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NYTF09: Toynami / Bandai Tamashii

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24 comments posted
This is very cool news...

This is very cool news... Toynami is pretty hit or miss when left to their own devices, but as an importer for Bandai products they could do very well. I'd buy the Respect for Voltes SOC if I could pick it up for a reasonable price domestically.

Prometheum5's picture
Posted by Prometheum5 on 1 March, 2009 - 00:02
Prices?

What does that mean in terms of prices? Will Chogokins be cheaper once they're domesticize?

SaiKare's picture
Posted by SaiKare on 1 March, 2009 - 00:27
word on the street about

word on the street about this is a little bit cheaper for SOC in the US; better distribution for the main releases to US retailers, and continued Toynami/US exclusive versions like last years SDCC. The boxes it seems will be have Toynami sticker on them.

They're basically trying to do what Diamond tried to do for Bandai/SOC- bring it to the mainstream US collecting audience. Problem was with Diamond, they were a little bit more than everyone else, and they would get their stock a long, long time after it had hit eBay and Japan. By that point, everyone could find them cheaper through import stores or ebay, so few people bought them from Diamond.

A win/win for everyone outside china and japan, as many US stores will sell "US products" like this to UK and Europe for lower rates, so they win too.

The Big R's picture
Posted by The Big R on 1 March, 2009 - 03:12
A liitle extra bit of info on the subject....

Something that I forgot to mention to Josh is that during our interview at the NYTF 09 with Toynami, I was told this following info right from the horses mouth. The release of Bandai/Tamashii products will be simultaneous in the US and Japan. Furthermore, expect of up to 40% off of what you are currently paying from US and some HK retailers.

-Dan
CollectionDX LLC
Vice President/Co-Owner
"the other fat bearded guy at CDX"

Shogundan's picture
Posted by Shogundan on 1 March, 2009 - 11:39
Wow...

Toynami, I love you.

YuushaFan's picture
Posted by YuushaFan on 1 March, 2009 - 07:59
Domestic Gunpla?

I know its a near death issue, but what does this mean for Gunpla? I know Kotobukiya had SRW kits on display at Toy Fair along with those awesome mechanical display bases, but they didn't say anything about US distribution, or maybe they did and I just didn't read the right lines. This shows FIX Figurations are coming, so thats some proof of Gundam making a come back to the US. I'm just a little worried though that if models come with them, that the price tag is going to be a kill switch again. 80$ for a 40$ model was only a purchase out of convenience once, and I've learned my lesson. Honestly I'm excited for this agreement (including Toynami's hint of a Alpha/Beta all-plastic edition ala their VOLTRON) but I feel like I'm still a part of a narrow portion of the US Bandai fan appeal. I know where I can get Gunpla, but it'd be nice to walk into a store locally and find the same thing at the same price but without the additional S/H.

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Rob
The Gundam Model Guy

Gunpla Rob's picture
Posted by Gunpla Rob on 1 March, 2009 - 10:05
I doubt we will see gundam

I doubt we will see gundam kits as part of this deal as Gunpla isn't under the Tamashii banner.

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CollectionDX Admin

JoshB's picture
Posted by JoshB on 1 March, 2009 - 10:47
Save the best for last

This news is DOPE. Really cool to hear, even though I doubt they'll be able to do much about the steep prices (sorry, but new chogokin isn't that essential)On the other hand, I'm willing to bet that a new crop of collectors will emerge, thus fueling the secondary market for bottom feeders like myself. Have fun in Japan!

Materialist Zen's picture
Posted by Materialist Zen on 1 March, 2009 - 10:20
Amazing.

Amazing.

delta7890's picture
Posted by delta7890 on 1 March, 2009 - 11:44
Hey everyone.

Hey there everyone, I'm D-kun. Been going on this site for well... years now! I figured it'd be about time that I come on here and actually make an account. I love this site, and all of the neat toys that it's shown me over the years, especially the Onell Designs toys.

Anyways, the announcement of the partnership with Tamashii and Toynami originally surprised me, but when I thought about it, it does make sense, since in terms of toys like SOCs and what not, the larger toys that Toynami makes like the Beta Fighter and what not are in a similar price range and size scale. I just hope this means it will be easier to get the Super Robot Wars Daizengar and Aussenseiter SOC when it comes out!

Dkun's picture
Posted by Dkun on 1 March, 2009 - 11:58
?

Is there any news on what what stores will actually carry these?

ZA's picture
Posted by ZA on 1 March, 2009 - 14:33
I think it is safe to assume

I think it is safe to assume you will be able to get any Bandai/Tamashii goods at places that currently sell Toynami goods in the US

-Dan
CollectionDX LLC
Vice President/Co-Owner
"the other fat bearded guy at CDX"

Shogundan's picture
Posted by Shogundan on 1 March, 2009 - 14:39
Frig!

"The 1/55 valkyries with the re-tooled heads are on hiatus, due to a licensing issue with Big West."

Frig and damnation. ...All I want is a VF-1D, reissue style.

Sigh.

Runaphen's picture
Posted by Runaphen on 1 March, 2009 - 17:37
Re: Frig!

It's odd... In researching for my [upcoming] reviews of the 2008 Origin of Valkyrie line, I discovered that when Bandai acquired the 1/55s in 1984, they designed new heads for the VF-1S, -1D and -1J. While only the VF-1S's was produced (which my old 1990-reissue has, and is far better than the original Takatoku Toys' design), the -1J and -1D were prototyped at the same time but never released.

For Origin of Valkyrie, the original TT heads for all three models (-1S, -1J, and -1A) were used. :/
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 1 March, 2009 - 18:35
Woo, cheaper SOC's!

Woo, cheaper SOC's!

VZMK2's picture
Posted by VZMK2 on 1 March, 2009 - 19:38
Fantastic news

Hopefully we can order from our local comic shops through Diamond, avoid shipping costs and support local business.

mikecitrome's picture
Posted by mikecitrome on 1 March, 2009 - 23:19
Robot Soul won't be a

Robot Soul won't be a Revoltech killer if they continue to rely on Gundam mecha from those horrible new shows. Revoltech did great for several reasons, but for me (and I'll bet most of you) the biggest was the variety of mecha, especially some of the ones that previously had few or no prior toys made.

At best it will a nice alternative to Revoltech for all the properties Bandai has a stranglehold on - mainly anything from Sunrise.

As for the Toynami/Bandai deal, it was all but a done deal at SDCC, so at least it's nice to know it didn't fall through.

While I'm excited at the news of possible SOC and other lines being available to places like BBTS and other places for much less. I'm worried that they may not perform as well as they want given the still largely unknown properties to "the masses". Combine that with our current times and I hope Bandai is willing to give it some time before calling it quits like Gundam.

Big West is Big West, they've earned their reputation as being uncooperative at times, mainly because they hold the keys to Macross and not much else.

duke togo's picture
Posted by duke togo on 2 March, 2009 - 12:00
I brought up that very same

I brought up that very same point about the Robot Soul line, that it was just Gundam. He reminded me about Code Geass and Eureka 7, so its clear other properties will be joining the line.

Also keep in mind that the Bandai we are talking about here is Bandai Japan, and is under a wholly different management structure than Bandai America.

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CollectionDX Admin

JoshB's picture
Posted by JoshB on 3 March, 2009 - 09:40
Yeah, I'd have to agree with

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Duke on this one. The main appeal to me for Revoltechs is that I could get a cheap Macross valkyrie figure, and then also get a Getter-1 from the exact same line. It has a nice variety which I love.

I remember that about a year ago, Bandai had a poll out asking that if they were to expand their HCM-Pro line, what mechs would they like to see. I was looking forward to this, since one of the main answers was Tekkaman Blade figures. But that hasn't happened, and it looks like Bandai has decided to go with Robot Soul instead, which I haven't actually purchased. But to me it just seems like a glorified MSIA figure.

Dkun's picture
Posted by Dkun on 2 March, 2009 - 18:50
Aww- new "Tekkaman Blade"

Aww- new "Tekkaman Blade" stuff would be sweet! I wish I could have seen the un-censored ver., but I know it best from the Americanized "Teknoman", and I thought that was da bomb!
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 3 March, 2009 - 05:04
FIGUARTS, SIC, GFF

So were going to be able to get SIC and GFF, I also noticed the Figurats Kamens Riders.
This is great news, I was also wondering on the SOCs since there going to be cheaper are they going to chince on the diecast.

Also as someone else mentioned...the only place I can think of that Ive seen a few Toynami things is Toys R Us. Are they going to be the only ones to carry this stuff?
Cant wait to get some GFF, right now I only have Zeonography...I hope this includes zeonography.

NEOGETTER's picture
Posted by NEOGETTER on 2 March, 2009 - 19:50
SIC and Figuarts are

SIC and Figuarts are tentative at this point. In regards to SOC diecast content - I don't think there any changes planned for the metal content. Same production run, different packaging.

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CollectionDX Admin

JoshB's picture
Posted by JoshB on 3 March, 2009 - 09:42
Where?

I genuinely hope that SOC will be available for cheaper stateside, my only concern is if retailers will charge at the discounted rate also. Alas, I gotta ask round where will these be available in San Diego.

SaiKare's picture
Posted by SaiKare on 3 March, 2009 - 00:02
Black Raideen

Black Raideen SOC is GORGEOUS! Must... have...

Robots In Love's picture
Posted by Robots In Love on 21 March, 2009 - 19:09