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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Moeyo. |
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| Picture from Moeyo. |
October 02, 2010
Bandai Robot Damashi Gun X Sword line announced at Tamashi Nation
Bandai adds yet another mecha show to the increasingly impressive Robot Damashi lineup, the newcomer is Gun X Sword which will go under the heading of "Side: Yoroi". The main mecha of the 2005 anime is Dann of Thursday and Bandai has done a great job with it, all of the Damashi's are nicely made but making this figure out of that lovely greeny blue translucent plastic and painting the armour on top really makes it unique. This one will definitely be on my buy list as GXS is a particular favourite of mine and such a nice figure of Dann is going to be hard to turn down! :D
Bandai Soul of Chogokin God Sigma announced at Tamashi Nation
One last big surprise at Tamashi Nation, with a painted prototype of Daltanias on display already Bandai announced yet another big, complex and exciting Soul of Chogokin release showing off their familiarly styled blueprints of the next project, God Sigma. God Sigma is a three robot & jet combiner similar in concept to the already released God Mars but possibly even more complex. Have a look at the blueprints for yourself and the combination sequence below. Good luck Bandai! :D
Video posted by animesong4ever on Youtube.
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| Picture from GA Graphic. |
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| Picture from Moeyo |
Video posted by animesong4ever on Youtube.
Bandai Soul of Chogokin Daltanias
On display at Tamashi Nation was a painted prototype of Bandai's next big SOC release after the Tokibage sets, the Lion chested combiner Daltanias from the anime of the same name. Daltanias was the first ever lion chested super robot, a theme that has repeated many times over the years and will hopefully make a comeback one day!
So what can you expect from this latest masterpiece of toy engineering? Check out the full combination sequence courtesy of youtube user animesong4ever.
Looks like Bandai have their work cut out for them! :D
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
Looks like Bandai have their work cut out for them! :D
Bandai Hajime Katoki designed power armour for Haruhi Suzumiya.
This is pretty random but pretty cool nonetheless, Bandai got veteran mecha designer Hajime Katoki, famed for his attention to detail, realism and love of warning markings to design some sort of exoskeleton for the main character of the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I've not seen this show so I have no idea if this is actually from the anime or something they've made up on a whim but it's pretty slick looking, it's being driven by an abnormally cheery girl in a bunny outfit and it has a big gun. What could go wrong! :D
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| Picture from Akiba Hobby. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
Bandai Super Robot Chogokin GaoGaiGar and friends.
Another big announcement from Tamashi Nation this weekend was that Bandai now has the rights to produce toys based on the "King of Braves:GaoGaiGar" anime, GGG was the last of the Brave Saga series of transforming/combining heavy super robot adventures which followed on after the decline in popularity of the Transformers in Japan. GGG is undoubtedly the most popular of all the Braves and makes perfect sense for Bandai to start with him and his buddy's, do they have the other shows in their licensing deal? Only time will tell! :D
No release details for any of these yet, stay tuned for future updates.
The display at Tamashi Nation featured a big bust of the heroic King of Braves himself in addition to the first figures planned for this line.
The first figure is of course GaoGaiGar itself, on display with the Dividing Driver, presumably Bandai will make the Goldion Hammer for him as well at some point and maybe even the Dimensional Pliers!
Very nice close up there in that last shot, the detail looks a little rough but this is an early prototype. The figures released so far in the SRC line have been gorgeous.
The second characters revealed in the series are present here as well, the AI twins given the body's of trucks to perform heroic deeds. The fire truck Enryu and the crane Horyu.
Next up is the secretest of secret Policemen, the undercover security operative Volfogg, who's also a Ninja!
Volfogg also has the ability to upgrade himself via two little drone robots who turn into the arms of this powered up form, Big Volfogg which is the last of the GGG SRC's Bandai had to show.
Quite a showing in all, I can only hope there will be plenty of nice effects parts for these guys and more to come. :D
No release details for any of these yet, stay tuned for future updates.
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
The first figure is of course GaoGaiGar itself, on display with the Dividing Driver, presumably Bandai will make the Goldion Hammer for him as well at some point and maybe even the Dimensional Pliers!
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Ameblo. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
The second characters revealed in the series are present here as well, the AI twins given the body's of trucks to perform heroic deeds. The fire truck Enryu and the crane Horyu.
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Ameblo. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Hobby Stock. |
Bandai Super Robot Chogokin Super Robot Wars: Original Generation Weissritter
One more super Robot Wars Original Generation Super Robot Chogokin announced at Tamashi Nation, Weissritter will be joining it's compatriot, the soon to be released Alteisen in forming the ATX team.
Price and release date yet to be announced and are probably a ways off given how early this figure looks.
Price and release date yet to be announced and are probably a ways off given how early this figure looks.
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Akiba Hobby blog. |
Bandai Super Robot Chogokin Super Robot Wars: Original Generation SRX team figures
Another really important news post for me, I've been hoping for affordable, good quality figures of these guys for some time! Just announced at the preview day of Bandai's annual Tamashi Nation show are the SRX team Mechas R1, R2 and R3 which will be part of the just started Super Robot Chogokin line, a kind of mini Soul of Chogokin featuring a whole smörgåsbord of Mechas from across the anime spectrum. The line started with Mazinger Z and it's successor Great Mazinger and is continuing with Alteisen and a whole raft of other SRW:OG Mechs as well as more old school releases so looks to have something for everybody.
This post is just for the SRX team Mechs as it seems likely that Bandai will release their support Mech R-Gun later on and probably an accessory set featuring the massive heavy weapons R2, R3 and R-Gun can mount in their powered up modes. So I'm aiming to keep all news relevant to these guys in one post as if you're interested in one, you more than likely will want them all! :D
So let's kick off with the Team Leader Ryusei Date's Mech. R1 has the ability to transform into a jet like form, much like the Zeta Gundam. It hasn't been confirmed but it seems the toy may be capable of performing this feat, it has a few suspicious looking joints to me!
Next is R2, piloted by Rai Branstein
R3, piloted by Aya Kobayashi is the last SRX team figure for now, hopefully Bandai will forge on and produce the R-Gun as well.
Of course the real draw of these guys is their ability to perform a mind bogglingly over the top and thus awesome combination into the mighty prototype super robot SRX. Will these figures be able to do it? It doesn't seem too likely but R1 looks like it can Transform and they are missng the Powered parts that form the SRX's limbs so who knows for sure, it would be a hell of an achievement, even for Bandai.
Here's the combination sequence from the original playstation game Super Robot Wars Alpha which featured the first appearance of these Mechas. This is the oldest version of the combination sequence but it's the most detailed, there are several other versions from the various games and anime's and soon there will be a version from the new anime which just started. Thanks to youtube user Kissmaster for posting this clip.
This post is just for the SRX team Mechs as it seems likely that Bandai will release their support Mech R-Gun later on and probably an accessory set featuring the massive heavy weapons R2, R3 and R-Gun can mount in their powered up modes. So I'm aiming to keep all news relevant to these guys in one post as if you're interested in one, you more than likely will want them all! :D
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Akiba Hobby blog. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Akiba Hobby blog. |
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| Picture from Ami Ami's blog. |
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| Picture from Akiba Hobby blog. |
Here's the combination sequence from the original playstation game Super Robot Wars Alpha which featured the first appearance of these Mechas. This is the oldest version of the combination sequence but it's the most detailed, there are several other versions from the various games and anime's and soon there will be a version from the new anime which just started. Thanks to youtube user Kissmaster for posting this clip.
New Mecha animation - Sym-Bionic Titan on Cartoon Network
More good news for Mecha fans who are looking for new entertainment. Cartoon Network over in the US has just started airing a new series by Dexter's Lab creator Genndy Tartakovsky called Sym-Bionic Titan, a rather retro affair it's a throw back to classic Mecha shows of the 70's. Featuring three main characters who are on the run from the invaders of their home planet, a Princess, a warrior and a guardian robot. These three try to fit in on Earth whilst defending themselves from colossal alien creatures sent to destroy them. They do of course have the power to protect themselves, the Princess llana and the warrior Lance have the ability to summon large suits of armour in a n instant and they can of course combine with the robot Octus's help into the titular Sym-Bionic Titan.
The show features some very sharp animation and has a penchant for moments of noticeably adult humour which has earned it a PG rating. It started on September 17th and the first season will be twenty episodes long, Genndy Tartakovsky hopes to do more if it is successful. I think it's off to a good start and could turn out to be a new cult favourite. Let;s hope it lasts longer then Megas XLR. :D
Here's the trailer courtesy of youtube user DarkBatWithin.
The show features some very sharp animation and has a penchant for moments of noticeably adult humour which has earned it a PG rating. It started on September 17th and the first season will be twenty episodes long, Genndy Tartakovsky hopes to do more if it is successful. I think it's off to a good start and could turn out to be a new cult favourite. Let;s hope it lasts longer then Megas XLR. :D
Here's the trailer courtesy of youtube user DarkBatWithin.
October 01, 2010
New Mecha anime - Star Driver by Studio Bones
Another new Mecha anime starting this weekend in Japan, Studio Bones whose previous Mecha credits include Rahxephon and Eureka Seven bring us Star Driver Kagayaki no Takuto, a thirteen episode series which looks to be of the Gainax school of Mecha anime, namely loud, flashy and utterly nuts. :D
Trailer posted on Youtube by key1988.
Trailer posted on Youtube by key1988.
New Mecha anime - Super Robot Wars - Original Generation - The Inspector
Great news for fans of the over longly titled Super Robot Wars Original Generation (SRW:OG), you can wash all those bad memories of the Divine Wars anime away with a brand new series SRW OG: The Inspector that has just started over in Japan. The animators of this show have obviously learned from the mistakes of Divine Wars and have turned their backs on the clunky CGI from that show in favour of more traditional cel animation.
This series will have thirteen episodes and seems to intend to follow the events of the second SRW OG game.
Here I have the trailer, intro and outro for you courtesy of youtube. The series has already been announced as being available through the Crunchyroll online broadcasting service from October the 3rd so look for it on there soon. :D
Here's the Trailer, posted by doctorlatino over on Youtube.
The intro posted by Youtube user Seihaorg.
The Outro contains no Mecha whatsoever and is pure fan service, enjoy! Also posted by Seihaorg.
This series will have thirteen episodes and seems to intend to follow the events of the second SRW OG game.
Here I have the trailer, intro and outro for you courtesy of youtube. The series has already been announced as being available through the Crunchyroll online broadcasting service from October the 3rd so look for it on there soon. :D
Here's the Trailer, posted by doctorlatino over on Youtube.
The intro posted by Youtube user Seihaorg.
The Outro contains no Mecha whatsoever and is pure fan service, enjoy! Also posted by Seihaorg.
Bandai & Studio Halfeye Collaborative Chogokin Escaflowne - More pictures added on 2nd Oct
My first real news post is one I am myself particularly excited about so I'm going to go into a bit of history, scroll down to the last paragraph for the actual news and pictures.
The 1996 Sunrise anime "The Vision of Escaflowne" is one that is known to most Mecha fans as it aired in America some years ago and is generally very fondly remembered. The Beautifully designed titular Escaflowne itself however has been something of a pipe dream for many fans, when it's transformation to the just as elegant Dragon mode was animated no thought was given then as to the practicality of any toys being made of this design so the animators were free to use as much anime magic as they liked. While the end result is quite awe inspiring on first viewing, it was thought of as being impossible to realise in a 3D figure.
That is until Studio Halfeye opened it's doors in 1997, their first release was a beautifully realised fully transforming Escaflowne. Thought it was a resin kit, hideously expensive and did require some parts switching it was still an amazing achievement. This was the only transforming Escaflowne figure money could buy until 2003 when Yamato, early into their complicated Mecha toy manufacturing career teamed up with Studio Halfeye to release a transforming toy of the Escaflowne based on SHE's kit. Released to the delight of many fans who could now afford a transforming Escaflowne of their own it was sadly deeply flawed. Yamato were infamous in their early days for poor quality control, loose fitting parts and just generally bad design. All of those unfortunate quirks were present in the Escaflowne and it resulted in a figure that while affordable and transformable as claimed looked nowhere near as good as the resin kit upon which it had been based.
Fast forward to today and Escaflowne seemed all but forgotten, especially by Bandai and Yamato. Studio Halfeye itself had sadly been forced to close in late 2009 so a further reissue of the kit also seemed impossible. Fans have been clamouring for a new Escaflowne for some time, toy engineering it was generally believed had advanced to the point where it would be possible to better replicate SHE's stunning work in a mass produced affordable figure or for the well respected Soul of Chogokin team to design their own from the ground up. Well the time has finally come. :D
On Friday the 1st of October, 2010 Bandai opened their annual Tamashi Nation show to give fans, retailers and press a glimpse of upcoming toy goodness from the big B and among the many drool worthy items on display was none other then Escaflowne. A very accurate looking Escaflowne, so accurate that from just the first picture no one expected it to transform but Bandai have worked miracles and produced what looks like a stunning replica of the much wished for mech. Perhaps even more amazingly Bandai have partnered with the now closed Studio Halfeye to deliver this masterpiece. The exact extent of this collaboration isn't yet known nor do we know if it is indeed a perfect transformation piece. No Escaflowne to date has been so I await with baited breath to see just how much of a miracle Bandai has worked and how much it's going to cost me! :D
The display at Tamashi Nation, the stand on the left seems to be a general selection of products from Studio Halfeye's past. This picture is from Akiba Hobby.
A much clearer view of the Studio Halfeye figures, from moeyo.
Great shot of the Studio Halfeye history placard from moeyo.
Lovely close up of the Escaflowne, also from moeyo.
Another fantastic clear shot, you can see some of the workings and the great detail. From GA Graphic.
From Ami Ami's blog.
From Akiba Hobby.
From Akiba Hobby.
From Hobby Stock.
This last picture gives you a good look at the placard, showing this to be a Chogokin item. From Hobby Stock.
Ultra clear shot of the Escaflowne's product card from moeyo.
The Bandai/SHE team up is presumably explained on this card, also from moeyo.
The 1996 Sunrise anime "The Vision of Escaflowne" is one that is known to most Mecha fans as it aired in America some years ago and is generally very fondly remembered. The Beautifully designed titular Escaflowne itself however has been something of a pipe dream for many fans, when it's transformation to the just as elegant Dragon mode was animated no thought was given then as to the practicality of any toys being made of this design so the animators were free to use as much anime magic as they liked. While the end result is quite awe inspiring on first viewing, it was thought of as being impossible to realise in a 3D figure.
That is until Studio Halfeye opened it's doors in 1997, their first release was a beautifully realised fully transforming Escaflowne. Thought it was a resin kit, hideously expensive and did require some parts switching it was still an amazing achievement. This was the only transforming Escaflowne figure money could buy until 2003 when Yamato, early into their complicated Mecha toy manufacturing career teamed up with Studio Halfeye to release a transforming toy of the Escaflowne based on SHE's kit. Released to the delight of many fans who could now afford a transforming Escaflowne of their own it was sadly deeply flawed. Yamato were infamous in their early days for poor quality control, loose fitting parts and just generally bad design. All of those unfortunate quirks were present in the Escaflowne and it resulted in a figure that while affordable and transformable as claimed looked nowhere near as good as the resin kit upon which it had been based.
Fast forward to today and Escaflowne seemed all but forgotten, especially by Bandai and Yamato. Studio Halfeye itself had sadly been forced to close in late 2009 so a further reissue of the kit also seemed impossible. Fans have been clamouring for a new Escaflowne for some time, toy engineering it was generally believed had advanced to the point where it would be possible to better replicate SHE's stunning work in a mass produced affordable figure or for the well respected Soul of Chogokin team to design their own from the ground up. Well the time has finally come. :D
On Friday the 1st of October, 2010 Bandai opened their annual Tamashi Nation show to give fans, retailers and press a glimpse of upcoming toy goodness from the big B and among the many drool worthy items on display was none other then Escaflowne. A very accurate looking Escaflowne, so accurate that from just the first picture no one expected it to transform but Bandai have worked miracles and produced what looks like a stunning replica of the much wished for mech. Perhaps even more amazingly Bandai have partnered with the now closed Studio Halfeye to deliver this masterpiece. The exact extent of this collaboration isn't yet known nor do we know if it is indeed a perfect transformation piece. No Escaflowne to date has been so I await with baited breath to see just how much of a miracle Bandai has worked and how much it's going to cost me! :D
The display at Tamashi Nation, the stand on the left seems to be a general selection of products from Studio Halfeye's past. This picture is from Akiba Hobby.
A much clearer view of the Studio Halfeye figures, from moeyo.
Great shot of the Studio Halfeye history placard from moeyo.
Lovely close up of the Escaflowne, also from moeyo.
Another fantastic clear shot, you can see some of the workings and the great detail. From GA Graphic.
From Ami Ami's blog.
From Akiba Hobby.
From Akiba Hobby.
From Hobby Stock.
This last picture gives you a good look at the placard, showing this to be a Chogokin item. From Hobby Stock.
Ultra clear shot of the Escaflowne's product card from moeyo.
The Bandai/SHE team up is presumably explained on this card, also from moeyo.
Ngee Khiong Closes
Some sad news for all Mecha fans today, after nearly five years of furious reporting the popular English language Mecha news blogger Ngee Khiong has decided to make his last post. :(
I won't go into the reasons here, you can see his own words on his page. I am however saddened by the cause of the closure, it's a terrible thing to have the enthusiasm for your hobby worn down to such a degree that you don't wish to carry it on. I wish him all the best and hope he will carry on hobbying regardless. :D
Many, many thanks to him for all the hours he's put into bringing Mecha news to the English speaking community, without him we'd have been adrift in a sea of half understood scans, guesswork and endless speculation. It is for this reason that I have decided to start my own blog, I'm not attempting to take up his mantle, nor am I intending for this to be an up to the minute news source. That would simply be impossible with my inability to read the Asian languages or to stay up around the clock! Instead I am hoping to use my passion for all things Mecha to create a one stop news shop that will gather and collate all the coolest Mecha news in one easily digestible place for Mecha fans who are pressed for time and don't want to trawl forums, imageboards and foreign language blogs for a new pic of a highly anticipated Mecha item.
So it is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Ngee, his blog has been a thrice daily pilgrimage for me for a long time and it is with open arms that I welcome you to this new amateur hour blog operation! ;)
I won't go into the reasons here, you can see his own words on his page. I am however saddened by the cause of the closure, it's a terrible thing to have the enthusiasm for your hobby worn down to such a degree that you don't wish to carry it on. I wish him all the best and hope he will carry on hobbying regardless. :D
Many, many thanks to him for all the hours he's put into bringing Mecha news to the English speaking community, without him we'd have been adrift in a sea of half understood scans, guesswork and endless speculation. It is for this reason that I have decided to start my own blog, I'm not attempting to take up his mantle, nor am I intending for this to be an up to the minute news source. That would simply be impossible with my inability to read the Asian languages or to stay up around the clock! Instead I am hoping to use my passion for all things Mecha to create a one stop news shop that will gather and collate all the coolest Mecha news in one easily digestible place for Mecha fans who are pressed for time and don't want to trawl forums, imageboards and foreign language blogs for a new pic of a highly anticipated Mecha item.
So it is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Ngee, his blog has been a thrice daily pilgrimage for me for a long time and it is with open arms that I welcome you to this new amateur hour blog operation! ;)
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