5 years after the release of the Godzilla 2014 figure to promote the film, Godzilla 2019 is here to help promote the Godzilla King of the Monsters film. It's a bit better from the previous release and actually has a beam effect this time (for the first release anyway).
Details
Design-wise this is a very nice figure and the sculpt is really detailed. I like all the detail that went into the back plates and the scales. It's a really cool looking figure and I like it better than the 2014 version.
Articulation
For articulation, the arms can bend at the elbows, the hands can move 360 degrees and so can the arms at the shoulders. The legs can do 360° and so can the feet, and the legs can bend at the knees. The tail has very smooth articulation and can hold the pose which is really cool. The head has very smooth articulation so Godzilla can look up and it's really helpful when trying to do the beam effect so it looks like he's firing the his beam up in the sky and it emulates the movie poster. It’s a little tricky to pull off and you have to be careful when positioning. What I’ve found the trick to be is to gently push the sections on the neck into each other so that it builds stability, and then you can pop the beam effect into the slot. Godzilla can also turn side to side slightly, and slightly when you move him back and forth.
Accessories
For accessories, the beam effect and a jaw with the beam stand are included. The way that it works is that you pop off the bottom jaw and then put in the jaw with the beam effect base and then you have to position Godzilla so he's looking straight up. Then, you pop the beam into the slot and then you can emulate the movie poster. It does take some adjusting and it took me a little bit to get it right.
Also, be careful of Godzilla's head popping off. It seemed like it was designed to take any sort of stress which would make it pop off so you're not breaking it or putting it under any sort of unneeded stress so it would break.
Paint
For the paint, it looks okay on the teeth. It looks like a little bit of the red gums have been blended with the white of the teeth which is pretty sloppy. The claws and toenails have the sort of grayish green paint application, but the toenails didn’t have the best application because they look quickly painted and there are a lot of gaps in the paint. For the eyes, the pupils aren't in the best positions paint wise. They're not uniform and looking straight ahead but you have to get really close to even notice. The eyes on this figure are very small.
Overall
Overall, this is a pretty cool figure! I like how a little bit more care has gone into painting the teeth as opposed to the horrible paint applications for the teeth on the 2014 figure. The articulation is especially nice and is it worthy addition to your collection if you're collecting the merchandise from the film or just a fan of this line.
**Below are several bonus images, including some shots of the spines and some with the accessories.**
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Addendum 1: Burning Godzilla 2019
In what is the final (maybe) Godzilla 2019 release in the S.H.MonsterArts line, Burning Godzilla (NOT to be confused with the 1995 original Burning Godzilla) is here and let’s dive right in.
Details
The mold is the same as all the previous versions but for some reason, this figure is made of a thinner material and feels fragile. It’s really noticeable in the mid section and the tail. Of course, the thinner material may be due to making the figure translucent. Speaking of translucency, Burning Godzilla does look pretty awesome when held up to the light.
Articulation
Same mold, same articulation but with one exception. The jaw doesn’t fully close. I tried to close it all the way and it popped off but I was able to pop it back into place no problem. I was told that a solution to this problem would be to use a hair dryer to loosen the jaw to it can be closed. It’s a good option to have, but the figure looks better with the mouth open. Finally, the top of the tail on my figure is pretty loose. Not a big deal but the rest of the tail is tighter and it’s a small annoyance.
Accessories
No accessories are included, which is a shame. It would have been cool to have a couple of melted buildings as accessories so people can make a sort of “mini diorama” to emulate the ending of the film. I must admit, I do miss the early days of the line where releases like Moguera and Fire Rodan had more than just beam effect accessories.
Paint
It’s not “film accurate” which, in some spots it looks like it’s been randomly applied, but it still looks great. The paint is a great looking mix of dark red, orange and yellow and it really brings the scales on the figure to life. What’s really cool is how it’s also got this metallic yellow/red paint mixed in on that goes from the back of the head down the backplates to the end of the tail (and it’s also on the claws too). I really like how it looks! Under the tail looks pretty awesome too and the paint gives off a glowing effect which is pretty nice looking.
Overall
Overall, I like this figure, I just wish it didn’t have such a fragile feel to it. That aside, it looks great and if you display it, try to get it near a light source to really show off the translucent aspect. This figure should round out the Godzilla 2019 figure mold as Godzilla vs. Kong’s release draws near. But, who knows, maybe they’ll squeeze in one more before then. Highly recommended!
**Below are a number of bonus images for the figure.**
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Addendum 2: Godzilla 2021
Although this is classified as “Godzilla vs. Kong” Godzilla or “Godzilla 2021”, the changes to the mold were minor so that’s why I’m making it an addendum as opposed to a full review.
Details
This model is pretty much the same as the 2019 mold except for a couple of areas. Godzilla’s head is more angular while the 2019 version was more rounded. The teeth aren’t as pronounced as they were in the 2019 release and Godzilla’s torso seems a tad leaner as well.
Articulation
The articulation is largely the same but there are a small differences. The tail, for example, can be turned to the left and right further than the 2019 release - although the top pops off quite easily. The shoulders can be moved around easier as well this time. The neck sheaths complements the range of the now smaller head for posing.
Accessories
Godzilla has an alternate pair of hands for this release in the form of a more “aggressive” pose. They look cool and I find work better with the figure than the basic ones that come attached. I must say, while the hands are cool, I feel a beam was would have been great with this release given how the figure is in the “beam powering up mode”. If you own the Godzilla 2019 release, you can put the beam with this one to re-create the “Godzilla blowing a hole into the Hollow Earth” scene. Of course, given Tamashii’s history, there’s probably going to be another version of this figure with the city paint lighting from the first climax from the film and a beam effect.
Paint
The paint is the star of this release. I love how the metallic blue is mixed in with the mold which really adds quite a bit of detail on the backplates. The paint goes from the back of the head all the way down to the end of the tail. The paint is a little hit and miss towards that area with missing paint here and there. The paint does a great job of making Godzilla’s eyes look beady and menacing at the same time. It’s not TOTAL perfection, though, as the mouth falls short. While the paint is applied well enough with no spill over, it makes it look like Godzilla’s been eating something metallic and blue. The underside of the mouth and tongue look great as well as Godzilla’s membrane. The paint for the claws and toenails is more on the brownish/dark green side this time, which looks ok. Godzilla also has some brown paint applications for detail in the chest, neck, and abdomen. It’s rather light, but it does bring out the grayish/green paint on the figure.
Overall
I like this release quite a bit, and it’s a nice “updated” version of an existing figure. I love the electric blue paint job, which just adds so much menace to Godzilla, which I love! Time will tell if more versions of this figure are made-most likely as another bonus figure for the impending "Godzilla vs. Kong" Blu-Ray/DVD release in Japan.
**Below are a number of bonus images for the figure.**
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