Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

I notice both figures are available at the CT Marketplace right now.

I wrote this back when I first got these figures:

I've come to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with my opinions on certain things. Anyone who knows me is aware I find most Godzilla toys that strive to be super-realistic usually lack a certain something (Bandai notwithstanding) while figures that go for a more stylistic approach tend to be better at capturing the look and feel of these larger than life kaiju.

That said, lets take a look at the new 1995 Godzillas just released by CCP. This company has been seriously hit and miss with me. I really like some of their stuff but I feel most of it misses the mark more often than it hits it. It's obvious they're going for a Bandai-like approach to sculpts and designs but they don't seem to have the quality control and the talented sculptors that they need to pull something like that off.

One positive thing I will say is that most CCP figures are really well painted. This is especially true of the black version of the 1995 Godzilla. The matte finish vinyl looks great and the subtle paint job really works on the finger and toenails. I also like the lighter color dusting over the feet. And honestly CCP pulls off some of the most well painted dorsal fins I've ever seen on any Godzilla figure. The "meltdown" 1995 Godzilla could have turned out really weak color-wise, since it's a color scheme I've already seen several times before on "Burning Godzilla" figures from Bandai and Marmit. But what brings this figure up a notch are the lights inside the figure that flash when you smack it around a little. The lighting effect isn't perfect but it's nice that they tried. Another plus is how sturdy and solid these two figures feel. You could actually hurt someone with the black version.

But the sculpts leave a lot to be desired, at least in my opinion. What Godzilla is this sculpt based on? It's impossible to tell because of how nondescript the sculpt is. And even that wouldn't be so bad if the proportions weren't so out of whack. The arms are far too large and bulky and the legs are much too squat. It's a shame because everything is detailed really nice on it's own but the entire package just didn't meet my expectations. Again, I wouldn't be saying this if it wasn't obvious that CCP wasn't trying to be as realistic as possible with these figures. And I hold firm on my opinion about the faces on these figures. They're all wrong and they just look really goofy. I think that may have to do with the way the eyes are done. The yellow, glossed over eyes and tiny black pupils make Godzilla look like he's high. It doesn't work.

And I still want to know what is with CCP and those tails that refuse to touch the ground.

No no no, leave the Classic '91 Closed Mouth alone! He's fine where he's at.

If Bandai releases a new '90's Godzilla, which I'd be all for since the '90's Godzilla is the best Godzilla suit design ever - in my humble, but correct, opinion - I'd prefer they do an action pose similar to the 8" Final Wars Godzilla. The 1992-1994 8" Godzilla from Bandai starts off with a decent tail sculpt, but then his arms and his facial expression is just like he's...not doing anything. The '90s Godzilla was a pretty fierce monster and I would like to see that really come out in a toy.

Specifically, the '89 Godzilla, which is my personal all-time favorite Godzilla. The '91 Closed Mouth was technically supposed to be the 1989 suit sculpt, but I wouldn't mind an update on good ol' Bio Goji.

Tim

There is just no reason to re-release the 91 Godzilla figure. As nice as the sculpt was back then a new version would just blow it away. At this point I'm not really willing to accept any new "realistically styled" Godzilla figure that doesn't have a nicely pressed, separate fin section like all of Bandai's Godzillas have had since 1999. A brand new sculpt on the 1990s Godzilla from Bandai is long, long overdue.

But methinks Bandai will continue to use the old Hesei figure as the default 1990s Godzilla in their product line, assuming it even continues. We're talking about a company that tried to pass of the less that spectacular 1968 Angilas figure as the 1955 version. They're not going to upgrade a pre-existing toy unless they feel like they absolutely have to. And right now they don't have to.

^^Yup. Completely agreed. briizilla. Especially if you want something really accurate that depicts the Showa version. The old Bandai figure just doesn't cut it for me. The larger Great Monsters Series figure is pretty nice if you can ignore the lack of paint and the insanely brittle wings.

The CCP Ghidora is a joke. It looks like it's trying to be really accurate but the body is so oddly proportioned that the whole thing looks wonky. The Marmit Ghidoras are hit and miss. I like the Monster Heaven version, but I know a lot of people generally don't. The new Marusan? It's a cute toy but in no way is it very accurate.

It may not be accurate the way certain Bandai figures are but I still think the Pilot Ace Ghidora is still the best Ghidora figure out there.

Both of those kits are really nice, though I'm not sure I really like the legs on either of them. They're trying to do something dynamic with the legs on these and it doesn't really match the suit that well. That's the thing with me. Realism is fine but it needs to capture the look of the monster suits, not interpret them. That's just how I feel. I know others think differently though. And if the toy isn't going for movie-accurate realism it at least needs to capture to essence of the character, like the Pilot Ace figure above does.

This to me is the perfect Ghidora kit: