Toy Spotlight: Gigabrain

[Legion1979]

Soooo..... f*cked up on purpose?

Dude don't. Just stop.

There's nothing f@cked up about them. They're different. And based on what I know about what's popular in Japan it's almost a preferred style. I'm sorry these don't look enough like Bandai toys for you.

[RedZillaKing]

Just havin' a bit of fun. I actually enjoy these figs. However, if the props don't match the film ones on purpose, they're "screwed" up on purpose. My comments were positive. In fact, you were the one who seemed to be bother by the tiny fins... I was merely commenting that if the fns and the tail were in correct proportion they'd be violating Bandai's license.

Don't look for conflict where none exists.

[Captain Aktion]

^Actually Legion, Redzilla is right; he was only echoing what you said about the fins.

I do like that GB 65 Goji, but it's honestly so much like the Bandai that I don't think I would feel a need to double-dip for this one.

[Petezilla]

Why the hell do people always have to jump on any 2 cents between the lines of somebody else's writing... Honestly, I can see Legion leave at some point in the future and taking all his pics and knowledge with him, just because the bashing he seems to receive for everything he's posting here. He didn't say that the whole figure looks "f****ed up", but that he just doesn't like the tiny spines that much. That's the same as saying "I'm allowed to criticise it and you are not". Actually, to defend Legion, I couldn't read from RZK's post any positive message, which he proclaims to be intended, either. Also not him echoing Legions fins-complaint. It's just that one can love toys, although they have their (personal) flaws. It's the same way that I totally love and admire the 6" Movie Monster Series Hedorah for his superb scuplt and colors, but on the other side hate that it's so completely out of scale with anything else from that line. So, please, stop complaining about the opinions of each other. Everybody. Please. You really don't have to jump on anything just for the sake of doing it.

EDIT: Legion, please continue your Gigabrain spotlight. I'm curious to be enlightened about it again!

[RedZillaKing]

Actually I claimed that it blows the earlier Jet Jaguar out of the water. Which is a very positive comment. Also saying it was f*cked up on purpose was defending the fig itself. Let me reword it. "You might not like the size of the fins but if they were in proper proportion they would be violating Bandai's rights." What is so insulting about that?

What's going on here? Maybe I didn't use the best terminology but I didn't attack his opinions. Unless "nice write up" is considered an attack around here.

[Legion1979]

"F@cked up proportions" doesn't exactly sound like a positive. So of course I'm going to snap back at that. But whatever, here's part 3...

PART 3: GODZILLA 1962

Marmit has done a lot of different figures based on the 1962 Godzilla, or Kingoji as many fans tend to call it. While most of their figures are really well done, I have to admit that I've never really been a fan of their Monster Heaven version, released in 2002 at the start of that line's production. It wasn't an awful figure, but it lacked a certain something. The people at Gigabrain must have felt the same, since Kingoji ended up being their third Toho figure, released in early 2007.

In my opinion, this is the figure that put Gigabrain on the map. It's an incredible likeness for this type of toy, and I'd probably put it second on my list of favorite '62 sculpts, right behind Bandai's 2005 Memorial Box figure. The head sculpt is a little rough but still captures this Godzilla's personality. I like the hunched over body design, skin detail and sculpting on the finger and toenails. There's no denying what Godzilla this is supposed to be. Even the fat, baggy legs are perfectly rendered.

But what I think is the best aspect of this figure's sculpt - and what puts it far ahead of the 1965 toy - is the way the back fins were designed. On the '65 figure (and like all Marmits and most recent Bandai Godzillas) the entire back fin section is a separate piece which compromises the flow of the sculpt. On the Kingoji however, only the middle strip is separate, the seams hidden by the smaller outer rows which are part of the body sculpt. This assembly looks fantastic and is completely unique to this figure and the Gigabrain 1964 Godzilla, which was released at the same time and will be covered in part four.



This is the very first of many, many releases of this figure. The overall color scheme mimics the 1965 release with the green vinyl just a little bit darker. Combined with the black sprays some of the great detail on this Godzilla gets a little lost and I remember being very critical of the figure when it was first released. Since then I've warmed up to it considerably, though I like several of the variants quite a bit more.



I became a full fledged Gigabrain nut around the time these two figures were released and for a while I vowed to pick up every single version of the Kingoji I could. The glow in the dark one on the left uses a great blue and silver combo and is definitely my favorite of Gigabrain's glow figures, while the translucent one of the right is another good one. Gigabrain always tends to pick just the right colors for their translucent figures and they always look good when held to the light.



But these two figures are my favorite Gigabrain Kingojis by a long shot. Apparently limited to under 50 figures each both figures have the same color paint sprays - black and silver with gold eyes - but are cast in blue and purple vinyl respectively. The color shades chosen for the vinyl are incredibly strong and vibrant and, in the case of the blue version, really stand out against the black paint. In fact, I almost want to display these from the back to get the most out of the vinyl color that shows on the back fins. If it weren't for the '73 Gigan figure these would be my favorite Gigabrains. Period. Very highly recommended if you can find them.



Here are a couple more translucent show exclusives, released in the fall of 2007. Again, the vinyl colors used are well chosen, especially in the case of the blue figure, though blue is my favorite color so your mileage may vary. Two more very cool figures.



Finally, here are two more exclusives, released in the winter of 2008. These are probably the most traditionally colored versions of this toy that Gigabrain would put out. The gold fins on the figure on the left bring to mind the Yamakatsu 1964 Godzilla while the figure on the right has a definite 1990's Bandai quality to it with the glossy black vinyl and silver fins. I might like the original green figure a little more than these, but these are great for someone digging the sculpt but not as appreciative of the sometimes crazy paint schemes these figures often get.

It was at this point, 9 figures later, that I gave up trying to get all of these figures. There have been several more variants released in the past few years (usually metallic painted versions, which seem to be the stylistic preference in Japan these days) but it became impossible to keep up with them, let alone afford them all. Regardless, there were still more great figures to come.

Check back soon for part 4!!!

[RedZillaKing]

"F@cked up proportions" doesn't exactly sound like a positive. So of course I'm going to snap back at that. But whatever, here's part 3...

I apologize for my terminology. Was not meant as an insult. Anyways its between this and the Ghidorah for my favorite Gigabrain figure.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Great write-ups, Legion. I'm thoroughly enjoying these. Looks like I have another toy that's demanding representation in my collection. I've never been a fan of the '62 suit, but the blue variations shown here are more than a little tempting...

[Captain Aktion]

"F@cked up proportions" doesn't exactly sound like a positive. So of course I'm going to snap back at that. But whatever, here's part 3...

Number 1 problem on this forum.

Nobody ever forces anybody to get snappy. You made the choice to.

[Jomei]

"F@cked up proportions" doesn't exactly sound like a positive. So of course I'm going to snap back at that. But whatever, here's part 3...

Number 1 problem on this forum.

Nobody ever forces anybody to get snappy. You made the choice to.

I see what Legion's saying, though. "skreeonk up" doesn't sound good no matter how you spin it. Precise use of language can be important.

Anyway, I love that KinGoji. I'll be looking for one for sure!

[RedZillaKing]

Funny how one swear word makes everyone ignore context entirely.

[Captain Aktion]

I guess I'm the only one who read the post the way that it was intended. I dunno, but I understood exactly what RZK was trying to say...

[Jomei]

Misunderstandings can happen when you choose the wrong words. Legion's right; the figures aren't skreeonk up -- they're stylized.

"skreeonk up" means "damaged; poorly manufactured; injured; reprehensible; clearly and grossly objectionable."

RZK didn't mean it that way and clarified his meaning, so can we move on? This is a valuable thread so let's not let it get... skreeonk up.

[tymon]

I'm not a huge fan of vintage-y type figures, but I've loved just about everything I've seen of Gigabrain, particularly King Ghidorah and that blue glow G62. There's just...somethin about them, something I like more than other stylized companies. If my wallet weren't in such terrible shape (I make $900 a month, and rent+utilities+cell/insurance is over $700..so yeah, I can barely afford the occasional pink-tag Bandai), I'd pick up those two figures in a heartbeat. Thanks for all the info and pics, Legion.

I don't see f@cked up proportions. I see an alternate stylistic design that just happens to be different from a more realistic toy.

Kinda like Trendmasters?

[Captain Aktion]

^Sting.

[Legion1979]

I'm not a huge fan of vintage-y type figures, but I've loved just about everything I've seen of Gigabrain, particularly King Ghidorah and that blue glow G62. There's just...somethin about them, something I like more than other stylized companies. If my wallet weren't in such terrible shape (I make $900 a month, and rent+utilities+cell/insurance is over $700..so yeah, I can barely afford the occasional pink-tag Bandai), I'd pick up those two figures in a heartbeat. Thanks for all the info and pics, Legion.

No problem.

I don't see f@cked up proportions. I see an alternate stylistic design that just happens to be different from a more realistic toy.

Kinda like Trendmasters?

Even with altered proportions figures like the Gigabrains, Marmits and M-1s aren't taking creative liberties with the likenesses of the monsters. That separates them from Trendmasters by a wide margin. If Gigabrain ever did a Varan figure that looked like a reject from H-Man or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I'd be the first to tell yu it was crap.

Captain Aktion, you're not really helping discussion here. I can just stop these. It's fine by me.

[tymon]

^True, true. I've never seen a vintage Japanese figure that looked as horrid (or "off", I suppose) as TM's Varan or Anguirus...

[Captain Aktion]

Captain Aktion, you're not really helping discussion here. I can just stop these. It's fine by me.

Just a joke, friend.

If I put a smiley after it would it be better? Sorry, I apologize, don't get all twisted up.

?

EDIT: I'd say that M-1, Marmit, and the like DO take liberties with the designs. Right off of the top of my head, I don't remember Frankenstein wearing giant sandals, but my M-1 would have me believe so.

[Legion1979]

EDIT: I'd say that M-1, Marmit, and the like DO take liberties with the designs. Right off of the top of my head, I don't remember Frankenstein wearing giant sandals, but my M-1 would have me believe so.

I just flipped through the Pictorial Book of Godzilla vl 2 (pretty much THE ultimate visual guide for Toho's monsters) and guess what I saw? Frankenstein wearing sandals!

I know, right!

[Captain Aktion]

^Whaaaat? Hold up a sec.

EDIT: Skimmed through a couple of my Chronicles book and can't find any shots of his feet. I gotta assume the actor wore them.
Okay? Point still stands: The amount of deviation you can tolerate may not be the same as others.