Godzilla Invades ToyFair! NECA and Tamashii Nations Tease New Figures to Be Revealed Next Month and Beyond!

Yes indeed, Kaiju Collectors, it’s THAT time of year again… ToyFair 2016, the massive expo of upcoming collectables and memorabilia from dozens of toy companies from around the world, will be returning to New York less than a month from now! For toy fans and collectors, this event is highly anticipated each year, and for the last few years, the show has been of particular interest to kaiju fans. Ever since 2013’s Pacific Rim put kaiju back on the map, the toys and collectables have been flowing, with companies like NECA, Bandai America, Jakks Pacific, and Diamond Select Toys here in the U.S. showing off a variety of products. The resurgence of the popularity of Godzilla has also insured that Japanese products from companies like X-Plus and Bandai will continue coming to American shores.

Two of the hottest lines Godzilla collectors have been going after the last few years each hale from one of these camps: in 2011, Bandai’s collector branch, Tamashii Nations, introduced the now famous, kaiju specific S.H.MonsterArts line of super articulated, highly detailed figures, and in 2014, American company NECA started their own line of articulated Godzillas, available in Toys R Us’ across the country for an affordable price point.

However, in recent months both of these lines have started to worry fans due to a lack of new figures, and frustrating behind the scenes developments at both companies. Last year, after an unending stream of repainted re-releases in the MonsterArts line, Tamashii announced that not only would the slowed pace of releases be indicitave of future years, but they intended to phase out articulated figures all together, in favor of X-Plus style statues ala the company’s S.H.FiguArts Zero line. At NECA, a year went by with no new announcements for new figures, with NECA themselves blaming Toho for shooting down all of their ideas and concepts (which reportedly included figures for the Hanna-Barbera Godzilla, the Marvel Godzilla, a Ghost Godzilla, and even a “Spitfire” Godzilla 2014 with glowing blue spines). Little wonder, then, that fans started to lose faith in both lines to continue again.

But with ToyFair coming, all that has finally changed. Both Tamashii and NECA have teased new Godzilla figures to be shown off at the expo, much to the delight of collectors everywhere!

So, what exactly can we expect from ToyFair from these two companies in the Godzilla department? Lets start with S.H.MonsterArts first…

Last week, Tamashii teased the next articulated, non-repaint S.H.MonsterArts figure of via Facebook.. The tease stated that this new figure would make an appearance at ToyFair 2016 in New York, and then left an image to wet our appetites… the poster for 2001’s fan favorite Godzilla epic, Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, A.K.A. GMK. (See the poster in the banner at the top of this page.) This immediately narrowed it down to an obvious four possibilities: Godzilla 2001 (a.k.a. Sokugekigoji), and the GMK incarnations of Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. However, with Baragon cropped out of the poster image shown, the fact that a repaint of the Heisei King Ghidorah was just released for the line, and the choice between the two remaining possibilities (with Godzilla being the more popular monster), it was pretty clear that the figure they were hinting at was an honest to goodness S.H.MonsterArts GMK Godzilla.

And this was confirmed several days ago when this image was posted to Tamashii’s Facebook page:

Two words…

HELL. YES.

7 months after the last reveal for the line (Repaint King Ghidorah), and a whopping year and a half since the last NON REPAINT figure was announced (Mecha-King Ghidorah, way back in August of 2014!), the SHMA line, it seems, is FINALLY doing new things again. But that’s not all… according to a certain insider close to Tamashii, we can expect another two articulated figures within the year! What could they be? Could we see that long rumored new franchise join the line at last? Could it be the hinted at Jurassic Park/World dinosaurs, Harryhausen creatures, the Jaegers and/or Kaiju from Pacific Rim (which IS possible, as X-Plus has recently acquired the license to produce PR figures), or perhaps an SHMA resurrection of the long defunct Ultra Kaiju series that was once part of Tamashii’s Ultra Act line? (This is plausible as well, as this is the 50^th Anniversary of the Ultra Franchise, and marketing for anything Ultra will be off the charts this year.) Or, is it possible that one of them could be the new “Shingoji” design from this year’s highly anticipated Godzilla: Resurgence? Only time will tell…

Supposedly this new figure goes up for pre-order sometime this week, so we can expect pictures in the coming days! This article will be updated with any future information.

And now on to NECA. Ever since their stunning Godzilla 1954 figure was released last Fall, Godzilla fans have been awaiting the news of NECA’s next new Godzilla figure. And waiting. And waiting. And, for a change of pace, waiting a bit more. It seemed that a perceived disinterest in the line by NECA, combined with Toho’s notorious proclivity to veto concepts before they can be announced/released, had brought the line to a standstill.

However, rumors of NECA’s disinterest in the Godzilla property have been GREATLY exaggerated, and fans now have something to look forward to… a new reveal at ToyFair 2016!

Here’s the Tweet from NECA:

But that’s not all… check this out:

Yep, you read that right. THREE new Godzilla figures this year, and if everything goes according to plan, possibly more! This is huge and exciting news for sure, and now speculation can begin as to what we will see next month at NECA’s always crowded and awesome ToyFair display.

Could we see the long requested Godzilla 1962, or perhaps a Godzilla 1964, in keeping with the “anniversary” theme? Could the new figure be a Millennium design, or maybe a concept/video game variant like last year’s NES Godzilla? Could NECA be working on their own “Shingoji” figure from Godzilla: Resurgence? Once again, we will have to wait and see…

In addition to Tamashii and NECA, kaiju fans should be on the lookout for new products on display from the likes of Bandai America and Diamond Select Toys at ToyFair this year, as well! Bandai America has confirmed that they will be making vinyl figures and other collectables from the upcoming Godzilla: Resurgence, and its possible that, if Toho reveales the full design before that, we could see some of those products next month. In addition, DST’s line of Big G products, including vinyl bust/figural banks, novelty items like pizza cutters and bottle openers, and their popular Minimates series is set to continue as well! Expect Minimates Series 3, featuring Burning Godzilla, two Mothra Larvae, Fire Rodan, and Megalon to make an appearance, and maybe even a new bank or two!

Its sure to be an amazing event for collectors of all kinds, but for kaiju fans, nothing beats seeing new figures and products that pertain to the monster characters that we all love so much. This article will be updated with any future teases, and a full rundown of all kaiju-related reveals will be published after ToyFair ends.

So, what do you all think? Are you excited for the return of S.H.MonsterArts and NECA’s articulated figures? Will you be purchasing the new SHMA GMK Godzilla when it is released? What Godzilla incarnations do you hope NECA tackle next? What products are YOU hoping to see, and from whom, at ToyFair 2016? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check back often for updates!

Also, be sure to check out all the information, and join in the discussion, in both our Official S.H.MonsterArts Thread and NECA Thread. You’ll find information and images for everything both lines have to offer, and a place to read the newest updates on upcoming figures. Check them out!

And always remember… keep your wallets close, and your kaiju toys closer! :)

Images/info courtesy of Facebook, Twitter, and Toho Kingdom

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