla exclusive is back in stock in the US Godzilla store:

https://godzilla.com/collections/all/products/spacegodzilla-soft-vinyl-super-space-godzilla-variant

 

That’s one is subtle, but very, very pretty in hand. Looks like jewelry with the purple and green metallics over the body and crystals!

 

It’s been in stock for almost a week. I’m very surprised it’s still available. These were going for $300 on the secondary market before this release.

 

Wow… unrelated but they have some really great CCP middle size colors in stock as well, and at Japanese retail prices!

 

Yeah, they’ve had those for about a month. I picked up a few. I also got the Wonderfest exclusive shin Godzilla vinyl kit in red from them at retail price as well. They get gems in their web shop.

 

So I picked up the Crunchyroll exclusive Space Godzilla. Man, I love it. The color is a bit less intense in person—a beautiful orange vinyl.

A quick review:

It feels pretty good. On the topic of Japanese soft vinyl vs. alternative slush cast products, well... even when it comes to "made in Japan," not all sofubi feels the same, has the same level of hardness, the same weight, smell, etc. so I'm not sure what exactly if anything in particular I should compare it to. The hardness is similar while the joints have a stiffness much like many Japanese soft vinyl toys I've handled. That said, I've held enough figures that I'm pretty sure without being told I'd know it's not a Japanese product the moment it came into my hands. There are subtle aspects of the material which would lead me to the conclusion it was made elsewhere (apart from the smell and overall construction). It does feel a bit heavier than it should for a toy of its size, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It carries a familiar smell but I can't quite put my finger on it. It is pleasant and reminds me of toys I played with when I was younger.

The paint is great with only a couple of minor flaws on my model. I have plenty of Japan made toys with not as great applications.

To sum things up I'd say the overall quality is comparable to Japanese soft vinyl products. Definitely good enough for me to appreciate it as I do the rest of my collection. There are other toys produced outside of Japan—some that get a lot of praise here—which I think are even farther off the mark so I think Mondo is doing a good job so far.

On the topic of digital...

I work part-time as a 3D modeler so I know the required skill and the amount of effort that can go into a project. I see a lot of sculptors choosing to work digitally and it is clear not everyone knows what they're doing. Working with a computer doesn't mean it is any easier to accomplish the task if you have a vision. Both physical and digital sculptors have the option to rush a job by throwing things together with minimal effort if they so choose. Both also have the option to spend countless hours manipulating and tweaking geometry in order to get it right, checking their proportions and ratios again and again, and remodeling parts that don't fit the bill. Lastly, until more affordable 3D printing technology becomes as flawless as higher end machinery, smalltime makers still have to spend a lot of time post-processing their prints (i.e. sanding, polishing, etc.) to get them ready for production.

 

Mondo had a pretty crazy warehouse sale this morning that included a lot of the more limited Toho figures they've released up to date. There's still one Biollante variant and a couple of Jet Jaguars available at the time of this post.

https://mondoshop.com/collections/warehouse-finds-sale#/filter:product_type:Soft$2520Vinyl