1991 Bandai "Closed Mouth" Godzilla Comparisons
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:41 pmHello all! A few years ago my friend Jean Carbajal did a Vinylmaddness report on the 1991 Bandai "Closed Mouth" Godzilla figure. I'd like to reiterate some of his points while adding new ones, along with photos of the three versions of the sculpt that were released by Bandai.
First is the Made in Japan version. This is the most common of the three. As you can see in the first photo, the toy has redish paint for the eyes and a yellowish ivory color for the teeth. The vinyl used for the toy is a a very flat, or matte, dark gray.
Next is the Made in Korea version. The figure overall has a much darker and much glossier vinyl than the MIJ version. In fact, the vinyl for the MIK version is intensely shiny and makes the MIJ version look dull in comparison! The paint for the eyes is a reddish color as well, but isn't as bright as the MIJ version. The teeth are also much more yellow and much glossier than the MIJ version.
The version of the toy from the 1993 Bandai Evolution blister set is still darker and shinier than the MIJ version, but not as much so as the MIK version. The paint for the eyes and teeth are much brighter than either other version of the toy. This "Closed Mouth" Godzilla also has "Bandai 1991 Japan" stamped on the foot.
The tag for the 1991 Made in Japan version. This toy has "Bandai 1991 Japan" stamped on the foot, as does the loose figure from the Evolution blister set.
The tag for the 1991 Made in Korea version. The Korean "Closed Mouth" Godzilla has "Bandai 1991" stamped into the foot, but "Made in Korea" seemingly etched in very sloppily.
Overall, the Korean version of the toy has the silver highlights applied a little sloppily, especially on the fins. The Korean version is on the right.
The loose Evolution figure has the best silver highlights, which are brighter and painted more carefully onto the toy. The Evolution figure is on the right.
The Evolution blister set is well known to be very fragile, and mine actually broke up completely while it was being shipped to me. UPS must have not handled the box very carefully. The figures were practically falling out, so I simply removed them to display loose. Despite some rumors, the sculpt for the Godzilla in the Evolution blister set is identical to the other two figures - the tail was suggested to be shortened to fit inside the packaging, however this isn't true.
The 1991 "Closed Mouth" Godzilla is an all-time favorite and one of the best ever Bandai Godzilla toys. It's a truly original sculpt that has yet to be reproduced, reissued or even imitated. A mint condition version of the toy with the tag is still difficult to find, however the toy is a worthwhile purchase, even without the tag.
First is the Made in Japan version. This is the most common of the three. As you can see in the first photo, the toy has redish paint for the eyes and a yellowish ivory color for the teeth. The vinyl used for the toy is a a very flat, or matte, dark gray.
Next is the Made in Korea version. The figure overall has a much darker and much glossier vinyl than the MIJ version. In fact, the vinyl for the MIK version is intensely shiny and makes the MIJ version look dull in comparison! The paint for the eyes is a reddish color as well, but isn't as bright as the MIJ version. The teeth are also much more yellow and much glossier than the MIJ version.
The version of the toy from the 1993 Bandai Evolution blister set is still darker and shinier than the MIJ version, but not as much so as the MIK version. The paint for the eyes and teeth are much brighter than either other version of the toy. This "Closed Mouth" Godzilla also has "Bandai 1991 Japan" stamped on the foot.
The tag for the 1991 Made in Japan version. This toy has "Bandai 1991 Japan" stamped on the foot, as does the loose figure from the Evolution blister set.
The tag for the 1991 Made in Korea version. The Korean "Closed Mouth" Godzilla has "Bandai 1991" stamped into the foot, but "Made in Korea" seemingly etched in very sloppily.
Overall, the Korean version of the toy has the silver highlights applied a little sloppily, especially on the fins. The Korean version is on the right.
The loose Evolution figure has the best silver highlights, which are brighter and painted more carefully onto the toy. The Evolution figure is on the right.
The Evolution blister set is well known to be very fragile, and mine actually broke up completely while it was being shipped to me. UPS must have not handled the box very carefully. The figures were practically falling out, so I simply removed them to display loose. Despite some rumors, the sculpt for the Godzilla in the Evolution blister set is identical to the other two figures - the tail was suggested to be shortened to fit inside the packaging, however this isn't true.
The 1991 "Closed Mouth" Godzilla is an all-time favorite and one of the best ever Bandai Godzilla toys. It's a truly original sculpt that has yet to be reproduced, reissued or even imitated. A mint condition version of the toy with the tag is still difficult to find, however the toy is a worthwhile purchase, even without the tag.
