Manda
Review by NekroDave
One of the small things I took away from the recent trip to San Francisco was the knowledge that HobbyLink Japan was now carrying vinyls. Since I stopped collecting die-casts, I really hadn't been to the site in awhile. But as soon as I got home, I took a look through their company list on the left side of the page to see if anything caught my eye. Sure enough, there was a listing for M1 and although the list was short, it did have a couple of things I needed, including this newer, elongated version of Manda.
Manda is from the movie "Kaitei Gunkan" (海底軍艦), released by Toho in 1963 and known in this country as "Atragon". I haven't seen it, but it looks awesome.
Manda had been released in several colors by M1 in the past (and don't forget Sanjeev's custom glowie), but although the figure was nice, it was bit short and you couldn't replicate scenes from the movie, such as wrapping itself around the ship. So in 2008, a new version was released along with a vinyl toy of the Gotengo itself (sold separately).
The new version of Manda features an all new paint scheme and two additional body segments. There is a new curved neck in between the head and fore-legs and also new curved segment just before the hind legs. These two parts make the figure longer and more twisted than the original, while maintaining the same basic sculpt.
The downside it, unless you have the Gotengo to display it with, it doesn't really display that well on it's own, imo. I mean, it looks good, but it will take up more space than the original and posing it can be a pain since it's not really well balanced in any pose other than just wound against itself. Try to spread it out some and it will just fall over.
The good news is that the new paint scheme is really beautiful. The gold fins really catch your eye and the white lines on the fins on the side of the head on the original are removed, which I think is huge plus. I don't need racing stripes on my kaiju.
This figures is packaged in a bag with a generic M1 header card, albeit with a little white sticker across the bottom of one side saying "TM&© 1963,2007 TOHO Co., LTD." and that little gold foil sticker now says "2008" beneath the circled picture of Godzilla. (I just linked the following images from the Matango gallery rather than upload new pictures of the same basic thing.)
Manda is a great figure when combined with the Gotengo and is available at HobbyLink Japan. Great news for non-Japanese collectors since now you don't have to pay the typical import markup fees associated with vinyl kaiju. No more paying $90-100+ for something that really cost $55! Here's hoping that HLJ stocks much more vinyl in the future!
Comments
20 comments postedGorgeous!
Great score. I, too, hope to see more vinyl carried by HLJ.
--
Sanjeev
It's worth your while to watch the movie if you're a classic Toho fan (isn't everyone?) but it's nothing to get too excited over.
FYI Manda later appeared in "Destroy All Monsters" and "Godzilla Final Wars".
That thing is AWESOME!
I agree that Atragon is a classic, but don't think you're getting monster mayhem. Manda gets a mere ten minutes, ala Mogera in "The Mysterians" (another classic)
Yup...Atragon's great, but only really because of the first appearance of the super-ship, Atragon, which I'm rather partial to!
Overall, I'd say The Mysterians was a much better film. Lots more sfx shots and action, overall. Really fun...and Mogera (despite having little screen time) rocked.
--
Sanjeev
Mysterians is a better movie than most movies,IMO. You're right,MechaGonzo is pretty impressive despite limited screen time.
The only thing that really detracts from it is how the part with the Markalite tripod thingy lasts about 6 hours. It's like Jesus Christ,explode the aliens allready. That's how it was back then though,especially in Japan.
I love all these old Toho flicks so much though,it's like choosing your favorite child really.
"I love all these old Toho flicks so much though,it's like choosing your favorite child really."
Totally...though I don't have kids. Matango's another favorite. And I have a soft spot for Varan, the Unloved. ;)
And, hey, maybe they were trying to teach kids persistence with the Mysterian base! That stick-to-it-iveness is very valuable in corporate Japan!
But back to Manda, Atragon was a bit slow at times, but the whole idea of the underwater/underground/airborne super-ship is was does it for me! Manda, herself (I coulda sworn I read somewhere that Manda was female), is a VERY cool kaiju, of course...and I'm *really* glad M1 decided to lengthen her with some more body segments.
--
Sanjeev
Enough!
I need to see these films, it's like an entire genre I don't know about! ha ha
So which films should I see and it what order. Please put both japanese and and English titles so I won't be double confused!
Anything from Japan in the 60's I love so I'm looking forward to seeing these films.
Cheers,
LF
Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau
Boy, now there's a tall order! ;)
Okay, well, first get familiar with Toho Kingdom; it's kinda the go-to place for info on Toho films. I guess the order in which you see these movies isn't all that important, though you may wanna see the Godzilla ones in order just for consistency. Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, Gojira 1954 through 1977's War in Space counts as Toho's Showa era. Though the quality on these movies are all over the map, they're all "classics" to me!
As for specifically Godzilla flicks, definitely look at Chris Koch's Godzilla site...though I don't always agree with his reviews of the movies, I find the site VERY helpful in keeping G flicks straight in my head.
Anyway, other than Godzilla Toho films, you'll want to check out Rodan, The Mysterians, Varan, H-Man, Battle in Outer Space, The Human Vapor (I actually haven't seen this one yet, but it looks interesting), Mothra, Gorath, Atragon, Matango, Dogora, Frankenstein Conquers the World, War of the Gargantuas, King Kong Escapes (one of my all-time favorites!), Latitude Zero, Yog: Space Amoeba, and War in Space.
After that, you've got the Heisei, and post-heisei/"millenium" eras of Godzilla flicks.
And because I know you're into other media, you have to check out Akira Ifukube's scores--some of the best film music in the history of the medium!
AND...once you're done with Toho...you'll have to get into the Daiei series like the Showa Gamera and Daimajin films, tv series like Ultra Q, Ultraman, and Zone Fighter, other movies like The X From Outer Space and Gappa, and, finally, western monster movies like Reptilicus, Gorgo, and many, many more!
Good luck, Leo!
--
Sanjeev
It looks like somebody forgot Ultra Seven. That's the best one!!!!!!!!
True, true...in fact, I left out a ton of Ultra stuff simply because I'm not all that knowledgable about this stuff. I have the commercial Ultraman DVDs that came out a couple years ago...and I obviously collect Ultra kaiju toys (mainly from M1/Marmit/Marusan and some of the smaller producers...nothing Bandai except for the Bullmark reissues from Popy/B-Club).
I'd sure LOVE to see Ultra Q and Ultra Seven, though!
--
Sanjeev
Sometimes R1 Ultra Seven box sets turn up on eBay,allthough obviously of a dubious legality.
There's at least one episode up on Youtube,and I know there's fansubs floating around For Ultraseven X,the sequel adult-aimed show from a year or two ago. I didn't like it as much as the original,but I only saw a couple episodes,and I watched them raw,so your mileage may vary.
I have a very similar relationship with Gundam; seen a few of the Anime's but don't really know much about it yet I stil collect Gunpla's. same with Ultraman yet I don't own any memorabilia of it ^^;
Sanjeev,
Sorry! I should have been more clear but I was referring to films that feature Atragon. No worried though, I didn't know about the Toho Fan website and I'm looking forward to checking that site out.
I'm an insane completest when it comes to filmographies, I'm about halfway through Akira Kurosawa and Ralph Balkshi by watching and buying all the films in order.
Cheers!
LF
Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau
kidnicky, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for those dubious Ultra Seven sets! ;)
My priority, as far as Ultra stuff is concerned, however, is the original: Ultra Q!
Leo, just Atragon, huh? Hahaha...okay, gotcha! Very simple:
Atragon (1963)
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
If you wanna be thorough, you may wanna check out War in Space (1977) (though, this film features the Goten, a sort of "future Gotengo")...and if you're really anal, you can first check out
Battle in Outer Space (1959), since War in Space was it's unofficial sequel!
Hope this helps!
--
Sanjeev
Thanks,
Yes, I'm crazy that way, I'll watch "Battle In Outer Space" first before War In Space.
It can get so confusing with all these Toho films. Look, the sequel to Battle in outer Space comes out 18 years later, and I'm sure Godzilla:Final Wars is a sequel as well to another Godzilla film! Kind of like how Dr Mabuse: The Gambler and M are unrelated film but The Testament of Dr Mabuse is a sequel to both. You can easily lose grasp of it all.
It's hard believe that Atragon was until recently only used in one film. What a great looking ship and it just seems it could have been used in so many adventures but just wasn't used. I'm looking forward to building the model kit CDX.
Thanks Sanjeev for taking your time out about the films!
Cheers!
LF
Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau
Godzilla Final Wars isn't really a sequel to anything. I guess it's kind of a sequel to the original Godzilla,but it's more just a bunch of crazy s**t that happens.
I've only ever seen the first episode of Ultra Q,but if the first episode is any indication,it's an all time classic series!
There's also an anime, Super Atragon, but I don't know if it has anything to do with the movie. It has a drill sub in it though...
EDIT: after watching that, I am scarred.
------------------------------
CollectionDX Admin
Hehe...it's funny how this thread is turning into a filmography of Atragon/Gotengo, not Manda!
Oh, one big thing I forgot to mention was another interesting reference I came across when reading up on Josh's recent Robot King bootleg review: apparently, in Toho's Chousei Kantai Sazer-X sentai movie (a crossover with Justirisers and Gransazers), there's a character named, Commander Jinguji (yes, the same name as in Atragon), who built the Hontengo, a giant, flying sub with a drill on its prow!
Might need to check that out someday!
--
Sanjeev
I love the colors on that sea beast vinyl! I've never seen anything quite like it on a vinyl, it looks like it has chrome paint on it. The Art design of the beast looks like some thing you would see at a Chinese New Years parade.
Beautiful! I'm looking forward to seeing the film,
LF
Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau