Movie Monster (toyline)

The Movie Monster series (ムービーモンスターシリーズ,   Mūbī　Monsutā Shirīzu^?) is the third line of 6-inch Godzilla figures by Bandai Japan. The line began in 2001.

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2001 releases

In 2001, this toy line features reissues of 10 of the figures from the previous line, Toho Kaiju series, the figures were given a new vinyl color, different paint highlights (if not most giving resemblance to their film counterpart), and even a larger size difference when compared the Toho Kaiju toy line. The tags for the Movie Monster figures are completely different from the previous lines, the borders were removed with the pictures of each respective monsters taking up most of the front of the tag, and the back shows a head-shot of one of the Godzillas of the respective era the monster originated from (Godzilla 1993 for Heisei monsters, and Godzilla 1974 for Showa monsters). Towards the end of 2001, Bandai Japan released one more figure to the Movie Monster series, Burning Godzilla.

Godzilla (2001 release)

King Ghidorah(2001 release)

Mechagodzilla

Anguirus

Gigan

SpaceGodzilla (2001 release)

Mecha-King Ghidorah (2001 release)

Destoroyah (2001 release)

Rainbow Mothra 1998

Godzilla (1954) (2001 release)

Burning Godzilla

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack line

To coincide with Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack in 2001, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2001, Baragon 2001, Mothra 2001 and King Ghidorah 2001 to the Movie Monster line up, but unlike the other figures in the line, they are not apart of the 6-ich scale. Instead, they're all apart of the 8-ich scale, making this the only line of 6-inch Godzilla figures to produce 8-inch figures.

Theatre exclusives for all four figures were made, as well as an Event Exclusive Crystal Godzilla, a Hobby Exclusive "Translucent Glitter Godzilla" and and "Orange Translucent Baragon". The tags for the GMK figures have a head shot of Godzilla 2001.

Godzilla 2001

Godzilla 2001 (Theatre exclusive)

Crystal Godzilla (Event exclusive)

Translucent Glitter Godzilla

Baragon 2001

Baragon 2001 (Theatre exclusive)

Orange Translucent Baragon

Mothra 2001

Mothra 2001 (Theatre exclusive)

King Ghidorah 2001

King Ghidorah 2001 (Theatre exclusive)

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla line

To coincide with Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla in 2002, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2002, Mechagodzilla 2002 with weapons and Mechagodzilla 2002 without weapons to the Movie Monster line up, and like the GMK figures, they're all a part of the 8-inch scale.

Theatre Exclusives for both the Godzilla 2002 and Mechagodzilla 2002 with weapons were also produced, as well as a red "Ito Yokado Godzilla" and "Link Science Mechagodzilla".

Godzilla 2002

Godzilla 2002 (Theatre exclusive)

Ito Yokado Godzilla (Red)

Super Weapons Mechagodzilla 2002

Super Weapons Mechagodzilla 2002 (Theatre exclusive)

Mechagodzilla 2002

Link Science Mechagodzilla

2002 releases

During the Asian Fantasy Film Festival in 2002, Bandai representative, Yasumasa Kawauchi, announced to guests during a panel discussion that there was a 50/50 chance that a 6-inch Titanosaurus would be included to the Movie Monster series. Kawauchi also entertained a suggestion that the new Titanosaurus figure should be paired with a Mechagodzilla 1975 figure. By the end of 2002, Bandai Japan added Mechagodzilla 1975]] and Titanosaurus to the Movie Monster line up, along with reissues of Fire Rodan and G-Force Moguera with new paint schemes, as well as a rescale of the Godzilla Junior figure from the standard line. A "Clear Mechagodzilla" was produced as well.

Mechagodzilla 1975 (2002 release)

Clear Mechagodzilla

Titanosaurus (2002 release)

Fire Rodan (2002 release)

G-Force Moguera

Godzilla Junior (2002 release)

2003 releases

In 2003, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 1974 to the Movie Monster line up. It had been rumored for years that Toho was never proud of the 1970s version of Godzilla and would never allow Bandai Japan to produce a figure of the 1970s Godzilla. Bandai Japan also reissued King Caesar with a new paint scheme as well.

Godzilla 1974

King Caesar

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. line

To coincide with Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. in 2003, Bandai Japan resculpted the Godzilla and Mechagodzilla from the GXMG toyline to match how they looked in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.. They also added Mothra Imago 2003 and the two Mothra Larva 2003 to the Movie Monster line up.

As with the other Millennium figures, all figures in the GMMG toyline are all 8-inche scale figures. Theatre exclusives for Godzilla 2003, Mechagodzilla 2003 with weapons, Mothra Imago 2003 and the female Mothra Larva 2003 were also produced, as well as an "HMV Godzilla", a gray "Ito Yokado Godzilla" and an "Ito Yokado MechaGodzilla". The tags for the GMMG figures have a head shot of KiryuGoji|Godzilla 2003.

Godzilla 2003

Godzilla 2003 (Theatre exclusive)

HMV Godzilla

Ito Yokado Godzilla (Gray)

Mothra Imago 2003 (8-inch)

Mothra Imago 2003 (Theatre exclusive)

Male Mothra Larva 2003

Female Mothra Larva 2003

Female Mothra Larva 2003 (Theatre exclusive)

Super Weapons Mechagodzilla 2003

Super Weapons Mechagodzilla 2003 (Theatre exclusive)

Ito Yokado MechaGodzilla

Drill Hand Mechagodzilla 2003

2004 releases

Godzilla: Final Wars line

To coincide with Godzilla's 50th anniversary film, Godzilla: Final Wars, Bandai Japan added Godzilla 2004, Anguirus 2004, Rodan 2004, Xilien 2004, Minilla 2004, Gigan 2004, Chainsaw Gigan, Monster X and Keizer Ghidorah to the Movie Monster line up, as well as reissue Mothra Imago from the GMMG toyline in translucent red vinyl.

Unlike the other Millennium figures, only five figures are in the 8-inch scale (Godzilla 2004, Gigan 2004, Chainsaw Gigan, Monster X, and Keizer Ghidorah), the other figures are apart of the 6-inch scale. Theatre exclusive figures for Godzilla 2004, Anguirus 2004 and Rodan 2004 were also produced, as well as an Ito Yokado Exclusive Godzilla 2004 figure. HMV Exclusives for the Godzilla 2004, Anguirus 2004 figures were also produced. The tags for the Final Wars figures have a head shot of Godzilla 2004.

Originally, Bandai Japan was planning to make figures of all the other monsters that have appeared in the movie like King Caesar, Ebirah, and even Zilla, but after the movie bombed, as well as received heavy criticism, Bandai Japan decided to cut their losses and cease production on any other monster from the film.

Godzilla 2004 (8-inch)

Godzilla 2004 (Theatre exclusive)

Godzilla 2004 (Ito Yokado exclusive)

Godzilla 2004 (HMV exclusive)

Anguirus 2004 (2004 release)

Anguirus 2004 (Theatre exclusive)

Anguirus 2004 (HMV exclusive)

Rodan 2004 (2004 release)

Rodan 2004 (Theatre exclusive)

Mothra 2004

Minilla 2004

Xilien 2004

Gigan 2004 (8-inch)

Chainsaw Gigan

Monster X

Keizer Ghidorah

Reissues

Mechagodzilla 1975, Titanosaurus, Fire Rodan and Godzilla Junior have also been reissued from 2002's line up, their size and paint schemes are no different from before. However, all four figures come with single-sheet tags with the Toho license sticker is silver sporting the 50th anniversary symbol and the year 2004.

Mechagodzilla 1975 (2004 release)

Titanosaurus (2004 release)

Fire Rodan (2004 release)

Godzilla Junior (2004 release)

2005 releases

In 2005, Godzilla, SpaceGodzilla, King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah, Destoroyah, Godzilla 1954, Anguirus 2004 and Rodan 2004 have all been reissued from the 2001 and 2004 line ups with new paint schemes. Godzilla 2004, Gigan 2004, Mechagodzilla 2003 with the drill hand and Mothra Imago 2003 have all been scaled down into 6-inch figures and were all given new paint schemes as well. The tags that all the figures come with are different from the previous line ups, the tags have pink borders on both sides, and the back shows a silhouette of the Millennium Godzilla in a fiery background.

Godzilla (2005 release)

King Ghidorah (2005 release)

SpaceGodzilla (2005 release)

Mecha-King Ghidorah (2005 release)

Destoroyah (2005 release)

Godzilla (1954) (2005 release)

Mechagodzilla 2003

Mothra Imago 2003 (6-inch)

Godzilla 2004 (6-inch)

Anguirus 2004 (2005 release)

Rodan 2004 (2005 release)

Gigan 2004 (6-inch)

2006 releases

In 2006, Bandai Japan added Hedorah to the Movie Monster line up, as well as reissue Godzilla 1968 from the Godzilla 50th Anniversary Memorial Box set with a new paint scheme. The tags for both figures are the same as the 2005 figures except the borders are purple instead of pink. Godzilla 1968's tag sports controversy, as it pictures a publicity shot of Godzilla 1973 from Godzilla vs. Megalon.

The inside of the tag shows a closeup picture of another publicity shot of Godzilla 1971. This famous picture gave the hint that Godzilla had the ability to fly. It is known that the 1968 suit was reused for the 1971 film, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, but the choice of using a picture of Godzilla 1973 featured on the front of the tag is currently unknown.

Godzilla 1968

Hedorah

2007 releases

In 2007, Bandai Japan added Jet Jaguar to the Movie Monster line up, Jet Jaguar's tag is the same as Godzilla 1968's and Hedorah's. However, Jet Jaguar was the only figure released in 2007, and was the last figure of the Movie Monster series line until the reveal of the 2014 Godzilla and MUTO from Legendary Pictures' Godzilla in 2014, as the Ultraman toyline became quite popular with kids that want game cards.

Jet Jaguar

2014 releases

Godzilla line

Both the 2014 incarnation of Godzilla and winged MUTO were released on July 12, 2014, the back of the tags for both figures are done entirely in black with the Legendary Pictures' Godzilla title labelled on the top middle right side.

Godzilla figure advertisement

Winged MUTO figure advertisement

The top left of the back of the tags are given a similar shape to Godzilla's dorsal plates on the tail, and are also outlined in white.

Godzilla

MUTO

Winged MUTO tag front

Winged MUTO tag back

On February 14, 2015, the next toy line by Bandai Japan was at last released, Movie Monster EX.

2016 releases

Shin Godzilla line

In April 2016, Bandai announced it would be reviving the Movie Monster Series once again in July to coincide with the upcoming release of Shin Godzilla. Bandai's sales sheet reveals plans for a six-inch Godzilla (2016) figure, along with two other figures tentatively labeled "Godzilla 2016 Monster A" and "Godzilla 2016 Monster B."

Sales sheet for Bandai's upcoming figures

Godzilla 2016 Monsters A and B Figure Advertisement

These were later revealed to be the second and third forms of the monster. The fourth form got multiple variants released, including a red, translucent theater exclusive, and a translucent beige Godzilla Store exclusive.

Godzilla (2016) - Second form

Godzilla (2016) - Third form

Godzilla (2016) - Fourth form

Godzilla (2016) - Fourth form - Theater exclusive

Godzilla (2016) - Fourth form - Godzilla Store exclusive

Millennium series line

Bandai would also release two new classic figures in the Movie Monster line, Millennium Godzilla and Mechagodzilla 2004.

Millennium Godzilla

Mechagodzilla 2004

The sales sheet also announced a new series of 12-inch figures dubbed the King of the Monsters series, which will feature reissues of Bandai Creation's Godzilla 2004 and Kiryu figures along with a new Godzilla 2016 figure.

2017 releases

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters line

In 2017, the line received some new additions to coincide with the release of Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters. These included molds and variations of the 2017 incarnation of Godzilla, as well as the Servum.

First announcement for the 2017 Godzilla figure.

Announcement showcasing both Godzilla and the Servum figures.

Godzilla (2017)

The Godzilla (2017) figure came in two variants, a basic one, featuring a movie accurate paintjob, alongside a second figure, featuring a translucent blue mold, which was a 7net exclusive.

Basic Movie Monster figure.

Movie Monster Godzilla (2017)

Servum

The Servum figure was announced and launched alongside the 2017 Godzilla.

Movie Monster Servum figure

Shin Godzilla releases

In addition to the PotM figures, some new molds for Shin Godzilla were released. These included the previously launched second and third forms of the 2016 Godzilla, alongside a retooled fourth form. This form included a new paint job and tail mold, which includes the emerging fifth forms of Godzilla.

2018 releases

Biollante

A Biollante figure was launched in March of 2018.

Mechagodzilla (Heavily Armed Type)

Mechagodzilla, dubbed "Heavy Armed Type", was released in March of 2018. It features a nearly identical mold to the prior Mechagodzilla releases, but features a more subdued paint job, being silver, with no blue accents.

Godzilla Earth (Thermal Radiation Ver.)

A new version of the 2017 Godzilla, dubbed the Thermal Radiation Ver. is slated for release in April, 2018. This figure features a new silver sheen added to its skin, and a blue paintjob added to its dorsal plates.

Mecha-King Ghidorah

Mecha-King Ghidorah is set to make its debut in April 2018, alongside its wavemates for the first time since its 2005 re-issue.

Mothra (Larva)

A larval Mothra is slated for release in April, 2018, alongside its adult counterpart.

Mothra (Adult)

An adult Mothra is slated for release in April, 2018, alongside its larval counterpart.

King Ghidorah (AniGoji continuity)

A variant of the King Ghidorah from the animated trilogy of Godzilla films was announced in and released in late 2018, coinciding with the release of Godzilla: The Planet Eater.

External links

• Vinyl Maddness (Part 1)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 2)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 3)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 4)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 5)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 6)
• Vinyl Maddness (Part 7)